New South Wales

A proposed 900-kilometre electricity interconnector that will link power grids across three Australian states, unlocking gigawatts of new wind, solar PV and storage projects has progressed further with New South Wales network operator TransGrid confirming the Environmental Impact Statement for the project’s eastern section has been submitted.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) predict that growth to 60TW of photovoltaics needed to rapidly reduce emissions to ‘net zero’ and limit global warming to <2 °C could require up to 486 Mt of aluminium by 2050. A key concern for this large aluminium demand is its large global warming potential.

Australian investment manager Infrastructure Capital Group has stepped into the solar energy sector with the acquisition of a majority stake in a ~300 MW solar PV and energy storage portfolio from clean technology developer and investment firm Providence Asset Group.

The Australian arm of German-headquartered renewable energy developer BayWa r.e has added to its growing portfolio of solar PV projects with state and local governments providing the tick of approval for a proposed $18.9 million solar farm to be constructed near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.

Construction of a new $2.3 billion electricity interconnector that will link the South Australian and New South Wales energy networks is expected to commence early this year following the South Australian Government’s approval of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement.

The much-delayed Sunraysia Solar Farm is seemingly a step closer to commencing production – more than 24 months behind schedule – with Australian engineering firm Decmil Group confirming the PV project has been given the green light following the successful completion of the required hold point testing.

The world’s largest coal port is now powered by 100% renewable energy after the Port of Newcastle confirmed it had inked a deal with the Australian arm of Spanish energy group Iberdrola which will see the port’s entire operational needs powered by renewable generation.

Lightsource bp, the solar arm of oil major BP, is proposing to build an ‘agrisolar’ project in the Upper Hunter region big enough to provide 4% of New South Wales’ (NSW) electricity demand.

Australia’s largest roof-mounted solar PV system – featuring an incredible 27,000 panels spread across almost 8 hectares of rooftop – is nearing completion with the massive 10 MWdc system set to commence operation this week.

World beating Sydney-based startup SunDrive has given itself an early Christmas present in the form of the fabrication of its first full-sized panel. This panel marks the most recent milestone on the road to commercialisation for SunDrive, which set a new world record for commercial-sized silicon solar cell efficiency in September.