New South Wales

It makes sense that the Hunter-Central Coast, with its energy infrastructure, heavy industries and transitioning workforces should turn its resources and assets toward renewable generation. As NSW celebrates the passing of the NSW Liberal Coalition’s foresightful bill, the Hunter region is settling into its new place on the REZ map.

It was still daytime when thick smoke plunged the Kangaroo Valley into complete darkness. Inside Nick Turner’s house, pets and neighbours crowded the lounge room, shrill smoke alarms ringing in the background while black ash rained down and coated the landscape.

A new report from energy consultancy Reputex has thrown cold water on the Federal Government’s plan to replace AGL’s ageing Liddell coal-fired power station with a gas option.

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has proposed changes to the rules governing how electricity generators connect to the grid in a bid to help pave the way for the introduction of renewable energy zones (REZs).

Lithgow City Council is smack-bang in the thick of NSW coal country, its surrounds are littered by coal-fired power stations (most of them closed). However, the immunity of solar and energy storage to the power outages brought on by emergencies like bushfires, as well as the Council’s own community goals, means times are a changing.

The University of New England is now well on the way to being 100% powered by solar after switching on its very own 3.2 MW solar farm. However, the university is not quite done yet, with Phase 2 already planned and including an energy storage system.

Recognising that the major problems facing the world can’t be solved by any one organisation, three New South Wales universities at the peak of renewable-energy research have rewritten the rules of collaboration to influence policymakers and accelerate solutions to market.

Goodwill may be the most under-appreciated resource for renewable project developers and one that is delivered through community ownership. At least, that’s according to Kristy Walters, chairperson of the 1 MW Haystacks Solar Garden project –  which claims to be Australia’s first large scale solar garden cooperative.

Steel giant BlueScope is backing the NSW Government’s ambitious renewable infrastructure plan through a $20 million investment into the development of a Renewable Manufacturing Zone at its Port Kembla site in the Illawarra. The investment seeks to encourage innovation in the renewable sector and work towards the Government’s goal of constructing the state’s Renewable Energy Zones with local materials.

Spanish developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) has reaffirmed its presence in the Australian renewable energy marketplace by adding the 115 MW Metz Solar Farm to its solar portfolio.