Helicopter powerline inspections will be used to inspect the Western Power network in Metro and South West areas of WA during the 2018 summer bushfire season. Specially trained fault crews will fly across thousands of kilometres of network powerlines, criss-crossing bush and agricultural land, looking for potential causes of power outages and directing ground crews to exact locations. Western Power’s […]
The latest project news, developments and opinion pieces from industry experts from Australia’s electricity industry.
Residents in Western Australia can now save money on their electricity bills by using their smartphone. Horizon Power customers can download the Horizon Power free app which enables them to see how and when they are using electricity, as well as estimating what their next bill is likely to be. Horizon Power’s Manager Customer Service, Terry Absolon, said the app […]
Six companies have received grants to support the rollout of solar battery storage in Canberra homes and businesses. A range of proposals were received from local and national businesses for the third stage of the Next Generation Energy Storage grants program. ActewAGL Retail, Harvey Norman Commercial Division, ITP Home Energy, Power Saving Centre, Solargain and SolarHub were successful in receiving […]
Australia’s first fully integrated solar, wind and battery project at the central Queensland Kennedy Energy Park will deliver a new model for renewable energy in Australia. While still in the early stages of construction, the successful completion of the hybrid project will help Australia in the transition to a clean energy future.
AusNet Services has secured an agreement with leading French renewable energy producer, Neoen, to develop the transmission connection for the 204MW ‘Bulgana Green Power Hub’ located near Stawell in the Wimmera region of central western Victoria. The Bulgana Green Power Hub will consist of 56 wind turbines and a 21MW/34MWh lithium-ion battery storage system which, once fully commissioned, are expected […]
Endeavour Energy has announced construction work on its South Marsden Park Zone Substation in NSW will start in January 2018. Endeavour Energy’s General Manager Network Development, Ty Christopher, said the company was investing $24.6 million to build the new zone substation at Hollinsworth Road within the Marsden Park Industrial Precinct. “This investment will underpin significant future growth in the area […]
Two new board members have been appointed to the Board of Western Power. Eva Skira and Denise Goldsworthy will replace outgoing directors, Sharon Warburton and Western Power’s longest serving current board member George Cash. Peter Iancov has also been re-appointed for a further term. Ms Skira has more than 20 years’ experience in senior roles across banking, financial markets and […]
Two global experts have found Tasmania’s undersea Basslink cable failed because it was run for too long. Expert reports provided to the company have concluded the Basslink cable link failed because Basslink Pty Ltd (BPL) operated it in a way that allowed the cable to exceed its temperature design limits, with the overheating and subsequent cooling of the cable causing […]
In 2017 the utility sector has seen billions invested into water infrastructure upgrades and rehabilitation as well as a focus on sustainable clean energy. As 2017 comes to a close, we take a look back at the top utility stories for the year as read by you. Major water and sewer projects underway in Brisbane $175 million dollars’ worth of […]
The Australian Government has released a report into its review of the country’s climate change policies which highlights the important role of gas in reducing the country’s emissions. The review was conducted by the Department of the Environment and Energy in 2017, to ensure the government’s climate change policies remained effective in achieving Australia’s 2030 target and Paris Agreement commitments. […]
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has published an interim report for its review into the market and regulatory frameworks that support reliability in the national electricity market (NEM). The interim report sets out the Commission’s initial views on: The key concepts of dispatchability and flexibility Forecasting and information processes needed to identify future gaps in electricity supplies The role […]
A new report released by the Australian Energy Market Commision (AEMC) predicts national residential electricity prices will fall on average over the next two years. According to the AEMC’s 2017 Residential electricity price trends report, the reduction will happen over the next two years from mid 2018, as more variable wind and solar generation comes online – offsetting 2017’s price […]
According to a number of new reports released by Energy Networks Australia, decarbonising gas in Australia by 2050 would be achievable if hydrogen, biogas, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) is applied to Australia’s extensive gas network infrastructure. Building on the landmark Gas Vision 2050, a new study by Deloitte Access Economics assesses how these technologies can be harnessed in […]
Residents in the regional town of Kaltukatjara in the Northern Territory can now access mobile phone and fixed broadband services after being connected to the national telecommunications network in November 2017. The Territory Government and Telstra have each allocated $5 million per year over three years from 2015-16 to 2017-18 through the Telstra/NT Government Co-Investment Program. To date the program […]
Australia has adopted an international product standard for battery storage following a commitment by Standards Australia at an industry roundtable discussion to fast track the development and adoption of appropriate product safety standards. Battery storage is becoming a key part of Australia’s energy future, with homes and businesses increasingly installing lithium-based products and systems. With this shift comes the need […]
Hydro Tasmania has launched a new Hybrid Energy Hub at Flinders Island that will transform the island’s power supply and provide another exceptional renewable showcase for remote communities around Australia and the world. Flinders Island has historically been dependent on diesel generation. The hub technology will make it 60 per cent renewably-powered, on average, using wind and solar. When there’s […]
The Australian Market Energy Commission (AEMC) has made a final rule in support of a competitive market in ‘behind the meter’ batteries and other distributed energy resources by limiting distribution network businesses’ ability to own and control these assets. Under the final rule, distribution network businesses will be restricted from earning regulated returns on distributed energy resources installed behind the […]
Construction has started on the $150 million Kennedy Energy Park near Hughenden in North Queensland with the first sod of soil turned. Kennedy Energy Park will comprise a 15 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant, 43.2MW wind plant and 2MW/4MWh of battery storage, and is being developed by Windlab and Eurus Energy Holdings. CS Energy Chairman, Jim Soorley, said the start […]
The first phase of the Mt Piper Power Station project is now viable to proceed to the next stage of development, including preparation of a comprehensive study of environmental impacts, according to findings from EnergyAustralia and Re.Group. The Mt Piper Power Station project marks an Australian-first energy recovery project that could generate reliable baseload electricity supply for an additional 40,000 […]
The energy sector is experiencing rapid change due to advances in new energy technologies such as demand response and open data. According to Energy Industry Consultant and Director of Chapel Group, Wayne Pales, to be a successful ‘digital utility’ utilities need to leverage digitised data or risk being left behind. Mr Pales said to be a successful digital utility, there […]
AGL has outlined plans to repurpose Liddell Power Station beyond its 2022 closure. The New South Wales Generation Plan proposes a mix of high-efficiency gas peakers, renewables, battery storage and demand response, coupled with an efficiency upgrade at Bayswater Power Station and conversion of generators at Liddell into synchronous condensers. The feasibility of a pumped hydro project in the Hunter […]
A $30 million energy partnership has been established to create an industrial-scale smart microgrid energy system, and integrated research and education platform. The Waurn Ponds Smart Energy Partnership between Deakin University and AusNet Services, through its Mondo Power advanced energy solutions group, will build a 7.25 megawatt (MW) smart microgrid, including a solar generation farm, a one megawatt battery storage capacity, […]
The Kidston Solar stage one project has generated its first revenue following successful transformer energisation. Electricity produced from the project is now being transmitted into the National Electricity Market (NEM). Electricity generation will be ramped-up until full capacity has been reached, at which point the 20-year Revenue Support Deed with the Queensland State Government will be initiated. Genex’s Managing Director, […]
A new report released by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has found that Australian electricity networks are improving their productivity at the fastest rate in more than a decade, resulting in lower electricity bills for customers. The AER annual benchmarking report tracks the performance of electricity networks and this data informs the amount networks charge their customers. Energy Networks Australia […]
Pacific Energy has signed a $7.5 million agreement to acquire the 10MW Nova gas-fired power generation plant (Nova) in Traralgon, Victoria. Nova was commissioned in 2014 as a high-efficiency/low emissions gas-fired power station to generate quick response to electricity demand in peak periods, funded partially by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The plant operates when the spot price of electricity […]
Two companies have entered into an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to design and construct a 250MW solar PV project in Balranald, NSW. The MOU will see Decmil and Maoneng work together on early engineering design and finalisation of an Engineer Procure Construct (EPC) contract valued at approximately $275 million. Subject to agreement on commercial terms and the project successfully […]
A new electricity trial in Victoria has been launched by Jemena to encourage households in Melbourne to change their 2017/18 summer electricity habits to reduce the states electricity grid. The new demand response pilot, which is a partnership with the Victorian Government, encourages households in Melbourne’s north to make small changes to their summer electricity usage that will have a […]
EnergyAustralia has extended a contract to supply electricity to Newcrest Mining’s Cadia gold mine near Orange in New South Wales for five more years. Managing Director, Catherine Tanna, said the contract, which now extends to June 2023, was one of the largest energy supply deals ever signed by EnergyAustralia. “All our customers – large and small – want the same […]
National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) will provide $4.8 million in funding for eight new clean energy projects across Australia. The projects include initiatives aimed at introducing clean technologies into the sector – a key priority area outlined in NERA’s Sector Competitiveness Plan, a ten year strategic roadmap for Australia’s oil, gas, coal and uranium industries. NERA CEO, Miranda Taylor, said […]
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