South Australia

A South Australian racecourse has now become a fully operational DC-coupled solar and battery farm. The Berri Energy Project, owned by retailer Flow Power, is part of the company’s strategy to build up to 50 MW of mid-scale (sub 5 MW) projects to supplement its offtake portfolio, Flow Power COO Byron Serjeanston told pv magazine Australia.

Construction of the New South Wales section of Australia’s largest energy transmission project has reached a major milestone with the first of an estimated 1,500 new transmission towers that will form a key element of the $2.3 billion (USD 1.53 billion) EnergyConnect project installed near Buronga in the state’s far west.

Australian battery technology innovator Sparc Technologies is reporting “exceptional” results in its campaign to develop sustainably sourced hard carbon material for the production of anodes for the nascent sodium-ion battery market.

Plans to develop a major green hydrogen production facility near the South Australian industrial city of Whyalla has sparked global interest with the state government revealing 29 international and domestic players have signalled their interest in delivering the project.

South Australia’s electricity transmission network owner ElectraNet has completed an estimated $300 million (USD 199 million) upgrade to the Eyre Peninsula transmission link, paving the way for more wind, solar and battery storage opportunities to connect to the grid in the region.

Both the Australian Energy Regulator and Victoria’s Essential Services Commission have pointed to default electricity price rises of more than 30% for residents and small business.

South Australian electricity distributor SA Power Networks has announced it will work with retailers AGL and Simply Energy to explore opportunities to enable the orchestration of existing rooftop solar systems, an innovation that is expected to support the increased uptake of renewables and help the stability of the grid.

Electricity retailer Zen Energy has announced plans to develop its first utility-scale battery energy storage system after acquiring the 111 MW/270 MWh Templers Battery project in South Australia from UK-based developer Renewable Energy Systems Group.

Australian mining company Australian Rare Earths is moving forward with plans to apply for a licence to mine rare earths in South Australia’s southeast as part of its flagship Koppamurra project.

Australia’s utility-scale solar sector had its third highest month on record in February, generating 1,463 GWh. New South Wales was the country’s top generator, showing the state’s colossal coal turnaround is well underway.