Oceania

Gannawarra Solar Farm, Victoria’s first large-scale solar farm integrated with a big battery, has forayed into the world of agrisolar by integrating sheep grazing on site. The sheep are reportedly loving the shade offered by the panels, which has allowed them to graze even during the hottest parts of the day, with the animals unperturbed by the solar farm’s tracking devices.

New modelling by researchers at Monash University has found the cost of green hydrogen produced using solar PV could satisfy the Australian Government’s economic stretch goal of $2 per kilogram by as early as 2030.

Australian renewable energy developer Maoneng has lodged plans to construct a ‘critical’ 225 MW/450 MWh utility scale battery energy storage system at Gould Creek in South Australia.

The Australian Energy Regulator says maintaining a reliable energy supply shapes as a “pivotal challenge” with the nation’s record take-up of rooftop solar PV and investment in large-scale renewables transforming the way the energy market operates.

The research group led by Professor Martin Green has published Version 58 of the Solar cell efficiency tables. He spoke with pv magazine about the criteria with which these tables are compiled and the importance of result certification by independent third parties.

A decision about the controversial two-way pricing reform proposed by the Australian Energy Market Commission has been delayed with the rule maker extending the publication date for its final report on how to integrate new energy technologies like solar PV and batteries into Australia’s electricity grid.

Queensland network operator Powerlink has indicated battery storage will be a critical part of a bespoke strategy designed to solve system strength issues that have emerged as a challenge for renewable energy generation in the National Electricity Market.

We’ve ticked over into July 2021, and so have left Q2 behind us… now with two units at Callide back in service, and also three units at Yallourn as well (though Yallourn unit four missed its expected return to service on Wednesday 30th June). Let’s hope prices continue to settle down.

As the search for solutions to integrate increasing levels of energy technologies like solar PV and batteries into the electricity grid continues, Queensland-based energy data specialist Luceo Energy has revealed a new software platform designed to help electricity distributors manage consumer-owned devices across low-voltage networks.

Australia is a world leader in the uptake of rooftop solar but the head of Queensland-based renewable energy company REA Global has labelled the nation’s solar installation standards out of date and unsafe.