Work begins on Western Australia solar with battery storage to follow

Work on WA's largest solar farm now underway at Merredin.

Construction has begun at a Western Australia solar farm, WA’s largest solar farm, which is expected to deliver 281 GWh of clean electricity when it’s up and running. Risen Energy’s 132 MW Merredin Solar Farm should start generation towards the end of the year. Eventually it will generate enough clean energy to power around 42,000 […]

Hydrogen from seawater: Using solar power for electrolysis

Stanford University

Stanford University researchers have developed a method of generating hydrogen from seawater. The breakthrough harnesses solar power to drive the process of electrolysis to separate hydrogen and oxygen gas from water. Previously, water splitting methods have relied on highly purified water, an expensive and precious resource. Hydrogen fuel is a promising option in the fight […]

Former Melbourne Toyota plant becomes hydrogen production centre using solar power

solar powered hydrogen hub

Australia’s car manufacturing days may be over, but one maker is turning an old asset into a hub for  hydrogen from solar. Toyota’s former car plant at Altona in Melbourne’s south-west will soon become a commercial-grade hydrogen production and refuelling site. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will contribute $3.1 million to help create the […]

Self-forecasting trials predict energy grid inputs for wind & solar power generators

A series of trials will improve the accuracy of solar farm forecasting so the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) can better manage the grid. Eleven projects will test and develop innovative weather-based technology. Large-scale renewable energy generators can then give AEMO more accurate output forecasts. So, wind and solar farms can now submit their own […]

First Australian solar farm in Antarctica powers up at Casey station

First Australian solar farm operational at Antarctic's Casey station.

The first Australian solar farm in Antarctica sparked into life this week at remote Casey station using 105 solar panels. The solar power array is among the largest in Antarctica. It will help remote Australian Antarctic research stations like Casey to reduce reliance on diesel generation. As a result it will cut both cost and […]

NSW Coalition promises new rules to promote solar power storage in apartments

A new solar farm in NSW Riverina is part of a large-scale solar boom across Australia.

The NSW Coalition will introduce new rules making it easier for apartments going solar, including power storage if re-elected on Saturday. Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the government will ease strata laws. As a result, it will be easier for strata committees to push through solar panels and energy storage systems. The laws will reduce the […]

Coalition in-fighting over coal damages NSW Liberal state election hopes: Turnbull

Coal in-fighting in Coalition threatens Liberal chances of re-election in NSW says Malcolm Turnbull.

Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says coal in-fighting within the Liberal and National Coalition is damaging NSW Liberal state election candidates’ chances. Criticising the ongoing spat over coal-fired power plants, Turnbull says it will be harder for NSW Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian to win office again at the polls on March 23. Federally, pro-coal National […]

Where’s the new plant? Energy Minister queries AGL on its Liddell Power Station plans

AGL to close Liddell coal-fired plant in April 2023.

The ongoing saga of the Liddell Power Station’s future continues. Energy Minister Angus Taylor yesterday called on Liddell owners AGL to commit to its energy replacement plan before the NSW coal-fired plant shuts in 2022. The plant has been a political hot potato since mid-2017, soon after Victoria’s Hazelwood coal-fired station closed. At the time, the […]