In December, Australian households and small businesses saw a surge in rooftop solar capacity and home battery installations, adding a record 4.3 gigawatt hours of storage capacity in 2025. The market was booming for both residential and commercial scale rooftop systems, with a record monthly capacity of 328 megawatts added in December alone. The home battery market thrived, with 42,000 new systems registered in December and a total of 184,000 installed in 2025. Changes to battery rebates are expected to impact demand in early 2026, as the average size of rooftop solar systems has increased to 9.64 kW, reflecting a trend towards self consumption.
Author: Reneweconomy.com
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Massive 2 GW wind, solar and battery project lands all state planning approvals in breathtaking four months
The Tathra project in Western Australia, consisting of 140 wind turbines and a 500 MW solar farm, has received state planning approval with minimal conditions. The environmental regulator waived the wind element through, recommending mitigation efforts to address impacts on threatened flora and fauna. Synergy, the developer, plans to refer the project to the federal environmental process before starting construction. Additionally, Synergy is adding a MWh battery at Collie, increasing their total big battery capacity to over 800 MW and nearly 3,200 MWh, contributing to clean energy solutions in their efforts to replace coal power stations with renewable energy sources.
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Australia’s most powerful turbines unveiled as fourth wind farm reaches financial close in Xmas flurry
The Palmer wind project in South Australia is set to feature the most powerful wind turbines in Australia, with a capacity of 288 MW, reducing the number of turbines needed while still generating the same amount of green energy. The project, financed by Vestas and set to be completed by 2027, is part of South Australia's goal to achieve 100 per cent "net" renewables. Located in a strong wind resource area on cleared farmland, the project will benefit local communities and First Nations people with over $13 million in community benefits planned. South Australia's renewable energy transition is being led by projects like Palmer, with a current wind and solar share of around 75 per cent.
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Last of 1,500 steel towers in Australia’s largest transmission project erected finally erected
Australia's largest energy transmission project, EnergyConnect, has reached a major milestone with the completion of over 1500 steel towers across NSW, Victoria, and South Australia. Despite delays and cost blowouts, the project aims to connect the power grids of three states, supporting Australia's renewable energy and emissions targets. Workers are assembling and erecting towers weighing between 20,000kg to 60,000kg, suspended 65m off the ground. Scheduled for completion by late 2026, EnergyConnect will accelerate Australia's renewable energy transition and strengthen the national grid.
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Modelling spot prices in a post-coal grid, when big batteries will become the price setters
In a post-coal National Electricity Market, supporting solar and battery technologies can stabilize electricity prices. The optimized capacity mix includes utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and battery storage, with a focus on solar and BESS. Battery storage is modeled as an active participant, tracking behavior in real-time based on market conditions. An optimization framework is used to determine the optimal capacity mix, aiming to minimize total system cost while ensuring economic viability and reasonable prices for consumers. The analysis focuses on price formation, investment incentives, and the challenges of optimizing capacity mix in a highly renewable, post-coal system.
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World’s largest grid battery has been completed – in the oil capital of the world
A 7.8 gigawatt-hour battery energy storage system has been completed in Saudi Arabia, owned by Saudi Electricity Co. and with an offtake deal with National Grid SA. Sungrow manufactured over 1,500 PowerTitan 2.0 systems for the project, expected to meet the annual electricity needs of 400,000 households in Saudi Arabia. This project signifies the start of large-scale energy storage deployment in the Middle East, showcasing a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions in the region.
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Flow Power reaches financial close on its first stand-alone big battery, in Victorian coal country
Australia renewables company Flow Power has secured financing for its largest project to date, the Bennett's Creek Battery in Victoria's Latrobe Valley. The 100MW and 223MWh battery energy storage system will be located near the site of the former Hazelwood coal plant, aiming to pair long-term solar and wind power purchase agreements with large-scale storage for a reliable renewable energy supply. Construction will be completed in 2028, with a focus on community benefit initiatives and innovative retail offerings, showcasing a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions in the region.
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Neoen begins construction of another big battery, first in world to deploy Tesla Megablock technology
Neoen Australia has commenced construction on the Goyder battery project in South Australia, utilizing Tesla's new Megablock product to create a 226 MW, 866 MWh battery that will power BHP's Olympic Dam mining operations. This project is part of Neoen's efforts to lead in battery storage projects in Australia and contribute to the energy transition by lowering costs for grid-level storage by up to 40%. With planning approval for up to 900 MW of capacity and 3,600 MWh, the Goyder battery could potentially become part of Australia's largest hybrid project, integrating large scale solar and expanded wind farms. Neoen's projects, including the Goyder battery, are crucial in South Australia's aim to achieve 100% "net" renewables by 2027.
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Korea drops secures grid connection approval for its first big battery in Australia
Hanwha Energy Australia's 100 MW/200 MWh battery energy storage system in southeast Queensland has received grid connection approval, aiming to store surplus solar energy and support 15,000 households during peak demand. The project will provide critical grid services, enhancing Queensland's grid resilience and supporting renewable energy growth for a more sustainable power system. Additionally, Hanwha Energy Australia is actively involved in other clean energy projects across Australia.
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Offshore wind turbines create all-you-can-eat havens where some fish can double in size
A new study found that offshore wind farms can lead to larger fish species and increased complexity in the oceanic food chain due to the rough surfaces of turbine monopiles and submarine cables providing new habitats for marine organisms. The presence of wind turbines created a different marine environment with positive attributes, such as increased biomass of benthic fish and sessile organisms colonizing the structures. Additionally, the wind farm acted as a no-take zone, serving as a marine protected area for commercially targeted species and contributing to a more stable, diverse, and functionally intact ocean life compared to areas without turbines. While there are risks associated with exploration and construction, the study suggests that wind farms can have positive impacts on marine ecosystems by providing new habitats and increasing food availability for marine life.