Danish offshore wind developer Orsted has applied for the 2.8 GW Gippsland 1 project off the coast of Victoria, Australia, as part of the state's plan to transition to renewables and reach a 95% renewables target by 2035. The project involves installing up to 200 turbines and laying export cables over 90-120km in three to four years, with feasibility studies expected to be finished by the end of 2027. Challenges include the project's location 56km offshore, which makes cabling plans more costly and complicated. Multiple permissions are required, including EPBC approval, federal licenses, state environmental approval, and planning approval, with community concerns focusing on protecting coastal and marine areas, coexistence with commercial fishing, and understanding Indigenous values. Orsted emphasizes the importance of addressing these themes in their project development to ensure successful implementation.
Author: Reneweconomy.com
-
State owned utility’s third big battery officially opened, and is “re-rated” to be the biggest in Australia
Synergy has opened the Collie battery, the largest battery project in Australia with 2,400 MWh of storage capacity, as part of a transition away from coal-fired generators by the end of the decade. This battery will capture wind and solar energy to power homes when needed, contributing to a renewable energy mix. The town of Collie now hosts the two biggest batteries in Australia, solidifying its role in powering Western Australia's electricity system with clean energy solutions.
-
A grid with no smokestacks: Octopus snaps up biggest battery project and solar hybrid in push to replace coal
Octopus Australia, a leading clean energy investment company, has acquired two major battery projects in Australia – one in NSW and the other in Queensland, with large-scale storage capacity and solar-battery hybrid systems. The company aims to replace coal with clean energy solutions like solar, wind, and batteries, positioning themselves as a key player in the renewable energy market. Octopus plans to build a "ring of batteries" around Sydney and remains optimistic about the market in Queensland. They prioritize local community involvement, job creation, and building long-term relationships while continuing to grow their portfolio and deliver on their promises in the renewable energy sector.
-
Fertiliser giant firms up first leg of Indigenous-backed, 1.2 GW green energy hub
Perdaman is developing a 50 MW solar project near Karratha as the first stage of a 5 GW energy vision, connecting to a urea plant and the local grid. The project is expected to be connected by the end of 2027 and is part of a larger 1.2 GW energy park being built by the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation. The NAC energy park aims to lease land for green energy development, with support from the Western Australian government. The project will also connect to a transmission line prioritized by the government for decarbonizing heavy industry in the region.
-
Carbon credits seed new chapter in Tiwi forestry, backed by federal green bank
A new forestry project on the Tiwi Islands, supported by an $81 million investment, aims to plant 30,000 hectares of native eucalypt species for construction timber and wood products. The project focuses on financial and environmental sustainability, benefiting the local community through creating employment opportunities and generating carbon credits. Highlighting the importance of local ownership, the project ensures that the community has a stake in both the revenues and risks, leading to more successful and sustainable climate solutions with minimal environmental impact.
-
Australian households add record amounts of rooftop PV, as home battery installations top 4.3 GWh
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.