The Federal Government’s announcement of measures to reform the Australian energy industry – in response to the Finkel Report – has been met with mixed reactions. The measures announced by the government include: Finalise tough new regulations in the gas sector to give Australian customers priority access to gas supply before it is exported. This will commence on July 1 […]
The latest project news, developments and opinion pieces from industry experts from Australia’s electricity industry.
EnergyAustralia has completed its annual review of electricity and gas tariffs for New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland residential and business customers in 2017/18. EnergyAustralia’s Chief Customer Officer, Kim Clarke, said energy bills have increased across the country, with recent rises reflecting the impact of higher wholesale costs (the cost of buying electricity on behalf of customers) following the […]
The New South Wales Government has announced the 2017-18 State Budget, with funding to help protect the community, environment and support industry in the state. The NSW Government has expanded its emergency assistance to include more welfare groups that can offer the state’s most vulnerable energy customers help to pay electricity and gas bills, with rebates to total more than $1 […]
The Northern Territory Government has announced a new Chair for Power and Water Corporation. John Langoulant has been appointed to the position as a non-executive director, effective 20 June 2017 to 18 June 2021, after a thorough recruitment process. Northern Territory Treasurer, Nicole Manison, said, “Mr Langoulant brings extensive experience and expertise to the Power and Water Corporation Chair position […]
Yarra Valley Water’s $27 million waste to energy facility has opening in Wollert, Victoria, reducing landfill, cutting greenhouse emissions, and producing enough renewable energy to pay for itself. Minister for Water, Lisa Neville, said, “This project is a great example of our water authorities meeting the challenges of the future, including climate change and population growth – a key objective […]
Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have identified 185 sites in South Australia potentially suitable for pumped hydro storage. In light of Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel’s final report on the review of the electricity market’s security, Professor Andrew Blakers, the study’s lead researcher from the ANU Research School of Engineering, said the new findings provided a valuable contribution […]
A report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), confirms that there is no need for the Commonwealth to restrict Queensland’s LNG exports. The Energy Supply Outlook (ESO) is the first integrated assessment of gas and electricity supply adequacy for eastern and south-eastern Australia. Reflecting on both the government and market response following the March 2017 release of the Gas […]
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has published a consultation paper on a rule change request from Western Power relating to alternatives to grid-supplied network services. Western Power’s request considers there are regulatory barriers which prevent distribution businesses from providing off-grid electricity supply to remote consumers as an alternative to maintaining or replacing the long power lines which connect those […]
Government and industry leaders have welcomed the findings of the Finkel Report, commenting that its recommendations were necessary to secure the future of Australia’s energy. The final report, prepared by an Expert Panel and chaired by Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel AO, was released on 9 June 2017 and recommends action to create a reliable and affordable energy system, […]
The Western Australian Government has met with representatives from The University of Western Australia and key industry stakeholders to discuss options for the Wave Energy Centre of Excellence in Albany. This marks a major step forward for the McGowan Government’s $19.5 million commitment to develop the centre and invest in renewable energy for Albany. Bringing together universities and industry will […]
With renewable energy sources set to radically reshape global energy markets, they pose a threat to legacy operations of majors oil and gas companies, but also provide an opportunity to diversify and future-proof portfolios. Wood Mackenzie’s new report, Could renewables be the Majors’ next big thing?, takes a closer look at the value proposition in wind and solar, and the […]
With new digital technologies entering the market, the utilities industry is facing increasing pressure to improve both operational performance and customer relationships, and adopting a strategy to incorporate these technologies is imperative. In 2016, a report by IDC Energy Insights found external pressures on utilities for digital transformation are huge. “As consumers are empowered by the proliferation of IT interfaces […]
Significant customer-driven change is now inevitable in Australia’s electricity market, with the uptake of more renewable and distributed energy sources. Ahead of his presentation at the 2017 Australian Energy Storage Conference, Mark Vincent, Manager of Network Strategy at SA Power Networks, discusses what the industry must do to adapt to this change to meet customers’ future energy needs. In his […]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has opened a $22.5 million competitive funding round to drive innovation in demand response. The pilot program is a joint initiative with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) which will seek to trial demand response in the National Electricity Market. Through a competitive funding round, ARENA will provide up to $22.5 million in grants […]
A Clean Energy Target and a NEM-wide integrated grid plan, and increased notice for generator closure, are among the recommendations handed down by Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, in the final report of the Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market. The review was commissioned by federal and state energy ministers in 2016, following concerns […]
Australia’s energy markets are becoming more complex due to battery storage and rooftop solar, and diversifying the mix of energy sources can ensure the grid remains resilient, according to Dr Michael Ottaviano, CEO and Managing Director of Carnegie Clean Energy. For the last ten years, Carnegie Energy has been developing utility-scale solar power, wave energy and battery storage, as well […]
nbn trials of Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 3.1 technology on its Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) network have achieved downstream speeds of 1Gbps – on par with the top speed available for retailers on the nbn Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network. The trial delivered upstream speeds of 100 Mbps – more than double the current highest 40 Mbps upload retail […]
The Tasmanian Government, Aurora Energy and Goldwind have reached a principle agreement that will see a $300 million, 49 turbine wind farm developed at Wild Cattle Hill in the Central Highlands. Once complete, the wind farm will generate 144 MW, enough to power over 60,000 homes and increase wind generation capacity in Tasmania by nearly 50 per cent. Minister for […]
Construction has begun on Crookwell 2 wind farm’s 28 turbines, marking a major milestone in the ACT’s push for 100 per cent renewable electricity. Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, said, “The farm will generate over 300,000 megawatt-hours per year of clean, renewable electricity each year which is enough to power around 42,000 Canberra homes and ensure we […]
The CSIRO has released a Low Emissions Technology Roadmap, outlining a range of possible future technology pathways. The Federal Government tasked the CSIRO to develop a Low Emissions Technology Roadmap to highlight areas of potential growth in Australia’s clean technology sector, map the development of new emissions reduction technologies, and identify opportunities to be part of future global energy supply […]
The Queensland Government will restart Stanwell Corporation’s 385MW Swanbank E gas-fired power station to increase supply and reduce volatility in the Queensland wholesale market. State Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, said that in the height of the asset sales frenzy in 2014, Stanwell placed the Swanbank E Power Station into cold storage and sold the associated gas entitlements in readiness for a […]
The Queensland Government has announced a new plan to invest $386 million in a range of energy projects, aimed at boosting the North Queensland economy and support 5000 jobs. Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, announced the Powering North Queensland plan as a part of the 2017 State Budget. “Our plan will not only deliver investment and jobs to North Queensland but […]
In a new proposal by Offshore Energy, Gippsland has been identified as the potential location for Australia’s first offshore wind farm. The proposal includes up to 250 wind turbines within a 574-square kilometre area, which would deliver around 8,000GWh of electricity per year. This is approximately 18 per cent of Victoria’s power usage or enough to power 1.2 million homes. […]
AGL has received a development permit from the Queensland Government to build up to 115 turbines for the Coopers Gap Wind Farm, making it the largest in the state. Coopers Gap Wind Farm, located 180km north-west of Brisbane, has an approved capacity of up to 460 MW, which would produce around 1,400 GWh of renewable energy, powering more than 240,000 […]
The Queensland Government is set to invest $770 million in an attempt to lower energy prices for consumers in response to an increase in regional electricity prices set by the independent Queensland Competition Authority (QCA). Queensland Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, said the QCA’s final determination on regulated retail electricity prices for regional Queensland in 2017-18 is unacceptable and the Queensland Government […]
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has published its tenth annual State of the energy market report, highlighting the increasing interdependence of the wholesale gas and electricity markets and the tightening supply and demand in the market. “For ten years, the AER has reported to policy-makers, industry and the Australian community on the state of the energy market,” AER Chair Paula […]
AGL has created two new leadership positions in its executive team designed to maximise opportunities in specific markets. AGL Energy Limited (AGL) announced the appointment of Melissa Reynolds to the newly created role of Chief Customer Officer and the promotion of Richard Wrightson to the position of Executive General Manager, Wholesale Markets. Ms Reynolds and Mr Wrightson will report to […]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is seeking industry information regarding concentrated solar thermal (CST) projects and how they may generate reliable, affordable renewable energy with built-in storage for our national grids. The new call aligns with the Federal Government’s offer to make up to $110 million available for an equity investment to accelerate and secure delivery of a CST […]
The Federal Court has upheld the Australian Competition Tribunal decision to set aside key aspects of the Australian Energy Regulator’s (AER) original 2014-2019 revenue determination for NSW and ACT Networks. By law, the Tribunal cannot overturn decisions unless it results in a better outcome for customers. The relevant energy networks will work closely with the AER following the Federal Court’s […]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $20 million in funding for solar photovoltaic (PV) research and development. This is ARENA’s third competitive research and development funding round which seeks to drive innovation to make solar PV more affordable, more efficient and more competitive. ARENA Chief Executive Officer Ivor Frischknecht said this would help reduce the future cost of […]
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