Australia
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Trends
The Age of Electricity and 5 Other Forces Reshaping the Global Energy Outlook
The world has firmly crossed into the “Age of Electricity.” That is a unifying finding in the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) 2025 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO), which shows a global
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Hybrid Power
Wartsila Supporting Major Australian Energy Storage System
Technology group Wärtsilä said the company will deliver the largest DC-coupled hybrid battery energy storage system (BESS) in the National Electricity Market (NEM) in Australia, reflecting a growing trend toward hybridization of storage assets with co-located renewable generation.
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Electrification
Ausgrid’s Bold Plan to Break Grid Monopoly Boundaries with Community Power Network
Ausgrid, the state-owned electricity distributor serving 1.8 million customers across Sydney and beyond, has proposed a “Community Power Network” (CPN) that could upend a century-old regulatory boundary by
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T&D
Adding Stability and Reliability to the Western Australian Grid
Large distances are something you get used to if you live in Australia. Perth, on the west coast, is about 2,500 miles away from Brisbane on the east coast. Even within the state of Western Australia (WA), the
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Renewables
POWER Digest [May 2025]
Major German BESS Project Closes Financing. Energy transition bank NORD/LB announced it has closed an €87 million ($94 million) financing package with Nofar Energy for construction of a 104.5-MW/209-MWh
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Commentary
Transitioning to a Cleaner Energy Future Without Sacrificing Reliability
As 2025 kicks off with new leadership, the U.S. faces new challenges like a rapidly growing demand of electricity driven in large part by data center expansion, electric vehicle adoption, bitcoin mining operations, and continued industrial growth. Electricity supply and security remains a critical concern, particularly as aging infrastructure and supply chain disruptions complicate efforts […]
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Renewables
BESS Project Supports Australian Renewable Energy Park
U.S.-based Energy Vault has announced an agreement with the State Electricity Commission (SEC) of Victoria in Australia for the delivery and integration of a 100-MW/200-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at the SEC Renewable Energy Park-Horsham in Victoria. The groups on Feb. 13 said the hybrid solar and BESS project “represents a significant step forward […]
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Business
The Queensland SuperGrid Marries the Old and the New
The Australian state of Queensland is in the midst of a rapid changeover from coal to renewables. From 70% coal generation today, it is switching to 70% renewables by 2032. This means phasing out 8.1 GW of coal and some of its 3 GW of gas generation, while simultaneously building at least 25 GW of […]
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Energy Storage
GE Vernova Integrating Energy Storage for Australia Data Center Complex
GE Vernova said it has been chosen by investment manager Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners to integrate 250 MW/1,000 MWh of battery energy storage into a major data center complex in Queensland, Australia. Quinbook, with U.S. headquarters in Houston, Texas, and offices in the UK and Australia, is a specialist investment manager focused on the energy transition […]
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Hydrogen
Aussie Hydrogen Leader Cutting Jobs, Moving Production Target
An Australian company at the forefront of the global push to utilize hydrogen has reduced its workforce and cut its production targets, citing high costs for power needed to produce the fuel. Fortescue, a technology, energy and metal company headquartered in Perth, on July 17 said it would cut 700 jobs as part of a […]
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Renewables
Construction Moves Forward on Australia’s Largest Wind Farm
The second stage of one of the world’s largest wind farms is moving forward after developer TagEnergy announced it had closed financing for the project. The $2.6 billion Golden Plains Wind Farm in Australia, which when complete will have about 1.3 GW of generation capacity, will be the largest wind farm in Australia once fully […]
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News and Notes
POWER Digest [March 2024]
Dominion Secures Final Approvals for 2.6-GW Offshore Wind Project. Dominion Energy on Jan. 30 said it received the last two major federal approvals needed to kick off construction of its 2.6-GW Coastal
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Hydrogen
Pioneering GE F-Class Hydrogen-Capable Gas Power Plant Begins Operations in Australia
EnergyAustralia has begun operations at the 320-MW Tallawarra B gas-fired power station in New South Wales (NSW)—Australia’s first peaking power plant capable of operating on a natural gas and hydrogen fuel blend. The project’s start on Feb. 19 also marks GE Vernova’s first deployment of a hydrogen-capable dual-fuel 9F gas turbine. The $300 million ($196 […]
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Wind
GE Vernova Will Supply Wind Turbines for Three Australia Projects
GE Vernova has entered into a wind turbine supply deal with an Australian company, a move that includes construction of onshore projects in New South Wales. GE Vernova on Jan. 29 confirmed it has signed a strategic framework agreement with Squadron Energy for about 1.5 GW of new onshore wind generation, what the companies on […]
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Distributed Energy
What Texas Can Learn from Australia—How VPPs Are Saving Renewable Energy
In the face of unprecedented weather events driven by climate change, the global electrical utilities sector is grappling with disruptions, and the state of Texas in particular has been significantly impacted in recent years. From the winter storms of February 2021 to challenges posed by heat events in the summer of 2023, Texas has faced […]
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Electrification
Undersea Cable Projects to Transmit Renewable Energy Move Forward
Government officials in the UK have shown further support for a plan to bring renewable energy from a massive project in Morocco to Britain, one of at least three projects worldwide in which miles-long subsea
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News and Notes
POWER Digest [October 2023]
Coal-Fired Plants Serving EV Battery Makers Could Get Special Financing. Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK), which supervises and regulates financial services for Indonesia, in early September said it is considering
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Press Releases
EnergyAustralia Modernizes Tallawarra A Power Plant to Support Energy Transition in Australia
Tallawarra A Power Plant Project marks the First HE Upgrade for the GT26 gas turbine ordered in Australia GE’s technology is expected to increase performance of the existing GT26 gas turbine aiming to add nearly 40 megawatts (MW) of power, supporting the expected energy demand following the closure of the coal fired 1,680-megawatt Liddell plant […]
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Trends
POWER Digest [March 2023]
Pakistan Begins Commercial Operation of 1.3-GW Coal Plant. Pakistan on Feb. 7 began commercial operation of a 1.3-GW coal-fired power plant in the Thar Desert in Sindh province, southern Pakistan. The project
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Energy Storage
Major Energy Storage Project Sited at Former Australian Coal-Fired Plant
The Australian affiliate of energy giant Shell said it has acquired the development rights for a major battery energy storage project in that country. The new facility is at a site that formerly housed eight coal-fired generation units. Shell Energy Australia on Jan. 10 said it will build, own, and operate the planned 500-MW/1,000-MWh Wallerawang […]
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O&M
The 12 Most-Read POWER Global Monitor Articles of 2022
Every month, POWER magazine publishes several articles in its Global Monitor section covering topics important to the electric power generation industry. The articles typically feature interesting updates on progress made at notable projects around the world, big policy changes, or promising research and development (R&D) news. Short notes about major contracts are also touched on […]
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Offshore Wind
‘Largest’ Floating Offshore Wind Farm Comes Online in North Sea
An installation that at present is considered the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm has produced its first power, providing electricity for oil and gas exploration operations in the North Sea. Hywind Tampen on Nov. 13 began powering Equinor’s drilling at the Gullfaks oil and gas field. The wind farm is located about 87 miles […]
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Solar
Australia Taking ‘Renewable’ Approach to Decommissioning Coal Plants
Australia stands at a crossroads when it comes to its energy strategy. On the one hand, the country has moved to embrace clean energy in the past few years, with renewables growing to 29% of total generation
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Hybrid Power
‘Superhybrid’ Projects Support Hydrogen Production in Australia
An Australia-based company is designing a project that combines multiple power generation technologies into a system that not only creates electricity but also can result in production of hydrogen. Sunshine
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Press Releases
ESS Announces Strategic Partnership to Deploy Long-Duration Energy Storage in Australia and Deliver an Expected 12 GWh of Iron Flow Batteries
Wilsonville, Ore. – August 11, 2022 – ESS Inc. (NYSE: GWH) today announced a strategic partnership with Energy Storage Industries Asia Pacific (“ESI”) to distribute and manufacture iron flow batteries utilizing ESS technology in Australia, New Zealand and Oceania to meet rapidly growing demand for long-duration energy storage in the region. Under the terms of […]
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Legal & Regulatory
AEMO Begins Cautious Lift of Australian Electricity Market Suspension
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) on June 22 initiated the first step to lift a suspension of its National Electricity Market (NEM), citing a “clear improvement in market conditions.” The measure comes more than a week since it indefinitely suspended spot markets in all regions of its NEM, given critical power generation supply shortfalls […]
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Coal
Australian Energy Crisis Prompts Suspension of National Electricity Market
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) on June 15 indefinitely suspended spot markets in all regions of its National Electricity Market (NEM), citing critical power generation supply shortfalls that it said made it “impossible to continue” operations under national electricity rules. AEMO—the independent system operator (ISO) that operates the competitive market serving New South Wales, […]
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Coal
Australia’s Coal Conundrum: Economy, Climate at Odds
Coal has long been a lifeblood for Australia. The country is the world’s largest exporter of metallurgical coal used to make steel, and it’s the second-largest exporter of coal for use in power generation
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Trends
POWER Digest [February 2022]
Once a Coal Generating Behemoth, TransAlta Achieves Full Phaseout of Coal Power in Canada. Canadian generator TransAlta, a company that derived 30% of its cash flow from coal generation just five years ago
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Press Releases
Mornington Peninsula battery project one step closer as Maoneng receives development approval
JAN. 18, 2022 — A major energy project on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is now one step closer, with Australian renewables company Maoneng receiving development approval for its proposed 240MWp / 480MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The standalone BESS facility will be located adjacent to AusNet’s existing Tyabb substation. It will draw and store energy […]