Monthly News Roundup - October 2020

30 October 2020

Here is the Energy Next news round up for October 2020.

 

Blacktown City Council Solar Panel Installation Complete

The installation of solar panels for a 707kW PV project for Sydney’s Blacktown City Council has been completed with 1,876 solar panels installed across 16 sites including leisure and aquatic centres, libraries, childcare and community centres.

Read the full story here 

 

World’s biggest power producer buys $750 million wind project in NSW

Engie, the world’s biggest independent power producer, is reviving its push into the Australia renewable energy market with the purchase of development rights to the $750 million Hills of Gold wind project in northern New South Wales. Engie will take on the ongoing development of the 420MW wind farm, the largest wind project in the state, which is set to be constructed near the town of Nundle in NSW’s New England region.

Read the full story here

 

NSW to get a new big battery as renewable power surges

A battery worth $62 million is being installed in western Sydney as governments work with industry to help stabilise the electricity grid as the share of renewable energy grows. The federal government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency will contribute $11.5 million to the battery, to be built by Tesla, and $10 million will come from the NSW government.

Read the full story here

 

University wins $2.5m in federal funding for solar energy research

The federal government’s renewable energy agency, ARENA, has awarded $2.5 million in solar energy research funding to Professor Anita Ho-Baillie, the John Hooke Chair of Nanoscience at the University of Sydney Nano Institute and the School of Physics. The funding is part of a national injection of $15 million to support solar photovoltaic research.

Read the full story here

 

Cannon-Brookes backs UNSW solar cell start-up, founded in a Maroubra garage

High profile Australian investors including Mike Cannon-Brookes’ Grok Ventures have tipped $5 million into Sydney start-up SunDrive, in support of its quest to make a new breed of cheaper, more efficient solar cells.

Read the full story here

 

$1 billion pumped hydro scheme would open up NSW grid

The New South Wales government has given accelerated approval status to a billion-dollar pumped hydro project that will unlock twice as much renewable energy investment and reduce grid congestion. The venture, backed by Alinta Energy, would generate as much as 600 megawatts of electricity by releasing water between two reservoirs near the Macleay River between Armidale and Kempsey.

Read the full story here

 

Goulburn community solar investment round raises $500,000+

Plans to build a 1.8MW community solar and battery farm in NSW Southern Tablelands regional city of Goulburn have taken a major step forward after raising more than half a million dollars from local investors.

Read the full story here