26 March 2026

A tale of two smelters

Rio Tinto’s circa $7.5 billion agreement with the federal and Queensland governments to use public money to underwrite renewable electricity for its Boyne Aluminium smelter is unprecedented on several fronts. Besides being the first time that solar power will be used to run an Australian aluminium smelter, it’s also the first use of Labor’s signature Future Made in Australia manufacturing policy where production credits are used to purchase electricity. When industry minister Tim Ayres announced the deal on a flying visit to Boyne in Central Queensland, he said the ageing smelter was handpicke

Electrification and batteries ease gas squeeze again

A critical annual review has again postponed expected shortfalls in peak day and annual supply of gas as electrification of households and businesses and accelerating deployment of renewables and batteries cut demand. Even as supply from southern gasfields such as Bass Strait and the Gippsland Basin is set to fall by around half over the next five years, falling domestic gas consumption and increases in supply capacity are steadily eating away at expected future supply demand shortfalls. As a result the 2026 Gas Statement of Opportunities (GSOO) for the East Coast gas market has pushed out exp

Gas shortfall fears pushed out again as grid battery boom and electrification take fresh bite from demand

Electrification and Australia's boom in big batteries have helped to push out forecast gas shortfalls by another year to 2030, AEMO says.

Another big battery prepares to power up as Sunshine state leads extraordinary charge to storage in 2026

Battery component of solar and storage facility joins the grid, part of a boom that has already added more than 4 gigawatts of new capacity this financial year.

Energy transitions continue to produce spillover effects despite geopolitical tensions

Accelerating energy transitions in major economies can create positive spillover effects worldwide, even amid geopolitical tensions, with North America and the Eurozone boosting progress in other regions.

Who are the Top 100 PV manufacturers today?

The Terawatt PV 100 ranks the top 100 solar manufacturing companies using a new methodology based on production scale, financial strength, and corporate transparency, with Tongwei leading the Q1 2026 list and most top firms headquartered in China. The analysis highlights increasing global supply-chain scrutiny driven by tariffs and ESG mandates, while also showing rising influence from Indian companies and strong positions for key materials and equipment suppliers.

Fake news on everything from whales to wind farms: Australia’s climate misinformation tsunami

Senate inquiry uncovers countless instances where misinformation – and often disinformation – is affecting public opinion on everything from wind farms and whales to electric vehicles and batteries.

A home battery case study: From little interest in storage, to bills that are always in credit

Until recently, I had little interest in purchasing a household battery. I am now one of half a million Australians to have taken the plunge. Here's how it's going.

“Self-erecting” wind turbine hits power milestone ahead of joining Fortescue Pilbara project

A prototype wind turbine using "self-erecting" tower technology is running at full capacity, ahead of joining a "proof-of-concept" project in the Pilbara this year.

Nulite launches PV-driven residential heat pump

The Chinese manufacturer has unveiled a hybrid photovoltaic–geothermal heat pump system that uses solar electricity to directly power the unit, boosting efficiency and self-consumption. The 8–112 kW ground- and water-source system delivers heating, cooling, and domestic hot water with coefficients of performance often exceeding 4–5, while smart controls and the ground loop act as a thermal battery to optimize year-round performance.

JinkoSolar achieves 32.76% efficiency in perovskite-TOPCon tandem solar cell

The result was certified by China's National Photovoltaic Industry Metrology Test Center (NPVM). The cell utilizes a perovskite top device with MBT-ligand-controlled crystallization on a TOPCon silicon bottom cell, achieving a void-free, high-efficiency tandem structure.

Second-life EV batteries approved for data center microgrid expansion

Crusoe and Redwood Energy are scaling a microgrid in Sparks, Nevada, by using repurposed electric vehicle batteries and solar to supply additional modular data centers.

Nine big batteries totalling 2 gigawatts shortlisted for payments to maintain “heartbeat” of the grid

Nine batteries totalling nine gigawatts shortlisted to provide heartbeat of the grid in major turning point for the management of Australia's grid.

Big spinning machines: State seeks partners for syncon rollout at former coal hub

Government seeks expressions of interest to partner in delivering at least three new synchronous condensers in state's coal heartland.

Energy transitions continue to produce spillover effects despite geopolitical tensions

Accelerating energy transitions in major economies can create positive spillover effects worldwide, even amid geopolitical tensions, with North America and the Eurozone boosting progress in other regions.

Who are the Top 100 PV manufacturers today?

The Terawatt PV 100 ranks the top 100 solar manufacturing companies using a new methodology based on production scale, financial strength, and corporate transparency, with Tongwei leading the Q1 2026 list and most top firms headquartered in China. The analysis highlights increasing global supply-chain scrutiny driven by tariffs and ESG mandates, while also showing rising influence from Indian companies and strong positions for key materials and equipment suppliers.

Nulite launches PV-driven residential heat pump

The Chinese manufacturer has unveiled a hybrid photovoltaic–geothermal heat pump system that uses solar electricity to directly power the unit, boosting efficiency and self-consumption. The 8–112 kW ground- and water-source system delivers heating, cooling, and domestic hot water with coefficients of performance often exceeding 4–5, while smart controls and the ground loop act as a thermal battery to optimize year-round performance.

JinkoSolar achieves 32.76% efficiency in perovskite-TOPCon tandem solar cell

The result was certified by China's National Photovoltaic Industry Metrology Test Center (NPVM). The cell utilizes a perovskite top device with MBT-ligand-controlled crystallization on a TOPCon silicon bottom cell, achieving a void-free, high-efficiency tandem structure.

Second-life EV batteries approved for data center microgrid expansion

Crusoe and Redwood Energy are scaling a microgrid in Sparks, Nevada, by using repurposed electric vehicle batteries and solar to supply additional modular data centers.

Solar sheep grazing delivers margins up to 40% in new study

France lowers PV feed-in tariffs for systems up to 100 kW

Spain enables 50-plus renewable plants for real-time voltage control

How many solar projects have been backed by the UK government?

Saudi Arabia adds around 7.8 GW of solar in 2025

Global PV equipment market to reach 2.6 times current size by 2035

Sekisui-led consortium testing film-type perovskite solar for agrivolatics