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

“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

2
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

3
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
Renewables

How a wind and battery hybrid could replace a coal plant – and outperform it at almost every level
A “thought experiment” by a China tech giant finds wind-battery hybrids can achieve the same generation and grid services as coal plants, but with benefits.
Sophie Vorrath

May 27, 2026

16
Policy & Planning

Labor slams Coalition’s “back of envelope” Snowy 2.0 estimates as wait continues for latest cost blowout
Federal Labor hits back at LNP criticism of Snowy 2.0 cost blowouts with a reminder that it was a Coalition government that signed off on the project based on “back of an envelope” calculations.
Sophie Vorrath

May 27, 2026

8
Policy & Planning

Solar, wind and batteries push down electricity bills for homes and business, despite global fuel crisis
Electricity costs will fall for homes and businesses across Australia’s main grid, as wind, solar and battery storage push down wholesale electricity prices and insulate the local market from global volatility.
Sophie Vorrath

May 26, 2026

0
Storage

Australia rockets to third-largest big battery market in world, but solar and wind hit “decade low”
New report details “breakthrough year” for big batteries in 2025. But “the number that demands attention” – new wind and solar – is going in the wrong direction.
Sophie Vorrath

May 26, 2026

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