Oceania

The way has been smoothed for Australian mining company Sunrise Energy Metals to take advantage of the booming lithium-ion battery industry with the federal government awarding Major Project Status to a $2.4 billion nickel and cobalt mine being developed in New South Wales.

The Australian Energy Market Commission has opted not to move “the goal posts on network charges” for energy storage projects, including large-scale batteries and pumped hydro, rejecting a request from the Australian Electricity Market Operator to exempt operators from being charged when drawing power.

Quality assurance and testing of solar farms is vital worldwide, but particularly in Australia where projects tend to be bigger and the climate more severe. Hugo Silva, Global Sales Manager at Enertis Applus+, takes a look at the different stages of testing and why they are an investment that will yield returns.

Queensland government-owned generator Stanwell Energy and Spanish renewable energy company Acciona Energia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which could see energy generated at the proposed 600 MWp Aldoga Solar Farm power a 3 GW green hydrogen project being developed near Gladstone on the central Queensland coast.

The transformation of the former Hazelwood coal-fired power station in Victoria has commenced with French renewables giant Engie announcing work has begun on a 150 MW/150 MWh battery energy storage system which is being constructed at the site.

Western Australia has today announced the launch of its $35.5 million Virtual Power Plant trial, Project Symphony, which will examine the ways in which residents, utilities, and network operators can join forces to centrally orchestrate the output of rooftop solar, batteries and other distributed resources to best serve both customers and the grid at large.

Melbourne-based company Green Peak Energy has attracted the backing of one of the world’s largest investment firms, CBRE Investment Management. While deal’s details remain confidential, the Australian company, which focuses on operating renewable systems in the C&I segment and providing power purchasing agreements (PPAs), described the agreement as an endorsement of the problem it set out to solve.

Many people believe Australia’s shift to electric vehicles is stuck in the slow lane – another strollout, rather than a rollout. But while federal policies are still lacklustre, most Australians themselves are ready for the shift, according to our recent research.

German company sonnen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell, today launched a new residential battery storage system specifically developed for Australia and New Zealand. Chief Commercial Officer of sonnenGroup and Managing Director of sonnen Australia, Nathan Dunn, told pv magazine Australia its sonnenBatterie Evo is the culmination of a new approach and may go on to inform how its future products for global markets are developed.

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures Australia’s 90 MW (AC) solar farm outside Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, has reached the commissioning phase after less than a year of construction. Barring no obstacles, the project should start exporting solar energy to the grid in a matter of months.