New South Wales

Solar payback periods worsened in Australia between 2020 and 2022, but have now turned a corner, data from analyst Sunwiz illustrates. Queensland has seen the most remarkable journey, with payback periods for residential solar and storage falling from 10 to 6.6 years within 12 months.

EnergyAustralia’s plans to install a 500 MW/2,000 MWh big battery energy storage system adjacent to its Mt Piper coal-fired power station in New South Wales are gathering momentum with the Hong Kong-owned generator and retailer receiving approval to conduct site investigation works.

Australia’s first coordinated renewable energy zone is a step closer to realisation with the environmental impact statement for the transmission infrastructure required to connect at least 3 GW of new clean energy generation capacity to the national grid now open for public scrutiny.

Origin Energy has secured a $45 million (USD 28.7 million) commitment from the New South Wales government to advance the development of a commercial-scale green hydrogen manufacturing hub on Kooragang Island near Newcastle.

Hydrostor has penned a deal with Australian miner Perilya to build a 200 MW/1,600 MWh advanced compressed air energy storage facility in a disused mine cavity near Broken Hill in western New South Wales.

Mytilineos’ 75 MW Wyalong Solar Farm in the New South Wales Riverina region has now begun feeding into the grid, with almost two thirds of its generation contracted to NBN Australia, the national broadband network.

UNSW researchers have found a new approach to photochemical upconversion, which involves converting low light particles into higher-energy light particles. The discovery has potential to unlock innovations in renewable energy, particularly solar, with the team flagging it could raise the efficiency limit of solar devices from 33.7% to 40% or beyond.

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has proposed increasing price caps on the country’s main electricity market. This is meant to allow investors to respond to fill gaps created by ageing coal generation.

Data shows a sharp increase in the number of fires caused by the DC isolators that separate the grid from solar panels. ABC News gathered state-by-state data revealing a dramatic increase in fire incidents in the last 12 months. 

Modelling from UNSW and the Australian PV Institute has found governments investing in rooftop solar for state-owned and NGO-owned social housing would save low-income tenants money, deliver returns within just a handful of years, and support the grid with new generation.