Energy

Collie has become home to Western Australia’s largest State-owned battery, a development the WA Government says marks a further step in the State’s transition towards renewable energy while supporting the planned retirement of State-owned coal-fired power by 2030.

The Queensland Government says a new grid-scale battery at Swanbank in Ipswich has reached a major commissioning milestone, with the facility now able to operate at full capacity to support the State’s electricity network while final regulatory and market approvals are completed.

Work has begun on the erection of additional turbines at the Warradarge Wind Farm in Western Australia’s Mid West, with four of 30 new turbines now standing at the site.

Two proposed pumped hydro energy projects valued at more than $7 billion have been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure by the NSW Government, a designation that allows them to proceed through a state-led planning and assessment process.

Australian Vanadium Limited says its integrated vanadium and manufacturing capability underpins an Expression of Interest submitted for the Western Australian Government’s proposed Kalgoorlie Vanadium Battery Energy Storage System (VBESS), a project aimed at long-duration energy storage and regional economic development.

Cargill has launched a large-scale renewable energy project at its Newcastle Crush Plant, integrating onsite solar generation into its Australian manufacturing operations as part of efforts to reduce emissions and improve energy resilience. 

The Victorian Government says early works have begun on the SEC Delburn Wind Farm near the Latrobe Valley, with construction scheduled to start in March and operations expected in 2028.

Origin Energy Limited has advised the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) that it will extend the operation of all four units of the Eraring Power Station in New South Wales from 19 August 2027 to 30 April 2029, citing the need to support energy supply during the transition of the electricity system.

Brisbane researchers are advancing manufacturing technologies for a novel “breathing” battery that stores renewable energy while capturing carbon dioxide, offering potential solutions to two major industrial challenges. 

New research from Charles Darwin University has found that gaps in conservation planning in the Northern Territory could undermine efforts to protect biodiversity as investment in solar and wind energy accelerates.