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 […]
Sustainability
Register open for solar water heaters
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability, Water 0The Clean Energy Regulator have developed a register for all solar water heaters that are eligible for small-scale technology certificates under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme. All systems must be installed exactly as they are listed on the register, and their components accredited to be eligible for certificates. If one or more components are missing or changed during the installation […]
Nyngan plant ramped to full power
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0AGL’s Nyngan solar photovoltaic (PV) plant (NSW) has been ramped up to full generation, and is now feeding 102 MW of renewable energy into the National Electricity Market. As the biggest solar PV plant in Australia, this is enough to power 33,000 homes annually. The plant is part of the $440 million AGL solar project, which is supported by $166.7 […]
Solar pumping guides for NSW farmers
Utility Journalist Irrigation, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability, Water 0NSW Farmers and the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) have developed new solar pumping guides to help irrigators and livestock owners reduce costs and boost production. OEH and NSW Farmers will launch a detailed guidebook about solar pumping system selection and design, as well as a farmer’s guide to renewable energy in agriculture at the first of a series […]
Recycled Water Distribution System upgrade for SA
Utility Journalist Irrigation, News, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Renmark Paringa Council’s Recycled Water Distribution System (SA) will be upgraded after receiving $363,000 of funding via the South Australian River Murray 3IP program. The project in total is valued at $1.008m, and the balance of the funding will be via the lease and sale of excess water which Council has on its licences. The project will have no financial […]
Sime Darby and the IntelliGas Group have entered into a unique partnership which will see the production of cutting edge technology, set to significantly reduce fuel costs for miners and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Mine Energy Solutions (MES) Executive Director, Craig James, said MES was a joint venture between the Queensland-based gas technology specialist, IntelliGas and multinational Sime Darby to […]
Solar could store the ACT’s future
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0ACT Minister for the Environment, Simon Corbell has launched an expression of interest for up to 50MW capacity of next generation solar infrastructure. “Our investment in next generation renewable energy technology is an important part of our target of 90% renewable energy by 2020 but it is also critical in continuing the growth of renewable energy jobs and investment in […]
Construction underway at Solar PV farm, Broken Hill
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Electricity, Features, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0Construction of AGL’s $150million solar photovoltaic (PV) plant is on track in Broken Hill (NSW), with the first of 650,000 panels recently installed by First Solar. The Broken Hill plant is part of the $440 million AGL solar project. The project is advancing large-scale solar energy expertise in Australia by constructing solar power stations in Nyngan and Broken Hill with […]
Winner of the National Energy Globe Australia award
Utility Journalist Company news, Electricity, News, Solar, Sustainability 0The National Energy Globe Australia Award has been awarded to a project which saw the creation of a suite of live generated solar photovoltaic (PV) maps and tools. The Australian PV Institute (APVI) has been the successful recipient of this significant win. ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, congratulated the APVI on the achievement and for its ongoing efforts to improve the […]
Embracing the change: energy storage and the grid
Utility Journalist Batteries & Storage, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0by Vassilios Agelidis and Tim Dixon, Australian Energy Research Institute, UNSW Australia There are many new technological developments that have the potential to dramatically affect the electricity grid. These disruptive technologies are often feared by utilities, networks and distributors due to their ability to fundamentally redefine the way electricity grids need to be designed, managed and operated. And these technologies […]
Yarra Valley Water asks: Are we ready for recycled water?
Utility Journalist Land access, Stormwater, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0Melbourne water utility Yarra Valley Water is leading the way with innovative and industry-leading water recycling projects. Managing Director Pat McCafferty discusses some of the major projects the organisation currently has underway. Melbourne is growing. According to the Victorian Government’s ‘Victoria in Future’ report published in 2014, the population of Greater Melbourne is projected to increase from 4.3 million in […]
The changing face of energy networks
Utility Journalist Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0by David Leitch, Utilities Analyst, UBS David Leitch spends his days analysing trends in utility markets and forecasting the impacts of new technologies on the sector. Here, he shares his thoughts on how the energy sector will respond to the challenges new technologies, such as solar and storage, present those who manage networks and distribution. The history of the electricity […]
Queensland wind farm approved
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0The Queensland government has approved the development of the Mount Emerald Wind Farm, south of Mareebaa. The farm has the potential to power 75,000 homes a year and create up to 200 construction jobs on the Atherton Tablelands. Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Jackie Trad, said her decision to approve the development application for the […]
Nyngan solar PV plant now complete
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0The Southern Hemisphere’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Nyngan, NSW is now complete, with ARENA, AGL and First Solar joining the NSW minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts, and NSW Minister for the Environment, Mark Speakman, to celebrate. ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, congratulated AGL and First Solar on the project’s progress, which has been several years in […]
Port Coogee (WA), developed by Australand, has been labelled as the 13th Waterwise Development within Western Australia. The WA Minister for Water, Mia Davies, recognised the development for using best practice water sensitive urban design in its commitment to save water in the drying climate. “Residents of Port Coogee are using significantly less water than the average household in Perth […]
VIC unveils solar PV power tower
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0RayGen Resources, VIC has paved the way for the deployment of utility-scale CSPV power stations in Australia and overseas with the unveiling of a concentrated solar photovoltaic (CSPV) power tower. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht congratulated RayGen Resources on the $3.6 million pre-commercial pilot project, which was supported by $1.7 million funding from ARENA. “The grid-connected power station is operational and […]
Wildlife study at the Maleny STP
Utility Journalist News, Projects, Sustainability, Water, Water and Wastewater Treatment 0The rehabilitated wetlands at the Maleny Sewage Treatment Plant, QLD will be the focus of a four-year research project run by the University of the Sunshine Coast and Unitywater. The study has been launched to understand the types of wildlife that have been attracted to the rehabilitated wetlands. The project will monitor each returned species, including those that are endangered. […]
Queensland benefits from solar-diesel power plant
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has unveiled Laing O’Rourke’s first operational redeployable solar-diesel hybrid power plant in regional Queensland. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the plant was a clear demonstration of a versatile alternative to diesel powered generators and is understood to be the world’s first fully redeployable large-scale solar-diesel hybrid power plant. “The 1MW hybrid plant was delivered, […]
Solar energy lights up New South Wales
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability, Uncategorized 0AGL and First Solar have opened the first section of the Nyngan Solar Plant in western New South Wales. The plant is now online and feeding renewable energy into the National Electricity Market. Close to 350,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are producing up to 25 MW of electricity. Once complete, the plant will output up to 102 MW, enough to […]
Rooftop solar with battery storage a step closer
Utility Journalist Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $3.3 million funding for Synergy to trial a combination of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) with battery storage at a new housing development in Alkimos Beach, north of Perth. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the model being trialled included new tariff options for consumers and had the potential to be replicated in future […]
NT study unlocks solar PV grid integration
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has released a study that shows how up to 10MW of extra solar photovoltaic (PV) could be installed in the Alice Springs grid without adversely affecting supply stability. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said this additional PV would make a sizeable difference to the Alice Springs grid, which currently has 4.1MW of solar and a peak […]
Innovative fruit supplier cuts costs and energy
Utility Journalist Electricity, Irrigation, News, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0Radevski Coolstores, an apple and pear supplier in the Goulburn Valley, will boost its operations and reduce its overall energy costs by installing solar PV and a state-of-the-art fruit grader financed through Commonwealth Bank and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) Energy Efficient Loan (EEL) product. CEFC CEO, Oliver Yates, said he was pleased Radevski Coolstores was building on savings […]
Shining a light on solar research
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Demand management, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0A new solar research facility being completed at the University of Queensland’s Gatton campus will be the largest in Australia – and the entire southern hemisphere. The facility will support innovation in the Australian solar industry and provide new insights regarding the integration of large-scale renewable power plants into the electricity grid. The Gatton research facility is the product of […]
PWEP installs second CETO 5 unit
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0Carnegie Wave Energy has announced that the second of its new generation CETO 5 wave energy units has been successfully installed and is operating at its Perth Wave Energy Project site off Garden Island, Western Australia. The second CETO 5 unit was successfully installed in one day and is now operating. The sea state conditions experienced during this initial operational […]
$31.5 million for water-efficient irrigation
Utility Journalist News, Projects, Sustainability, Water 0An investment of $31.5 million has been confirmed between the Australian Government and the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management to fund 122 projects to modernise on-farm irrigation infrastructure and return water to the environment. The federal funding will be delivered through the SAMDB NRM Board across the southern connected system of the Murray-Darling Basin through Round Four of […]
Perth Wave Energy onshore plant complete
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0Wave energy developer Carnegie Wave Energy Limited has announced the completion of the onshore power plant for the Perth Wave Energy Project (PWEP). In addition to completion of the onshore power plant, physical works have now been completed and the plant is ready for connection to the electricity grid at HMAS Stirling pending Western Power approval. Carnegie has received a […]
ARENA R&D feedback opportunity closing soon
Utility Journalist Company news, Electricity, Renewable Energy, Stakeholder Engagement, Sustainability 0ARENA is seeking feedback on the four proposed priority areas for the second funding round of their Research and Development (R&D) Program. Feedback on the priority areas will be accepted up to the end of January and should be sent to [email protected]. ARENA would like to hear stakeholder views on: The appropriateness of the proposed priority areas to address a key energy […]
GridCredits allow solar storage and trade
Utility Journalist Batteries & Storage, Digital Utilities, Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0Reposit Power has launched GridCredits, a world first energy storage and trading system that allows households to compete head-to-head with energy companies and more than double the savings of an average solar power system. Reposit Power’s Director, Luke Osborne, said: “For the first time in history customers will be able to store their renewable energy and trade it back to […]
ARENA funds solar excellence
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0ARENA is providing $21.5 million funding for 12 cutting edge projects through the first round of its Research & Development program, which is focused on solar excellence. The R&D program supports R&D projects that will advance the commercial deployment of renewable energy technology in Australia. “These are the top 12 projects from a very competitive round where 110 applications were received, peer-reviewed and ranked against […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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