On The Science Show with Robyn Williams. Australia’s ancient electricity distribution system was designed for one-way flow. Large, centralised power stations sending power out to users. But now the system needs to offer two-way flow as households with solar panels often have excess power available to send back into the grid. A recent draft ruling […]
Innovation in Australia’s Electricity Sector Holds Lessons for Defence
Disruptive innovation almost always takes the incumbent by surprise. Successful organisations are very often good at sustaining innovation (that is, incrementally improving their business model), but they’re generally unwilling to foster disruptive innovation, and are often structurally or culturally unable to. But those disruptive innovations can blow their business model away—and by the time they […]
Solar Victoria Opens Portal for Australia’s First EV Subsidy
Solar Victoria has opened for registrations of interest to the state’s $3,000 electric vehicle rebate, revealing more of the details of the country’s first direct EV subsidy, which will be available for pure electric and hydrogen cars costing less than $68,740. Victoria’s Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Subsidy is being run by Solar Victoria, the body […]
Building Australia’s First-Ever Offshore Wind Farm
It is very hard to give up on one’s own resource bounty and Australia knows it only too well. Endowed with the world’s third-largest coal reserves coupled with ample hydrocarbon plays in offshore deposits, many of which are still yet to be assessed and located, Australia’s energy transition to include more of renewables into its […]
Deakin Uni launches renewable microgrid, with Australia’s biggest on-campus solar farm
A $23 million renewable energy microgrid that includes a 2MWh battery storage system and Australia’s largest on-campus solar farm at 7MW, has been switched on in Victoria by Deakin University. The microgrid was launched at Deakin’s Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong on Tuesday as the latest “bleeding edge” renewable energy development by a tertiary institution […]
Genex Power secures funding for Australia’s first pumped hydro project in 40 years
Australia’s renewable energy agency will give A$47 million in grant, while government-owned green bank the Clean Energy Finance Corp will provide a further A$3 million of subordinated debt funding Genex Power said on Thursday it had secured all funding needed for what will be Australia’s first new pumped hydro project on the grid in about […]
GET launches first EV charging hub for inner-city residents
Melbourne electric car charging company Global Electric Transport (GET) has launched its first charging hub in Melbourne, providing a charging solution for apartment dwellers who don’t have the option of charging at home. The new charging hub, opened today by Victoria’s minister energy, environment and climate change Lily D’Ambrosio, consists of seven 22kW AC charging […]
Australian body finalises rules on wind and solar output
Australia’s electricity rules maker Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has finalised a new rule preventing wind and solar projects from cutting output without prior notice to avoid negative wholesale electricity prices. The rule will be effective from 12 April. Wind and solar projects will be required to generate electricity at an output level advised by […]
AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST SOLAR FARM BEGINS CONSTRUCTION
Construction has officially commenced on what will become Australia’s largest solar farm. The ceremonial sod turning today marked a milestone in the journey towards sustainable energy. Source: nbnnews
Switching off rooftop solar will become an important feature of a renewables grid
Australia’s biggest grid problems have traditionally been framed as one of matching supply and demand, with the focus on ensuring enough supply to meet the demand at any one point in time. But that network challenge is about to be turned on its head: the biggest problem in the future will be ensuring there is […]