Singapore-based renewables developer Vena Energy has launched commercial operations of a 125 MW solar farm in Queensland’s Western Downs region that is backed by a long-term offtake agreement with global tech giant Amazon. Vena Energy said the 125 MW Amazon Solar Project Australia – Wandoan, developed near Woleebee about 400 kilometres northwest of Queensland state capital Brisbane, has successfully completed the commissioning process. The solar farm is equipped with about 250,000 Risen modules, central inverters from Power Electronics, and single-axis trackers from PV Hardware, and is expecte ..read more

The federal government’s plan to deploy 400 community batteries across the nation to soak up excess solar generated on neighbourhood rooftops has reach the Australian Capital Territory with sites for three new battery energy storage systems unveiled. Three new community batteries with a capacity of 160 kW / 440 kWh will be installed in Canberra in the coming months after the federal government committed $1.5 million (USD 960,000) in funding for the projects. The batteries, that will be owned and operated by Australian Capital Territory (ACT) network owner Evoenergy, will be installed in the Ca ..read more

Trina Storage has struck a deal to supply 1.5 GWh of integrated energy storage solutions to Pacific Green which has plans to construct what is to be one of Australia's largest grid-scale battery energy storage systems. Trina Storage, a unit of Chinese module manufacturer Trina Solar, has signed a letter of intent with renewables developer Pacific Green for the supply of 1.5 GWh integrated energy storage solutions and to “work together in utility-scale energy storage technology innovation and applications.” British-owned energy company Pacific Green is planning to build a 1 GW / 2.5 GWh ba ..read more

Energy generating and retailing giant AGL and joint venture partner Someva Renewables have committed to provide local councils and community organisations with “tens of millions” of dollars in funding if their proposed 1.5 GW Pottinger Energy Park planned for the New South Wales Riverina region proceeds. AGL and Sydney-headquartered company Someva Renewables have announced they will provide funding to the Hay Shire Council and Edward River Council regions in southwest New South Wales (NSW) if the proposed Pottinger Energy Park, that would include 1.5 GW of wind and solar and a four-hour batter ..read more

Australian solar and storage technology firm RayGen has secured more than $51 million in new funding to accelerate the commercialisation and deployment of its concentrated PV and thermal hydro long-duration energy storage technology. RayGen said global oilfield services giant SLB has invested more than $31 million (USD 20 million) and state government-backed independent investment fund manager Breakthrough Victoria has committed $20 million to support further development of the company’s ‘solar hydro’ technology. The Victoria-based company said the funds from the Series D capital raise will go ..read more

As the Australian authorities launch rolling tenders for 32 GW of renewables and storage by 2030, it has become clear that some communities have not been brought onside. Heated debate on social media and a frenzy stoked by concerns about the impact on the natural environment are throwing up hurdles for renewables development. From pv magazine print edition 4/24 In the rocky outcrops of Northern Illawarra beaches, an hour’s drive south of Sydney, the same coal seams that drew the attention of Australia’s first European settlers remain visible today. A little further south, in Port Kembla, flame ..read more

The Queensland government has entrenched the transformation of the state’s energy grid by passing laws locking in 80% renewable energy generation by 2035, a move it expects will create more than 100,000 new jobs in manufacturing, renewable energy generation, power transmission and industries of the future. Queensland’s renewable energy targets are now enshrined in law with the state government declaring the “landmark legislation” provides certainty to industry and communities on its plan to shift the reliance from thermal coal to renewable energy. Renewables currently provide little more than ..read more

Development of an 800 mw / 9,600 MWh pumped hydro project within the New South Wales government’s Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone is advancing with renewables company Acen Australia announcing it has started geological works on site. The Australian arm of Philippine-owned renewable energy company Acen Energy is proposing to develop a pumped hydro project that would provide 800 MW of capacity and up to 12 hours of energy storage near Mudgee in central western New South Wales (NSW). The Phoenix Pumped Hydro station would be based at the Burrendong Dam, the largest dam in the region ..read more

New Zealand battery technology company ArcActive is planning to establish a manufacturing plant in Australia within 18 months that will be capable of producing 30,000 lead acid-based residential energy storage systems per year. ArcActive claims to have delivered one of the biggest leaps forward in lead-acid battery engineering in more than 140 years and it is now targeting Australia for its first major manufacturing facility as it looks to take advantage of the surging residential solar and battery energy storage market. “This is where the market is, where plenty of the supply chain is, and wh ..read more

New South Wales-based clean energy company MGA Thermal has raised $5.7 million to prove the scale and industrial capabilities of its thermal energy storage technology that stores heat in blocks made largely from aluminium and graphite and dispatches it to generate electricity. A new $5.7 million (USD 3.6 million) round of funding for MGA Thermal will provide for further testing of the company’s miscibility gaps alloy (MGA) thermal blocks and the development of a 0.5 MW / 5 MWh demonstration-scale thermal energy storage system. MGA late last year initiated the commissioning process for a demons ..read more