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Australia's National Energy Guarantee (NEG), which has been waived through for a final decision in August, would significantly harm the country's large-scale renewables pipeline, with just 1.5GW expected to be completed by 2025 despite the current 16GW pipeline, according to the head of the country’s solar and storage council.

After a record year for Australian renewables, the Clean Energy Council expects 2018 and 2019 to be even bigger.

Australian Solar Council chief John Grimes has said of the new technology-neutral plan: “It is hard to imagine a worse policy.”

Reports have emerged suggesting that the Turnbull government of Australia is pondering an alteration of the newly proposed Clean Energy Target (CET) to support baseload coal over wind and solar, prompting concern from some industry bodies while others have brushed off the perceived threat.

Australia’s chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel has delivered his major energy review to the Australian government recommending various changes that will impact the solar PV sector.

In a major energy strategy upheaval, the South Australian government is providing significant funding to support energy storage projects, starting with a 100MW grid-connected battery that will be the largest in the country.

Investment confidence has rebounded in utility-scale Australian renewables with more than 20 projects under or about to start construction this year, according to analysis from the Clean Energy Council (CEC).

Australian power firm AGL Energy (AGL) has sold its 102MW Nyngan and 53MW Broken Hill solar plants to the Powering Australian Renewables Fund (PARF) for AU$257 million (US$194 million).

Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) government has released draft proposals to help meet a goal of zero carbon emissions by 2025 partly through increased investment in renewables and energy efficiency.

Australia’s coalition government has secured support from the Labor Party to cut funding for the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) from AU$1.3 billion to AU$800 million.