Victoria

The Victorian government will make almost $1 million (USD 670,000) in clean energy grants available to traditional owner corporations to deliver renewable energy projects – including solar generation facilities – that will provide economic and social benefits for Aboriginal communities throughout the state.

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.

A team of Australian researchers have discovered a “natural battery” that converts air into energy and has “considerable” potential to support the future development of small, sustainable air-powered devices.

Hydrogen truck maker Hyzon has launched what is being hailed as Australia’s first locally designed and built hydrogen-powered truck at its regional headquarters in Melbourne. The 27-tonne truck is hitting Australian roads in a series of commercial trials this year, including as part of a longterm partnership with RACV, which has ordered three tow trucks.

An Australian startup spawned by Monash University research has unveiled what it claims to be the world’s most powerful air-cooled electric motor for aircraft, potentially paving the way for the electrification of the aviation sector.

Pacific Partnerships has announced financial close on the Glenrowan Solar Farm, a 102 MW PV project being developed in northeast Victoria. The solar farm is the first project supported by the second Victorian Renewable Energy Target Auction to begin construction.

Global solar developer Lightsource bp is reportedly testing buyer interest in five Australian projects, hiring Macquarie Capital to run early-stage market soundings on the deal which could potentially be worth around $1 billion (USD 670 million).

The solar ambitions of residents in the western Melbourne suburb of Tarneit are now underpinned by a neighbourhood battery. Victorian network service provider Powercor connected the 120 kW/360 kWh energy storage system to its network to make the most of the strong rooftop PV penetration in the area.

Victoria will offer private landowners $200,000 (USD 134,400) for every kilometre of land over which they allow transmission lines to be installed as the state government looks to accelerate the development of new transmission infrastructure deemed critical to the future security of the energy grid.

Chinese manufacturing major Trina Solar says it has received connection approval for its first utility scale PV project moving to construction in Australia, kick starting a five-year strategy that is expected to deliver more than 6.5 GW of large-scale renewable projects across the country.