To save you some time, we’ve searched the internet for the latest news in solar farm projects and other renewables. Grab your coffee, here’s the industry must-knows for the week (02/01/23 edition):
- The New South Wales government aims to “turbocharge” the state’s transition from coal and gas to a renewables-based grid with a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% in little more than a decade on the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050. (PV Magazine)
- Over recent months, sets of sturdy, brightly branded battery-swapping stations have cropped up around Kenya’s capital Nairobi, allowing electric motorcyclists to exchange their low battery for a fully-charged one. (ABC News)
- South Australia has just chalked up what is undoubtedly a world first – a run of more than 10 consecutive days over which the average production of wind and solar accounted for 100 per cent of local demand. (Renew Economy)
- The newly operational electric bus depot in Sydney’s west illustrates the infrastructure required to run an electric bus fleet, but also demonstrates that an electric bus fleet requires less charging than originally forecast. (PV Magazine)\
- Federal Labor and the New South Wales Coalition governments have joined forces to fund eight critical electricity transmission and renewable energy zone projects in the state, including the new lines needed to “plug Snowy 2.0 into the grid.” (Renew Economy)
- CSIRO’s GenCost report finds renewables remain lowest cost despite major price hikes. (PV Magazine)
- Solar panels disguised as ancient Roman tiles or terracotta bricks to match the city skyline. The innovative solutions adopted by the archaeological park of Pompeii and the Portuguese city of Evora pave the way for an inspiring model: turning architectural constraints into assets, boosting heritage and sustainability. (Tech Xplore)
- The New South Wales (NSW) government has published a draft declaration for the Illawarra Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), one of five designated clean energy areas detailed in the state government’s electricity roadmap which aims to bring at least 12 GW of renewable energy and 2 GW of storage online by 2030. (PVMagazine)
- Solar Insiders Podcast: Little solar’s very big year (Solar Insiders Podcast)
Our shot of the week (from the Meralli archives) is from the 11 MW DC Dunblane project in Barcaldine, Queensland. It is the largest, privately funded, unsubsidised solar farm of its type currently in the world and was built in just 10 weeks and 4 days; achieved without any taxpayer subsidies and using an Australian workforce.
