Safety by Design: Scaling Solar and Storage in Australia with Prefabricated EBOS
Australia is racing toward its 82 % renewable‑generation goal for 2030, and safety has become a decisive factor for solar‑plus‑storage projects. The country’s unique threats—bushfires, wildlife, salt‑laden coastal air and extreme heat—expose traditional on‑site wiring to frequent failures. Prefabricated electrical balance‑of‑system (EBOS) solutions from Shoals offer factory‑tested, sealed components that reduce field terminations and improve durability. By standardising installation, these modular EBOS kits aim to protect assets, cut downtime and accelerate the rollout of gigawatts of clean energy.
Energy Insiders Podcast: The Remarkable Story of Australia’s First Community-Owned Solar Farm
Australia has opened its first community‑owned solar farm, a project sparked by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s climate‑skeptic policies. The farm, located in a regional area, delivers roughly 5 MW of clean power, enough for about 2,000 households. It was financed...
Home Battery Boom Delivers New Market Leader – This Time From the Budget End
China‑based Fox ESS has become Australia’s top‑selling home battery brand, installing over 12,000 systems in February – the highest kilowatt‑hour capacity recorded. Its budget‑friendly, stack‑able 42 kWh units sell for about AU$7,000 (≈ US$4,600) after the federal rebate, undercutting rivals. Fox ESS already leads...
Solar Waste Crisis: Federal Labor Launches Search for National Recycling Pilot Administrator
The Albanese government has opened an “Approach to Market” procurement to appoint an administrator for a $24.7 million Australian‑dollar (≈$16 million USD) National Solar Panel Recycling Pilot. The pilot will establish up to 100 collection sites and aim to recycle up to...
“Self-Erecting” Wind Turbine Hits Power Milestone Ahead of Joining Fortescue Pilbara Project
A prototype wind turbine that merges Nabrawind’s self‑erecting tower with Envision Energy’s 7.8 MW rotor has achieved full‑capacity operation at a Chinese test site. The hybrid unit will be shipped later this year to Fortescue’s Nullagine Wind farm in Western Australia,...
Fusion Power Plant Possible by 2045 with Massive Effort, Says Science Academy
Germany’s National Academy of Science and Engineering (Acatech) says the country could have a commercial fusion power plant by 2045 if it dramatically accelerates the program. Achieving this would demand massive investment—tens of billions of dollars—expanded training, industrial‑scale component manufacturing,...
Big Spinning Machines: State Seeks Partners for Syncon Rollout at Former Coal Hub
Victoria’s energy minister has launched an expression of interest for three large synchronous condensers in the Latrobe Valley, targeting the former Hazelwood coal terminal. The state already invested $480 million AUD (≈$317 million USD) in a syncon near Ararat, which is expected...
Snowy 2.0 Budget to Be Exhausted in Coming Months, Ratings Agency Says, as Gas Plant Hit by New Delays
Snowy Hydro’s flagship Snowy 2.0 pumped‑hydro scheme, a 2,200 MW storage project, is projected to breach its $12 bn AUD (≈$7.9 bn USD) capex by fiscal 2026, with the work only 70% complete. The federal government has already supplied $5.98 bn AUD (≈$3.9 bn USD) in...
Gas Shortfall Fears Pushed Out Again as Grid Battery Boom and Electrification Take Fresh Bite From Demand
The Australian Energy Market Operator’s 2026 Gas Statement of Opportunities shows that expanding grid‑scale battery storage and accelerated electrification have pushed the nation’s first major gas shortfall from 2026 to 2030. AEMO still flags a peak‑day risk in the southern...
Nine Big Batteries Totalling 2 Gigawatts Shortlisted for Payments to Maintain “Heartbeat” Of the Grid
Transgrid has shortlisted nine large‑scale battery projects, totalling up to 2 GW, to deliver system‑strength services that keep the New South Wales grid stable. The contracts, expected to run about three years, will commence in the second half of 2026 and...
Hormuz Is a Warning: Australia’s Oil Problem Is Its Electrification Gap
Australia’s energy security hinges on closing a massive electrification gap, with only about 21.5% of final‑energy consumption supplied by electricity. Oil still powers 654 TWh of the nation’s energy mix, especially in transport, where just 1.5% of 489 TWh is electric. The...
Engie-Backed Offshore Wind Project Begins Seabed Investigations in Gippsland Zone
Ocean Winds, the joint venture of EDP Renewables and Engie, has launched a four‑month geophysical sonar survey for its 1.3 GW High Sea Wind offshore project in Victoria’s Gippsland zone. The study will map the seabed across a 150‑square‑kilometre area 76 km...
Off with the Blades: Pioneering Community-Owned Wind Farm Has First Major Component Repair
Australia’s first community‑owned wind farm, Hepburn Energy, announced that its turbine Gale underwent a major component repair, the first time the turbine’s top has been removed since the farm began operating in 2011. The repair involved lifting the rotor and...
New Solar Farm Built in Australia’s Most Destructive Wind Area “Didn’t Miss a Beat” In Recent Cyclone
Pacific Energy’s 9.6 MW Exmouth solar farm in Western Australia’s North West Cape survived Tropical Cyclone Mitchell without any structural damage, keeping full output despite wind speeds that can exceed 300 km/h. The site, located in the country’s only wind‑speed rating “D”...
State Unveils Its Own “Solar Sharer” Offer, Promising Three Hours of Free Power and Big Bill Savings
Victoria will launch a Midday Power Saver scheme on 1 October, mirroring the federal Solar Sharer program by offering three hours of free electricity each day. About 2.6 million households can opt‑in through their retailer, with estimated annual savings of $300‑$1,070 AUD (approximately...
How a Robot Named Bear Is Making Solar Farm Maintenance Safer and More Efficient
Australia’s CSIRO has adapted mining‑grade robots into an autonomous platform called Bear to patrol large‑scale solar farms. In initial trials the robot mapped terrain, identified panel defects and compared its findings with human inspections. Equipped with LiDAR, RGB and thermal...
Key Progress at New Kwinana Hydrogen Hub, as Nearby Bp Project Remains on Pause
The Future Energy Exports CRC (Fenex CRC) has secured a contract with Pacific Energy to supply two electrolysers and has launched Front End Engineering Design for Stage 2 of the Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub (KETH). Backed by an A$163 million (~US$108 million) research...
Climate Change Sticks Out Like “Sore Thumb” As Australia’s Threatened Species List Grows
Australia’s 2025 environmental report card shows an above‑average terrestrial year thanks to high rainfall, but marine ecosystems suffered severe heat‑driven stress. The report added 39 new species to the national threatened list, with climate change implicated in nine‑in‑ten of those...
SwitchedOn Podcast: How Households Are Reshaping the Role of Electricity Networks
The SwitchedOn podcast highlights how rooftop solar, home batteries and electric‑vehicle charging are turning Australian households into active participants in the electricity system. A recent EA Technology survey of over 8,000 consumers across Australia, the UK and New Zealand reveals shifting...
Rio Tinto “Farms Out” Smelter Repowering as Decarbonisation Division Gets the Axe
Rio Tinto has dismantled its dedicated decarbonisation division, moving responsibility for the $1 billion repowering of the Tomago aluminium smelter to its aluminium and lithium team. The shift follows a budget cut that reduced the company’s 2021‑2030 decarbonisation spend to US$1‑2 billion,...
Pioneering Community Solar and Battery Project Launches After “12 Years of Hard Work”
A community‑owned 1.4 MW solar farm with a 4 MWh battery has been completed in Goulburn, NSW. The project, driven by the Goulburn Community Energy Co‑operative, raised $2.6 million from 288 local investors and secured a $2.1 million state grant. It is the world’s...
“Serious Breach of Rules:” Regulator Cracks Down on Non-Compliant Water Heater Installs
The Victorian Essential Services Commission has accepted its first court‑enforceable undertaking against Ecovantage, mandating the company to correct non‑compliant heat‑pump water‑heater installations at its own expense. The regulator alleges Ecovantage claimed up to 31,666 energy‑efficiency certificates for upgrades that violated...
South Australia on Path to 100 Pct Net Renewables Next Year After Labor Landslide and Liberal Backflip
South Australia’s Labor government, buoyed by a landslide win, will pursue a net‑100 percent renewable electricity target by 2027, relying solely on wind, solar and storage. The Liberal Party’s collapse removes a major policy obstacle, reinforcing voter support for clean energy....
“Massive Step:” State Inks Deals to Deliver More than 1 GW of New Wind Power Ahead of Mass Coal Exodus
Western Australia’s Labor government has secured more than one gigawatt of new wind capacity, surpassing its 810 MW target to replace retiring coal plants. Contracts were signed with three projects—130 MW Kondinin, 470 MW Parron Maam, and 330 MW of the 550 MW Marri farm—delivering...
How Do You Manage Inflation when It’s Driven by Climate Disasters and Overseas Fuel Shocks?
Recent reforms have modernised the Reserve Bank of Australia's governance but left its core inflation‑targeting framework unchanged, exposing a mismatch with today’s climate‑driven price pressures. Extreme weather events, overseas fuel shocks and soaring insurance costs are now regular contributors to...
What Fossil Madness Is This? Wars Can’t Interrupt Flow of Wind and the Sun, but All We Hear Is Drill,...
The article links the Iran war to a surge in fossil‑fuel prices, exposing how the industry is profiteering from geopolitical turmoil. Australian Climate Minister Chris Bowen argues that solar and wind energy remain immune to such crises, citing rapid growth...
Can Australia Make Its Own Wind Turbine Parts? Global Giant Suggests It Might Be at the Whim of Federal LNP
Vestas CEO Henrik Andersen warned that Australia must secure bipartisan, decade‑long policy support to develop a domestic wind turbine parts supply chain. He emphasized that stable, year‑on‑year demand of two to three gigawatts is essential for manufacturers to commit to...
Why some of Australia’s Energy Market Conventions Should Go the Way of the Dinosaurs
The Australian electricity market, built around extensive poles‑and‑wires infrastructure, is being upended by modular, virtual solutions such as microgrids, behind‑meter storage and demand‑side management. These technologies let consumers and manufacturers source renewable power locally, reducing network utilisation and challenging traditional...
Energy Insiders Podcast: Why Batteries Are the Answer to Nearly Everything
Energy Insiders released a podcast featuring Fluence’s Jeff Monday and SA Power Networks’ Adam Cameron discussing how falling battery costs are reshaping energy demand. They explore storage’s potential to manage data‑centre power spikes and to provide household flexibility essential for...
Independent Panel Approves Gigawatt Scale Battery Three Months After Local Opponents Force Referral
The NSW Independent Planning Commission approved Iberdrola’s 270 MW/1,080 MWh Kingswood standalone battery south of Tamworth. The decision came three months after the project was referred following more than 60 public objections, many from local residents concerned about visual, transport and fire...
Coal Mine Expansions Given Green Light in New Policy at Odds with State Climate Goals
The New South Wales government released a 2026‑2050 mining roadmap that bans new coal mines but permits extensions of existing operations for up to 25 years. Expansions will be subject to emissions conditions, though only three of the state’s 37...
Australia’s Coal Plants Chalked up 108 Outages over Summer – 90 of Them Unplanned
Australia’s National Electricity Market recorded 108 coal‑plant outages over the 2025‑26 summer, 90 of which were unplanned. On average, 25% of coal capacity – roughly 5.3 GW – was offline across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Scheduled maintenance frequently overran, adding about...
Stand-Alone Big Battery Seals Landmark Offtake Deal with “Non-Traditional” Danish Newcomer
A $200 million, seven‑year revenue‑share agreement was signed between Danish trader InCommodities and Singapore‑based Vena Energy for Stage 2 of the 408 MW Bellambi Heights battery energy storage system in New South Wales. The deal secures 204 MW of capacity, enough to power roughly...
GridBeyond Adds South Korea Tech Giant to Growing List of Backers, in $A20 Million Fundraising Round
GridBeyond, the Irish energy‑optimisation firm, closed a €12 million equity round that includes new investor Samsung Ventures alongside existing backers such as ABB and Energy Impact Partners. The funding will accelerate the company’s expansion into strategic markets, notably Australia, and further...
NSW Tweaks Underwriting Deals for Solar-Battery Hybrids as It Prepares Massive New Tenders to Replace Coal
New South Wales has adopted a preferred underwriting framework for solar‑battery hybrid projects as it readies two massive tenders totalling 5 GW of new capacity later this year. The AEMO subsidiary ASL favoured an export‑based long‑term energy supply agreement (LTESA) that...
“Arguably a World First:” Historic Solar Thermal Plant Lines up for Heritage Listing
The White Cliffs Solar Power Station, built in 1980, is the first commercially operated solar‑thermal plant in Australia and one of the earliest worldwide. The outback NSW site featured 14 parabolic dishes with over 2,000 mirrors each, generating steam‑driven electricity...
“A Bee in Their Bonnet:” Judge Says Council Has “Lost Perspective” In Its Legal Case Against Wind Project
Chief Justice Brian Preston rebuked Tamworth Regional Council’s legal challenge to the 372‑MW Hills of Gold wind project, labeling the council’s focus a “bee in their bonnet” and saying it had lost perspective. The council continues the case after the...
Enormous Top End Solar and Battery Project Seeks Federal Green Tick
TotalEnergies‑Eren subsidiary TE H2 has lodged a 56‑page EPBC referral for the Wak Wak project, a proposed 2.7 GW solar farm paired with a 6 GWh battery on up to 3,400 ha near Darwin. The development, slated to start construction by May 2027, would connect to...
Four Horses, 400 Km, and a Fight over a Gas Pipeline that Will Cross the State’s Most Fertile Plains
The Santos‑owned Narrabri coal‑seam‑gas project remains stalled without the approved Narrabri Lateral or Queensland‑Hunter pipelines. Environmental activist Sally Hunter is leading a 400‑km horseback protest to spotlight the route that cuts through the fertile Liverpool Plains and over 460 farms....
Energy Insiders Podcast: How the World’s Fourth Biggest Economy Plans to Reach 100 Pct Clean Energy
The Energy Insiders podcast examines Germany’s roadmap to achieve 100 % clean electricity, a goal set for the mid‑2030s. Host David Hochschild outlines the nation’s aggressive renewable‑capacity expansion, accelerated coal phase‑out, and massive grid‑modernisation investments. He also discusses how federal and...
When Will the Energy Sector Understand the National Energy Objective? When Will Governments Enforce Its Intent?
The National Electricity Objective (NEO) calls for efficient investment, operation and use of electricity to meet price, reliability and emissions targets, yet policymakers have narrowed “efficiency” to short‑term financial metrics. The article argues that the Australian electricity market, rooted in...
“It Is Paramount:” AEMO Says System and Market Operator Functions Must Be Kept Together
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) is lobbying to keep its system‑operation and market‑operation functions combined as a comprehensive governance review looms. AEMO’s chair and CEO argue that a unified structure ensures security, reliability, and a whole‑of‑system perspective essential for...
Powerful New Rooftop Solar Panel Promises System Sizes “Previously Out of Reach”
Chinese solar maker Aiko has secured Clean Energy Council approval for its new ABC 60‑cell rooftop panel, delivering up to 545 W – roughly 24% more power than the average Australian module. The higher‑output panel lets homeowners pack more capacity onto...
Webinar: The New Era of Home Energy Storage in Australia
GoodWe hosted a webinar on March 13, 2026 to unveil its ESA All‑in‑One residential energy storage system, available in single‑phase and three‑phase formats. The session also dissected recent revisions to the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program, highlighting new sizing...
Offshore Wind Installation Tech Promises to Change Logistics Game, Cut Reliance on Deep-Water Ports
Feederdock, a split‑vessel offshore wind installation system developed by ONP Management and Renewable Resources International, is set to enter the Australian market with Energy Estate as exclusive advisor. The concept pairs a heavy‑lift jack‑up vessel with shallow‑draught feeder ships, delivering...
New Rules Loom for Home Solar and Batteries, as World’s Biggest Isolated Grid Tackles “Unique Challenge”
Western Australia will raise inverter connection limits to 30 kW from 1 May 2026, allowing larger rooftop solar and battery systems on the South West Interconnected System (SWIS). The rule change also mandates compliance with AS/NZS 4777.2 for undervoltage ride‑through and remote disconnect capability...
“We Are 80 Pct Renewable:” Wind and Solar Shield Gina Rinehart’s Big Lithium Play From Fossil Fuel Crisis
Liontown Resources, backed by Gina Rinehart’s near‑20% stake, is operating the Kathleen Valley lithium mine with an 80% renewable energy mix. The hybrid power plant—30 MW wind, 17 MW solar and a 17 MW battery—has reduced diesel to roughly 4‑5% of total operating...
Permanent Ban for Energy Efficiency Company that Falsified Claims, Misled Regulator
Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has permanently suspended Phenix Trading’s registration under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, barring the firm from creating renewable energy certificates. The decision follows earlier bans by New South Wales and Victoria regulators for exaggerated...
Data Centres Will Have to “Ride Through” Grid Faults, Not Trip Off, Under Proposed New Rules
The Australian Energy Market Commission released draft technical standards requiring large data centres (30 MW or more) to ride through voltage and frequency disturbances instead of disconnecting. The rules aim to prevent cascading failures and limit the cost of grid upgrades...
Energy Retailer Dumps Gas Licence to “Focus Exclusively” On Solar, Batteries and VPPs
Discover Energy has surrendered its gas retail licence, shifting exclusively to solar, battery storage and virtual power plant (VPP) services. The Australian regulator approved the move, with existing gas customers transferred to CovaU on September 4. The company cites high compliance...
