The $15 million Kalbarri microgrid is now up and running, and will be one of the largest microgrids in the country which can run solely on renewable energy. Using entirely renewable wind and solar energy, the microgrid will provide greater power reliability for local tourism and retail operations, and for the broader community. The microgrid will be able to supply [...]
Shell has completed its acquisition of online energy retailer Powershop Australia, which will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell under the Powershop brand, serving 185,000 customers. The transaction has taken place through the 100 per cent acquisition of Meridian Energy Australia Group (MEA), the parent company of Powershop, by a consortium of Shell and Infrastructure Capital Group (ICG), [...]
The $373 million Kaban Green Power Hub has received its first massive wind turbine blades – with the 79m, 32t blades arriving in the Port of Cairns. The Kaban Green Power Hub is supporting more than 250 jobs in far north Queensland and will deliver enough renewable energy to power 96,000 Queensland homes. Once unloaded, the blades will be stored [...]
The Victorian Government has announced a $40 million funding boost for offshore wind projects, kickstarting three major projects across the state and potentially creating 5,600 jobs. As part of the Energy Innovation Fund, the Victorian Government is funding three major offshore wind projects – from Star of the South, Macquarie Group and Flotation Energy – bringing $18 billion in investment [...]
The Boulder Creek Wind Farm in Queensland has been granted planning consent for the installation of 60 wind turbines and associated infrastructure, positioning it as the first large scale wind farm development in the region and expected to create up to 350 jobs. The Boulder Creek Wind Farm site is located approximately 40km south-west of Rockhampton, between Mount Morgan and [...]
The Federal Government has released new legislation to establish a framework for offshore electricity projects, including the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of offshore electricity transmission cables and renewable energy generation, including offshore wind projects. The long awaited legislation, The Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021, is hoping to unblock a wave of investment in offshore electricity generation and transmission projects, [...]
Barwon Water, Barwon Health and GeelongPort are joining forces to transition towards 100 per cent renewable electricity and zero net emissions – through a newly formed Barwon Region Renewable Energy Project (BRREP) collective. The BRREP is about to launch a Request for Proposal (RFP) from renewable energy project developers, for provision of 68GW hours a year of renewable electricity via [...]
Aquarevo, Victoria’s most water-sustainable residential development, has achieved a 7-star energy efficiency breakthrough with the release of the final lots at its Lyndhurst community. The 24-lot Ecorevo precinct is the conclusion of an UDIA award-winning collaboration between developer Villawood Properties and South East Water on the 470-lot Aquarevo project. Located on a decommissioned water purification plant, Aquarevo offers up to [...]
TransGrid has relaunched its commercial arm under the new name Lumea, to provide infrastructure services to renewable energy generators and enable more renewable energy projects to join the National Electricity Market. Lumea also provides carrier grade telecommunications services to over 100 wholesale, government and emergency services customers. Lumea has a portfolio of over 9,000MW of renewable energy projects that are [...]
The Victorian Government has announced a new Climate Change Strategy and interim targets to secure Victoria’s position as a leader in tackling climate change. The strategy will keep Victoria on track to meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050, while also seizing the opportunities of climate action – advancing technology, investing in new industries and creating Victorian jobs. [...]
In an Australian-first, Federation University Australia is set to build a wind turbine training tower in Ballarat, giving students first-hand experience of working in the wind industry. The tender for construction of the 23m tower has been released, with construction expected to start on the Mount Helen campus by July 2021. The tower has been designed with ladders and safety [...]
Thanks to a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), AGL and Wärtsilä will jointly deliver large-scale hybrid energy systems for commercial and industrial customers. The agreement will allow the development of systems which integrate renewable behind-the-meter and off-grid technologies to improve energy efficiencies and supply. AGL Chief Operating Officer, Markus Brokhof, said AGL is excited to be developing these innovative [...]
by Eliza Booth, Journalist A reliable power system needs adequate levels of system strength and inertia, which to date have been provided by traditional synchronous generators. A lack of system strength or inertia within the power system brings with it an increased risk of system instability and supply interruptions. Here, we take a look at what inertia is, the role [...]
Flinders University is implementing a number of renewable energy initiatives to reach its target of net-zero emissions from electricity from 2021 onwards, including a new electricity supply agreement across all of its South Australian campuses. The South Australian university’s campuses are now entirely powered by renewable energy from solar arrays and a local wind farm. The university has signed a [...]
In its recently released Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, the New South Wales Government has revealed an energy plan to create over 9,000 jobs and inject $32 billion of private investment into the state by 2030. The roadmap lays out the government’s 20-year plan to deliver Renewable Energy Zones, energy storage such as pumped hydro, and on-demand supply like gas and batteries [...]
Western Australia’s recently published Whole of System Plan (WOSP) has provided a 20-year forecast on the future of the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), indicating a significant increase in renewable generation. The plan models four scenarios detailing how changes in demand, technology and the economy may shape the way the state uses electricity, and guide the investments made over the [...]
Powerlink has signed an agreement to deliver system strength support to Neoen’s 157MW Kaban Green Power Hub, via the installation of a synchronous condenser. The agreement will make Powerlink Queensland the first transmission company in Australia to deliver system strength services, laying the foundation for more renewable energy projects in Queensland. Under the new plan, Powerlink will install a synchronous [...]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $5 million in funding for TransGrid to conduct a feasibility study to develop New South Wales’ Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The $16.2 million study will assess the technical and commercial options for the development of new high voltage transmission lines to enable Australia’s first coordinated REZ and demonstrate a pathway [...]
AusNet Services has commenced community consultation on the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project. Described as Victoria’s most critical transmission network project in three decades, it aims to deliver clean and affordable energy to customers across the state. When fully operational in 2025, the Western Victoria Transmission Network Project will see approximately 190km of overhead transmission line and infrastructure constructed, substantially [...]
A new study has found that Australia’s renewables sector currently employs over 25,000 people – a number which could reach 44,000 by 2025. Released by the Clean Energy Council, the study Clean Energy At Work follows research by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney. It represents the largest study of current and projected employment in Australia’s renewables [...]
Construction on the Silverton Wind Farm has been completed, with the $450 million project now generating at full capacity after successful testing. All 58 turbines are now running and generating for the grid. The wind farm is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 655,000 tonnes annually – the equivalent of taking 192,000 cars off the road annually. One of the [...]
Renewable energy, including the Battery of the Nation and Marinus Link, will form a key part of the Tasmanian Government’s plan to rebuild the state’s economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. The draft Renewable Energy Action Plan lays out the Tasmanian Government’s strategy to leverage renewables’ potential as a measure for economic recovery, driving growth, attracting investment and creating jobs for [...]
The Granville Harbour Wind Farm will capitalise on Tasmania’s enviable wind potential while helping the state achieve its target of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2022. Zinfra, one of Australia's leading utility infrastructure service providers, was responsible for designing and constructing the transmission line connecting the wind farm to the grid, giving the wind farm a physical connection to [...]
Horizon Power has awarded the Power Purchase Agreement for the supply of electricity to the town of Esperance, WA to Contract Power Australia (CPA). The awarding of the contract follows a comprehensive and rigorous two-year, three-stage procurement process undertaken by Horizon Power. Horizon Power CEO, Stephanie Unwin, said Horizon Power has been able to achieve a long-term power solution for [...]
The Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) has published the 2019 Performance Audit and Asset Management System Review and the Post Audit Implementation Plan for EDWF Holdings 1 Pty Ltd and EDWF Holdings 2 Pty Ltd’s (trading as Emu Downs Wind Farm Joint Venture) electricity generation licence EGL1. Emu Downs is equally owned by EDWF Holdings 1 Pty Ltd and EDFW Holdings [...]
The massive $280 million Granville Harbour Wind Farm is taking shape with the successful construction of a switching station and 11km of transmission line, in preparation for injecting 112MW of clean, zero-emissions energy into the grid. Minister for Energy, Guy Barnett, said the construction marks another milestone ‘Tasmania First’ energy policy, which hopes to make Tasmania fully renewable and have [...]
A new $350 million wind farm south-west of Gladstone has been approved by the Queensland Government, adding to the big surge in wind power now coming online in the state. Located in an area known for its strong overnight winds, the Banana Range Wind Farm will produce most of its power when the sun goes down. Minister for Planning, Cameron [...]
The ACT now has infrastructure in place to achieve 100 per cent renewable electricity in 2020 and beyond, the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, announced. Through the ACT’s successful reverse auction scheme, the Hornsdale 3 Wind Farm in South Australia began its contract on 1 October 2019. It is the last renewable infrastructure contracted for the ACT [...]
Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Shane Rattenbury, has announced that the ACT will conduct a renewable electricity ‘reverse auction’ to future proof the state’s 100 per cent renewable future. The ACT will conduct the reverse auction to build new renewable electricity supply, ensure its growing city remains 100 per cent renewable into the next decade and construct a large-scale [...]
Read the latest issue online
Sponsored Content
-
NHP and Socomec partner to boost connectivity and sustainability October 4, 2024
Australian specialist in power distribution, motor control and automation system...
-
High-tech solutions for road maintenance October 4, 2024
Simex’s range of attachments are designed for accuracy and reliability, ensuri...
-
Hitachi Energy empowers utilities for sustainable energy future September 26, 2024
Hitachi Energy is building on a combined heritage of more than 240 years of inno...
-
Longevity and trust for Tassie project success September 23, 2024
As the owner and operator of the electricity transmission and distribution netwo...
-
Creating a greener future: 5 Australian projects leading the way September 18, 2024
Australia is emerging as a global leader in sustainable development, driven by e...
