South Australian virtual power plant cuts energy bills as phase 3 begins

South Australian virtual power plant soon to enter phase 3.

Tesla’s South Australian virtual power plant (VPP) is already saving low-income households more than 20 per cent on their electricity bills. The government reports that SA’s most disadvantaged households are pooling output from free solar panels and Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries to cut power bills. Individual solar battery systems within the VPP connect to form a large, […]

Japan primed for cheap energy storage thanks to Chinese battery giant

Chinese electric vehicle battery maker CATL will soon sell home solar batteries to a Japanese market starved of cheap energy storage. CATL, the world’s largest maker of electric vehicle batteries aims to slash the price of Japanese home batteries by providing components. CATL’s Japanese partner Next Energy & Resources will then assemble them. With a […]

South Australian Government seeks to include renters in Home Battery Scheme

South Australian virtual power plant soon to enter phase 3.

South Australia is looking to expand its $200 million SA Home Battery Scheme to include rental properties. Of the 2,300 subsidies approved under the program, just 11 have been for batteries in  households occupied by renters. Since it opened 10 months ago, the HBS has seen over 1,500 home battery systems installed around the state. […]

Queensland’s CleanCo calls for clean energy: 5 solar farms make shortlist for 400 MW reverse auction

Clean energy projects bid for CleanCo contracts in Queensland.

CleanCo, Queensland’s state-owned clean electricity generating and trading company, wants clean energy projects to bid for contracts in regional investment. Ten renewable projects are short-listed. These include wind farms, commercial solar installations,  as well as hydroelectric power stations in Far North Queensland (FNQ). CleanCo will provide up to 400 MW of new generation and storage […]

Understanding the Tesla Powerwall 2 Price: A Comprehensive 2024 Guide

A Tesla rechargeable battery.

Tesla has dropped the price of its leading Powerwall 2 battery system for home solar power. The Tesla Powerwall 2 price is now listed at $11,700. This new price is a $650 reduction from the previous list price. For those of us living in states offering solar battery rebates, however, the change might be enough. […]

Lobby group wants energy giant AGL to come clean on emissions policy

ACCR urges ALG to cut emissions.

A lobby group that promotes corporate responsibility is urging AGL Energy to disclose its plans to cut emissions in line with Paris Agreement obligations. The call is the latest in a series of proposals from the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) pressuring AGL to clean up its coal-fired power stations and reduce its carbon […]

Solar installers to rally at Parliament House for changes to Victoria’s Solar Homes program

Solar installers rally outside Victoria's Parliament House this week.

Solar installers will rally in Melbourne this Thursday against the “stop-start” nature of Victoria’s popular Solar Homes program. The innovative, state government program sets a national benchmark for state-funded solar rebates and has helped many Victorian households install solar panels and battery storage. However, its sheer popularity is working against it since the government placed a limit […]

Melbourne’s trams to run on 100 per cent solar power

Melbourne trams will soon run on 100 per cent solar power.

Melbourne’s trams will soon be fuelled by 100 per cent solar power thanks to the largest operating solar farm in Victoria, making them green powered trams. At least, that’s the amount of power the 128 MW Numurkah Solar Farm, north of Shepparton, will create. Its array of more than 300,000 solar panels produces enough power […]