Top utility-scale inverter OEMs on what’s behind lead time blow outs
Lead times for utility-scale inverter power stations have recently ballooned from around six months on average to as long as 18 months today. Pv magazine Australia spoke to top manufacturers, including SMA, Ingeteam, and others on the compounding causes of the blowouts and what’s to be done.
Gentailer upheaval: EnergyAustralia reportedly in talks with Macquarie, Grok cuts AGL stake
The changing hands of Australia’s biggest ‘gentailers’ continues, with Mike Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures reducing its stake in AGL, while Macquarie is reportedly in talks to acquire up to a 50% stake in EnergyAustralia.
Australia’s critical minerals strategy released, includes no major policy schemes nor onshoring action plan
Australia’s federal government has released its anticipated Critical Minerals Strategy, and while the document decisively flags industry imperatives and challenges, the plan of action and policy solutions are far more hazy.
CSIRO tests semi-transparent solar film at greenhouses to enhance growth conditions
The CSIRO has run an internal ‘Shark Tank’-style competition which will see it test semi-transparent, printed solar films at its greenhouses to assess whether the technology can be used to enhance crops’ growth and cut emissions.
Flywheel mechanical battery with 32 kWh of storage installed in WA property
Sydney company Key Energy has installed a three-phase flywheel energy storage system at a residence east of Perth, WA. The 8 kW / 32 kWh system was installed over two days in an above-ground enclosure, dramatically cutting the time needed to install the flywheel system.
Neoen wins WA’s Collie big battery tender, moves into long-duration storage market
French renewables developer Neoen has won a 197 MW / 4-hour duration storage contract with AEMO. The contract pertains to the Collie big battery in WA’s south west, with Stage 1 to be operating commercially by October 2024.
AGL unveils three new big batteries as part of 12 GW decarbonisation strategy
Energy generating and retailing giant AGL has added three new grid-scale batteries and a 200 MW solar farm to its development pipeline as it looks to accelerate the transition of its energy portfolio from high-emission coal-fired power generation to backed-up renewables.
Solar and storage solution helps preserve one of world’s seven natural wonders
Some of the renewable energy industry’s biggest players have donated equipment, expertise and time to provide a solar and storage solution to help preserve and protect the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s seven natural wonders.
Weekend read: Solar recycling’s glass ceiling and other problems
The insolvency of a major Australian solar recycler has highlighted the complexity of remodelling a linear-thinking industry and society into a circular one, reports pv magazine Australia’s Bella Peacock.
Sunshot gets state backing to deliver Queensland renewable energy zone
The Ross Garnaut-led Sunshot Industries will develop and deliver a renewable energy industrial precinct in central western Queensland which will be linked to large-scale wind and solar projects and provide manufacturing tenants with competitive low-carbon electricity.
