Five big solar farms set to increase energy output after tests

Grid constraints that have forced the electricity regulator to deliberately halve the output of five big solar farms in Victoria and NSW could soon be lifted if tests on the utilities succeed this week.

The Broken Hill solar farm has been affected by transmission
constraints. Testing this week will determine whether the plant - and
four others in Victoria - can resume full output to the grid.

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) intervened last September to slash the amount of power entering the grid from the plants - which have a rated capacity of 350 megawatts - because "unprecedented technical issues" threatened its stability.

Regulators have tested the performance of individual plants - four of which are in Victoria and the other in Broken Hill - after engineers used a technical fix to smooth the energy output from the plants and make them more compatible with the grid.

Tests involving all five plants began on Monday and will continue this week to ensure grid stability can handle the resumption of their full output, according to AEMO and company officials.

Read the story from The Age by Peter Hannam - “Five big solar farms set to increase energy output after tests.”

NT Labor Party divisions revealed as majority vote to ban fracking

Delegates at Territory Labor's annual conference have voted in favour of a ban on fracking, highlighting the deep divisions within the party just a month after the Gunner Government lifted its moratorium.

Protestors against fracking rallied ahead of
 the NT Labor Party's annual conference.

As anti-fracking protesters gathered outside the conference in Darwin, Chief Minister Michael Gunner called on party delegates to recognise his decision to support fracking was based on the findings of an independent, scientific inquiry.

"I understand the emotion in this room," Mr Gunner said.

"But I hope you also understand we have to make our decisions based on evidence, on science, on the experts.”

The Chief Minister reiterated the risks of fracking could be mitigated.

Read the ABC News story by Jano Gibson - “NT Labor Party divisions revealed as majority vote to ban fracking.”

Northern Territory lifts fracking ban, opening up 700,000 sq km to gas exploration

The Northern Territory government has lifted a ban on hydraulic fracturing of onshore gas that will open up more than half of the territory’s land mass to the controversial practice.

 The Northern Territory has lifted a ban on fracking ban
and opened 51% of the territory to gas exploration. 

The first exploration fracking by petroleum companies is expected to occur early next year after the implementation of a regulatory regime and new laws, which the government insists will be strict.

The issue has sharply divided territorians, many of whom believe fracking threatens water supplies, but the chief minister, Michael Gunner, said on Tuesday the industry would create jobs.

Read the story from The Guardian - “Northern Territory lifts fracking ban, opening up 700,000 sq km to gas exploration.”