Sun Metals, MSF Sugar join Townsville virtual power plant as foundation customers
Tasked with redirecting electricity generated in industry to households in north Queensland, Australia’s first large scale operating virtual power plant at work has welcomed big industrial players as customers.
South Australia Premier promises interest-free loans for solar+storage
In yet another renewable energy related election commitment, South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill has pledged to offer loans to 10,000 households to install rooftop solar and battery storage, which will be made available interest-free for the first seven years.
BNEF: Australia ties with Germany as fastest growing residential storage market
Australia is on the cusp of a residential battery storage boom. The Climate Council published the forecast last week in its Fully Charged: Renewables and Storage Powering Australia report. BNEF confirms with pv magazine Australia that as a result of the rapid growth, Australia is alongside Germany as the fastest growing market for residential battery storage.
Sonnen to establish battery factory in South Australia
German battery and solar energy company sonnen will move its Australian headquarters from Sydney to Adelaide where it will also establish a manufacturing hub.
Smart swimming pool pilot wins $2.5 million ARENA grant
A New South Wales energy management company has won ARENA’s funding for a smart swimming poll pilot project, which holds a promise to both manage peak demand and save pool owners up to 30% of their household electricity use.
SA Labor sets 75% by 2025 RET
The South Australian Labor Party has increased its Renewable Energy Target to 75% by 2025. It also plans to introduce a target of meeting 25% of the state’s peak electricity demand with stored renewables – equating to 750 MW of storage capacity.
Lakeland solar+storage to demonstrate value stacking at utility scale
Australia’s first large scale solar+storage array has been grid connected, in Northern Queensland. The collocated 10.8 MW solar and 1.4 MW/5.3 MWh battery storage system is set to demonstrate the value of dispatchable PV to networks and asset owners.
Yeah but nah: Aussie solar going gangbusters, but installed capacity not doubling in 2018
There is absolutely no doubting that the installation rate of solar PV, both rooftop and utility scale, is growing extremely quickly. An exciting development, yeah, but installed capacity isn’t likely to double in 2018.
Gullen Solar Farm kicks off co-location in NSW
The Australian Wind Alliances’s NSW regional coordinator, Charlie Prell, attended the launch of the new Gullen Solar Farm at Bannaby, just south of Crookwell in the Southern Tablelands of NSW.
IEA: changing policy, lack of competition failing Australian energy transition
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has delivered its latest detailed energy policy review to the Australian Federal Government. It points to changing policy at the Federal level as having failed Australia’s energy transition and consumers, and argues for the need for a framework to be put in place for 2030.
