Western Australia has allocated $17.8 million towards establishing collection and recycling pathways for end-of-life solar panels and batteries, following a federal pilot program and parliamentary inquiry into solar stewardship. The investment aims to reduce waste, recover valuable materials, and create a local recycling industry while supporting a more sustainable future. The state government believes this initiative will prepare them for the increasing use of solar panels and batteries, ultimately benefiting local jobs, businesses, and the environment.
Author: Reneweconomy.com
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Energy Insiders Podcast: Tesla Energy boss on energy abundance, EVs, V2G and big and small batteries
Tesla Energy's Asia Pacific boss Josef Tadich emphasizes the abundance of solar energy, the significance of batteries in different sizes, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, and the introduction of vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G). This interview underscores the expanding role of renewable energy sources and the advancements in energy storage technology in the Asia Pacific region, impacting the energy market and paving the way for a more sustainable future.
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The Kardashev Scale: Australia’s staggering energy transition and its untapped opportunity
Australia is on the brink of a significant energy transformation, moving towards renewables and storage to double electricity demand by 2050. The focus is on harnessing solar power to become a renewable energy superpower. The country exports a large amount of energy but also imports 90% of its liquid fuels for transport, leading to economic and security impacts. The transition to renewable energy in Australia, particularly in the South West Interconnected System, has been significant with a shift from thermal reliance to solar and battery generation. Rooftop-solar generation has increased dramatically, with battery generation also on the rise. This transition is setting the stage for exponential scaling of renewable energy in the future. Australia has the potential to emerge as a renewable energy superpower by embracing solar and storage technologies.
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What is the value of energy efficiency and flexible demand? A new tool will help us find out
The article emphasizes the importance of balancing supply-side infrastructure with demand-side resources to create a more cost-effective and sustainable energy system in Australia. It suggests investing in energy-efficient appliances and consumer energy resources to reduce the need for large-scale power stations and transmission networks. A new framework called FlexCost has been developed to quantify the costs of implementing assets like home batteries and EV chargers, providing decision-makers with a stronger evidence base for demand-side options. By considering both how electricity is generated and how it is used, the goal is to create a more affordable and efficient energy system that responds to local needs and is gradually deployed.
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“Just as common as solar-hybrids:” Most developers now including batteries in plans for wind
Wind developers in Australia are increasingly incorporating battery storage into their projects to address the challenge of low prices in the energy market. Battery manufacturers are offering longer warranties to support wind and solar hybrids, with some warranties extending up to 30 years. Turbine manufacturers like Goldwind and Envision are already testing wind and battery storage systems to better understand their potential in modern grids. The trend towards wind and battery hybrids is expected to become as common as solar-based hybrids in the future. Battery sizing for wind farms is complex, with considerations for revenue cannibalization and the timing of power generation influencing storage needs. Hybrid configurations offer benefits such as utilizing existing sites and monetizing curtailed energy, with considerations for turbine level power limits being important in modeling DC-coupled hybrids.
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Wind, solar and battery records tumble on last day of Autumn in Australia’s most coal dependent grid
Queensland achieved a new record of 79.5% instantaneous renewables plus storage share of consumption on May 31, 2026, surpassing the previous high of 78.4% in April 2026. This increase was attributed to the use of batteries, exports, and curtailment to manage the midday surplus, showcasing the growing importance of storage in NEM operations. Despite being the most coal-dependent grid in Australia, Queensland's transition towards higher renewable energy usage is evident. The significant increase in battery share of consumption highlights the state's progress towards a more sustainable energy future.
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Proposal for high fixed network charges is wrong on home batteries, dynamic pricing, and impact on CER
The AEMC's Pricing Review on electricity pricing aims to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of current network electricity pricing and services in the context of increasing deployment of rooftop PV, home batteries, and electric vehicles. The focus is on putting electricity users first, addressing affordability challenges, improving energy self-sufficiency, and reducing environmental impacts. Household electrification and consumer energy resources are key to achieving these aims, as they can help flatten distribution network load peaks, increase network utilization, reduce costs, decrease emissions, and support the Federal Government's renewables target. The section also discusses the potential impact of moving network charges to fixed costs on the uptake of clean energy resources (CER) such as solar, batteries, and heat pumps, emphasizing the need for rigorous analysis to determine the net impact of CER on network costs, spot prices, and emissions reductions. Ultimately, the focus should be on policies and regulations that facilitate the uptake of CER to reduce electricity costs for all customers.
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State locks in six renewable energy zones after final round of nips, tucks and rethinks
Victoria has declared five onshore renewable energy zones and one shoreline zone to increase its share of battery-backed wind and solar energy to 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035. The final design includes zones in South West, Central Highlands, Gippsland, Western, and North West, with the Central North zone still under consideration. Changes were made to the South West and Central Highlands zones based on environmental concerns and land availability. The Gippsland region will host both onshore and shoreline renewable energy zones, with the latter connecting offshore wind farms to the grid. The government considered feedback but not all requests were implemented. The zones aim to balance community concerns with developer interests, utilize strong wind and solar resources near existing transmission lines, exclude areas of high biodiversity value, facilitate the transition away from coal-fired power stations, and ensure better coordination of renewable energy projects. VicGrid is also working on developing guidelines for the next Victorian Transmission Plan to meet the state's transmission and renewable energy generation needs.
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“World first” power-beaming breakthrough, as laser tech wirelessly electrifies robot for 24 hours
A New Zealand-founded, Australia-based company, Aquila Earth, has set two world records by powering a moving warehouse robot for 24 hours straight using a laser to beam electricity through space via infrared light. The laser delivered a steady 4 kilowatts of wireless electricity to the robot, allowing it to travel 25 kilometers on light alone. Aquila Earth's CEO, Ruby Jones, envisions a future where drones and robots can be powered indefinitely without relying on battery technology. The company's power beaming technology has the potential for commercialization, offering a new solution for autonomous machines to operate continuously without the need for frequent recharging. Aquila is also working on making laser technology for sending and receiving electricity more economically feasible, with plans to target commercial laser power by 2027 through partnerships with drone companies aiming for long-lasting flights.
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SwitchedOn podcast: Inside the world’s largest battery electric ferry
The world's largest fully battery-electric ship, the China Zorrilla, built by Tasmanian shipbuilder Incat, is set to revolutionize maritime transport by transporting passengers and vehicles between Argentina and Uruguay solely on battery power. With over 5,000 lithium-ion battery units on board, this development showcases the potential for sustainable solutions in the shipping industry. Incat founder Robert Clifford discusses how the family-owned company achieved this feat, emphasizing the shift towards battery-electric ferries. The China Zorrilla's launch in Hobart's Derwent River marks a significant step towards reducing emissions and promoting environmentally-friendly practices in the maritime sector.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/switchedon-podcast-inside-the-worlds-largest-battery-electric-ferry/