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 (24/07/2023 edition):
Large-scale and rooftop solar take the lead
A new report released by Australia’s national science agency shows that renewables, led by large-scale and rooftop solar, remain the cheapest form of new-build power generation in Australia despite a 20% average rise in technology costs. (PV Magazine)
Chris Bowen outlines potential updates ahead of Net Zero 2050 Plan
Chris Bowen, the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy has outlined potential updates for the Net Zero 2050 Plan at the Clean Energy Council conference. Mr Bowen suggests that a ‘more proactive approach to clean energy and net zero emissions targets’ are necessary. Mr Bowen said that Australia’s current 2050 plans, originally outlined by the former Morrison Government, were a “fantasy”, one that assumes future technologies will do the heavy lifting without any effort or investment to bring them about. Instead, Mr Bowen said the Federal Government will be working with industry, the climate movement, experts, unions and the community to develop sectoral decarbonisation plans. (Energy Magazine)
APVI Silicon to Solar Study
The project will examine manufacturing opportunities across the solar PV supply chain in Australia from polysilicon, through wafers, cells and modules. The outcome? A roadmap that will highlight where Australian manufacturing could be globally competitive in the short and medium-term and/or where diversification of supply chains may be possible. Read more about this study here. (ARENA)
2023 Clean energy industry award winners announced
The best and brightest gathered at the Australian Clean Energy Summit (ACES) NAB Gala Dinner, with awards announced across the categories of collaboration, First Nations engagement and participation, diversity and inclusion, media and outstanding contribution to the industry. You can find the full list of winners here. (Clean Energy Council)
New environmentally friendly solar panel recycling process helps recover valuable silver
A team of engineers at the University of New South Wales have developed a new, more effective way of recycling solar panels, which can recover silver at high efficiency. The process, which has been patented, has been specially created for photovoltaic panels in order to quickly and efficiently sort the component materials, as a key step of highly efficient PV recycling. (Newsroom UNSW)
Study proves smooth transition possible with closure of Australia’s largest coal power station
According to a recent study conducted by Climate Energy Finance (CEF), it is possible for New South Wales to attain a stable energy supply, reduce prices, and successfully close down Australia’s largest coal power station on time in 2025. This achievement would significantly contribute to the ongoing efforts towards decarbonization.
In order to achieve these outcomes, The Lights Will Stay on: NSW Electricity Plan 2023-2030, advises:
– Continuing the current run rate of 1.2GW annually of New South Wales rooftop solar installations
– Front-end loading of at least 1.2GW annually of utility-scale wind and solar within the state to 2030 (Energy Magazine)
Australia joins international methane mitigation agreement
Australia will collaborate with Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and the European Union to lower methane emissions in the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) supply chain. The agreement commits us to work with 4 international partners on lowering emissions from LNG production, export and use:
– Japan
– Republic of Korea
– United States
– European Union.
The agreement brings together some of the world’s biggest LNG producers and consumers, including Australia’s main LNG trade partners. Australia is one of the world’s top LNG exporters. (industry.gov.au)
What are renewable energy zones (REZs) and why are they important? | Transgrid
Landmark green hydrogen deal with traditional landowners | Energy Insiders Podcast
Pollination’s Rob Grant and Balinggarra’s Cissy Gore-Birch on landmark green hydrogen project around Ord River. Plus: To close or not to close coal.
Our photo of the week (from the Meralli archives) was taken at the Chillamurra Solar Farm, the project that started it all for Meralli Solar. Located at Boggabilla, NSW and completed in 2017, this solar farm was groundbreaking, and we won an Innovation Award for it. Chillamurra Solar Farm’s generation capacity is capable of powering 2,500 homes on average.
