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.

Policy & Planning

Large solar and eight-hour battery hybrid seeks green tick, but local mayor says it will be an eyesore
The very large solar and eight hour battery has 116 near neighbours to contend with in an area dotted with other wind and solar projects and local quarries.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 11, 2026

1
Policy & Planning

Spanish giant withdraws 2,000 MWh battery project after being “called in” by LNP planning minister
Spanish energy giant withdraws a massive battery project after being “called in” by planning minister, but says it has not abandoned it.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 10, 2026

5
Policy & Planning

Victoria scraps contested renewable zone, says region has limited capacity for more solar and wind
Victoria cancels contentious renewable zone ahead of state election on grounds it holds “significant renewable energy” projects, and has limited capacity for more.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 10, 2026

1
Policy & Planning

Too old, can’t dance: New numbers show Yallourn is ready to retire
Report says Yallourn is old and clunky and ready to retire, and replacing it gas rather than renewables will lead to big hike in power prices.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 9, 2026

6
Policy & Planning

Anti-wind group sues planning minister and wind project owners, threatens public servants
Victoria group takes wind project to court, says public servants are next if successful.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 9, 2026

14
Wind

Rock lobsters and whales: First offshore wind project on west coast hits the EPBC queue
French energy giant seeks federal approval to start work on offshore wind projects in newly created WA zone.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 8, 2026

4
Pumped Hydro

New pumped hydro project seeks approval in New England, but already faces local opposition
Proposed pumped hydro project in New England plans 300 MW of capacity and 10 hours of storage, and already has a dedicated group set up to oppose it.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 8, 2026

7
Battery

Energy trader lands first big battery contract, just as competition really starts to bite
Energy trader moves from small scale installations to land its first big battery as competition makes picking the perfect dispatch window more critical than ever.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 7, 2026

1
Storage

Can you run a paper mill on solar and “hot bricks”? Visy says it can – on paper, at least
A paddock of solar and an innovative converter could allow Visy to cut gas use by 40% on one site without the added cost of a new grid connection.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 4, 2026

1
Renewables

Here’s how many wind and solar projects Victoria stands to lose if VNI West is dumped
Using loss factors and line congestion risk, we’ve tallied how far the damage could spread if the VNI West transmission link is cancelled, as promised by the Coalition and One Nation.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 3, 2026

1
Policy & Planning

State looks to tariff changes to help take the heat out of decarbonisation for big business
NSW is looking at tariff reform to encourage big gas users to switch to heat storage.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 2, 2026

0
People

Unfilled vacancies and skills shortages: The vicious circle threatening the energy supercycle
New report finds half of energy industry employers say they can’t fill job vacancies – sometimes for months at a time – as skills shortages grow.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 2, 2026

0