Construction underway at twin merchant solar farms in the Riverina
Photon Energy has commenced construction on two Australian solar farms which will deliver a combined capacity of 14 MW in the Riverina region of New South Wales.
The weekend read: The plan to REZurrect Australia’s large-scale segment
Investment in large-scale solar appears to be faltering in Australia. The technology with the lowest cost, with no emissions and the fastest time to delivery, has often found itself dangling at the oversubscribed end of a limp transmission line, with additional, expensive requirements to connect, or earnings-slashing curtailments when operational. Investors have found no reassurance in the federal government’s winking at coal, courting of gas, and undermining of agencies established to support innovation and investment in renewables. In short, the Australian prime minister is showing a complete lack of urgency to act on climate change. Enter the Renewable Energy Zone.
ARENA helps fund project to demonstrate energy efficient housing at scale
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is chipping in over $700,000 to help Frasers Property Australia build 51 energy efficient homes complete with a solar embedded network. The idea is to demonstrate to the wider housing sector that energy efficient homes can be built at scale and be cost-effective to the customer.
Solar Professionals completes Australia’s largest PPA rooftop project
The largest rooftop solar Power Price Agreement (PPA) installation yet undertaken in Australia has been completed with more 1,876 modules installed across Blacktown City Council facilities in Western Sydney.
Clough and Elecnor joint venture appointed EPC for SA-NSW Interconnector
A 50/50 joint venture between Clough Group and Spanish infrastructure giant Elecnor has been selected as EPC for the 700km NSW section of the SA-NSW Interconnector, Project Energy Connect. The big jobs require the big guns, and it seems as though the big guns have been called in on this occasion, with Project Energy Connect deemed integral to the energy future of both states.
Energy Renaissance lithium-ion gigafactory breaks ground in Tomago, NSW
In less than a year from today, Australia will be producing its own renewable-energy-storing lithium-ion batteries in the Hunter Region. A new $28 million Energy Renaissance facility will embed itself in the learning, hard-working, adaptable culture around the port of Newcastle, manufacturing exports that are expected to contribute some $3 billion to Australia’s GDP and advance the country’s energy transition.
Silver lining: Aussie startup’s next generation solar breakthrough gets ARENA funding
Despite weeks with a Morrison Government sponsored gas cloud overhead a silver lining has appeared in the form of SunDrive, an Australian startup which just received $3 million in ARENA funding to help scale its low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell and manufacturing process.
UNSW researchers calculate the inevitability of green hydrogen
Researchers from the University of New South Wales have run the numbers, run them again, and then run them a third time to make triply sure. Australia’s solar resources and the rapidly falling costs of solar-powered hydrogen production mean that the future hydrogen economy is green whether the Morrison Government likes it or not.
The way of zen: CSIRO signs 10-year PPA with Ross Garnaut’s Zen Energy
The CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has signed a 10-year PPA with Ross Garnaut’s Zen Energy. The deal will see solar energy from the Nurmurkah Solar Farm and the Nevertire Solar Farm halve the agency’s emissions.
Elecnor appointed EPC on Australia’s biggest hybrid solar/battery project
Australia’s utility-scale solar is not untouchable. In a major win for the country’s clean-energy sector, UPC\AC Renewables yesterday announced the appointment of an EPC for the first phase of its 720 MW New England Solar Farm and colocated potential 400 MW battery energy storage system.
