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.

Storage

Australia’s biggest coal generator set to be replaced by the world’s biggest battery
Origin Energy seeks approval for new addition to its Eraring battery that would take the total size to 1200 MW and 8600 MWh, easily the biggest in the country.
Rachel Williamson

Oct 5, 2026

3
Policy & Planning

Not a “dealbreaker:” Big Victorian wind project doesn’t need VNI West
The Macorna wind project will have a simpler ride through state planning, and insists it is still viable even if the proposes VNI West transmission line is not built.
Rachel Williamson

Oct 4, 2026

10
Policy & Planning

“Deeply disappointing:” State blocks gas connection rule made to protect consumers from death spiral
South Australia Labor decides not to make consumers pay for gas installations up front, declaring that discouraging the use of gas in home is not a policy it supports.
Rachel Williamson

Oct 2, 2026

4
Policy & Planning

Victoria knocks down planning hurdles for contentious transmission project in “gazetting blitzkrieg”
Development process rolls on for 190 km transmission project as state planning minister moves to exempt the project from council planning requirements.
Rachel Williamson

Oct 1, 2026

2
Storage

Developer of first solar farm on Australia’s main grid completes its first stand-alone battery project
New battery is one of two that received funding to provide grid-forming inverters, and is the first standalone battery for company that built the NEM’s first grid-scale solar farm.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 30, 2026

0
Renewables

Huge landowner-led wind project seeks green tick, despite looming threat to transmission link
A landowner-led wind farm is seeking state and federal environmental approvals, but could struggle to proceed if a hotly contested transmission line doesn’t go ahead.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 22, 2026

3
Policy & Planning

Victorian Labor toes federal line on BYO renewables for data centres, Coalition still pushing gas
Victorian Labor says it will adopt the proposed federal Labor mandate and require future data centre developers to bring their own renewable energy and storage if re-elected in November.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 22, 2026

1
Renewables

Rare wind, solar and battery hybrid seeks environmental approvals in new renewables hotspot
New wind, solar and battery hybrid project seeks environmental approval near a wheatbelt town emerging as the latest hotspot for renewable energy projects.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 22, 2026

1
Policy & Planning

Local utility gets green light to replace remote town’s diesel and gas power with a solar-battery hybrid
EPBC waves through one of a series of renewable energy projects being built to wean remote WA towns off diesel fuel generation and power them with solar and battery storage.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 21, 2026

1
Policy & Planning

Route for first offshore wind transmission link mapped out amid scramble to meet 2032 target
VicGrid has released its preferred route for the 60 km new transmission line needed to bring offshore wind power to the main grid in the Latrobe Valley.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 21, 2026

0
Solar

Kookaburras, bees and panels: Australia’s first big “biosolar” roof slashes heat, boosts power by nearly 25%
A new Sydney suburb has become the testbed for biosolar rooftops in Australia – and the latest results from a groundbreaking project are stunning.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 18, 2026

1
Policy & Planning

Solar recyclers call on government to reboot pilot scheme before end of year or face new environmental crisis
Solar recycling industry calls on federal government to unblock the national pilot scheme and get it going before year’s end.
Rachel Williamson

Sep 18, 2026

1