Archive

18 August 2026

38 articles collected

Daily Snapshot 3 min read

NSW moves to regulate data centres ahead of national reform, offering fast-tracked approvals for projects that bring their own grid and water infrastructure.

AU 15 |Global 10 | Solar 8|Storage 7|Grid 3
from top 25 articles
Read snapshot

Today's Signal

NSW goes it alone on data centre rules

The Energy Co AU Grid ·

The New South Wales Government is pushing ahead with data centre regulation ahead of national reform with a new bill that would empower Energy Minister Penny Sharpe to regulate the sector independently of the National Electricity Rules.

Data centres to get faster nod if they meet energy, grid and water needs

RenewEconomy AU Grid ·

The New South Wales government will offer a fast-tracked 75-day planning approval process for data centres that provide their own electricity and water infrastructure. Under this policy, developers must ensure projects are self-sufficient regarding grid and resource impacts to qualify for the accelerated assessment timeline.

Australian Renewable Energy Agency backs UNSW research into grid-forming battery storage and system strength

Energy-Storage.News AU Storage ·

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has awarded $6.52 million to UNSW Sydney to investigate the interactions between grid-forming battery storage, renewable generation, and existing grid protection systems. This research aims to enhance system strength and stability as the national energy infrastructure transitions toward a high-penetration renewable energy mix.

Quinbrook, CATL advance Supernode BESS with $333m stage 3 financing

Power Technology AU Power ·

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners and CATL have secured $333 million in financing for the third stage of the Supernode battery energy storage system in Queensland. This funding milestone advances the development of the large-scale project, which utilizes CATL’s storage technology to support grid stability.

Solar stands up during European heatwaves as nuclear and fossil fuels stumble

RenewEconomy AU Power ·

European solar generation reached record levels during recent heatwaves, maintaining grid stability as surging temperatures increased electricity demand. This performance contrasted with thermal generation, where nuclear and fossil fuel plants faced output curtailments due to cooling constraints and operational issues.

“It’s literally life-changing for us:” The drought-stricken farmers looking to wind and solar to secure their future

RenewEconomy AU Solar ·

Landholders in the New England Renewable Energy Zone are advocating for the right to host wind, solar, and transmission infrastructure to ensure financial viability and succession planning during droughts. These farmers are actively opposing local efforts to block renewable developments, citing the critical role of hosting payments in securing their agricultural futures.

No, Ray Hadley, the collapse of Zen does not mean renewables have failed, nor that more coal will be burned

RenewEconomy AU Policy ·

The recent financial collapse of retail entity Zen Energy has triggered public debate regarding the viability of the renewable energy transition. Despite the company's failure, industry analysts maintain that individual corporate insolvencies do not indicate a systemic failure of green energy technology or a necessary return to coal-fired generation.

Beyond the OCE

Spain extends Almaraz nuclear plant operation through 2030

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Spain has extended the operating licenses of Almaraz nuclear Units I and II through June 8, 2030, citing energy-market uncertainty and the need for firm capacity during the expansion of renewables and storage.

Solar crosses 3 TW threshold

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Global solar capacity has surpassed 3 TW, with China driving much of the recent expansion and emerging markets increasingly contributing to growth.

Germany’s renewables boom is making grid access the scarce asset

Power Technology GLOBAL Grid ·

German renewable energy developers are shifting investment focus from generation capacity to grid connectivity as network congestion increasingly prevents power from reaching markets during peak periods. This transition identifies grid access as the primary constraint and critical asset for project viability within the country's expanding green energy sector.

Chinese scientists achieve record-breaking 24.0% efficieny for large-area perovskite solar modules

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Chinese researchers achieved record efficiency levels of 24.0% for 810 cm² and 22.0% for 0.72 m² perovskite solar modules using high-saturated-vapor-pressure processing and lead carboxylate passivation. These units maintained 96% performance after 2,200 hours of testing and met IEC 61215 reliability standards, marking a significant step toward commercial-scale durability.

Portugal installs 372 MW of solar in December-May

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Portugal added 372 MW of solar capacity between December and May, pushing the nation's total estimated solar footprint beyond 7 GW. Despite this growth, the sector faces significant regulatory hurdles that are currently obstructing future investment opportunities.

On the Wire

When solar is sold by AI agents

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Wave Sales says its new AI voice agents can increase customer satisfaction and cut installer soft costs by helping to guide home solar customers through a multi-month installation process using the company’s proprietary memory layer and industry-spec…

Daily digest by email

The same briefing, in your inbox each morning. Australian energy news, market signals, and policy. No noise.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Choose exactly what you receive