Energy retailer “switching” driving prices up, not down, says regulator
By Sophie Vorrath on 15 May 2018
ESC chair says outcome of retailer switching drive has been “contrary to usual expectations” of increased market competition.
Category: Victorian Government
Victoria wind and solar farms warned of curtailment
By Giles Parkinson on 7 May 2018
Owners and developers of new and existing wind and solar projects in Victoria warned of potential curtailment, network limits and increased marginal loss factors. Building renewables is becoming more complex.
Market Insight residential electricity price series
By Bruce Mountain on 4 May 2018
New data shows that energy consumers are paying more than they think in their bills, and more than what the regulator admits.
Gupta signs up solar farm to power Victoria steelworks
By Giles Parkinson on 2 May 2018
Sanjeev Gupta signs contract with Neoen to use new solar farm to power Laverton steel mill in Victoria and slash costs. Turnbull and Macron were on hand to witness signing, and the promise of a cheaper energy future via renewables.
Climate and environment: Big-ticket items the missing piece of the puzzle in Vic budget 2018
By Friends of the Earth on 1 May 2018
Environment group Friends of the Earth says big ticket items to tackle climate change and protect Victoria’s environment are the “missing piece of the puzzle” in budget 2018/19—a disappointing one for the environment.
Victoria has everything in place – time to go big on VRET
By Mark Wakeham and Dean Rizzetti on 30 April 2018
It’s budget week in Victoria, and there’s a simple question to be asked: if there’s so much renewable energy ready to go, then why not go bigger?
Australia’s first lithium battery recycling plant launched
By Sophie Vorrath on 27 April 2018
Australia’s first lithium battery recycling plant officially anointed in Victoria, seeking to address Australia’s appalling record on dealing with old batteries, and alleviating some concerns about impact of household storage.
Whichever way you cut it, Turnbull’s climate policy is still a sham
By Giles Parkinson on 18 April 2018
Alan Jones says Craig Kelly should be energy minister. In effect, he already is, because the Coalition’s woeful policy is a craven attempt to pacify the right wing. Despite the NEG, or maybe because of it, a bipartisan approach to energy and climate is as elusive as ever.
Wind farms on track to deliver $10.5bn back to host communities
By Sophie Vorrath on 16 April 2018
Report finds up to $21.5m a year going directly to host communities through wind farm benefit sharing mechanisms; billions to broader regional economies.
Victoria renewables auction attracts 3,500MW of bids, as state warns on NEG
By Sophie Vorrath on 12 April 2018
Victoria says its renewables auction six-times over-subscribed, and warns it won’t accept NEG in current form.
“Coal is thing of the past”: Neoen starts on Victoria’s first wind and battery park
Victoria energy minister officially launches construction of first crop farm in the world to be wholly powered by renewable energy – a wind farm and a Tesla battery.