New South Wales

A coroner’s report is to be prepared following the death of a 41-year-old man following a “workplace accident” at the Wellington North Solar Farm being constructed near Dubbo in western New South Wales.

A 325 MW/2,600 MWh pumped hydro project planned for the New South Wales central west faces an indefinite delay with developer Atco announcing it will hold off on the next stage of the regulatory approvals process until the state government’s policy frameworks “are close to being able to support financial investment decisions for large-scale infrastructure.”

New South Wales network operator Ausgrid has installed its first pole-mounted battery energy storage system as part of a trial which will examine the viability of the technology to better manage the increasing penetration of rooftop solar and periods of peak demand on the network.

Australian renewable energy startup Green Gravity has teamed with underground mining contractor RUC to accelerate the commercialisation of its gravitational energy storage technology which rests on moving weighted objects through disused mine shafts.

Australian developer ACEnergy is building an initial portfolio of 10 neighbourhood batteries totalling 50 MW/100 MWh across Victoria and New South Wales. The company is also engaging networks to lobby for reforms to the connection process and tariff structure in light of grid support the technology can offer.

The Australian government’s green bank has tipped $100 million (USD 66 million) in to help fast track the development of the 850 MW/1,680 MWh Waratah Super Battery Project that is set to play a significant role in the nation’s shift from coal-fired generation to renewables.

New South Wales will be the test bed for the Commonwealth-funded Capacity Investment Scheme with the federal government to underwrite investment that will help deliver almost 1 GW of firmed renewable energy capacity to support the state’s rapidly changing energy market.

New South Wales transmission network operator Transgrid plans to spend $16.5 billion (USD 11.22 billion) to grow the state’s power system over the next decade to ensure the “secure operation” of the grid at up to 100% instantaneous renewables.

Australian battery material start-up Sicona Battery Technologies will accelerate commercial development plans both here and in the United States after securing financial support from a group of international investing heavyweights for its silicon-composite anode technology designed to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries.

As many as 60 renewable energy projects are expected to lodge environmental impact statements in New South Wales over the next 12 to 18 months. As the transition accelerates, the state’s new Energy Minister has told renewable proponents they must substantiate what’s in it for hosting communities.