The New South Wales Government has approved multiple wind and solar projects and is on track to deliver enough renewable energy to power more than 1.5 million homes. Throughout 2023, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure finalised 18 renewable energy state significant development assessments including three wind farms, six solar farms and nine large-scale batteries. Of these, 13 were [...]
AGL has announced a joint venture with Someva Renewables to develop the Pottinger Energy Park, to be located within the New South Wales gazetted South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The Pottinger Energy Park is expected to consist of a 1.2GW wind farm, 300MW solar farm and 500MW/2000MWh battery energy storage system. The proposed park location is 60km south of [...]
The Western Australian Parliament has passed the Electricity Industry Amendment (Distributed Energy Resources) Bill 2023, which includes a new State Electricity Objective and streamlined electricity regulations. The Electricity Industry Amendment (Distributed Energy Resources) Bill 2023, which amends the Electricity Industry Act 2004, is the first major update of sector-wide electricity legislation in 20 years. The bill introduces a new State [...]
The Queensland Government has announced plans to almost double the capacity of Wambo Wind Farm in the state’s southwest, adding an extra 41 turbines to the project. The Queensland Government had previously committed to a 42 turbine wind farm in Jandowae, with an extra 41 turbines to be added to the project. The government said the additional turbines are expected [...]
Final testing is underway on the Wurrumiyanga Solar Infill and Energy Storage Pilot Project, which is set to provide a 1.1MW solar array and a 3MWh energy storage system to the region. Once testing of the battery system is complete at Berrimah, it will be transported to Wurrumiyanga where another round of testing will take place to ensure successful integration [...]
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has released the first ever national guide on cooperation with First Nations people on renewable energy projects, which outlines meaningful engagement, consent, participation and benefit-sharing. This new guide sets out expectations for industry and details key considerations for engagement at each stage of a project’s life cycle. Co-authored by the CEC and KPMG, Leading Principles: [...]
The Pilbara Hydrogen Hub is set to proceed with the Western Australian and Federal Governments committing a joint $140 million investment. The Pilbara Hydrogen Hub is expected to become a major centre for hydrogen production and export, with the potential to become an international gateway to Australian-made green steel and iron. The project is set to support almost 1,000 direct [...]
Queensland’s publicly owned utility, CleanCo, has commenced construction works on a $330 million battery in Swanbank, in a partnership with Tesla and Yurika. Queensland Premier, Steven Miles, Deputy Premier, Cameron Dick, and Energy Minister, Mick de Brenni, marked the start of construction on what is expected to be one of Queensland’s biggest batteries. A pivotal component for the Swanbank Clean [...]
Key bottlenecks preventing renewable energy projects from being completed in Western Australia have been identified in a new report prepared for the Australian Energy Council. Roadblocks including a lack of new electricity transmission planning and investment, along with lengthy, costly and opaque grid connection processes, risk derailing Western Australia’s plans to decarbonise and bring new renewables and dispatchable plants onto [...]
With the State Government’s Home and Businesses Battery Scheme (HBBS) making the purchase and installation of batteries more accessible, the Northern Territory has the highest rate of up-take of solar battery storage in Australia. The HBBS has reached a major milestone with more than 2,000 territory homes and businesses with a rooftop solar system now having battery storage installed under [...]
A new wind farm in the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) has been approved by the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission. The $569 million project must abide by strict conditions such as fewer turbines than originally proposed. Bowmans Creek Wind Farm, owned by Ark Energy, sought approval for Bowmans Creek Wind Farm (SSD-10315), a state significant development which [...]
By Sze-Fei Peng, Principal Environmental Engineer/Sector Lead – Waste & Resource Recovery, Tonkin + Taylor In a Victorian first, Melbourne’s Clarke Road metropolitan closed landfill site is set to be transformed into a utility-scale renewable energy facility. In preparation for this new infrastructure, the property owner collaborated with Tonkin + Taylor (T+T) and Chadwick Geotechnics to repurpose the site and [...]
Australia's solar energy market stands at the forefront of renewable innovation, experiencing unprecedented growth and transforming the nation's energy landscape. To maximise this power on a national scale, comprehensive transmission strategies and grid integration technologies are essential. Fueled by abundant sunlight and a commitment to sustainability, Australia has emerged as a global leader in harnessing solar power. Unlike conventional power [...]
When it comes to decarbonising the economy, Australia has the potential to punch above its weight to become a renewable energy superpower. Achieving this ambition, however, will require significant investment into the industries of tomorrow. Initiatives such as ARENA’s Hydrogen Headstart have a critical role to play.
New South Wales and Tokyo have signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), one with a focus on hydrogen energy. New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns, and the Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko, signed an updated agreement solidifying a continued partnership in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the New South Wales–Tokyo Sister State Agreement. The first MoU marked a renewed [...]
Global digital infrastructure company Equinix and clean energy enterprise TagEnergy have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for a total of 151MW from the Golden Plains Wind Farm (GPWF). Equinix said that, once operational in 2029, the PPA will supply enough energy to cover its 17 international business exchange (IBX) data centres across Australia and will help the company achieve [...]
A roadmap released by the Australian Photovoltaic Institute (APVI) has outlined a pathway for Australia to develop a domestic solar PV industry and how it could overcome potential challenges across the supply chain. The report, titled Silicon 2 Solar, was supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and developed by the APVI in collaboration with Deloitte and a group [...]
The Federal Government has announced plans to develop the Townsville Region Hydrogen Hub in North Queensland with an investment of up to $70 million. The Federal Government said the project delivers on its election commitment to establish a hydrogen hub in North Queensland. The project is expected to create at least 200 direct job opportunities for local electricians, plumbers, fitters [...]
Origin Energy has approved construction of a large-scale battery, committing approximately $400 million to the project to be located at Mortlake Power Station in south-west Victoria. The Mortlake Power Station battery is designed to have a capacity of 300MW and is expected to deliver output of up to 650MWh, which Origin said will help to firm variable renewables supply and [...]
Boundary Power’s Hydrogen Integrated Stand-Alone Power System (HiSAPS) demonstration unit is Australia’s first relocatable hydrogen SAPS. We take a look at this ambitious project, and how Boundary Power’s adaptability allowed it to work with multiple collaborators to deliver it. The first HiSAPS demonstration unit was unveiled in October 2023, at the Ampcontrol manufacturing site in Ringwood, Victoria. Today, it is [...]
By Stephanie Barker, Assistant Editor, Utility magazine Endeavour Energy has officially launched the Bawley Point and Kioloa community microgrid, denoting a huge success for the utility’s plan to improve grid reliability in the area. We spoke to Endeavour Energy's Future Grid Strategy Manager, Dr James Hazelton, one of the key drivers of the project, to discuss the project and how [...]
With the drive toward carbon neutrality becoming increasingly prevalent in Australia, it’s critical for utilities to be on the lookout for technologies that can keep their operations as sustainable as possible. As part of an ongoing effort to reduce its carbon footprint, Sydney Water is powering the construction of a major infrastructure project with hydrogen.
Charles Darwin University (CDU) has produced hydrogen in the Northern Territory for the first time in a step towards establishing a hydrogen generation industry in the Territory. CDU said it will use its unique facility to develop skilled workers who are crucial for a successful renewable energy and green hydrogen industry in the Northern Territory. The facility will also serve [...]
The Tasmanian Government has announced a new plan whereby the approval process for new renewable energy projects will be streamlined. Minister for Energy and Renewables, Nick Duigan, said in a new move to secure the ongoing expansion of the sector, a dedicated approvals pathway will assist the continuing rollout of major renewable energy projects. “I’m very pleased to be progressing [...]
Ausgrid has commenced work on the Merriwa Microgrid, its first microgrid, to be located at the Ausgrid Depot and delivered in partnership with Yurika in 2024. Ausgrid said the microgrid will ensure off-network power supply to key business and community services in Merriwa during extreme weather outages. The microgrid is expected to keep 28 properties – deemed essential by the [...]
EnergyAustralia has announced plans to develop a new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located next to its Hallett Power Station in Canowie, 210km north of Adelaide. The Hallett BESS would have an initial storage capacity of 50MW with discharge capacity of up to 200MWh, and be able to power up to 81,000 homes and small businesses for four hours. EnergyAustralia [...]
The Federal Government has committed a $70 million investment to develop the Bell Bay hydrogen hub in Northern Tasmania, which it says will advance Australia’s future as a renewable energy superpower while creating regional jobs. The project is set to generate around 740 jobs in management and maintenance – such as engineers and technicians – while hub construction is expected [...]
The Queensland Government has announced a $179 million investment in the next stages of its local network connected batteries program. The funding, sourced from the Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, will see 12 new local network-connected batteries installed across the state for stages three and four of its local network-connected batteries program. The package will also enable the [...]
Work has begun on a $238.5 million upgrade to Water Corporation's Woodman Point Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), Western Australia's largest water resource recovery facility. Located in Munster, the facility collects and safely treats 150 million litres of wastewater daily, from around 900,000 homes and businesses in Perth's southern suburbs. Water Corporation said the upgrades will set a new benchmark [...]
In its 2023 Sustainability Report, Snowy Hydro has highlighted its commitment to environmental responsibility and community support, and announced the expansion of its deal with Squadron Energy’s Uungula Wind Farm. The report highlights three prioritised sustainability opportunities for 2023–24: Understanding and mitigating risks associated with climate change Emissions reduction and facilitating the decarbonisation of the National Electricity Market (NEM) Strengthening [...]
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