A $300 million renewable hydrogen project proposed for Western Australia has succeeded in securing investment funding, paving the way for a massive expansion of the nascent industry in Australia. Perth-based […]
Category: Federal Government solar panel incentives
Solar Choice Blog entries about Australian government Solar Power incentive schemes
Why Big Oil is paying top dollar to dump its fossil fuel – and what that means for renewables
The global oil market crash-landed in uncharted territory this week when the cost of oil in the US went negative, forcing companies to pay up to $US36 ($A57) for […]
South Australia could meet state Liberals’ 100 pct renewables target 5 years early
The latest generation forecast report from the Australian Energy Market Operator has suggested South Australia might reach its 100 per cent renewable electricity target by 2025/26, five years earlier […]
New “super peak” contracts open new markets for batteries and hydro
The deal, brokered by Renewable Energy Hub, amounts to a “super peak swap” totalling 25MW in 2021 and 2022 with government-owned utility Snowy Hydro. “What makes this contract different is […]
Why Australia needs to aim for at least 75% renewables by 2030
A new report has mapped out how Australia can, and should, reach net zero emissions across its entire economy by as early as 2035 – starting with the decarbonisation of the […]
Solar constraints could be relaxed before end of April, clearing path for new projects
Five Victorian and New South Wales solar farms that have had their renewable energy output cut in half for more than six months could soon get a reprieve, with […]
Neoen, Mondo plan massive 600MW Victoria big battery near Geelong
Plans for massive new big battery in Victoria have been unveiled by the City of Geelong, on the state’s west coast, in response to an urgent call from the […]
Big batteries get ready to play main role in next stage of clean energy transition
The Australian Energy Regulator has urged transmission companies to look deeper into battery storage technologies as an option for future grid upgrades on the pathway to a renewables-dominated grid. […]
Covid-19 could stop new Australia wind and solar projects, wipe out global growth
A new report has warned that the global Covid-19 pandemic could hit large-scale solar and wind energy markets of countries like Australia particularly hard, as investment slows, and unfavorable […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index – April 2020
Average residential solar system prices have slightly decreased to $1.06 per watt ($/W) this month on the back of several factors, including changes to the composition of the Solar Choice […]
Major power stations consider isolation to protect workers from Covid-19
Australia’s energy companies indicated they may look at the total isolation of power station staff in a bid to prevent any impact to electricity supplies from the spread of […]
Big new solar farm in NSW begins production, on schedule for a change
Spark Infrastructure’s 100MW Bomen solar farm near Wagga Wagga has begun sending power to the grid in New South Wales, making it one of very few that has managed […]
NSW unveils two new renewable energy zones in $11 billion Net Zero strategy
The New South Wales government has released the first stage of its net-zero emissions by 2030 climate change strategy, with the launch of $900 million plan for action, and […]
Coronavirus could deliver first global solar market contraction since 1980s, says BNEF
The global solar industry is facing its first year of contracted growth in decades, Bloomberg New Energy Finance has warned, as the global spread of the novel Coronavirus takes […]
Major solar farm and battery approved for New South Wales coal country
New South Wales’ greater Hunter region is set to host a 290MW solar farm after the project won the final green light from the state government’s department of planning. […]
Coalition tips $68.5m into ‘Reliable Affordable’ clean energy research centre
A collaboration between researchers and industry to accelerate Australia’s adoption of new low emissions technologies has won $68.5 million funding from the federal government. Federal minister for industry, science and […]
Increased IAWO makes 100kW Solar Projects a ‘no brainer’
Yesterday the Coalition announced an increase in the Instant Asset Write Off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000. Additionally the scope has been increased to include businesses with up to $500m […]
SA big batteries again steer state through interconnector dramas
South Australia’s three big batteries have once again played a crucial role in helping the state to avoid black-outs after it was ‘islanded’, once again, from the rest of […]
Solar projects, some wind farms hit by more transmission downgrades
Some of Australia’s key solar farms and wind projects have been hit by yet more transmission downgrades, while some have won a reprieve, in the latest draft inter-regional marginal […]
Residential Solar PV Price Index – March 2020
Average residential solar system prices have slightly decreased to $1.07 per watt ($/W) this month on the back of several factors, including changes to the composition of the Solar Choice […]
Another 100 stand-alone solar and battery systems to be installed by Western Power
Western Australia is forging ahead with its new approach to fringe-of-grid power supply, with the roll out of another 100 solar and battery-based stand-alone power systems. The solar and […]
Origin profit hit by outages and solar uptake, battery plans hostage to UNGI
Origin Energy says it is looking at opportunities to expand its portfolio in Victoria, including its first grid-connected big battery, after reporting a sharp fall in earnings from its […]
Victoria intervenes to try and solve wind and solar bottlenecks in local grid
Victoria’s state Labor government has announced a dramatic split from national electricity rules in a bid to fast-track urgent grid upgrades, unlock more large-scale renewables and encourage more big […]
Rio Tinto joins iron ore mining giants making big switch to solar and batteries
Mining giant Rio Tinto has announced plans to spend $98 million on a new 34MW solar farm at the Koodaideri mine in the Pilbara, as well as a 45MW/12MWh lithium-ion […]
Wind, solar projects warned of seven year delays in Victoria, NSW
Developers and owners of new wind and solar projects in Victoria and New South Wales have been warned of delays of up to seven years for grid connection at a […]
Albanese downbeat on zero carbon bill, but describes new coal plant as “unicorn”
The leader of the federal opposition has downplayed the prospects of a cross-bench bill to commit Australia to a target of net-zero emissions by 2050, saying there was little chance […]
Morrison’s refusal to move on climate, and the “prosperity doctrine”
How do you explain a prime minister who says he accepts the science of climate change, acknowledges the link between it and the devastating bushfires, and then chooses to do […]
AEMO takes control of S.A. big batteries to help manage isolated grid
South Australia’s three big battery storage systems have been commandeered by the Australian Energy Market Operator, to help usher the state’s grid after it was isolated from the rest of […]
AEMO outlines plan to reach 90% renewables by 2040
The Australian Energy Market Operator has warned the national grid will need at least 30GW of new wind and solar capacity to replace outgoing coal power plants over the next […]
Smelter closure could cause Vic energy price spike
US aluminium giant Alcoa has flagged asset sales of around $1 billion, fanning fears that its huge smelter in Portland in Victoria may close, a victim of the global […]
Queensland celebrates milestone – 4GW of solar
Queensland’s Labor government says it is on track to meet its 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030, thanks largely to a booming solar market that last week celebrated […]
