ARENA Archives - Renew Economy

Battery

Community battery rollout is way behind schedule, with only a quarter built on time
A report into the progress of the federal government’s Arena-backed community battery rollout has revealed long delays and some rising costs.
Rachel Williamson

Jul 3, 2026

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Renewables

Green hydrogen hopes lift as “headstart” project reaches crucial financial milestone
Just two projects were funded under Hydrogen Headstart and one has just reached FID, with work to start imminently.
Rachel Williamson

Jul 1, 2026

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Storage

Australia’s biggest isolated grid to soak up suburban solar with 18 new community batteries
Federal and state governments back rollout of 18 community batteries on parts of the grid with particularly high rooftop solar uptake.
Joshua S Hill

Jun 16, 2026

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Solar

Cheap power and brave investors needed for home-grown solar poly-silicon industry, report finds
Demand for poly-silicon that is not made in China could be the backstop for an Australian industry built out of a shrinking coal region, a government report says.
Rachel Williamson

May 25, 2026

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Hydrogen

No customers: Plans for Townsville hydrogen project scrapped after failing to find buyers for the product
Plans for a hydrogen project in north Queensland have been scrapped, with the develop to focus on a nearby massive solar-battery project instead.
Rachel Williamson

Apr 20, 2026

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Electrification

Can all solar homes become smart energy hubs? On paper – absolutely! IRL, a few hurdles remain
A South Australian trial to turn homes into grid-responsive energy hubs is now 100 households in, and has some brutal lessons to share.
Rachel Williamson

Feb 20, 2026

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Policy & Planning

A rule change request snuck in over Christmas could radically alter how the main grid functions
A rule change request quietly put through in December wants to radically change how the main grid works – by throwing open the data door to almost everyone.
Rachel Williamson

Feb 3, 2026

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Solar

Can Australian-made solar wafers compete with Chinese giants? This report suggests they can
Australia is keen to build key components of the solar supply chain, and a new study says a plan to make solar wafers could be competitive.
Rachel Williamson

Feb 2, 2026

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Hydrogen

Fortescue’s low temperature green iron process ready for real world testing
An electrochemical process to make green iron with renewable energy is ready for a 100kg pilot, after an ARENA-funded study proved it works in the lab.
Rachel Williamson

Feb 2, 2026

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Storage

Australian battery innovator lands federal grant to scope out giga-scale local lithium-sulfur cell factory
ASX-listed Australian battery hopeful’s plans to build a giga-scale lithium-sulfur cell manufacturing facility on home soil get a fresh shot of federal funding from Arena.
Sophie Vorrath

Nov 18, 2025

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Solar

Chinese solar giant looks to introduce robotic PV installations for Australian projects
Chinese solar giant is the latest company to look at introducing a solar installation robot to Australian PV projects.
Rachel Williamson

Nov 11, 2025

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Solar

ARENA makes its biggest single solar tech grant to help Fortescue test new ideas for expanding PV plans
ARENA is funding Fortescue’s Pilbara solar hub concept with $45 million to test new technologies in the harsh outback, where building PV farms can be dusty and boring.
Rachel Williamson

Nov 10, 2025

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