Oceania

South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas has announced the finalists for the 2023 Premier’s Excellence Awards. Amongst the finalists, the Department for Energy Mining South Australia has garnered recognition for its collaborative venture with Housing South Australia on the pioneering South Australia’s Virtual Power Plant initiative. 

A collaboration between the Clean Energy Council, KPMG and the First Nations Clean Energy Network has produced Australia’s first national guide on meaningful engagement and benefit sharing with the country’s oldest custodians on renewable energy.

The accelerating deployment of large-scale energy storage is one factor behind the tailwinds forming for large scale solar. Rystad Energy senior analyst David Dixon said that with gigawatts of big batteries under construction, the flexible load will create demand for solar during peak PV production periods.

A new Green Energy Markets (GEM) report to AEMO confirms the future domination of Australian roof-top solar panel and battery system installations are projected to have a cumulative solar capacity potential of between 66 GW and 98.5 GW by 2054.

Independent Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF) finds public and private capital is rapidly transitioning Queensland from its dependence on coal and methane gas for electricity generation. The findings were published today in a new report.

A UNSW study has shown that hotter temperatures, as result of climate change, means solar panels are at greater risk of degradation. Prolonged exposure to harsher outdoor conditions increase the cost of solar energy in hotter Australian regions.

The federal government is to provide advanced technology and skills development to businesses looking to locally manufacture renewable energy technologies, following a $14 million fund to create the Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre.

Australian nickel producers have an advantage over low-cost rivals in that production in the country is considerably more environmentally friendly than in neighbouring Indonesia. Nickel miners in Australia are currently facing low prices and fierce competition. Rob Nathan from Australian Tenders argues that sustainable nickel will be vital for the energy transition and is worthy of governmental support.

The federal and WA governments are stepping in to support struggling nickel producers with tax credits, critical listing grants, and rebates. 

Anthony Albanese’s plan to fund Australia’s quest to become a renewable energy superpower and position itself as a global player for decarbonisation and clean energy doesn’t move fast or bold enough, according to industry experts.