Australia’s Energy Transition: Major Developments in Renewables, Storage, and Policy

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News and Analysis for the Clean Energy Economy

Featured Policy & Planning

Bids for Australia’s largest wind and solar tender are set to close on Tuesday. Will this be the final opportunity?
Giles Parkinson, Feb 17, 2025

Featured Storage

The NSW Green Bank aims to focus on batteries, pumped hydro, and virtual power plants (VPPs) to address gaps during the transition from coal.
Giles Parkinson, Feb 14, 2025

Featured Renewables

A surge in investments in solar, wind, and battery technologies paves the way for an ambitious 82% renewable energy target. Can Australia maintain this momentum?
Sophie Vorrath, Feb 12, 2025

Latest Storage

A new large battery has begun supplying power to the grid near Victoria’s “rhombus of regret.” This installation will help stabilize the grid and support new renewable energy projects.
Sophie Vorrath, Feb 18, 2025

Renewables

Researchers in Sweden have developed a method to recycle 99% of perovskite solar cells using a water-based “green solvent.”
Rachel Williamson, Feb 18, 2025

New Storage

Saudi Arabia has signed the world’s largest battery storage deal with China’s BYD, which will provide five massive five-hour battery storage projects as the country strives to achieve its renewable energy goals.
Rachel Williamson, Feb 18, 2025

Storage

A proposal for a 1600 MWh big battery, intended for construction next to an existing solar farm in New England, is currently awaiting federal environmental approval.
Sophie Vorrath, Feb 18, 2025

Commentary

Stark images reveal the inadequacy of the location chosen for Snowy Hydro’s Kurri Kurri gas power plant, which is so poorly planned that it requires its own extensive storage facilities and cannot deliver continuous power.
Ted Woodley, Feb 18, 2025

Energy Bytes

• Fossil fuel subsidies have now exceeded $2 trillion in G7 countries alone.
• Big batteries are capitalizing on their growth, surpassing gas as the second-largest contributor during evening peak times.
• A significant amount of solar and wind energy was wasted in 2024 due to ongoing curtailment issues.
• “We’re going to miss the bus” if we rely solely on nuclear energy, warns the new chief scientist.
• The Clean Energy Council has appointed a former radio personality to promote awareness of clean energy initiatives.

Podcasts

• SwitchedOn Podcast: Alan Pears discusses solutions for Australia’s energy system, Feb 17, 2025.
• Energy Insiders Podcast: Are renewables back on track? Feb 14, 2025.
• SwitchedOn Podcast: Emphasizing that renewables should integrate with communities, not the other way around. Feb 12, 2025.
• Energy Insiders Podcast: The energy industry prepares for the upcoming election. Feb 7, 2025.

More News

• Commentary: The four accounting tricks behind Peter Dutton’s nuclear cost claims.
  Tristan Edis, Feb 18, 2025

• Grid Connections 2025: Updates on Australia’s energy transition.
  Staff Reporters, Feb 18, 2025

• Commentary: NSW coal has a greater climate impact than France, and now it must address methane emissions.
  Christopher Wright, Feb 17, 2025

• Podcasts: Insights from Alan Pears on improving Australia’s energy system.
  Anne Delaney, Feb 17, 2025

• A commitment from the owner of NEM’s oldest commercial wind farm that turbines will not be buried in sand dunes.
  Rachel Williamson, Feb 17, 2025

Renewables

• A significant expansion of a zinc mine leads to a tripling of the size of a wind project to avoid the high costs of gas power.
  Giles Parkinson, Feb 17, 2025

• NSW has finalized a land agreement for a large new wind and battery storage project in the southwest.
  Giles Parkinson, Feb 13, 2025

• An innovative floating solar technology that captures both clean energy and water is making its way to Australia under a new agreement.
  Joshua S Hill, Feb 13, 2025

• Germany is set to test the feasibility of constructing wind projects as far as 280 km offshore.
  Giles Parkinson, Feb 13, 2025

Most Read

1. Australia’s most coal-dependent state has been named the world’s most volatile electricity market.
   Sophie Vorrath, Feb 14, 2025

2. The builder of Australia’s largest single wind project is seeking solutions for blade recycling.
   Amalyah Hart, Feb 11, 2025

3. An anti-renewable billboard advertisement was retracted under pressure from the industry.
   Giles Parkinson, Feb 11, 2025

4. Australia’s oldest commercial wind farm will close as the costs of repowering are deemed too high.
   Rachel Williamson, Feb 10, 2025

Chart of the Day

Rooftop PV systems have made significant inroads into grid demand in Australia’s largest coal state, marking a historic drop.
Giles Parkinson, Feb 16, 2025

Recent Developments

• New Zealand’s motorcycle manufacturer is bringing its electric Streetdog to Australia.
  Joshua S. Hill, Feb 17, 2025

• Tesla plans to reintroduce the indicator stalk for the Model 3 after feedback.
  Riz Akhtar, Feb 17, 2025

• Kia has unveiled designs for the EV4 electric sedan and hatchback as part of its expanded EV strategy.
  Joshua S. Hill, Feb 17, 2025

• A limited number of EVs in Australia currently support bidirectional charging capabilities.
  Rachel Williamson, Feb 17, 2025

• Aldi launches a solar and battery offer at an attractive price, raising questions about quality.
  Amalyah Hart, Feb 18, 2025

• A solar scheme has achieved a record year of subsidized installations, with the equivalent of Loy Yang’s worth of panels installed.
  Joshua S Hill, Feb 18, 2025

• Homegrown geothermal heat pump technology receives backing from both state and federal governments.
  Joshua S Hill, Feb 17, 2025
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