Sophie Vorrath, Author at Renew Economy

Sophie Vorrath

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Sophie is editor of Renew Economy and editor of its sister site, One Step Off The Grid . She is the co-host of the Solar Insiders Podcast. Sophie has been writing about clean energy for more than a decade.

Renewables

Australian offshore wind trailblazer pulls up stumps, warns against “overstated risk aversion and timidity”
Australian offshore wind start-up that blazed a trail for the nascent technology will wind up its operations in 2026. Warns Australia needs to “up its game.”
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 19, 2025

3
Storage

Huge Queensland pumped hydro project gets federal green tick to begin stage one works
One of Australia’s biggest proposed pumped hydro projects has been given a federal green tick to undertake exploratory works in Queensland’s Gympie region.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 19, 2025

6
Policy & Planning

Cheaper Home Batteries scheme faced $14 billion bill before rebate changes cut it in half
Labor sheds light on just how hot the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate has been running, and just how much money can be saved by pushing smaller systems.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 18, 2025

1
Policy & Planning

Big batteries to face same strict planning rules as solar and wind projects under Queensland’s new regime
Big battery projects seeking to be built in the Sunshine State will now have to meet the same strict new planning rules as large-scale solar and wind.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 18, 2025

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Policy & Planning

“Final step:” Marinus Link inks $1 billion contract for onshore construction works of undersea cable
Construction of $5 billion undersea cable project linking Tasmania and Victoria is all but good to go, with the execution of major works contract.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 17, 2025

1
Renewables

Replacement turbine blades on the way as huge wind farm held at half-way point of commissioning
The massive MacIntyre wind project is waiting for new turbine blades and wind parts as it continues its slow progress through commissioning.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 17, 2025

1
Policy & Planning

Regulator seeks penalties over Broken Hill blackouts, alleges Transgrid breached market rules
Regulator launches civil proceedings against NSW network operator over major blackout event that left thousands of customers without power for two weeks.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 17, 2025

2
Renewables

Cost of wind and batteries fall, coal and gas rise as CSIRO finds new way to show renewables are cheapest
New GenCost report produces new modelling to deliver the same message: firmed renewables are lowest cost as coal and gas get more expensive and harder to build.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 17, 2025

6
Renewables

Australia’s biggest solar-battery hybrid project wins federal green tick to move to construction
Plans for what promises to be the biggest solar-battery hybrid project in Australia – at least for a time – can now go ahead, after being given federal environmental approval.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 16, 2025

1
Policy & Planning

Another $5 billion tipped into Cheaper Home Batteries, but rebates slashed for bigger systems
Albanese government doubles down on Cheaper Home Batteries, tipping new funding into the red-hot scheme and adjusting its settings to make it go further.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 13, 2025

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Policy & Planning

Bigger home batteries may get smaller rebates in urgent tweaks to red-hot household storage market
Industry braces for imminent changes to the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate amid negotiations on steps to avoid a “boom-bust” scenario.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 12, 2025

8
Renewables

Offshore wind plans given major project status as sector hits “critical inflection point”
Major offshore wind project wins Major Project Status, in a show of commitment from the federal government just one week after another project was snuffed out.
Sophie Vorrath

Dec 12, 2025

1