The Victorian Government has given renewable energy developer BrightNight the green light to begin construction on the $700 million Mortlake Energy Hub in the state’s south-west. The project will combine a 360MW solar energy facility with a 300MW battery energy storage system, capable of powering 140,000 homes and cutting emissions by 41.4 million tonnes annually. The project is expected to [...]
South Australian households have been invited to participate in an energy-smart trial to save money on their energy bills. The $13.8 million program is being led by SA Power Networks, who contributed $2.8 million to the initiative. It will bring together a unique group of industry partners, selected for their expertise in their respective fields. The Energy Masters program was [...]
A partnership between the Federal and Queensland governments to deliver a new solar and storage program aims to share the benefits of solar between households, including renters, apartment dwellers and vulnerable Queenslanders. Up to 5500 households in Caloundra and Townsville are set to benefit from the installation of shared solar systems, which is expected to save up to $800 a [...]
Hunter Water’s Balickera Water Pump Station has received the first electricity from its 3.1MW solar farm, helping power the station’s large pumps and other water assets. The renewable energy initiative is now complete, bringing Hunter Water’s total renewable energy generation to more than 6MW. The installation involved approximately 5500 ground-mounted solar panels over 3 ha adjacent to Balickera Pump Station, [...]
Pacific Energy and Horizon Power have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) to provide electricity to the coastal Gascoyne community as part of efforts to decarbonise one of Western Australia’s key tourist destinations. Under the agreement, Horizon Power will provide power to Exmouth with a mix of large-scale and rooftop solar, battery storage, and, only when needed, gas-fired generation. [...]
EnergyCo has opened registrations for the community reference groups for the New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) transmission project. The two community reference groups will be established for the project to represent communities in the REZ, as well as communities between the REZ and Bayswater in the south, near Muswellbrook. The community reference groups will provide a unique opportunity for local [...]
Australia is emerging as a global leader in sustainable development, driven by engineering innovation. With a focus on renewable energy, green infrastructure and cutting-edge technologies, these professionals are tackling some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Here are five standout Australian projects that highlight this commitment to a more sustainable future: 1. Pioneering renewable energy projects Australia’s abundant natural [...]
Stanwell has signed a 15-year deal to purchase renewable energy from Genex’s Bulli Creek Solar Farm – set to become the largest grid-connected solar farm in Australia. Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo) has also signed a five-year contract to deliver operations and maintenance (O&M) services for Genex’s 50MW Kidston Solar Farm. Stanwell CEO, Michael O’Rourke, said, “Our partnership with [...]
In a significant milestone for the facility, all solar panels have now been installed at APA Group’s Port Hedland Solar Farm and Battery project. The scope of the project includes the construction of the 45MWAC Port Hedland Solar Photovoltaic (PV) generation facility and a 35MW/36.7MWh battery energy storage system, which will supply renewable energy for large mining customers in [...]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has opened the first phase of its $1 billion Solar Sunshot program, which aims to support innovation in solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing. Solar Sunshot was announced by the Federal Government in March 2024 and the program guidelines have been designed following a period of extensive consultation. ARENA CEO, Darren Miller, said the program aims [...]
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has published its 2024 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report, which provides a ten-year outlook of investment requirements to maintain reliability for Australia’s National Electricity Market (NEM). The report highlights that expected investments in new generation, storage and transmission must be delivered on time and in full to maintain a reliable supply of electricity [...]
All of Barwon Water’s facilities are now powered by 100 per cent clean energy, marking a key milestone for the Victorian water sector’s goal to source all electricity from renewables by 2025. Victorian Minister for Water, Harriet Shing, and Minister for Climate Action, Lily D’Ambrosio, were among guests who celebrated the achievement at Barwon Water’s Torquay Tank, which features a [...]
AusNet is set to start construction of the electricity transmission connection for ENGIE’s Goorambat East Solar Farm, which, once completed, will transport renewable energy to an estimated 105,000 Victorian homes. AusNet will design, build, own and operate the transmission assets for the solar farm, which is located 12km north of Benalla in Victoria. When complete, the Goorambat East Solar Farm [...]
Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, has set out a plan to deliver the state’s future energy system and reach the target of 95 per cent renewable energy generation by 2035. The roadmap, Cheaper, cleaner, renewable: Our plan for Victoria's Electricity Future, lays the groundwork to transition Victoria to a cheaper and more reliable renewable energy future while [...]
Visitors can now secure their tickets to the All Energy Australia Exhibition and Conference – the largest clean energy event in the Southern Hemisphere. Returning to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), 23–24 October 2024, All Energy Australia is the industry's most electrifying event for clean energy professionals. The two-day conference and exhibition will showcase more than 400 leading national and [...]
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has introduced new rules that will enable customers to maximise value from flexible consumer energy resources (CER) and exercise greater control over their energy use. CER are smaller-scale energy resources owned by customers, which can produce, store, or vary how they use energy. There are newer forms of CER such as solar panels, batteries, and electric [...]
Horizon Power’s Smart Connect Solar program has reached its final milestone and has now been expanded to all towns in the utility’s service area. Enabled by Horizon Power’s Distributed Energy Resource Management System – DERMS – Smart Connect Solar has been completed ahead of schedule, enabling the regional energy provider to achieve its strategic goal of ensuring there are zero [...]
The shift to renewable and clean energy sources requires innovative engineering solutions that ensure reliability, cost-effectiveness and sustainability. On 22 August 2024, Engineers Australia will deliver the Climate Smart Engineering Conference (CSE24), an engaging, one-day program focused on a significant climate challenge – the clean energy transition. Engineers Australia CEO, Romilly Madew AO, said this conference is an opportunity to [...]
Australia possesses abundant solar resources due to its geographic location and climatic conditions. However, in order to harness theses resources, generation technology needs to be able to withstand the unique environmental challenges our climate presents. Utility looks at how innovative cable solutions tackled termite damage and ensured longevity at the 245MW Avonlie Solar Farm. Situated close to the equator, the [...]
Gippsland Water has renewed its Climate Change Strategy, building on the knowledge it has gained since the strategy was originally launched in 2017. This renewal sets ambitious new targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 – two decades earlier than first planned. Gippsland Water’s Managing Director, Sarah Cumming, said that as an essential services provider delivering drinking water and [...]
A new initiative from the New South Wales Government aims to help businesses and councils harness the power of renewable energy zones (REZs). The Energy Corporation of NSW (EnergyCo) has partnered with the Business Renewables Centre Australia (BRC-A) to help businesses understand how they can buy electricity directly from renewable energy generators such as solar and wind farms, and [...]
Power and Water Corporation has secured conditional support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for 16 community batteries on the Darwin–Katherine electricity grid. Once online, the batteries are expected to have a significant impact on local network constraints and will expand rooftop solar capacity, reduce emissions and keep power prices as affordable as possible. The $6.1 million Wurrumiyanga Solar [...]
Horizon Power has expanded its Smart Connect Solar program, with more than 2,400 additional homes in Exmouth, Sandstone, Denham, Gascoyne Junction and Mt Magnet now gaining access to rooftop solar. In an effort to support the Western Australian Government’s commitment to delivering clean energy solutions for regional Western Australia, Horizon Power is using distributed energy management system – DERMS – [...]
A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by AGL and Elecsome to undertake a feasibility study for the development of a solar panel recycling plant and solar cable manufacturing facility. The feasibility study will determine the engineering and infrastructure requirements as well as the key environmental and regulatory approvals required for the development, construction, and operation of both facilities. [...]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced a $100 million Solar ScaleUp Challenge, which aims to stimulate greater innovation and collaboration in the sector. The challenge invites innovators, developers, engineers, financiers and solar customers around the world to accelerate innovation in large-scale solar and help drive down costs – particularly in installation, operations and maintenance – enabling ARENA to [...]
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation (YEC) has received environmental approval for the first of several proposals, totalling 3GW of clean energy, as part of the Western Australia Government's Green Energy Approvals Initiative. The proposed projects could become one of Australia's largest renewable energy developments once complete. YEC, in partnership with ACEN Australia, received environmental approval for its first solar project of up [...]
The nation’s first Indigenous-owned and grid-connected solar microgrid has been launched in the remote Northern Territory community of Marlinja. Located in the Barkly region, Marlinja sits halfway between Alice Springs and Darwin, around 25km north of Elliot. Chantelle Johns, Marlinja resident and community organiser with non profit project developer Original Power said that this is a historic achievement for a [...]
A global sustainable development consultancy company has been awarded the role of Owner’s Engineer on Stage 1 of the Bulli Creek Solar Project, which is expected to become the largest grid-connected solar farm in Australia once completed. Renewable energy and storage developer, Genex, is developing the multi-stage development project and has selected Arup as its Owner’s Engineer. The project is [...]
The Victorian Government has launched the draft Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Community Benefits Plan for consultation. The plan recognises the important role that rural and regional communities are playing in the renewable energy transition by providing direct investment in projects that improve energy reliability and affordability for local communities. A REZ Community Energy Fund will be created in each of [...]
Energy Networks Australia’s Energy Network Conference and Exhibition is a biannual event that brings together leading experts, members and stakeholders from within the energy industry. Held in Adelaide in late March, this year’s conference discussed the transformation of the energy grid to provide services and value that the consumers of the 21st century demand. One of the conference’s keynote speakers was Laura Sandys, Chair of the UK Government’s Energy Data and Digitalisation Taskforces and a renowned expert in energy and sustainability.
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