RenewEconomy

Works begin on Ratch Australia's 42.5MW solar farm, which is being constructed on the site of a former coal power plant.

Things are becoming predictable in the Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificate market, even if that is supply side’s ability to surprise. Meanwhile, in NSW, a stunning development.

Last week's speech by NSW energy minister Don Harwin was exactly the sort of thing Malcolm Turnbull used to say about climate and energy policies, before he became master of all he surveyed – apart from his own climate and energy policies.

“the Code for Smart Communities will set new benchmarks for smart cities and communities across Australia, New Zealand and beyond, by providing important guidance on how to use technology, data and intelligent design to accelerate more efficient, liveable and sustainable development projects"

With renewable investment accelerating way faster than most anticipated a year ago, it's likely parts of the transmission grid will become constrained. We need action, not more analysis.

One home in the heart of the Latrobe Valley goes off grid. But more than half of the new homes in the area are not even bothering to connect to the network in the first place, using rooftop PV and storage to look after their own needs.

In neat illustration of the clean energy transition, a Victorian NGO has won state government funding to power a historic coal mine site with solar and battery storage.

Swedish power utility ramps renewable energy activity in recent weeks, spinning out a new photovoltaics & battery business unit from its business area wind.

Elon Musk says production of Model 3 will begin this Friday, and rump up to 20,000 a month by December.

Queensland government utilities lead incumbents' fight against 5-minute rule, despite support from AEMO and others who say change will lower prices, encourage storage.

The ability of wind power to deliver significant price falls in South Australia has been eroded by new rules that require more expensive gas generators to operate at times of high wind output. The days of "negative pricing" may be over.

Netherlands-based solar developer reveals plans to build largest solar farm in NSW – and one of biggest in Australia – a 316MW project near Gunning.

Garth Heron, who is now the head of Wind Power Development at Neon Australia, shares his blunt assessment of what incumbents will do next in their war against renewables in Adelaide.

The South Korean solar developer will install a 2.67 MW floating solar farm on the Deoku Reservoir that will rotate to track the sun’s rays throughout the day, delivering a 22% increase in harvest, the company claims.

After a lengthy industry consultation period, the GBCA has released new versions of the Green Star Interiors rating tools which promise to drive the uptake of low-carbon buildings, incentivise new industries and challenge the market leaders to innovate.

The market for renewable energy certificates steadied in June as traders absorbed the implications of the Finkel Review for the current RET.

Garnaut says Australia could likely meet its reduction targets without a CET, rendering it useless and debate about it irrelevant. He proposes a dual pathway to resolve the political impasse.

SA Water Corporation seeks to build grid-connected, rooftop solar PV system of more than 100kW, plus 50kWh battery storage system and “smart controls.”

Another 141MW of utility-scale solar farms approved for development, as Sunshine State starts to live up to its massive PV potential.

Industry warns that if proposed new battery installation standards remain unchanged, the Australian behind-the-meter battery storage market will be stopped dead in its tracks – and the estimated by the CSIRO at up to 85GWh by 2040 – will simply fail to materialise.