8 January 2021
Here is the Energy Next news round up for December 2020
Queensland renewable energy zones “flooded” with 60,000MW of project proposals
Renewable energy investors have “flooded” the Queensland government with expressions of interest in building out the state’s renewable energy zones, putting forward proposals for enough projects to create 60,000 megawatts of clean energy.
NSW to fast-track network approvals for first renewable energy zone
The New South Wales government will fast-track planning approvals for the first batch of transmission network upgrades that are set to unlock the state’s first Renewable Energy Zone and billions in new clean energy investment.
The NSW government had declared the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Transmission project a ‘Critical State Significant Infrastructure’ project, seeing it granted priority status throughout the planning approval process.
Tasmania is now powered entirely by renewable energy
Tasmania now runs on 100% renewable energy, having met its goal to be fully self-sufficient on green energy two years ahead of schedule.
Tasmania achieved the feat in late November after the 29th of 31 wind turbines at Granville Harbour, on the island’s west coast, went online. The state will have access to 10,741 GWh of renewable generating capacity – well above its yearly energy demand of 10,500 GWh – once the final two are commissioned.
Singapore investor injects $3 million into 500 MW Queensland PV project
Plans to build a large-scale solar farm at Harlin in Queensland’s Somerset Council region continue to gather momentum after Singaporean infrastructure investor Keppel Corporation agreed to pour more than $3 million into the project.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency backs vanadium flow battery project in outback SA
Technology first discovered at the University of New South Wales in the 1980s will be "coming home" on an industrial scale, with Australia's Renewable Energy put nearly $6 million toward the construction of the country's first utility-scale vanadium flow battery in outback South Australia.
Amazon signs PPA with Victorian wind farm, its third renewables deal in Australia
A nearly 100MW wind farm approved for construction on the outskirts of the Victorian Western District town of Hawkesdale has inked a deal to supply renewable energy to US online retail giant Amazon.
It will source 325,000MWh of renewable energy a year from the 96.6MW Hawkesdale wind farm, to help power its corporate offices, fulfilment centres, and data centres that support millions of customers globally.
Australia’s largest privately owned shopping centre signs solar deal
Another Australian shopping centre has joined the rush to renewables with the Narellan Town Centre in western Sydney set to undergo a $40 million solar transformation after signing a 30-year energy partnership with CEP.Energy.
The network is set to be developed in stages and when complete will include a 50,000 square metre array of solar modules delivering 10 MW of renewable energy supported by a 20 MWh battery storage system.
South Australia set sights on stunning new target of 500 pct renewables
South Australia’s state government predicts the state could boast more than 500 per cent renewable energy by 2050 as it becomes a national and international exporter of clean energy.
South Australia has sourced a world-leading 60 per cent of its local grid demand from wind and solar over the past 12 months and aims to reach “net 100 per cent renewables” by 2030.