Australia

Chinese wind turbine supplier and project developer Goldwind is looking to offload its Australian wind and large scale solar development pipeline, according to reporting from the Australian Financial Review. The move amounts to one of the first international players looking to exit the Australian renewables marketplace in the face of policy chaos.

Following a grant from the Victorian government, Origin Energy is gearing up to connect solar and battery systems of up to 650 residential and commercial properties across the state, in what will be its first virtual power plant and the largest one in Victoria to date.

If all planned renewable energy projects were to proceed, Queensland would be in line for a $24 billion injection into the state’s economy and over 35,000 new jobs, argues a new Solar Citizens report.

WA-based solar glass developer has signed an MoU with smart street sign and ‘furniture’ producer yStop to integrate its thin film solar glass into bus shelters and illuminated street signs. The MoU, signed with yStop parent Global Smart Cities, is for an exclusive distribution agreement in WA for the integration of ClearVue’s solar glass in bus shelters, and nationally in its LED-illuminated street signs.

Hit hard by volatile energy prices, Australian manufacturers have been advised to reduce their reliance on gas through a range of initiatives that can deliver major efficiency gains, such shifting from gas to solar.

The ASX-listed retail asset manager is set to roll out a massive commercial solar project, which will see an accumulated 31.8 MW of solar PV installed on shopping centers across Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

Wrapping up the year in which it established its wholly-owned manufacturing facility in Thailand, the Brisbane-based battery supplier says it is negotiating contracts with a number of customers, sharpening its focus on key target markets in Australasia, Asia Pacific and South Africa.

The new control room located in Bangkok will help the German renewable energy developer to keep tabs on its growing APAC portfolio.

The addition of 7,200 MW of large-scale renewable energy supply since the closure of coal-fired power plants in 2016 in expected to almost halve wholesale electricity price over the next four years, shows the latest analysis from Green Energy Markets.

The new federal Energy Minister has revealed his thinking, although few details, as to the measures the government will take in pursuit of its new “laser like” focus on electricity price reduction. While denying that he is a climate sceptic, emissions reduction clearly has no place in proposed policy measures.