Queensland

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has announced $1.1 million of funding for a power-to-gas demonstration plant to be built at APA Group’s Wallumbilla gas hub in Queensland. The project will demonstrate the viability of producing renewable methane from solar power.

Topping off a big week for solar in Queensland, Premier Palaszczuk announced the partnership between Energy Queensland owned Yurika and the Queensland Investment Corporation which will see 15 MW of solar installed across five shopping centres.

The Australian Institute of Marine Sciences is installing solar PV across its facilities nationwide. The Institute, which in part studies the impacts of climate change on our marine and coastal ecosystems, is on the scientific front lines of a bleached world without renewables.

A new study partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will look at system strength issues that have been an emerging challenge for renewable energy generation in the National Electricity Market, and explore the merits of several technical solutions, including battery storage.

Between 460 and 480 MWp in size, Western Downs will become the largest solar farm in Australia, bringing significant regional economic benefits to South West Queensland.

A new poll of 1000 Queenslanders has found strong support for the State to invest in renewable energy and a concordant distaste for coal. The results come amid political debate as to the viability of a new coal-fired power station in North Queensland.

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology have proposed a new design of a diamond nanothread bundle that could found a new form of mechanical storage, which, pound-for-pound, is three times more powerful than lithium-ion batteries.

The Australian Energy Regulator has approved the final phase of the Queensland – New South Wales Interconnector upgrades. TransGrid and Powerlink are now ready to begin civil construction in the coming weeks.

Following the official declaration of a system strength shortfall in northern Queensland, transmission network service provider Powerlink will need to address the issue and ease the situation for three severely impacted renewable energy generators.

After several stalled years, construction of the 300 MW Rodds Bay Solar Farm in Queensland is finally imminent. Developer, Renew Estate, has been issued its Notice to Proceed under its connection agreement with Powerlink Queensland.