28 articles collected
Wholesale power prices hit a six-year low, with 9 GW of battery storage taming data centre demand. But with VPP uptake lagging, is Australia leaving value on the table?
AEMO reports Q2 2026 wholesale electricity prices averaged $74/MWh, a six-year low driven by 480,000 home battery installations and a total storage capacity reaching 9GW. Increased renewable output and mild weather reduced gas reliance, cutting Victorian prices by 60% to $56/MWh while NEM emissions hit record quarterly lows.
The ACCC reports that fewer than 25% of Australian battery owners participate in Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) despite these participants typically having the lowest electricity bills. While consumer interest remains high, the regulator identifies poor awareness and perceived lack of financial incentives as primary barriers to adoption.
Climate advocacy groups are urging state and federal energy ministers to mandate that new data centres procure their own renewable energy supply. The proposal aims to prevent rising electricity costs for general consumers as the sector's rapid expansion places increasing pressure on the Australian power grid.
Australian wholesale electricity prices have dropped significantly as increased wind generation displaces coal and battery storage reduces gas reliance. Gas generation reached a 23-year low during this period, while household storage systems helped flatten evening demand peaks across the grid.
AusNet has signed a $300 million agreement with South Korea’s Hyosung Heavy Industries to procure up to 45 power transformers. This strategic contract aims to bolster Victoria's electricity grid and mitigate risks associated with international supply chain volatility.
Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has initiated the planning process for two solar developments totaling 500 MW in Queensland. These projects are intended to provide renewable energy for domestic silicon manufacturing facilities, supporting Australia's efforts to establish a local photovoltaic supply chain.
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) advises that battery storage durations must reach seven hours to replace retiring coal capacity, with requirements expected to rise to 8.5 hours during the 2030s. This shift aims to address supply gaps as the grid transitions away from fossil fuel baseload generation.
Ark Energy has secured AU$1.3 billion in funding for its 2.2GWh Richmond Valley solar-plus-storage project in New South Wales. Simultaneously, Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has submitted plans for a 250MWp solar development in Queensland.
The Australian Labor Party's national conference reaffirmed a policy focus on electrification and renewable energy while highlighting internal divisions regarding the ongoing role of gas in the transition. The party's platform prioritises decarbonisation efforts despite political friction over fossil fuel extraction and usage timelines.
Queensland established a fresh winter benchmark for solar penetration and battery storage discharge on its grid. These operational milestones occurred despite the seasonal reduction in daylight hours, highlighting the state's growing renewable capacity.
Australian distribution monopolies face increasing pressure to reform complex network tariffs as their traditional roles diminish amid a shifting energy landscape. Industry experts are questioning the future viability of these regulated entities given the current lack of pricing clarity and changing consumer demands.
With the increase in EV uptake, what happens when everyone hits the road at once during school holidays? And should Australia set a date to ban ICE sales?
Plans to develop a wind farm in Queensland’s Whitsunday region have been cut in half, due to a less than ideal wind resource and community cohort that is less than receptive to hosting turbines.
Supermarket giant roll out EV charging stations at up to 30 locations across Australia as part of a two-year initiative with Australia's largest fast-charging network.
The project is one of five awarded by the Costa Rican Electricity Institute in 2024 that will add a combined 86 MW of new solar capacity.
Researchers in Spain have developed a conditional diffusion-based model to improve the visibility of behind-the-meter PV systems using low-resolution smart meter data.
A tender is open in Lebanon covering five grid-connected solar projects with a combined capacity of 350 MW, to be paired with up to 1 GWh of battery storage. The deadline to submit expressions of interest is August 31.
CATL reported that its energy storage business contributed 19.23% of total company revenue during the first half of 2026, highlighting the sector's growing importance for the Chinese battery manufacturer.
Adani Energy Solutions has secured an $881 million (Rs85bn) contract to develop an inter-state electricity transmission project located in Andhra Pradesh, India.
Seventeen members of Croatia’s inaugural energy community have commenced sharing electricity from a rooftop solar installation situated on a fire station. This milestone follows the implementation of new national regulations designed to facilitate collective renewable energy consumption.
Eversource and National Grid have expanded their ConnectedSolutions demand response program in Massachusetts to include vehicle-to-grid technology. The update allows owners of compatible electric vehicles to export power back to the network, integrating mobile battery storage into the utilities' existing virtual power plant framework.
Advait Greenergy and GuofuHee have demonstrated a 5 MW alkaline electrolyzer to over 70 green hydrogen organizations, allowing for technical evaluation under actual operational conditions.
The AfDB Group has approved a €100m ($114m) loan to Gotion Power Morocco for developing an integrated LFP battery gigafactory.
CS PowerTech has opened the first phase of its PV cell manufacturing plant at the River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
Albania is set to allow agrivoltaics under certain conditions following approved amendments to its law governing agricultural land, with its council of ministers tasked with determining the applicable criteria.
French residential solar installations fell sharply in 2025, according to a report by independent research organization Observ'ER, following regulatory and tariff changes that reshaped the small-scale segment.
The company emphasizes that its innovative configuration – splitting the standard 20-foot container in two – addresses weight and transportation issues common to traditional energy storage solutions.
While the Solar for Ukraine campaign, an initiative from Greenpeace and the Biohaus Foundation, has been around for a while now, the calls for donations to support it continue.