Australia

New South Wales’ largest large scale solar project has reached financial close, with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) stepping in to provide debt finance for the project. The two organisations have now worked together to develop 260 MW of renewables in regional NSW.

Clean Energy Regulator data reveal that a stellar 2017 has set the Australian renewable sector up to meet 2020 Renewable Energy Target (RET). Large scale solar accounts for 46% of the “firmly announced” projects since 2016.

Another big utility scale project solar project has taken a step forward in Queensland. The Munna Creek Solar Farm, which is the only project currently being proposed by REST Energy, was approved this week and welcomed by local Mayor as “fantastic news”.

Victorian homebuilder Porter Davis has announced its plans to equip 50 new knockdown rebuild homes in Victoria with the Bradford Solar ChargePack, which comes with free solar panels and a Tesla Powerwall 2 battery, offering a chance to new home owners to insulate their households against rising power prices.

Electric cars have emerged as a new battle ground within the federal Liberal Party, as it tears itself apart on even the most modest of pronouncements from the Energy Minister.

Australia’s rooftop PV market has never been stronger. After a record-setting 2017, in which over 1.08 GW of rooftop PV was installed, 2018 is set to see that score surpassed at worst and “smashed” at best. Underpinning the world-leading distributed market segment is the perfect storm of five factors, combining to drive residential and C&I solar adoption.

Monash University has announced plans to develop a PV powered microgrid at its Clayton Campus in Melbourne. The microgrid will meet the energy demands of the campus, provide ancillary services to Victoria’s grid, and provide an example for further research and industry engagement with renewable-centered energy systems.

The territory government announced on Friday that it has paid more than $3 million in grants to six companies. The money will support the roll out of storage installations in homes and businesses across the capital territory, in the form of rebates for customers buying energy storage systems.

As part of an ambitious plan to replace its gas power fleet with large-scale battery storage, the Northern Territory government has invited expressions of interest for a 25 to 45 MW energy storage system intended to support the grid in Darwin and Katherine.

STC registrations reveal that 1.08 GW of residential PV and small-scale C&I solar was installed in 2017. The figure surpasses the previous record of 944 MW, which was achieved in 2012 when high feed-in tariffs drove demand.