31 July 2020
Here is the Energy Next news round up for July 200.
Second Renewable Energy Zone for NSW
The New South Wales Government has announced a $79 million plan to develop an 8,000MW Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in New England, the second in the region. The New England REZ is expected to attract $12.7 billion in investment, support 2,000 construction jobs and 1,300 ongoing jobs.
NSW Government to invest $15m in Hunter Water solar uptake
The New South Wales government is set to invest over $15 million into renewable energy installations at Hunter Water’s treatment plants and pump stations over the next four years as the utility surges toward carbon neutrality. The announcement came with the completion of a 100 kW system at Branxton Wastewater Treatment Works.
World's largest solar farm and battery to export green energy
A plan to build the world's largest solar farm and battery in the Northern Territory and connect it to supply power to Singapore and Indonesia has been granted "major project status" by the federal government.
GE signs agreement to develop 500MW pumped hydro project in NSW
Global energy giant GE has signed an agreement to co-develop a proposed 500MW pumped hydro storage project at Dungowan Dam in the New England region of New South Wales. The Dungowan pumped hydro storage power plant would provide about 2 per cent, or the equivalent of roughly 125,000 households with electricity.
Queensland adds $23m renewables training centre to Covid-19 stimulus
The Queensland government has announced a $17 million grant to establish a new “state-of-the-art” rene
wable energy training facility in Brisbane, focusing on apprentices, as part of the state government’s ongoing stimulus measures in response to Covid-19.
Australia adopts international standards to shape hydrogen future
Australia has adopted eight international standards to shape its hydrogen future, as it bids to use the fuel to enhance energy security and build a billion-dollar export industry. The rules have the potential to not only support the safety of users – with guidance on storage, transport and refueling – but also facilitate international trade as the nation aims to assume a major role in the global hydrogen economy.
Victoria’s La Trobe University switches on massive 2.5MW solar array
A 2.5MW solar system installed across 25 rooftops at La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus in Melbourne’s north has been completed. The 7,500 PV panels installed on campus would supply up to half of the campus’s energy needs on days of peak solar efficiency.
WA to spend $66m on solar and batteries for schools, communities and social housing
The Western Australia state government has announced a plan to spend $66.3 million on solar and battery storage installations for schools, isolated communities and social housing as part of a massive $5.5 billion plan to re-boot the state’s economy after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tesla big battery at Hornsdale delivers world record output of 150MW
The Hornsdale Power Reserve – more commonly known as the Tesla big battery – has set a new record for itself, and the world, in terms of output from a lithium-ion battery, feeding 150MW into the South Australia grid as it continues its complex series of tests.
Australian researchers squeeze more energy from sunlight in world-first breakthrough
Australian researchers from the University of New South Wales have unlocked the secret to squeezing more energy out of sunlight, by converting otherwise wasted sunlight into useful light, that could provide a way to significantly boost to solar panel efficiencies.