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 (21/08/2023 edition):
Have Your Say: Connections process for new generation including renewables and battery projects
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is investigating options to improve the process for connecting new generation and storage to the grid, to help speed up the transformation needed for a cleaner, affordable energy future. The AEMC is seeking feedback on the ‘R1’ process that generators and large-scale storage providers are required to complete to achieve registration and connection to the national electricity market. (AEMC)
The AEMC has now initiated this rule change request by publishing a consultation paper and is seeking input. Enhancing investment certainty in the R1 process | AEMC
Have your say: Illawarra offshore renewable energy infrastructure
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DEECCW) is seeking your feedback via community information sessions in the Illawarra region to discuss the benefits and effects of future offshore renewable energy projects in a proposed area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales (NSW) from Wombarra in the north, down to Kiama in the south. You can find more information here. (DEECCW)
Australia and California sign clean energy Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
The Australian and Californian governments have agreed to work together to address climate change and support the clean energy transition.
Ambassador Kevin Rudd and Governor Gavin Newsom signed a joint statement in Sacramento on Tuesday 15 August 2023 Pacific Standard Time. Australian Los Angeles Consul-General Jane Duke and Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of Natural Resources, California signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines cooperation for the next five years. (DEECCW)
WA Domestic Gas Policy Update
The Western Australian Government has delivered an update for the WA Domestic Gas Policy for Perth and Canning Basin, stating that exemptions will not be considered for onshore gas developments. The update has been made in an effort to secure the state’s gas supply and support long-term economic and industrial development. (Energy Magazine)
AEMC proposed new community consultation regulations
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has put proposed new regulations mandating developers intending to undertake significant transmission undertakings to engage in earlier consultations with communities and stakeholders impacted by the projects’ advancement. (PV Magazine)
The AEMC will hold a virtual public forum on 29 August 2023 while written stakeholder submissions are being accepted until 28 September 2023. Enhancing community engagement in transmission building | AEMC
EV conversions: Aussie utes going electric
Roev, a local startup run by a trio of former tech executives, aims to make the nation’s beloved utes cleaner by converting them from petrol and diesel into electric. Classic cars are easy to convert, but they are totally different when it comes to today’s vehicles. New cars have between 50 and 75 computers, making the project a perfect fit for the tech trio. Read more about Roev and their goals here. (Eco Generation)
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) take the lead in recent stats
The Australian new vehicle market is continuing to change as battery electric vehicles and hybrids take market share from internal combustion engine cars. The national figures reveal stark regional differences. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) June quarter (Q2) sales penetration of the new car market varied from 2.28% in the NT to 21.3% in the ACT. BEVs remain most popular in the capital cities of south-eastern Australia. You can see all the stats in the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) August 2023 report here. (Australian Automobile Association)
Wind, solar and social license | Energy Insiders Podcast
Behavioural scientist John Pickering on the challenges of getting social license for wind, solar, battery and transmission projects. Plus: What’s big coal up to?
How this regional town transitioned off the gas network in just 12 months | Switched On Podcast
Stephanie Unwin, the CEO of Horizon Power, discusses how 400 residential and business customers had just one year to electrify after the local gas distribution decided to cut off the gas supply.
Electric ferries are about to dock | The Driven Podcast
EV Maritime’s Michael Eaglen on why we may soon be catching electric ferries to work in our harbour cities.
Our photo of the week (from the Meralli archives) was taken at the Junee Solar Farm. Located in Junee NSW was built by Meralli this year as a behind-the-meter project designed to offset large agribusiness power use. It is capable of powering the equivalent of 640 homes and has an estimated CO2 offset of 2,646 tonnes.
