Two Australian solar-plus-storage projects advance: Ark Energy secures AU$1.3 billion for 2.2GWh Richmond Valley project; Quinbrook submits 250MWp Queensland site.

A 19.8MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) is to be added to an existing solar-plus-storage facility in the Republic of Palau, with Australian development finance backing the expansion of one of the Western Pacific’s flagship hybrid renewable energy projects.

More than 3.8GWh of combined BESS capacity has either cleared or is undergoing federal environmental assessment under Australia’s EPBC Act.

Renewables developer rPlus Energies has announced start of commercial operations for the 400MW/1,600MWh Green River Energy Centre in Emery County, Utah, US.

Meridian’s Waiinu Energy Park has been referred for consideration under New Zealand’s Fast-track Approvals Act.

There has been another twist in the long-running saga of Wärtsilä’s energy storage business and how the company aims to run it going forward.

Ark Energy has received approval from AEMO and Transgrid to connect its 3,148MWh Richmond Valley solar-plus-storage site to the NEM.

Solar PV solutions provider Nextpower has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BESS system integrator Prevalon Energy for up to US$365 million.

The US installed 9.7GWh of new battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity, according to the US trade association group, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

US renewable energy developer, Longroad Energy’s Sun Pond solar-plus-storage project in Maricopa County, Arizona, US has reached commercial operation.