Rachel Williamson, Author at Renew Economy

Rachel Williamson

Contributor

Rachel Williamson is a science and business journalist, who focuses on climate change-related health and environmental issues.

Wind

Revamped Gippsland wind project wins state approval, but still to win over some near neighbours
Gippsland wind project gains planning permit, but still has to win over neighbours who brought down the first iteration.
Rachel Williamson

May 14, 2026

2
Gas

Bizarre planning rules that force new home owners to pay for gas connections, whether they want it or not
The bizarre planning rules that make fossil gas connections a default for new homes, and add costs in a state that leads the world in rooftop PV and home batteries.
Rachel Williamson

May 14, 2026

13
Renewables

Start date for Australia’s first pumped hydro project in 40 years delayed again, wind farm may be dumped
The start date for the first pumped hydro project in four decades pushed out to 2027, as developer also says it is rethinking its already shrunken wind component.
Rachel Williamson

May 13, 2026

5
Solar

Australia’s largest solar project changes shape as owner brings forward big battery to beat solar duck
Australia’s largest solar and battery project changes shape and will be built in smaller chunks after equity investors baulked at funding a standalone solar farm.
Rachel Williamson

May 13, 2026

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Policy & Planning

“More complex and deeper than I had imagined:” Energy czar sees rise in solar project complaints
Wind projects still dominate complaints to energy czar, but solar complaints are rising and the relationship between communities and the energy industry is precarious.
Rachel Williamson

May 12, 2026

5
Wind

Twiggy Forrest’s Squadron hits pause on New England wind plans as it works through “project issues”
Squadron Energy is reviewing another wind project, this time in New England, as part of a rethink of its major project pipeline.
Rachel Williamson

May 12, 2026

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Policy & Planning

Energy ministers seek solution to tax trap for landowners seeking compensation for transmission lines
Landowners are being stung by capital gains tax as high as 45 per cent on the compensation they’re getting for hosting transmission.
Rachel Williamson

May 12, 2026

2
Policy & Planning

One Nation now represents two of Australia’s best wind and solar regions, and they think it’s a scam
One Nation’s big win in Farrer means its MPs sit in the heart of two of the country’s best wind and solar regions. It wants to can these projects in favour of coal, gas and nuclear.
Rachel Williamson

May 11, 2026

21
Solar

How mapping of PV “fingerprints” can indicate what the rooftop solar juggernaut will do next
A computer scientist has found a way to accurately forecast what rooftop solar — the invisible units that are now Australia’s bigger generator — will do next.
Rachel Williamson

May 7, 2026

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Battery

Former Macquarie bankers plan one of Australia’s biggest six-hour batteries with 4,800 MWh of storage
A company established by former Macquarie bankers is starting big – with a massive battery positioned to support a swathe of new generation projects.
Rachel Williamson

May 5, 2026

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Solar

Australia’s biggest solar project to be built in chunks to manage increase in negative prices
Australia’s biggest solar project likely to be rolled out in smaller chunks because of the impact of negative wholesale prices, and despite plans for a big battery.
Rachel Williamson

May 5, 2026

6
Battery

EPBC waves through two new big battery projects, including robot-ready, concrete-free solar hybrid
Two new big battery projects waved through EPBC, including one solar hybrid that will not require concrete footings and can be installed easily by robots.
Rachel Williamson

May 4, 2026

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