The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is seeking public feedback on a rule change request to the National Electricity Rules (NER) from State and Federal Energy Ministers. The rule change request was submitted by Federal Minister for Climate Change, Chris Bowen, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, and Tasmanian Minister for Energy and Renewables, Nick Duigan. The AEMC […]
Electricity
The latest project news, developments and opinion pieces from industry experts from Australia’s electricity industry.
50MW Bouldercombe big battery completed
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0Genex Power has announced that its 50MW/100MWh Bouldercombe Battery Project has been completed, with the final two mega battery packs installed on the site in late 2023. Genex Power has also announced that the two replacement megapacks were transported and installed at the project site during the week commencing 27 November 2023, and that a small outage was required to […]
Ausgrid reports increase in copper theft putting lives at risk
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Powerlines, Safety and Training, Spotlight 0Ausgrid has revealed that 74 incidents of copper theft have been recorded across its network since August 2023, resulting in almost half a million dollars in damage, disruptions to thousands of customers, and severe safety risks. The latest analysis by Ausgrid has shown criminals are increasingly moving away from breaking into depots, to now cutting down power poles with chainsaws […]
Powerline resilience package planned for south-east Melbourne
Kody Cook Disaster Management, Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Spotlight 0United Energy is planning and testing a new package of resilience works that will see powerlines in areas of south-east Melbourne that are prone to high fire risk be moved underground. The activities being considered by United Energy for Melbourne’s south-east and the Mornington Peninsula are aimed at making its network stronger and more resilient in the face of more […]
RMIT develops early fault detection system for energy networks
Steph Barker Asset management, Electricity, Instrumentation, Control & Monitoring, News, Spotlight 0Researchers at RMIT University have designed an early fault detection (EFD) system for energy networks that is being used to help prevent bushfires and blackouts in North America, Europe and Australia. IND Technology, the company that commercialised the innovation, is seeking funding from the Federal Government to assist with rolling out the EFD system across all single-wire earth return (SWER) […]
VIC Gov announces first round of community battery grants
Steph Barker Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0The Victorian Government has announced the first round of grants awarded as part of its 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Program. Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced six projects that will share in more than $6 million in funding to deliver 25 neighbourhood batteries across 20 towns, totaling more than 4.2MWh hours of new storage capacity. Ms D’Ambrosio said […]
Horizon Power invites feedback on proposed transmission line
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Spotlight, Stakeholder Engagement 0Horizon Power has called feedback on its proposal to expand the North-West Interconnected Systems (NWIS) with a 7km long 132kV overhead transmission line between the Dampier Substation and the Burrup Strategic Industrial Area (SIA). The Burrup SIA is not currently connected via transmission infrastructure to the NWIS. The project is located on Murujuga (Burrup Peninsula) in Western Australia, approximately 1.5km […]
Pole top fires cause power outages for 47,000 Perth customers
Kody Cook Company news, Electricity, Maintenance, News, Powerlines, Spotlight 0Parts of the Western Power energy network have suffered serious damage after approximately 70 pole top fires broke out in the Perth metropolitan area, affecting the power supply to around 13,000 homes and businesses. Western Power Executive Manager of Asset Operations, Zane Christmas, said that crews were set to work as quickly and safely as possible to address a significant […]
Lumea signs deal for BESS in New England REZ
Steph Barker Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy 0Transgrid Group’s contestable business, Lumea, has signed an agreement with ACEN Australia to connect a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) as part of the New England Solar Farm project. Stage one of ACEN Australia’s $768 million project is currently under construction near Uralla in the proposed New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The 50MW BESS, which will be scaled […]
The Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, has formally introduced the National Electricity (Victoria) Amendment (VicGrid) Bill 2024. The government said the bill is the next step in establishing VicGrid and ensuring it has the powers to modernise the way new energy infrastructure is planned and developed in Victoria, while giving communities a voice in the process. VicGrid […]
Milestone for Darwin-Katherine BESS construction
Steph Barker Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0The Northern Territory Government has reached a milestone in the construction of its $45 million Darwin-Katherine Battery Energy Storage System (DK BESS). All 192 batteries, each weighing 3.5t, have been installed for the 35MVA BESS, with construction and pre-commissioning complete. Territory Generation is continuing to work collaboratively with key stakeholders to begin rigorous testing before the DK BESS comes online […]
AGL announces joint venture to develop REZ energy park
Steph Barker Batteries & Storage, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight, Wind 0AGL has announced a joint venture with Someva Renewables to develop the Pottinger Energy Park, to be located within the New South Wales gazetted South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The Pottinger Energy Park is expected to consist of a 1.2GW wind farm, 300MW solar farm and 500MW/2000MWh battery energy storage system. The proposed park location is 60km south of […]
WA passes bill to modernise electricity rules
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Policy, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0The Western Australian Parliament has passed the Electricity Industry Amendment (Distributed Energy Resources) Bill 2023, which includes a new State Electricity Objective and streamlined electricity regulations. The Electricity Industry Amendment (Distributed Energy Resources) Bill 2023, which amends the Electricity Industry Act 2004, is the first major update of sector-wide electricity legislation in 20 years. The bill introduces a new State […]
Notice to Proceed issued for 300MW battery in west VIC
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Projects, Spotlight, Sustainability 0Origin Energy has issued a Notice to Proceed on a 300MW/650MWh battery to bolster the grid of the Mortlake region in Victoria’s west, to be delivered by EPC contractor, Fluence. Initially announced in late 2022 on behalf of the Federal Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will provide up to $24 million in funding to the project, as part […]
Origin has paid $295,872 in penalties for eight contraventions of Victorian energy laws. Origin allegedly referred six customers affected by family violence to a debt recovery agency without considering the potential impact of debt recovery on those customers. Origin self-reported the issues affecting Victorian customers as required under the commission’s reporting requirements. Before taking action to recover arrears from an […]
QLD Gov to double size of wind farm
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight, Wind 0The Queensland Government has announced plans to almost double the capacity of Wambo Wind Farm in the state’s southwest, adding an extra 41 turbines to the project. The Queensland Government had previously committed to a 42 turbine wind farm in Jandowae, with the extra 41 turbines to be added to the project. The government said the additional turbines are expected […]
VIC Gov to conduct outage review following catastrophic storm
Steph Barker Disaster Management, Electricity, News, Spotlight 0The Victorian Government is set to conduct a Network Outage Review, led by an expert panel, into the catastrophic storm event on 13 February 2024 that left more than 530,000 Victorians without power. The expert panel is expected to make recommendations on the operational response of transmission and distribution businesses, including contingency planning, timely and effective management of the incident, […]
Tender awarded for potential NSW pumped hydro projects
Kody Cook Company news, Dams, Electricity, News, Projects, Spotlight, Water 0Water NSW has awarded Upper Hunter Hydro (UPP) the tender for the potential development of two new pumped hydro projects, which, once complete, could hold as much power as one million household batteries. As a successful applicant following a competitive tender process under WaterNSW’s Renewable Energy and Storage Program, UHH will get access to areas of WaterNSW land and reservoirs […]
AusNet restores power after major storm damage
Kody Cook Company news, Disaster Management, Electricity, Events, News, Powerlines, Spotlight 0The severe power outages that affected hundreds of thousands of Victorians after the 13 February storms have been resolved, with AusNet announcing that power has been restored to all affected customers. Since the storms, AusNet crews have worked day and night to restore the network to more than 360,000 AusNet customers who were left without power as a result of […]
Milestone for NT renewables project
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight, Sustainability 0Final testing is underway on the Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project, which is set to provide a 1.1MW solar array and a 3MWh energy storage system to the region. Once testing of the battery system is complete at Berrimah, it will be transported to Wurrumiyanga where another round of testing will take place to ensure successful integration […]
CEC releases guide for First Nations engagement on renewable energy
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Spotlight, Sustainability 0The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has released the first ever national guide on cooperation with First Nations people on renewable energy projects, which outlines meaningful engagement, consent, participation and benefit-sharing. This new guide sets out expectations for industry and details key considerations for engagement at each stage of a project’s life cycle. Co-authored by the CEC and KPMG, Leading Principles: […]
Horizon Power has announced that its Smart Connect Solar technology is now available in Carnarvon, as part of its plan to expand solar access throughout regional Western Australia. The utility is planning to roll out the technology to all of its service areas in 2024. The technology uses a distributed energy resource management system that enables the coordination of high […]
$330M BESS construction commences in QLD
Steph Barker Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0Queensland’s publicly owned utility, CleanCo, has commenced construction works on a $330 million battery in Swanbank, in a partnership with Tesla and Yurika. Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, Deputy Premier, Cameron Dick, and Energy Minister, Mick de Brenni, marked the start of construction on what is expected to be one of Queensland’s biggest batteries. A pivotal component for the Swanbank Clean […]
EnergyAustralia’s $300M gas-fired power station opens
Steph Barker Electricity, Gas, News, Spotlight 0EnergyAustralia’s $300 million Tallawarra B gas-fired power station has officially opened after two years of construction. Tallawarra B, a fast-start 320MW gas-fired power station, is set to supply the New South Wales electricity system with a flexible capacity asset designed to support system reliability as more renewables enter the system and coal-fired power stations retire. EnergyAustralia said the new Tallawarra […]
AEC identifies bottlenecks preventing renewables projects in WA
Steph Barker Condition Assessment, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight 0Key bottlenecks preventing renewable energy projects from being completed in Western Australia have been identified in a new report prepared for the Australian Energy Council. Roadblocks including a lack of new electricity transmission planning and investment, along with lengthy, costly and opaque grid connection processes, risk derailing Western Australia’s plans to decarbonise and bring new renewables and dispatchable plants onto […]
Network crews are working to restore grid connectivity following severe storms that have affected approximately 530,000 Victorian energy customers and forced a shutdown of AGL’s Loy Yang A Power Station. Update 20 Feb AusNet has advised that power has been restored to a further 1,700 customers, while approximately 6,800 customers remain without power. AusNet said its crews will continue to […]
Next stage of Project EnergyConnect progresses in NSW
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Powerlines, Projects, Spotlight 0Transgrid has confirmed that construction works are progressing on the eastern alignment of EnergyConnect. EnergyConnect is designed to enable the sharing of electricity between New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria for the first time, integrate cheaper and cleaner renewable energy into the grid, and help Australia achieve its emissions reduction targets. Transgrid and its construction partner, SecureEnergy, are building […]
Spotlight on sustainability: new report from Urban Utilities
Utility Journalist Electricity, Sustainability, Water 0Water utilities are at the forefront of climate impact as they grapple with challenges posed by climate change, including shifting precipitation patterns and increased water scarcity. By adopting sustainable practices, utilities contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and support the push towards net zero. With the release of its first sustainability report, Urban Utilities is highlighting its commitment […]
NT showing highest up-take of solar batteries in AUS
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight 0With the State Government’s Home and Businesses Battery Scheme (HBBS) making the purchase and installation of batteries more accessible, the Northern Territory has the highest rate of up-take of solar battery storage in Australia. The HBBS has reached a major milestone with more than 2,000 territory homes and businesses with a rooftop solar system now having battery storage installed under […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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