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.

Policy & Planning

Regulator drafts new retail energy guidelines in push for “honest and fair” consumer experience
Regulator seeks feedback on range of updates to retailer guidelines, following a series of market rule changes and reforms aimed at demystifying electricity bills and keeping retailers honest.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 5, 2026

1
Renewables

“Worse, not better:” Developers paint grim picture of wind energy economics – even with CIS support
The economics of building new wind farms in Australia is “getting worse, not better,” project developers warn, as rising construction costs and a fickle off-take market block the path to final investment.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 5, 2026

12
Policy & Planning

Solar recycling: State tips $17.8 million into waste PV and battery collection, processing
State commits nearly $18 million to the establishment of collection, transport and processing pathways for end-of-life solar panels and batteries.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 4, 2026

3
Solar

Wind and solar generation records tumble, despite drought, and as batteries continue to ramp up
A record-breaking month of renewable energy generation has been set in three different states across Australia, as big batteries continue to smooth prices.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 4, 2026

6
Policy & Planning

“What’s in it for us?” Protesters deliver important message as Marinus Link heralds new energy dawn
Dozens of residents and farmers protest against Marinus Link and its associated infrastructure, as minister tries to set the record straight at Tasmania energy conference.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 3, 2026

3
Storage

Households still going big on solar and storage, but new battery rebate settings calm red-hot market
Changes to Cheaper Home Batteries scheme takes some heat out of a red-hot market – for both home solar and storage – but the numbers are still high.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 3, 2026

5
Renewables

Australian innovation can slash wind farm concrete pours, build times and costs. But it needs a willing guinea pig
Innovation for wind turbine footings could slash wind farm concrete use and cut construction time by about 20 weeks. It just needs a developer game enough to give it a go.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 1, 2026

3
Policy & Planning

Network sets out $3.5 billion case for new link to remove bottlenecks between renewables and cities
Network weighs its options to close a gap in “ring” of transmission lines linking NSW coastal load centres with its renewable energy zones and other major upgrades and mega-projects, like Snowy 2.0.
Sophie Vorrath

Jun 1, 2026

1
Storage

Huge six-hour battery gets federal green tick for grid sweet-spot at edge of coal hub
Plans to install a big battery with up to six hours storage in a sweet spot between a coal generation hub and major electricity demand centres have been waved through the federal green queue.
Sophie Vorrath

May 29, 2026

1
Policy & Planning

State locks in six renewable energy zones after final round of nips, tucks and rethinks
State formally declares five onshore renewable energy zones and one “shoreline” REZ, to guide its step-change to 65% renewable by 2030 and 95% by 2035.
Sophie Vorrath

May 29, 2026

4
Policy & Planning

“No sense:” One year on, Queensland’s strict renewables rules still baffle developers and councils
Queensland’s new planning regime for large-scale renewables and battery storage remains “very messy and very complicated,” one year down the track.
Sophie Vorrath

May 28, 2026

27
Policy & Planning

Solar Sharer: Big savings predicted for some households from “three hours of free power” offer
State reveals new details of its “free power” plan that will launch in October, while national regulator offers fresh advice on Solar Sharer ahead of its July kick-off.
Sophie Vorrath

May 28, 2026

3