Here’s a wrap-up of all the key news across solar and other renewables last week. Grab your coffee, here’s the industry must-knows for the week (04/09/2023 edition):
Australia Reaches Record 37.5% Renewables Share
Australia’s main grid has set a new renewable energy share record of 37.5 percent for the past 12 months, establishing the new rolling benchmark on the very last day of winter – August 31. According to OpenNEM, Tasmania led the way with 94.3 percent renewables, while South Australia had 69.9 percent wind and solar. Victoria followed with 40.9 percent, NSW had 29.6 percent, and Queensland 26.4 percent. Over in the west, that state’s main grid had a 34.3 percent renewable share. (Renew Economy)
AEMO Releases 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities Report
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has released its 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report, a look into the urgent development needs of the National Electricity Market over the next decade. The ESOO is produced using insights from developer and market participant surveys, transmission information, and extended analysis of energy limitations, like the potential impact of drought conditions, coal and gas supply shortfalls. You can download the full 175 page report here. (AEMO)
Radical Plan to Manage Out Last NSW Coal Generator Early
The last coal generator in New South Wales, the 1.4GW Mt Piper facility near Lithgow, is to be managed out of the grid early in a radical new plan that will mean the country’s biggest state will be effectively coal-free in a decade. Mt Piper has a nominal closing date of 2040. That remains unchanged but the three-phase plan announced by EnergyAustralia means that it will be out of the system much earlier. (Renew Economy)
ARENA Launches $125M Regional Microgrids Program
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has opened the $125 million Regional Microgrids Program on behalf of the Federal Government. The Program is designed to develop and deploy microgrid technologies across regional and remote communities and will allocate $75 million for microgrid projects in First Nations communities. Electricity provision in remote First Nations communities is often heavily reliant on diesel fuel, which is unreliable, expensive, and emissions-intensive. Microgrid projects under the First Nations Community Microgrids Stream will be developed in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, First Nations renewable energy experts, and state and territory governments across Australia. (Energy Magazine)
Western Australia Initiates Efforts to Modernize Electricity Sector Regulations
In a significant move towards a more sustainable and interconnected energy landscape, the Western Australia government has unveiled new legislation in parliament. This legislation aims to streamline the incorporation of distributed energy resources, including small-scale solar installations and residential battery systems, into the state’s electricity grid. You can read more about the WA Energy and Governance Legislation Reform here. (PV Magazine)
Three major Indigenous-led solar and storage projects announced for the NT
Desert Springs Octopus has announced three solar and storage projects between 150 MW and 10 MW for the Northern Territory which it will pursue in partnership with First Nations groups, the Larrakia Nation and Jawoyn Association. Desert Springs Octopus, a majority Indigenous-owned company backed by Octopus Australia and formed in 2022, has signed agreements with two First Nations groups from Darwin and Katherine – the Larrakia Nation and Jawoyn Association. (PV Magazine)
New Jobs and Skills Council to Support Renewable Energy Apprenticeships
Education centre, Powering Skills has launched a new Jobs and Skills Council for Energy, Gas and Renewables sector with aims to increase the workforce in renewable energy apprenticeships. The council aims to provide a stronger, more strategic voice in ensuring that Australia’s VET sector delivers stronger outcomes for both employers and employees. Powering Skills Organisation is one of ten Jobs and Skills Councils that have been set up by the Federal Government and is funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. (Energy Magazine)
QLD Welcomes Australia’s First Service Station Hydrogen Refueller
Australia’s first hydrogen refueler at a retail fuel site has opened at Brisbane’s BP Lytton service station. The pilot project, in partnership with BOC and with support from the Queensland Government and ARENA, will see consumers able to refill their hydrogen car in three to five minutes. (C-Store)
Toyota to test electric ute in Australia
Australia’s best-selling car manufacturer, Toyota, says it will test a prototype electric ute in the country, but the local launch of the company’s first fully electric vehicle will be delayed by months and is not expected to arrive until February next year. Toyota showed off both vehicles at an event in Melbourne this week, also revealing a new generation of hybrid cars and utes with battery assistance technology. (The Driven)
Out with coal, in with EVs | Energy Insiders Podcast
Energy Australia boss Mark Collette on how he will make sure the company’s last coal generator will not get in the way of the renewable transition, and why he went electric.
Summer energy shortages predicted as operator calls for “urgent investment” in generation | ABC News
Much of the national power grid is facing substantial reliability problems over the next decade, and as soon as this summer, without rapid investment in both electricity generation and transmission.
Our photo of the week (from the Meralli archives) was taken at the Wathagar Solar Farm, located in Moree NSW. Wathagar Solar Farm, built by Meralli for Sundown Pastoral Co is located west of Moree NSW and provides energy for seasonal ginning operations, feeding excess electricity into the grid. It’s a 9MW DC plant with 10+ MWh batteries installed and represents a new paradigm in agribusiness energy security.
