The first large scale solar-battery hybrid power plant on Australia's main grid, Quorn Park, has been energised and is ready to send solar power into evening demand peaks. This facility combines an 80 MW solar farm with a 20 MW, 40 MWh battery, allowing for solar to be stored and fed into the grid during peak demand times. Solar-battery hybrids are seen as a solution to provide reliable and cost-effective support to the grid, meeting the evolving needs of communities and accelerating the energy transition. Solar battery hybrids are becoming increasingly popular in the green energy transition, with Chris Bowen naming 20 winners of a 6.5 gigawatt CIS tender, making them a key technology for clean energy solutions.
Tag: Australia
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AEMO draft plan confirms essential role for long-duration storage in Australia
The Draft 2026 Integrated System Plan (ISP) by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) underscores the critical role of hydropower, pumped storage, grid-scale batteries, and renewable energy in Australia's future electricity system. With a focus on long-duration storage technologies to manage low wind and solar output, the plan outlines the need for 12GW of pumped storage, 32GW of batteries, and 120GW of new wind and solar by 2035. The forecasted closure of two-thirds of the remaining coal fleet by 2035 highlights the transition towards cleaner energy sources. Stakeholders have until February to provide input on the plan, offering an opportunity for businesses to stay informed and adapt to the evolving climate landscape.
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Rooftop solar and batteries on centre stage: Six key graphs from AEMO’s transition roadmap
The Australian Energy Market Operator has released the draft of its 2026 Integrated System Plan, outlining the transition of Australia's main grid to renewables and storage. The plan highlights the growth of rooftop solar and the potential for an accelerated transition to green energy, with a focus on addressing transmission concerns and the continuation of coal in Queensland. AEMO is unsure how to keep coal running until 2049 due to aging coal-fired power stations being a threat to grid reliability, but the concept of "baseload" is expected to be phased out. The grid is projected to reach 82% renewables by 2030, leading to a significant drop in emissions and paving the way for further emission cuts in other sectors as they electrify and transition to renewables.
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First of 800 new towers erected for Australia’s most expensive transmission project to date
Construction has commenced on the $4.9 billion HumeLink transmission line in New South Wales, Australia's most expensive transmission project, connecting the Snowy 2.0 pumped hydro scheme and enabling the utilization of wind and solar capacity in the region. Upon completion, HumeLink will contribute an extra 2,200 MW of on-demand energy to the grid, delivering over $1 billion in net benefits to Australian households and businesses. The project is set to create up to 1,600 construction jobs and support local economies, showcasing a significant step towards sustainable energy solutions in the fight against climate change.
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All 212,296 panels installed at state’s first 100 pct publicly owned hybrid solar and battery project
Victoria's first state-owned solar and battery hybrid project, the SEC Renewable Energy Park in Horsham, has completed installation of all PV modules and accepted delivery of a transformer. The $370 million project includes a 119 MW solar farm and 100 MW, 200 MWh big battery, creating local jobs and renewable energy infrastructure. Once operational, it will generate enough power for around 51,000 homes and be one of Australia's first publicly owned utility-scale renewable energy projects.
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SwitchedOn podcast: Renewable construction boom can help fix regional housing crisis
Australia is poised to construct more renewable infrastructure in the next decade than in the previous three combined, with the challenge of housing construction workers in towns already experiencing a housing crisis. RE-Alliance's report proposes that worker accommodation can serve as a community benefit, with developers considering options such as refurbishing aged-care homes and transforming workforce villages into suburbs. The energy transition offers a unique opportunity for positive change in regional communities, highlighting the potential for sustainable solutions to address both the housing crisis and the need for renewable infrastructure.
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Australia doesn’t have to choose between energy affordability and emission reductions
IEEFA has found that improving energy affordability in Australia does not have to be incompatible with emissions reduction targets. The country's aging coal fleet and network assets need to be replaced, with renewables backed by storage and transmission being the most cost-effective option. Gas-based generation has become increasingly uncompetitive, with high prices and declining consumption. Contrary to misconceptions, renewables have not been driving electricity prices up, with high gas and coal prices, coal outages, and network costs being the main factors. Faster approval processes and better market regulations are needed to ensure a smooth transition to cleaner energy sources. Reforms to improve competition, allow distributed energy resources to compete, and promote energy efficiency, electrification, and flexible demand are key to lowering household energy bills. Transitioning to modern electric alternatives, such as heaters and hot water systems, along with solar and battery systems, can significantly reduce costs. Industrial energy efficiency and electrification also offer major savings. The key pathways to improve energy affordability are aligned with net zero emissions goals, emphasizing the need for accelerated deployment of renewables, energy efficiency, and electrification. The narrative that lowering bills and cutting emissions are mutually exclusive is false.
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New transmission towers are crucial for renewables – but contentious. Here’s where they should go
Solar and wind provide 99% of new generating capacity in Australia, with renewables supplying over 40% of power to the main grid. Australia will need six times as much solar and wind to reach net zero through electrification. Building new transmission corridors is necessary, but existing lines are not sufficient. The grid operator plans to build 10,000 km of new transmission lines, with a focus on high-voltage direct current lines to unlock renewable resources. Optimizing new transmission corridors is crucial for Australia's future grid. A study has identified potential high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line corridors in Australia to connect renewable resources in northern regions to population centers in the southeast. These corridors could significantly reduce wholesale electricity costs by 8-18%. Energy storage schemes like Snowy 2.0 could also help cover seasonal gaps locally. Community buy-in is crucial for such projects, and the benefits of unlocking renewables can be quantified for each local government area. Policymakers should prioritize building these transmission corridors to meet new demand and consider pairing them with pumped-hydro schemes. The article discusses the importance of energy storage in balancing variable renewable generation and maximizing the use of transmission lines. Cheng Cheng, a Senior Research Officer at the Australian National University, highlights the role of energy storage in the transition to a more sustainable energy system. This technology helps to ensure a reliable and stable energy supply while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Energy storage is a key component in achieving climate solutions and increasing the efficiency of renewable energy integration.
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Big solar grabs record 30.6 pct share of Australia’s main grid, before being shunted aside by rooftop PV
Large scale solar farms in Australia have reached record shares on the main grid, but are now being overshadowed by rooftop PV causing curtailment during the day. To address this issue, new large scale solar projects are incorporating integrated batteries to store excess energy for evening peaks. Australia's first solar hybrid plant in Cunderdin is feeding power into the grid during evening peaks, with more solar-hybrid projects to follow. Large scale solar in NSW reached record shares, marking progress towards a cleaner energy grid.
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Huge 105 turbine wind project and four-hour big battery seeks green tick to link into VNI West
Equis has proposed the construction of a wind farm and battery energy storage system in New South Wales, featuring 105 large turbines and a 600 MW/2400 megawatt-hour battery. The project aims to connect to the National Electricity Market via a new transmission line in the South West Renewable Energy Zone, with a focus on minimizing environmental impact. Additionally, Equis has returned to Australia with a new portfolio of wind and big battery storage projects across four states, backed by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan. The battery projects include the Melbourne Renewable Energy Hub, Calala BESS, Koolunga BESS, and Lower Wonga BESS, along with wind farms like Bell Bay and Jackson North. Plans are in place to support new renewable energy generators in the region despite delays in the transmission line project.