by Sheri Cleary, Client Relationship Executive, CSC Industry experts all over the world agree – power grids are becoming more complex. They need to be capable of handling various forms of energy, from traditional thermal sources like coal and gas, to newer sources like solar, wind and hydroelectric. They must also support distributed generation and energy-efficient technologies. Most importantly, they [...]
“The Australian utility market has undergone many changes in the last few years including privatisation, renewable energy push, increase in demand and more compliance – the dynamics are changing rapidly.” Australian Utility week recently spoke to Leo Quinn, Asset Management Consultant, Meridium in an interesting and in-depth interview. In this interview, the company asked Leo to explain how the Connected [...]
Weipa Solar Plant (QLD) has successfully commenced commercial operation at Rio Tinto’s Weipa bauxite mine's processing facilities and the township on the Western Cape York Peninsula. The plant is Australia’s first commercial diesel displacement solar plant. First Solar is the project partner of the Weipa Solar PV owned plant. The Weipa Solar Plant will generate electricity for Rio Tinto’s Weipa [...]
AGL’s Broken Hill solar plant in western New South Wales has begun generating, with 26 MW of renewable energy feeding into the National Electricity Market for the first time. When complete, the 53 MW Broken Hill Solar Plant will be Australia’s second largest large-scale solar plant behind its sister 102 MW Nyngan Solar Plant. All 678,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules [...]
Voyages Ayers Rock Resort will soon be powered by the desert sun, with enough solar photovoltaic (PV) panels installed to meet a third of the peak power needs at the site. The project will integrate 1.8 MW of renewable energy into the existing power system via five ground and roof mounted solar PV systems ranging from 150 kW to 1 [...]
Ergon Energy and Mitsubishi Motors Australia have announced a partnership that will see eight electric vehicles (EVs) join the regional electricity distributor’s passenger fleet this year. The company is also finalising a lease offer to employees that could see up to a further 100 EVs taken on for private use later in the year. Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety [...]
The Nyngan Solar plant (NSW) has generated 60,000MWh of renewable energy since first opening in mid 2015, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Since achieving full generation in June 2015, the plant has been sending 102 MW of solar-generated electricity into the National Electricity Market. ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, said the successful beginning of Nyngan’s operations was a [...]
$350million in new funding initiatives have been announced by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). The funding could see between four to ten large-scale solar farms built across Australia. ARENA marked the start of its large-scale solar competitive round, a $100million program that is seeking bids from major solar PV project proponents for [...]
An Australian-first solar energy project that uses Cloud Predictive Technology (CPT) to anticipate solar energy output has been launched in Karratha, WA. $2.3 million in support has been granted from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The project to supply 1MW of solar energy to the Karratha Airport was developed by the Webster Power Company (WPC) and is being overseen [...]
Australia's solar resource is increasingly becoming the energy source of choice for households. There are now more than 1.44 million households receiving energy from a rooftop solar PV system. At the larger end of the market, Australia’s solar sector is stepping up; catalysing innovation in utility-scale renewable energy and supply chains. On-ground experience Big solar PV projects supported by ARENA are building on-ground experience [...]
The Barron Gorge Hydro Power Station, one of Queensland’s oldest renewable energy facilities, is about to undergo a $1 million five-yearly maintenance program. Queensland Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said overhauling the Barron Gorge Hydro Power Station would ensure Far Northerners continued to receive clean and reliable energy. “This is going to be a tough job for the [...]
Origin’s ‘Solar as a Service’ system is set to see Victorian households and businesses turning to renewable energy without having to face the costs of solar PV systems. Research commissioned by Origin reveals that over 40 percent of Victorians surveyed consider the cost of installing a solar system as the main reason they have not yet made the move. Origin's [...]
Ergon Energy Retail is calling for detailed submissions from companies that can help expand Ergon’s commitment to sourcing renewable energy for its customers. Ergon is seeking expressions of interest for the supply of 150 megawatts of electricity from renewable sources. This is equivalent to the power requirements of a city the size of Mackay in north Queensland. Ergon’s retail business [...]
Ergon Energy has entered into a new partnership that will aim to generate 50 per cent of Queensland’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. Ergon is partnering with SunPower to offer photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems with energy storage technology, in what is the company’s first residential solar storage project to be piloted in a limited release commercial offer. According [...]
The first photovoltaic panels (PV) have been installed at NSW Moree Solar Farm (MSF). The farm is Australia’s largest solar array currently under construction. The 280 hectare farm in northern New South Wales, will supply 140,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year – enough electricity to power 15,000 homes and abate 95,000 tons of carbon pollution each year. It will use a [...]
A second ACT wind auction was recently opened by ACT Minister for the Environment, Simon Corbell. The auction could power up to 106,000 Canberra homes with clean, sustainable energy. “I am announcing the release of a further 200MW of capacity for wind projects across the National Electricity Market, providing the industry with an opportunity to bring forward their best projects [...]
Solar powered energy systems will soon be delivered to over 30 Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory. This initiative is part of the $55 million Solar Energy Transformation Program (SETuP), which includes $27.5 million funded through the Australian Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and $27.5 million by Power and Water Corporation through support from the NT Government. Michael Long, [...]
Ergon Energy Retail customers are set to trial the residential Hybrid Energy Service to determine if it will be offered across Regional Queensland in the future. The 12 month trial will be conducted in 33 homes across Townsville, Cannonvale and Toowoomba with larger household energy users targeted (e.g. four+ bedroom family homes). Ergon Energy understands that their customers want choice [...]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) hase announced $400,000 in support for Ergon Energy Queensland to explore a new approach for providing solar PV and battery storage systems to residential customers. ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, said the $2.6 million project was part of the growing momentum behind battery storage and could speed up the adoption of renewable energy. “The market [...]
Ergon Energy is working closely with government and industry to create an electric vehicle (EV) highway with Australia’s first solar-powered charging station in Townsville (QLD). With new analysis commissioned by the Energy Supply Association of Australia (esaa), released recently that found there could be almost 1 million electric and natural gas vehicles on our roads by 2025, Queensland is EV [...]
Solar system manufacturer Canadian Solar Australia has entered into a partnership with Reclaim PV Recycling from South Australia to reduce waste by recycling old or damaged solar panels. It is hoped that this initiative will become standard practice for all PV manufacturers operating in Australia to tackle the PV waste management challenge facing the solar industry. Canadian Solar will promote [...]
by Dr Graham Sinden and Jamie Mattison, Ernst & Young For more than a decade, the debate in Australia around renewable electricity generation has been simmering, alternating between fever pitch and benign interest. The popularity of renewables with consumers is undeniable, with EY research showing that nearly 90 per cent of Australians would consider switching to solar energy. However, electricity [...]
Around 100 years ago, Brisbane’s Municipal Council began removing human waste through an underground network of sewers. It was a revolution for public health and a big mark of progress for modern society. As awareness for environmental stewardship grew, local authorities moved onto both removing and treating that waste. Now, modern utility companies have embarked on a new frontier, not [...]
Sydney Water has been utilising biogas to operate cogeneration assets, which produce electricity and heat, since 1999. The renewable energy program has expanded over the last 15 years, and the cogeneration plants now produce around 15 per cent of the organisation’s energy needs, providing significant financial benefits from reduced electricity costs, a hedge against future power cost increases, as well [...]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced five priorities for new investment and a new, streamlined funding programme structure. ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, made the announcements and also released ARENA’s updated General Funding Strategy and Investment Plan at a stakeholder event in Sydney. The five priorities are: integrating renewables and grids renewables for use in industrial processes off grid [...]
AGL Energy Limited has confirmed that construction of the Broken Hill Solar Plant in western New South Wales is progressing on schedule, with half of the plant’s 650,000 solar PV modules installed. AGL’s Project Manager for the Broken Hill Solar Plant, Adam Mackett, said first generation from the 53 megawatt (MW) solar plant is expected to be achieved in the [...]
The Energy Networks Association has welcomed the recent announcement by Sun Edison of a new solar leasing offer in the energy market. Energy Networks Association Chief Executive Officer, John Bradley, said the solar market in Australia was among the most competitive in the world. “These kind of innovative products provide another option for customers to take up new energy technologies [...]
The Ararat Wind Farm (VIC) will soon be connected to the national electricity grid by Transmission General Holdings Australia (TGHA). The Ararat Wind Farm’s 75 turbines will deliver 242MW of renewable energy capacity into the grid. As part of the arrangement, TGHA will design and construct, own and operate the new terminal station and 21km of 132kV powerlines. TGHA’s Tim [...]
AGL Energy Limited has introduced a solar Smart Plan for Queensland customers. The new plan offers free installation of 3kW solar systems with payment only required for the solar energy consumed from the panels, rather than the energy produced from the panels. Available from 1 July, AGL’s solar Smart Plan has zero upfront costs and it is estimated customers could [...]
Origin has secured a 12-year $100million finance commitment from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to further develop rooftop solar offerings for Australian consumers. The finance will be utilised by Origin to support its Solar as a Service offering where customers can access the benefits of solar without purchasing the solar system. This sort of offering is also known as [...]
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