AGL trials Australia’s largest solar energy trading platform in Victoria

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

Australia’s largest power producer, AGL, is using its own solar energy trading platform to help customers save on electricity bills. AGL customers with solar power can earn solar tokens to trade energy with others in the community. Solar system owners then have more control over energy use, while those without solar installations can also enjoy solar […]

Clean Energy Council applauds federal and Victorian Labor for clean energy policies

National battery standard applauded by CEC.

The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has welcomed a raft of renewable policy plans from the federal and Victorian Labor parties. Kane Thornton, CEO of the independent industry body, says Labor’s resounding win in the Victorian election ticks off virtually all the CEC’s renewable policy recommendations. The $1.3 billion Victorian Solar Homes program will offer subsidised […]

Victoria’s bright solar future: Andrews Government to expand solar panel and battery rebate program after dazzling election win

Solar battery programs will follow in new Andrews term.

Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government was re-elected in a landslide victory in the Victorian State Election on Saturday. The win means it’s now full steam ahead for Labor’s solar panel and battery rebate program. Andrews had promised to expand Victoria’s $1.3 billion Solar Homes program if re-elected for another four-year term. As a result, the half-price solar panel […]

Bill Shorten announces Labor energy policy with $5 billion fund to ease renewables transition

Clean energy jobs boosted in ALP policy announcement to increase apprenticeships.

Federal Labor is planning a $5 billion fund to future-proof Australia’s energy network and ease the renewables transition under the Labor energy policy. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will also deliver $10 billion for large-scale renewable capital investment, along with measures to boost energy efficiency for households and businesses. The policy is called ‘One Plan for […]

Victorian Election 2018 – A guide to Labor, Coalition and Greens energy policies

Victorians go to the polls on Saturday, and Labor’s Daniel Andrews, the Coalition’s Matthew Guy and Greens leader Samantha Ratnam have been spruiking their election energy policies across the state. With cheaper and cleaner electricity now priorities for many Victorians, energy announcements have been a focus of this year’s campaigning. Energy Matters has been over the […]

Bill Shorten energy policy: Labor pledges solar battery rebates and adopts the NEG

Bill Shorten lays groundwork for renewable battle in 2019.

The federal Labor Party will roll out solar battery rebates for up to 100,000 households as part of an ambitious renewables program if it wins the next general election. Labor will also reintroduce the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) shelved by the Coalition. However, it will add a higher emissions reduction target of 45 per cent […]

58,554 new jobs predicted in Australian renewable energy industry

Ageing coal-fired plants in Victoria are least reliable in national grid.

Estimates from the Australia Institute show a rapid renewable energy transition in Australia could generate 58,554 new jobs annually over eleven years. The ‘Will-o’-the-ISP’ report is based on the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan (ISP). The ISP is a comprehensive infrastructure development plan for Australia’s energy system. It projects how much renewable energy […]

Wind and solar power to the rescue as electricity blackouts threaten

AEMO

Wind and solar energy generation will help protect Australians from electricity blackouts this summer. According to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), Victoria and South Australia face a high risk of blackouts if no action is taken. AEMO’s Summer 2018-19 Readiness Plan aims to minimise the risk of customer supply disruption. To do this, AEMO […]

Origin Energy demand management system to be rolled out across Australia

Origin Energy halting renewable investment due to Government interference.

The Origin Energy demand management trial in South Australia has proved so successful it will now be rolled out nationally. Practical examples of demand management technology include Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) which network individual home batteries into a single energy source. There are also schemes in which households agree with retailers to cut energy use […]