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 (24/04/2023 edition):
• Big news for renewable energy in Australia! The Clean Energy Council’s latest report paints a bright picture for the large-scale renewable sector, with a surge of utility projects under construction. (PV Magazine)
Investment in and capacity of large-scale renewable projects from 2017 to 2022.
Image: Clean Energy Council
• Woodside Energy and its collaborators could face a whopping $63 billion carbon gas bill by 2050, as per a fresh study by Climate Energy Finance (CEF) under the revised Safeguard Mechanism guidelines. To put things in perspective, Woodside’s current market value is around $64 billion. (climateenergyfinance.org)
• Big coal to big solar: New South Wales (NSW) is leading the charge in large-scale solar energy, with the highest number of completed and commissioned projects in Australia in 2022, as per a recent report. NSW is now home to four out of the country’s top five solar farms, showcasing its pioneering role in renewable energy. The Clean Energy Council’s latest report card on Australia’s renewable energy progress paints a picture of a state that has gone big on solar as it scrambles to replace its ageing coal fleet, including the Liddell Power Station, the closure of which kicks off this week. (Renew Economy)
• How will achieving net zero emissions by 2050 impact Australia’s economy, infrastructure, and overall outlook? The University of Melbourne explores the potential changes and shifts needed for Australia to reach this goal in their public release of interim results from Net Zero Australia, a groundbreaking multi-year study into how Australia might achieve a net zero economy.
The report suggests Australia would need an astounding 3,000 gigawatts or three terrawatts of wind and solar power to achieve its net zero economy goal by 2030. However, the estimated cost of implementing such a plan could reach up to $9 trillion. (Melbourne Energy Institue)
• Australia’s federal government says it’s ready to plug into the future of transportation as it unveils its first-ever National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
The Strategy sets out 3 key objectives:
1. increase the supply of affordable and accessible EVs
2. establish the resources, systems and infrastructure to enable rapid EV uptake
3. encourage increased EV demand
(Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water)
• No more fumbling through multiple apps to access charging infrastructure! Australia’s first-ever fast-charging station with tap-and-go payment is officially open in Bicheno, Tasmania, thanks to the innovative work of Electrona. Read more about the project here. (The Driven)
Rural towns set to be the host of wind energy projects | ABC News
Ambitious climate targets are supercharging Australia’s transition away from fossil fuels, towards renewable energy.
Can electric vehicles accelerate the transition to renewables? | ARENA
Our photo of the week (from the Meralli archives) is this ariel view of the civil works at the Baroota Solar Farm, located in Baroota, South Australia.
