Monthly News Roundup - February 2021

28 February 2021

• Australian first with battery approved for Hume hydro station
• TransGrid secures $600 million debt facility for transmission upgrades supporting REZ No. 1
• Sod turning marks $20 million investment in future hydrogen workforce
• Australia’s battery and hydrogen storage pipeline jumped by massive 20GW in 2020
• UNSW researchers to develop roadmap for using excess renewables to power industry
• NSW appoints first Renewable Energy Sector Board to guide energy plan
• Australia’s first hydrogen fuel cell factory

Monthly News Roundup - January 2021

29 January 2021

• Neoen plans massive 500MW big battery west of Sydney
• Largest battery in Australia to be built at ageing NSW coal-fired power plant
• Real Energy signs JV to develop large-scale hydrogen hubs
• Chemical researchers develop "green" ammonia
• NSW coal country gets a big grid-balancing battery
• Finance secured Metz Solar Farm in New South Wales
• VivoPower completes 39MW Molong Solar Farm in New South Wales

Monthly News Roundup - December 2020

8 January 2021

• Queensland renewable energy zones “flooded” with 60,000MW of project proposals
• NSW to fast-track network approvals for first renewable energy zone
• Tasmania is now powered entirely by renewable energy
• Singapore investor injects $3 million into 500 MW Queensland PV project
• ARENA backs vanadium flow battery project in outback SA
• South Australia set sights on stunning new target of 500 pct renewables

Monthly News Roundup - November 2020

30 November 2020

• NSW and WA post record rooftop solar installations
• Officeworks pledges to go 100 per cent renewable by 2025
• Australia hits 50pct renewables again, despite shut down of seven solar farms
•  NSW government unveils $32 billion investment plan for new electricity infrastructure
• Woolworths pledges to source 100 per cent renewables by 2025
• Production for new wind and solar farms have begun production

Monthly News Roundup - October 2020

30 October 2020

• Blacktown City Council Solar Panel Installation Complete
• World’s biggest power producer buys $750 million wind project in NSW
• NSW to get a new big battery as renewable power surges
• University wins $2.5m in federal funding for solar energy research
• Cannon-Brookes backs UNSW solar cell start-up, founded in a Maroubra garage
• $1 billion pumped hydro scheme would open up NSW grid
• Goulburn community solar investment round raises $500,000+

Monthly News Roundup - September 2020

30 September 2020

• CSIRO signs up for 100 per cent solar power with Garnaut’s Zen Energy
• Coles signs 10-year PPA with CleanCo
• Australia’s biggest renewable energy hub to deliver low-cost power for ACT
• 'Renewable revolution': Queensland to put $500m into clean energy fund
• The University of Sydney commits to 100% renewables

Monthly News Roundup - August 2020

3 September 2020

• NSW to fund four new big battery projects 
• Queensland Government announces investment in three renewable energy ‘corridors’ 
• Western Sydney green hydrogen plant gets accelerated planning tick 
• PPA-linked 120 MW solar park goes online in Australia 
• FRV’s Goonumbla solar farm completed in NSW, to supply Snowy Hydro 
• Goldwind considers green fuels for hybrid gas-battery plant
• Solar panel and battery system recycling targeted in NSW grant round
• New England big battery awarded $12.5 million state government grant 

Monthly News Roundup - June 2020

30 June 2020

• NSW first renewable energy zone attracts 27 GW of solar, wind and battery proposals
• New 3.6 GW PV-powered hydrogen project announced in Australia
• First section of massive Moorabool wind farm completed in Victoria
• Australia approves 720 MW solar farm with massive battery
• Queensland adds $23m renewables training centre to Covid-19 stimulus
• Huge 720MW solar farm and very big battery approved for connection to NSW grid

Monthly News Roundup - May 2020

29 May 2020

• Suntech’s 9.4MW Robinvale solar farm completed in Victoria
• Huge Uungula wind project edges closer in NSW renewable energy zone
• Victoria’s Cohuna solar farm complete, joins queue for commissioning
• Juwi to build renewable energy hub in regional Western Australia
• Gransolar Group to build Molong Solar Farm in NSW
• NSW seeks expressions of interest for 3 GW renewable energy zone

Monthly News Roundup - April 2020

5 May 2020

• ARENA backs New England pumped hydro study
• Renewable energy jobs in Australia surge to record levels
• Australia renewables hit 50% of main grid’s net demand on Easter Saturday
• NSW amends planning laws to pave way for standalone big battery projects
• First turbines installed at 110MW Biala wind farm in NSW

Monthly News Roundup - March 2020

30 March 2020

• Acciona to build huge 1GW wind farm in Queensland after landing CleanCo deal
• Climate policy done right: Tasmania sets 200% RE target by 2040
• Canadian Solar inks new Australian PPA with Amazon for output of NSW solar farm
• ARENA funds QLD hydrogen demonstration plant

Monthly News Roundup - February 2020

29 February 2020

• UNSW receives $3 million towards energy storage research
• City of Adelaide inks deal to go 100% renewable from July 2020
• Tasmania’s Granville Harbour wind farm now sending power to the grid
• University of Queensland team makes solar technology breakthrough
• Solar and battery “community renewables park” planned for Orange, NSW
• Wagga Wagga goes solar
• Clean Energy Council awards Women in Renewables grant
• Energy storage research hub launched at UNSW
• Blacktown City Council commits to 100% renewable energy

Monthly News Roundup - January 2020

31 January 2020

• The world will add 142 GW of new solar this year
• Yarranlea solar farm joins the grid in Queensland
• The ACT is now running on 100 renewable electricity
• Australia poised for record large-scale PV rollout in 2020
• Renewable hydrogen costs could halve by 2030, beating “unabated” fossil fuels
• New giant battery creates base for more renewables in Queensland

• The University of Wollongong sets benchmark for sustainable buildings in Australia 
• ARENA and CEFC to kick-start Australia’s ‘clean’ hydrogen industry  
• Most consumers want companies to target 100 per cent renewable energy
• NSW’s first ultra-rapid EV charging station 
• SolarReserve and Aurora Project acquisition 
• ARENA boots Sustainable Australia fund, more renewables access for small businesses

Monthly News Roundup - November 2019

26 November 2019

• Spread the sun: CEC guides benefit sharing of renewable projects
• Federal Government hands $1 billion to Clean Energy Finance Corporation to boost power grid reliability
• Free solar system installations for eligible NSW households
• Highest power prices at night mooted to ease peak-time demand
• Electric or hydrogen — which will win the clean car race?
• NSW announces 3,000MW renewable energy zone, and energy security target
• NSW between a lump of coal and a hard place
• Business demand is helping drive the energy transition to wind and solar