The $1 billion program is designed to grow solar PV manufacturing in Australia and support global supply chains. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), in consultation with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), will design the program which aims to accelerate the development of Australia’s solar manufacturing industry, catalyse clean energy industries and help Australia […]
Electricity
The latest project news, developments and opinion pieces from industry experts from Australia’s electricity industry.
Gippsland Water completes Drouin WWTP floating solar project
Steph Barker News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The 350kw array features 644 individual solar panels and floats on one of the treatment lagoons at the Drouin wastewater treatment plant. Gippsland Water said it is the largest floating solar array in Australia. Gippsland Water Acting Managing Director, Simon Aquilina, said the solar panels were part of the organisation’s commitment to renewable energy targets. “These solar panels will help […]
AEMC review finds electricity reliability standard still fit for purpose
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Policy, Spotlight 0The Reliability Panel has completed a review of the current reliability standard for the national electricity system and has released a draft determination for stakeholder feedback. The review found that the standard is well equipped to ensure the grid will remain stable through the energy transition. The Reliability Panel forms part of the Australian Energy Market Commission but independently monitors, […]
The Western Australian Government is set to deliver improved energy efficiency and cost of living relief to households in the West Kimberley region, with the announcement of the Energy Ahead program. Previously known as the Household Energy Efficiency Scheme, Energy Ahead supports Western Australians currently experiencing or at risk of financial hardship and aims to reduce the pressure on their […]
A new community engagement and discovery hub has officially opened at Wagga Wagga. The Transgrid Discovery Hub is designed to provide an engaging and inviting space for community members, landowners, and businesses to understand more about the transition to renewable energy and Transgrid’s major projects including EnergyConnect, HumeLink and VNI West, which are centred in the Riverina. Transgrid Chief Executive […]
Fed Gov unveils WA electricity capacity investment scheme
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Policy, Spotlight 0The Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) aims to provide more reliable, renewable energy for households and businesses across the state. Consultation on the design features of the CIS, to suit the unique Western Australia energy grid, is now open and runs until April 29 2024. The first Western Australia tender will target 500MW of reliable renewables by storing power that is […]
A new 400kW hydroelectricity plant at St Albans Reservoir designed to help provide clean, low-cost energy and reduce cost of living pressures for Victorians. The St Albans plant is Melbourne Water’s 16th hydroelectric infrastructure asset, following construction of the 315kW Upper Yarra, Yarra Valley Conduit hydroelectricity plant. A 990kW hydropower plant at O’Shannassy Reservoir is expected to begin construction in […]
Quinbrook Supernode BESS project to begin construction
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight 0Construction is set to begin on one of Queensland’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Quinbrook’s Supernode project at Brendale. Stage one of the project is the construction of a 250MW/2hr capacity BESS and that will enable the efficient storage of surplus solar and wind energy, aid the displacement of coal and other emissions-intensive generation sources. Origin Energy has committed […]
Old coal site to become Western Sydney pumped hydro powerhouse
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight, Water 0ZEN Energy has proposed the development of a pumped hydro powerhouse that would make use of degraded coal industry land near Lake Burragorang, creating a project with the potential to deliver enough on-demand electricity to power 500,000 homes and businesses. At 1GW, the Western Sydney Pumped Hydro project will be able to store and supply up to eight continuous hours […]
Community battery powers on in NSW South Coast first
Kody Cook Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Spotlight, Sustainability 0Endeavour Energy has officially switched on the first community battery in New South Wales’s South Coast, marking a big step for the region’s push efforts towards net zero and providing savings on energy bills for locals. The community battery, one of 54 currently being rolled out across the Endeavour Energy network, will ensure residents can rely on a more sustainable, […]
Flooding causes outage for 1,300 Sydney CBD residents
Kody Cook Company news, Disaster Management, Electricity, News, Spotlight 0A power outage caused by heavy rainfall and flash-flooding on 5 April has left approximately 1,300 residents in the Sydney CBD without power. A substation on Goulburn and Pitt Streets in the CBD flooded, causing extensive power outages in the area. Ausgrid said that the outage started at approximately 3.50am on 5 April and impacted about 1,300 people. By early […]
Celebrating 100 years of the Stobie pole
Kody Cook Company news, Electricity, Events, News, Powerlines, Spotlight 0South Australia’s iconic Stobie pole is celebrating the anniversary of its patenting in July, after it was developed to replace wooden poles 100 years ago. The Stobie pole was formally patented in July 1924 by the then Adelaide Electric Supply Company. They were developed because of the shortage of wood for poles in South Australia and issues with termites. An […]
Power + Utilities summit to host two dozen industry leaders
Kody Cook Electricity, Events, News, Spotlight, Water 0The Power + Utilities Australia Leadership Summit is set to be held on 7–8 May at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, and will host more than two dozen energy industry CEOs who will discuss the challenges currently facing the energy transition. Kicking off day one, SA Power Networks CEO, Andrew Bills will present a keynote titled: Delivering a distributed energy future […]
$55.3M NT substation upgrade underway
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Projects, Spotlight, Substations 0Early works are now underway on an upgrade for the Trevor Horman Substation in Berrimah, which is set to ensure that the substation continues to meet the electricity demand of the Berrimah and Wishart industrial areas into the future. The functional and concept designs for the $55.3 million project have been completed and work has commenced on the detailed design […]
Staying live: zone substation upgrades keep the power supply on for locals
Kody Cook Electricity, Projects, Sponsored Editorial, Substations 0Many utilities work with trusted partners to upgrade and make improvements to existing infrastructure to provide greater capacity and maintain reliability to customers. This was the goal for United Energy’s Frankston South Zone Substation Upgrade project in Melbourne. The Frankston South substation powers Baxter, Frankston, Frankston South, Mount Eliza, and Somerville in Victoria. Frankston South (FSH) 66/22kV zone substation (ZSS) […]
Minimising bushfire risk through trusted partnerships
Kody Cook Electricity, Powerlines, Projects, Sponsored Editorial 0Following Victoria’s devastating 2009 bushfires, 45 substations in the highest bushfire risk areas in the state were mandated to install Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL) technology. This included electricity lines originating from Jemena’s Coolaroo Zone Substation. To undertake these significant works, Jemena partnered with Zinfra, a service provider they could trust to get the job done. A REFCL is […]
VIC Gov unveils energy sector jobs program
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Safety and Training, Spotlight 0The Victorian Government has unveiled its Earn and Learn program, designed to help Gippsland residents looking to kickstart a new career in the clean energy sector. Victorian Minister for Employment, Vicki Ward, visited Alinta Energy in Morwell to meet workers who are participating in a Jobs Victoria energy project providing training and job opportunities for people who have previously struggled […]
Project EnergyConnect receives leading sustainability rating
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Projects, Spotlight, Sustainability 0The Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) has awarded Transgrid’s EnergyConnect project a design sustainability rating of ‘leading’, in recognition of industry-leading initiatives in the design and delivery of the critical interconnector. It is the first project to receive an official sustainability rating in Australia. Transgrid Chief Executive Officer, Brett Redman, said, “Transgrid and our construction partner Elecnor Australia are going above […]
Powerlink hits new milestone in Bouldercombe Substation project
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Projects, Spotlight, Transformers and Switchgear 0Powerlink’s Bouldercombe Substation project has achieved a new milestone with the delivery of a high voltage transformer weighing more than 200t. The Bouldercombe Substation is one of the largest substations that services Central Queensland. The substation is also home to a grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), known as Big Bessie, owned by Genex. The transformer left Gladstone Port around […]
Transgrid releases updated Preferred Route Report for VNI West
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Projects, Spotlight 0Transgrid has modified the preferred route for its VNI West project, outlined in its Preferred Route Report. In response to feedback from recent consultations, the Preferred Route Report details a significant change to move the proposed transmission line further away from Moulamein, extending the buffer for the township to nearly 6km. Transgrid VNI West Project Director, Colin Mayer, said, “Transgrid […]
VIC EMR finds hardship customers likely to have higher energy bills
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Retail, Spotlight 0The Victorian Essential Services Commission has released its March 2024 Victorian Energy Market Report (VEMR), which covers the period from 1 October to 31 December 2023. Published quarterly, the VEMR aims to help customers understand how the energy retail market works and what they need to do to get the best out of it. It also highlights key compliance and […]
$1B funding for new ARENA solar PV manufacturing program
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Policy, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight 0The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has welcomed $1 billion in funding to establish the Solar Sunshot program. The Federal Government announced the establishment of the program, designed to help unlock domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing across the entire supply chain and grow solar PV manufacturing in Australia, which outlines a pathway to the commercialisation of local solar PV innovation. […]
Marinus Link project transitions to tri-government ownership
Steph Barker Embedded networks, News, Projects, Spotlight 0The Marinus Link project has officially transitioned to joint ownership between the Victorian and Tasmanian State Governments, and the Federal Government. The three-part equity ownership is divided as 49 per cent ownership by the Federal Government, 33.3 per cent by the Victorian State Government, and 17.7 per cent by Tasmanian State Government. Marinus Link Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Wykamp, said, […]
Cable spool management system challenging industry standard
Kody Cook Electricity, Sponsored Editorial 0Nexans Mobiway™ Boost, a revolutionary cable spool management system that challenges a longstanding industry standard, addresses the inconveniences associated with traditional spools, offering seamless solutions. Designed with the user in mind, the inner drum within the cable spool ensures a safer unspooling and rewinding process, whereas its integrated handle provides convenient and ergonomic carrying, a feature which improves overall handling. […]
Sydney Zoo reaches milestone in renewable energy transition
Steph Barker News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight 0Sydney Zoo has reached a milestone in its partnership with EnergyAustralia, designed to help the zoo transition to renewable energy. Installation is complete on 602 solar panels across eight buildings at the 41 acre zoo, estimated to negate more than 200t of CO₂ associated with the zoo’s electricity consumption in the first year alone while meeting the complex energy needs […]
ARENA and WA Gov to fund $5.7M long duration energy storage trial
Steph Barker Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Projects, Spotlight 0The Western Australia Government and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) have announced they will each provide $2.85 million in funding to trial two long-duration energy storage (LDES) batteries run by Horizon Power. The LDES batteries will be located in remote communities powered by regional microgrids, and are designed to help Horizon Power diversify long-duration battery solutions for extreme climates. […]
APA opens Australia’s largest remote grid solar farm
Kody Cook Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Spotlight 0The Dugald River Solar Farm (DRSF) is now open in the Mount Isa region, with APA Group’s 88MW project officially becoming the largest remote grid solar farm in Australia. The farm is supporting MMG, Mount Isa Mines and New Century with solar energy firmed by gas from APA’s nearby Diamantina Power Station. The solar farm also supports APA’s goal to […]
AER releases Default Market Offer, prices tipped to fall
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Retail, Spotlight 0The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released its draft determination of the Default Market Offer (DMO) for electricity prices in 2024-25. Known as DMO 6, the draft determination sets out the approach the AER intends to take to determine the final DMO price which will be released in May. The draft determination is subject to public consultation and stakeholder feedback, […]
Powercor identifies potential microgrid sites
Steph Barker Disaster Management, Electricity, News, Spotlight, Stakeholder Engagement 0Powercor has identified three areas in Victoria’s central highlands region that could be home to several community-scale microgrids, as part of a package of new resilience measures being tested and explored by the electricity distributor. The towns of Ballan, Trentham and Lancefield have been identified as potential locations for a microgrid – a standalone power network backed by a large-scale […]
VIC Essential Services Commission releases draft Default Offer
Steph Barker Electricity, News, Retail, Spotlight 0The Victorian Government’s Essential Services Commission (ESC) has released its draft decision on the 2024–25 Victorian Default Offer and is seeking feedback from the public. The draft decision proposes to reduce the Victorian Default Offer by around $112 (or 6.4 per cent) for residential customers and around $266 (or seven per cent) for small business customers from 1 July 2024. […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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