Hunter's clean energy future gathers pace as projects power up
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Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Home batteries for renters? A solution could be coming soon
This network of homes gives the energy provider access to a significant volume of electricity generated by solar panels as well as that stored in batteries. Energy companies, aided by advanced software, can use these networks as a single 'virtual' power plant to send bursts of electricity into the grid when needed, such as afternoon peak energy usage periods, when people return from work, when coal plants are faltering due to technical issues or when cloudy and windy weather is cutting output from large-scale solar and wind farms. A household battery delivers savings by charging on free solar power from rooftop panels during the day and discharging at night to power the house when demand on the electricity grid rises, driving up prices. An appropriate-sized battery could significantly cut or even remove the electricity bill of a typical household in Melbourne and Sydney, which pays $1500 to $2000 a year for electricity. Origin Energy general manager of retail Jon Briskin said an 'enormous amount' of home battery storage coming online could be looped into a VPP. 'We see it as a core part of a cleaner and cheaper energy system … and it should lower customers' energy costs,' Briskin said. Why would energy providers want to use this system? For the simple reason that it could be cheaper than the alternative: either building gas plants or large-scale batteries to power thousands of homes at once. Former renter Caroline Edwards and her partner, Graeme, wanted to install solar panels and a battery at their house to cut their bills and contribute to lowering emissions from the electricity grid, but they were reluctant to speak to their landlord about getting solar panels and batteries. 'We would also have been happy to contribute something to that investment. We had a great landlord, but we were hesitant to ask him because there was no immediate financial return for him,' said Caroline, who moved into her own property in November. 'We were also hesitant because if we were to put forward a proposal for our investment as part of that, we have no rental security.' Loading The Edwardses are also landlords of a rented property, and Caroline said it should be imperative for governments to encourage renters and landlords to invest in solar and batteries. 'Literally, any support that we can get to make this an easier process for us to move forward with would be very gratefully received.' Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the government was already helping renters and low-income households access cheaper clean energy through the government's $100 million Solar Banks program for rooftop solar to power rented apartments, as well as investing in energy-efficient upgrades to social housing, with insulation upgrades, home batteries and efficient appliances. Solar Citizens campaigner Charlie Rodrick said renters had been too long locked out of the clean energy transition.
The Age
6 days ago
- The Age
Home batteries for renters? A solution could be coming soon
This network of homes gives the energy provider access to a significant volume of electricity generated by solar panels as well as that stored in batteries. Energy companies, aided by advanced software, can use these networks as a single 'virtual' power plant to send bursts of electricity into the grid when needed, such as afternoon peak energy usage periods, when people return from work, when coal plants are faltering due to technical issues or when cloudy and windy weather is cutting output from large-scale solar and wind farms. A household battery delivers savings by charging on free solar power from rooftop panels during the day and discharging at night to power the house when demand on the electricity grid rises, driving up prices. An appropriate-sized battery could significantly cut or even remove the electricity bill of a typical household in Melbourne and Sydney, which pays $1500 to $2000 a year for electricity. Origin Energy general manager of retail Jon Briskin said an 'enormous amount' of home battery storage coming online could be looped into a VPP. 'We see it as a core part of a cleaner and cheaper energy system … and it should lower customers' energy costs,' Briskin said. Why would energy providers want to use this system? For the simple reason that it could be cheaper than the alternative: either building gas plants or large-scale batteries to power thousands of homes at once. Former renter Caroline Edwards and her partner, Graeme, wanted to install solar panels and a battery at their house to cut their bills and contribute to lowering emissions from the electricity grid, but they were reluctant to speak to their landlord about getting solar panels and batteries. 'We would also have been happy to contribute something to that investment. We had a great landlord, but we were hesitant to ask him because there was no immediate financial return for him,' said Caroline, who moved into her own property in November. 'We were also hesitant because if we were to put forward a proposal for our investment as part of that, we have no rental security.' Loading The Edwardses are also landlords of a rented property, and Caroline said it should be imperative for governments to encourage renters and landlords to invest in solar and batteries. 'Literally, any support that we can get to make this an easier process for us to move forward with would be very gratefully received.' Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen said the government was already helping renters and low-income households access cheaper clean energy through the government's $100 million Solar Banks program for rooftop solar to power rented apartments, as well as investing in energy-efficient upgrades to social housing, with insulation upgrades, home batteries and efficient appliances. Solar Citizens campaigner Charlie Rodrick said renters had been too long locked out of the clean energy transition.
The Advertiser
15-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Lake council demands support in Eraring closure to prevent economic 'death by a thousand cuts'
FAILING to prepare for Eraring's closure could hit Lake Macquarie's economy with "death by a thousand cuts", one of the city's councillors fears. Councillors voted unanimously at an extraordinary meeting on Monday night to write to the federal Net Zero Economy Authority to deliver a jobs transition plan to soften the blow of the loss of some 1800 jobs and $4.5 billion from the local economy when Eraring power station closes. "We need certainty," Liberal deputy mayor Jack Antcliff said. "We are not a city with a BHP, or a Ford or Holden (plant), we are a city of thousands of small businesses and a city where an economic change is a death by a thousand cuts." "We don't want to get 15 years down the road and wonder where all those jobs went." Councillors and mayor Adam Shultz, who called the meeting, expressed concern that a poorly-managed transition would not only mire energy workers in uncertainty and job losses, but cripple the region's economy. West Ward councillor Jason Pauling, who likened the eventual wind-down of Eraring to the closure of the BHP steelworks in 1997, said it was incumbent on the federal government to "take responsibility for the industries it is looking to destroy". "We have a right to ask, and to demand, that opportunities are given to these job holders who will be affected," he said. The proposed jobs plan, if approved by the authority and the Fair Work Commission, would effectively require the power station to support employees to find new jobs as it winds down, and for six months after the station closes. Cr Shultz argued earlier this week that direct intervention was needed to soften the blow to the region when the station eventually closed. He said support needed to extend to supply and auxiliary industries that relied on Eraring for trade, making up some 15 per cent of the local economy. "Local businesses are really going to feel an impact, and hence why the federal government needs to step in and provide that additional support," he told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. Last month, Authority boss David Shankey said the department was seeking clarification on whether the coal-fired power station would actually close as scheduled in August 2027, or keep operating beyond that date. The state government agreed last year to underwrite a two-year extension of the plant through to August 2027. However, it is possible the plant could continue running through to 2029. "The Authority's consultation process for Eraring is based on the closure date that Origin has provided to the Australian Energy Market Operator, which is August 2027," an Authority spokeswoman told the Herald Tuesday. "Any extensions to the date are a matter for Origin and we are not aware of any requests for extension to this date." During the meeting, the council acknowledged efforts by the station's operator, Origin, to support workers but agreed direct government support was needed to ensure the region's security into the future. "We must be realistic about this change," Cr Antcliff said. "This is a small step for us, but it is an important step as we push to federal government (to acknowledge) that Lake Macquarie is part of it; it was part of it in the 1980s when they built the plant, it has been powering the state for a long time, and this region deserves to power the state in different ways into the future." The energy workers' union, which has also confirmed it would pressure the federal government to approve a jobs plan for Lake Macquarie, told the Herald last week that workers were facing "deep uncertainty" about Eraring's eventual closure, but that a jobs plan was a "real opportunity to do things differently and meet its commitment of leaving no one behind in the energy transition". FAILING to prepare for Eraring's closure could hit Lake Macquarie's economy with "death by a thousand cuts", one of the city's councillors fears. Councillors voted unanimously at an extraordinary meeting on Monday night to write to the federal Net Zero Economy Authority to deliver a jobs transition plan to soften the blow of the loss of some 1800 jobs and $4.5 billion from the local economy when Eraring power station closes. "We need certainty," Liberal deputy mayor Jack Antcliff said. "We are not a city with a BHP, or a Ford or Holden (plant), we are a city of thousands of small businesses and a city where an economic change is a death by a thousand cuts." "We don't want to get 15 years down the road and wonder where all those jobs went." Councillors and mayor Adam Shultz, who called the meeting, expressed concern that a poorly-managed transition would not only mire energy workers in uncertainty and job losses, but cripple the region's economy. West Ward councillor Jason Pauling, who likened the eventual wind-down of Eraring to the closure of the BHP steelworks in 1997, said it was incumbent on the federal government to "take responsibility for the industries it is looking to destroy". "We have a right to ask, and to demand, that opportunities are given to these job holders who will be affected," he said. The proposed jobs plan, if approved by the authority and the Fair Work Commission, would effectively require the power station to support employees to find new jobs as it winds down, and for six months after the station closes. Cr Shultz argued earlier this week that direct intervention was needed to soften the blow to the region when the station eventually closed. He said support needed to extend to supply and auxiliary industries that relied on Eraring for trade, making up some 15 per cent of the local economy. "Local businesses are really going to feel an impact, and hence why the federal government needs to step in and provide that additional support," he told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. Last month, Authority boss David Shankey said the department was seeking clarification on whether the coal-fired power station would actually close as scheduled in August 2027, or keep operating beyond that date. The state government agreed last year to underwrite a two-year extension of the plant through to August 2027. However, it is possible the plant could continue running through to 2029. "The Authority's consultation process for Eraring is based on the closure date that Origin has provided to the Australian Energy Market Operator, which is August 2027," an Authority spokeswoman told the Herald Tuesday. "Any extensions to the date are a matter for Origin and we are not aware of any requests for extension to this date." During the meeting, the council acknowledged efforts by the station's operator, Origin, to support workers but agreed direct government support was needed to ensure the region's security into the future. "We must be realistic about this change," Cr Antcliff said. "This is a small step for us, but it is an important step as we push to federal government (to acknowledge) that Lake Macquarie is part of it; it was part of it in the 1980s when they built the plant, it has been powering the state for a long time, and this region deserves to power the state in different ways into the future." The energy workers' union, which has also confirmed it would pressure the federal government to approve a jobs plan for Lake Macquarie, told the Herald last week that workers were facing "deep uncertainty" about Eraring's eventual closure, but that a jobs plan was a "real opportunity to do things differently and meet its commitment of leaving no one behind in the energy transition". FAILING to prepare for Eraring's closure could hit Lake Macquarie's economy with "death by a thousand cuts", one of the city's councillors fears. Councillors voted unanimously at an extraordinary meeting on Monday night to write to the federal Net Zero Economy Authority to deliver a jobs transition plan to soften the blow of the loss of some 1800 jobs and $4.5 billion from the local economy when Eraring power station closes. "We need certainty," Liberal deputy mayor Jack Antcliff said. "We are not a city with a BHP, or a Ford or Holden (plant), we are a city of thousands of small businesses and a city where an economic change is a death by a thousand cuts." "We don't want to get 15 years down the road and wonder where all those jobs went." Councillors and mayor Adam Shultz, who called the meeting, expressed concern that a poorly-managed transition would not only mire energy workers in uncertainty and job losses, but cripple the region's economy. West Ward councillor Jason Pauling, who likened the eventual wind-down of Eraring to the closure of the BHP steelworks in 1997, said it was incumbent on the federal government to "take responsibility for the industries it is looking to destroy". "We have a right to ask, and to demand, that opportunities are given to these job holders who will be affected," he said. The proposed jobs plan, if approved by the authority and the Fair Work Commission, would effectively require the power station to support employees to find new jobs as it winds down, and for six months after the station closes. Cr Shultz argued earlier this week that direct intervention was needed to soften the blow to the region when the station eventually closed. He said support needed to extend to supply and auxiliary industries that relied on Eraring for trade, making up some 15 per cent of the local economy. "Local businesses are really going to feel an impact, and hence why the federal government needs to step in and provide that additional support," he told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. Last month, Authority boss David Shankey said the department was seeking clarification on whether the coal-fired power station would actually close as scheduled in August 2027, or keep operating beyond that date. The state government agreed last year to underwrite a two-year extension of the plant through to August 2027. However, it is possible the plant could continue running through to 2029. "The Authority's consultation process for Eraring is based on the closure date that Origin has provided to the Australian Energy Market Operator, which is August 2027," an Authority spokeswoman told the Herald Tuesday. "Any extensions to the date are a matter for Origin and we are not aware of any requests for extension to this date." During the meeting, the council acknowledged efforts by the station's operator, Origin, to support workers but agreed direct government support was needed to ensure the region's security into the future. "We must be realistic about this change," Cr Antcliff said. "This is a small step for us, but it is an important step as we push to federal government (to acknowledge) that Lake Macquarie is part of it; it was part of it in the 1980s when they built the plant, it has been powering the state for a long time, and this region deserves to power the state in different ways into the future." The energy workers' union, which has also confirmed it would pressure the federal government to approve a jobs plan for Lake Macquarie, told the Herald last week that workers were facing "deep uncertainty" about Eraring's eventual closure, but that a jobs plan was a "real opportunity to do things differently and meet its commitment of leaving no one behind in the energy transition". FAILING to prepare for Eraring's closure could hit Lake Macquarie's economy with "death by a thousand cuts", one of the city's councillors fears. Councillors voted unanimously at an extraordinary meeting on Monday night to write to the federal Net Zero Economy Authority to deliver a jobs transition plan to soften the blow of the loss of some 1800 jobs and $4.5 billion from the local economy when Eraring power station closes. "We need certainty," Liberal deputy mayor Jack Antcliff said. "We are not a city with a BHP, or a Ford or Holden (plant), we are a city of thousands of small businesses and a city where an economic change is a death by a thousand cuts." "We don't want to get 15 years down the road and wonder where all those jobs went." Councillors and mayor Adam Shultz, who called the meeting, expressed concern that a poorly-managed transition would not only mire energy workers in uncertainty and job losses, but cripple the region's economy. West Ward councillor Jason Pauling, who likened the eventual wind-down of Eraring to the closure of the BHP steelworks in 1997, said it was incumbent on the federal government to "take responsibility for the industries it is looking to destroy". "We have a right to ask, and to demand, that opportunities are given to these job holders who will be affected," he said. The proposed jobs plan, if approved by the authority and the Fair Work Commission, would effectively require the power station to support employees to find new jobs as it winds down, and for six months after the station closes. Cr Shultz argued earlier this week that direct intervention was needed to soften the blow to the region when the station eventually closed. He said support needed to extend to supply and auxiliary industries that relied on Eraring for trade, making up some 15 per cent of the local economy. "Local businesses are really going to feel an impact, and hence why the federal government needs to step in and provide that additional support," he told the Newcastle Herald on Friday. Last month, Authority boss David Shankey said the department was seeking clarification on whether the coal-fired power station would actually close as scheduled in August 2027, or keep operating beyond that date. The state government agreed last year to underwrite a two-year extension of the plant through to August 2027. However, it is possible the plant could continue running through to 2029. "The Authority's consultation process for Eraring is based on the closure date that Origin has provided to the Australian Energy Market Operator, which is August 2027," an Authority spokeswoman told the Herald Tuesday. "Any extensions to the date are a matter for Origin and we are not aware of any requests for extension to this date." During the meeting, the council acknowledged efforts by the station's operator, Origin, to support workers but agreed direct government support was needed to ensure the region's security into the future. "We must be realistic about this change," Cr Antcliff said. "This is a small step for us, but it is an important step as we push to federal government (to acknowledge) that Lake Macquarie is part of it; it was part of it in the 1980s when they built the plant, it has been powering the state for a long time, and this region deserves to power the state in different ways into the future." The energy workers' union, which has also confirmed it would pressure the federal government to approve a jobs plan for Lake Macquarie, told the Herald last week that workers were facing "deep uncertainty" about Eraring's eventual closure, but that a jobs plan was a "real opportunity to do things differently and meet its commitment of leaving no one behind in the energy transition".
