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 280,000 homes for 2.5 hours during peak demand, and underpins the project’s role in stabilising the state’s grid as renewable penetration rises. Announced during the Danish royal state visit, the contract marks InCommodities’ second major Australian off‑take, bringing its total Australian commitment close to $500 million. The partnership highlights growing confidence in Australia’s long‑term storage market and cross‑border renewable collaboration.
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...
Big Battery Put on Standby Again as Rooftop PV Sends Grid Demand Below Zero, but None Forced to Charge
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) placed the Torrens Island big battery on standby after rooftop solar pushed South Australia’s grid demand into negative territory, forecasting a minimum system load of –144 MW. While the battery remained idle, other storage assets...
As Energy Prices Surge, a Tax on Windfall Gas Profits Could Be the Best Way to Protect Households
Rising energy prices triggered by the Iran conflict have pushed global gas rates up roughly 50%, inflating profits for Australian LNG exporters while household bills climb. Australia, a net oil importer but major LNG exporter, faces a fiscal dilemma: a...
Port Pitching for Offshore Wind Hub Says Turbine Trade Could More than Double Its Shipping Traffic
Port of Hastings is positioning itself as Australia’s first dedicated offshore‑wind construction hub through the proposed Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal (VRET). The hub could raise annual vessel visits from 150 to roughly 350, effectively doubling port traffic and supporting Victoria’s...
Queensland LNP Calls in Another Big Battery Project as Most Coal Dependent State Hit by Flight of Capital
Queensland’s Liberal‑National Party government has called in Trina Solar’s 200 MW Pleystowe battery project, adding it to a growing list of renewable schemes under state scrutiny. Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie received 733 submissions raising fire, noise, and agricultural land concerns, prompting...
“Ironic Twist of History:” Offshore Wind Developer Solves 150-Year Old Mystery of Sunken Coal Ship
Offshore wind developer Iberdrola’s Aurora Green survey off southern Victoria uncovered two shipwrecks, confirming the long‑lost 1853 iron steamer City of Hobart alongside the known SS Vicky. The 3 GW wind farm, slated to power about 2.25 million homes, is part of...
“A Tidal Wave of Hostile Messaging:” The Billions Spent Each Year by Fossil Fuel Industry Demonising Renewables
Fossil‑fuel companies are spending roughly US$4 billion each year on communications and public‑affairs campaigns, dwarfing the renewable sector’s US$150 million budget by about 27‑to‑1, according to California Energy Commission chair David Hochschild. He highlighted that solar has become the single largest annual...
Solar, Storage and Sheep: First Sod Turned at Game-Changing Hybrid PV and Battery Project
The first sod has been turned on Octopus Australia’s Blind Creek project, a $900 million DC‑coupled solar‑battery hybrid near Canberra. The facility will combine 300 MW of photovoltaic capacity with a 243 MW/486 MWh battery, enabling solar generation to be stored and dispatched during...
SwitchedOn Podcast: Are Solar Households Shifting Electricity Costs Onto Everyone Else?
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) has released a draft review that could reshape electricity pricing as rooftop solar, batteries and smart tech cut midday demand. Gavin Dufty of St Vincent de Paul Society cites the Vinnies Tariff Tracker to highlight how current...
Solar and Battery Project Sent to State Planning Authority by Far Away Objectors Gets All-Clear
The NSW Independent Planning Commission approved Edify Energy’s Burroway Solar Farm, a 100 MW photovoltaic array paired with a 100 MW/400 MWh battery, despite 81 objections, most of which came from distant sources. Located within the Central‑West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, the project...
Mandatory Energy Rating Report Card Urged for All Homes
Australia will expand the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme with a $32.7 million boost, making energy‑efficiency assessments available to homeowners and landlords from July. The scheme rates homes on a zero‑to‑10 star scale, but only about 30% of the existing stock...
Victoria’s Second-Largest Big Battery Poised to Charge up, Next to the State’s Biggest Gas Generator
Origin Energy’s 300 MW/650 MWh Mortlake battery energy storage system has been registered on the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Market Management System, marking its first active integration steps ahead of full commissioning. The BESS sits beside Victoria’s largest gas‑fired plant, the 566 MW...
The Driven Podcast: Car Makers Clear First NVES Hurdle as EV Transition Accelerates
Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) released its first results, showing that major car makers have met the initial emissions targets. The podcast highlights that stricter limits are slated for later this year, which will pressure manufacturers to accelerate electric‑vehicle...
One Nation Senator Who Hates Renewables, Backs Nuclear, Owns Shares in Solar-Battery Company
One Nation senator Tyron Whitten disclosed a 0.00913% stake in Sky Energy Investments, a Victorian solar‑battery firm, despite his public opposition to large‑scale renewable projects. Whitten repeatedly argues that nuclear, coal and gas are cheaper than renewables and has labeled...
Why Developers Are Choosing Battery-Centric DC Coupling for Big Solar and Storage in Australia
Developers in Australia are increasingly adopting battery‑centric DC‑coupled architectures for utility‑scale solar‑plus‑storage projects. The design places the battery and its grid‑forming inverter at the core, using DC/DC converters to integrate PV, which reduces harmonic emissions, lowers connection study costs, and...
Snail Trails and Uncertainty: Australia’s Emissions Are Not Falling Fast Enough
Australia’s latest greenhouse‑gas inventory shows a 1.9% drop in national emissions between September 2024 and September 2025, bringing quarterly emissions to 111.7 Mt CO₂‑e. However, the pace is far below the 3.9% annual cuts needed to meet the 2030 target of a 43%...
Community Battery Launches Next to Community Solar System, to Help Power Regional Resilience
Indigo Power is rolling out the first of seven community batteries across regional Victoria and southern New South Wales, funded by a $4.7 million resilience project with $3.4 million from ARENA. The inaugural 340 kWh unit, BEECH01, sits beside a 99 kW solar array...
Energy Insiders Podcast: The Revolution in Electric Trucking
The Energy Insiders podcast released on March 6, 2026 spotlights a seismic shift in Australia’s trucking sector as battery prices plunge. Daniel Bleakley of New Energy Transport explains how lower‑cost batteries are making electric trucks financially viable against diesel. The episode also...
Offshore Wind Project Says It’s “Fully Prepared” As It Heads Into Full Environmental Assessment
The Blue Mackerel offshore wind project has entered the full environmental impact assessment stage under Australia’s EPBC Act, confirming its status as a controlled action. The 1 GW development, slated for up to 70 turbines about 10 km off Gippsland’s coast, now...
Electrifying All Road Freight Between Sydney and Melbourne Is a No Brainer: The Payback Is Less than 4 Years
Electrifying the 900 km Sydney‑Melbourne freight corridor could cut fuel costs by $0.9 billion annually and deliver a payback of two to four years. Battery‑electric 60‑tonne trucks with 450 km+ range and megawatt‑scale chargers already exist, offering quieter, faster, and lower‑maintenance operation. Capital...
In Midst of Boom, New Energy Platform Promises to Boost Home Battery Payback by up to $1,500 a Year
German‑founded 1komma5° introduced Heartbeat AI in Australia, an energy‑optimisation platform that links solar, battery and home loads to real‑time wholesale prices, weather and grid demand. The AI‑driven system claims to accelerate home‑battery payback by up to $1,500 per year without...
Energy Poverty Hiding in Plain Sight: The Data Blind Spots on Vulnerable Households
At the Energy Consumers of Australia Foresighting Forum, experts highlighted Australia’s blind spot on energy poverty, noting the country does not officially measure poverty or energy hardship. Researchers are developing a multidimensional poverty index using the HILDA survey, revealing health,...
Forrest Says AI the Stuff of Nightmares, but Also Critical to Fortescue’s Push to Real Zero
Mining and clean‑energy giant Fortescue is leveraging artificial intelligence to accelerate its decarbonisation agenda, deploying over 200 autonomous haul trucks and using AI to manage a 500 km renewable grid. AI simulations recently produced 2,650 scenarios to inform a six‑year green‑steel...
Special Episode: How to Close Down Oil and Gas
The Energy Insiders podcast released a special episode featuring Francis Norman, head of the Centre of Decommissioning Australia, who outlines the complex process of shutting down and removing oil and gas wells. He highlights the technical, regulatory, and financial challenges...
State Proposes Go-Betweens to Lead Negotiations on Community Benefits From Renewables
Western Australia has unveiled community benefits guidelines that create a fund‑custodian role to negotiate payments with renewable developers and implement locally‑chosen projects. An independent organisation will help councils decide on a single benefit plan, after which the custodian negotiates rates....
State-Backed Wind Farm Gets Federal Green Light, with Long List of Conditions
The federal environment minister has approved SynergyRed’s 100 MW Scott River wind farm in Western Australia, subject to five stringent conditions under the EPBC Act. The project will install 20 turbines up to 250 m tall, disturbing 107 ha of land but clearing...
Australian Printed Solar Technology Used to Power Coldplay World Tour Secures Federal Funding
Newcastle‑based Kardinia Energy has secured a $2.1 million federal grant to launch a commercial‑scale pilot of its printed solar panels. The technology prints carbon‑based semiconducting polymers onto thin recyclable plastic, creating lightweight, flexible modules that are cheaper and easier to install...
Wind Farms, Big Batteries, Pumped Hydro: 13 Renewables Projects Put on Fast-Track by New State Authority
The New South Wales government has fast‑tracked 16 projects worth $34.4 billion, with 13 focused on renewable generation and storage. A newly created Investment Delivery Authority (IDA) will override local council decisions to accelerate planning approvals. Projects range from large wind...
Big Battery Deals Dominate as Investors Buy, Sell, Finance and Contract Australian Energy Storage
In Q4 2025, battery energy storage systems dominated Australian renewable investment activity, featuring in 16 financing, M&A and offtake deals and representing 2.16 GW of transaction volume. Solar projects contributed 675 MW, with 90 % of that capacity in hybrid configurations. New South Wales...
Solar Insiders Podcast: What’s the Right Way to Consult with Communities?
Renew Economy’s Solar Insiders podcast released an episode on March 4, 2026 featuring Camilla Hamilton of Cogency discussing how renewable developers should consult with local communities. Hamilton stresses that thorough research, attentive listening, and even informal coffee meetings are essential to building...
Queensland LNP Adds Four-Hour Bundaberg Big Battery to Proposed Call-In List
Queensland’s planning minister Jarrod Bleijie has issued a call‑in notice for Iberdrola Australia’s up‑to‑500 MW Bundaberg Regional Battery after more than ten community and council requests raised safety, environmental and site‑suitability concerns. The council failed to issue a statutory decision, prompting...
Windy February Sets New Generation Records, Big Batteries Put the Squeeze on Gas
Australian NEM closed the summer of 2025‑26 with February 2026 wind generation records across all states except Tasmania and Victoria. Queensland posted a record 508,780 MWh, while Western Australia’s Warradarge farm led with a 60.5% capacity factor. Big utility‑scale batteries discharged 245 GWh,...
Australian Renewables Pipeline “Running Laps” Around Net Zero Targets. It’s the Pace that Is Lacking
Australia’s renewable pipeline now totals roughly 670 GW – more than three times the 200 GW extra capacity required for its 2050 net‑zero target – but the speed of project delivery is lagging. The bulk of the pipeline consists of onshore wind,...