NSW launches $20m battery round, to shift hospitals and schools to solar and storage

Hot on the heels of launching his state’s Emerging Energy Program, New South Wales energy minister Don Harwin has announced government plans to buy up to 900 smart battery systems with a total of 13MW of capacity to install alongside rooftop solar on the state’s school’s and hospitals.

The battery purchasing round was announced on Friday as part of a $20 million program to maximise the use of solar power systems installed in key government buildings. Round one is targeting education and health, which account for 45 per cent of public sector electricity demand in peak periods.

Harwin said his Coalition government was also accelerating the roll-out of rooftop solar throughout the state, through its target for government buildings to generate 25,000MWh of solar a year by 2021, and 55,000MWh a year by 2024.

Read the story by Sophie Varrarth from RenewEconomy - “NSW launches $20m battery round, to shift hospitals and schools to solar and storage.”

Luke Foley pledges to 'massively increase' rooftop solar if elected

Opposition leader Luke Foley is promising to "massively increase" solar generation in NSW if elected in 2019 by installing panels on the rooftops of government buildings including schools, hospitals and police stations.

Opposition leader Luke Foley is promising to "massively
 increase" solar generation in NSW 

In his budget reply speech to be delivered on Thursday, Mr Foley will also call on the government to invest in battery storage technology to avoid blackouts and pledge to not build the F6 extension through the Royal National Park.

According to speech excerpts released by his office, Mr Foley will note that on February 10 this year "NSW ran out of power" – a reference to the strain on the electricity grid during extreme heatwave conditions.

Mr Foley will say that due to inaction by the Berejiklian government, NSW is "staring down the barrel at the possibility of blackouts this coming summer.”

Read Sean Nicholls’ story in The Sydney Morning Herald - “Luke Foley pledges to 'massively increase' rooftop solar if elected.”

Hospitals and health services in Australia and New Zealand recognized as ‘Climate Champions’ in global awards

Health care providers and hospitals in Australia and New Zealand are being recognised internationally for their leadership in greening the health sector and improving global public health by taking action on climate change.

Three local health services scooped five awards in three categories at the global 2020 Health Care Climate Challenge awards. They are: Koowerup Regional Health Service in Victoria; Mater in Queensland; and Counties Manukau Health in New Zealand.

All are members of the Pacific region of the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) network and participants in the 2020 Health Care Climate Challenge.*

GGHH is an international network of hospitals, health care facilities, health systems, and health organizations dedicated to reducing their environmental footprint and promoting public and environmental health.

Read the story - “Hospitals and health services in Australia and New Zealand recognized as ‘Climate Champions’ in global awards.”