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.

Renewables

Renewable microgrids hold huge promise for First Nations communities – so why aren’t they being built?
Small solar and battery-based microgrids have outsized impacts on remote communities, but are not being rolled out at scale. Here’s what could help.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 28, 2026

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Renewables

Offshore wind’s big boat and port problem – and the floating “feeder dock” that could help solve it
Australia faces a challenge in finding ships and ports capable of handling huge turbine parts for its offshore wind industry. But there are some innovative ideas floating around.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 27, 2026

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Battery

Home battery visionary sold for a loss as oil giant gets out of clean energy
Oil giant has sold home battery maker that was one of the early players in Australian market, but missed out on the federal rebate boom.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 26, 2026

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Utilities

Network to charge ahead after winning latest legal wrangle over contested Marinus project
The fight may not be over yet as woman leading the campaign against the Marinus-linked project looks next to the Supreme Court.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 25, 2026

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Policy & Planning

Australia’s biggest data centre to require 4 substations, 2 power lines, some batteries and 4 days of diesel backup
The massive 800 MW data centre will need city-scale electrical infrastructure, and will install enough diesel generator capacity, and fuel, to last four days if needed.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 24, 2026

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Renewables

New renewables pilot seeks to generate power, and financial returns, for First Nations communities
Remote First Nations renewable energy projects are a complicated sell to investors, but a new government pilot will help bring two to financial close.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 21, 2026

1
Wind

Do wind turbines make droughts worse? A new study says they do not
By mixing different air layers, wind turbines can make surface air temperatures slightly warmer at night but they don’t cause long term soil drying.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 21, 2026

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Policy & Planning

“Bikies, criminals, strippers”: Shadow energy minister leaves industry crowd perplexed by speech and gas pledge
Shadow energy minister David Davis took a Gippsland conference crowd on a journey this week, linking major energy projects to the state’s Big Build corruption scandal.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 20, 2026

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Policy & Planning

“We need more gas:” Victoria Coalition light on detail after vowing to scrap VNI West transmission link
Victoria’s Coalition is accused of tossing away years of planning by farmers and communities with its vow to scrap VNI West.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 19, 2026

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Wind

The clock is ticking on Australia’s promised first offshore wind auction as state election looms
Victoria promised the first offshore wind auction in August and officials say they remain committed to delivering, despite the political ructions. But time is running out.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 19, 2026

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Battery

“Fingerprints” of grid-forming inverters to be studied to assess their ability to replace spinning machines
UNSW is launching a study into an obscure technical part of the grid which could pave the way for a fully digital system with no reliance on spinning machines.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 18, 2026

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Wind

Wind farm dumped from Australia’s first pumped hydro project in 40 years – due to rocky terrain
Plans to add more solar and a wind farm to delayed pumped hydro project abandoned, this time due to rocky terrain. However, a bigger battery will be included.
Rachel Williamson

Aug 17, 2026

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