Renewable Energy

Rooftop solar capacity to double or even triple to replace existing thermal generation, new assessment by the energy market operator predicts

Australia’s ageing coal-fired power plants could be shuttered earlier than expected if competition from renewable generators and carbon budgets render them uneconomic, according to a new assessment by the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Aemo will, on Thursday, publish a new draft integrated system plan which snapshots the unfolding revolution underway in Australia’s energy market. The energy market operator predicts rooftop solar capacity will double or even triple, providing up to 22% of total energy by 2040.

Related: Consumers will pay the price for short-term thinking on electricity, energy suppliers warn

Energy park of one or more islands would be able to supply up to 10 million households

Denmark is pursuing plans to build one or more artificial islands surrounded by offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 10 gigawatts, capable of supplying up to 10 million households, the climate and energy ministry has said.

The country, which produced 41% of its energy from wind power in 2018, the highest level in Europe, last week passed an ambitious climate act which commits it to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 70% of 1990 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with new, legally binding targets every five years from 2020.

Related: Renewable energy: climate crisis 'may have triggered faster wind speeds'

UK homes using new smart-energy tariffs urged to take advantage of record windfarm power

Thousands of households were paid to use extra renewable electricity over the weekend as windfarms generated unprecedented levels of clean power.

Homes using a new type of smart-energy tariff were urged to plug in their electric vehicles overnight and set their dishwasher on a timer to take advantage of the record renewables in the early hours of the morning.

Australian Energy Market Commission says prices will begin to fall next year and by 2022 will be $97 a year lower

The price of residential electricity is estimated to start falling next year and continue to fall until 2022, the Australian Energy Market Commission says.

The AEMC’s annual report on electricity price trends shows an overall falling price outlook over the next few years, mostly due to decreases in the wholesale cost from increased generation capacity, particularly from windfarms.

Related: Australia 'risks being dumping ground' for cars with greenhouse gas 1,400 times more potent than CO2

Related: Australia told to prepare for 'completely new' two-sided energy market

Oil and gas firm will buy new shares from startup Lighthouse BP for undisclosed price

BP has increased its stake in the British solar venture Lightsource BP as it prepares to strike a deal to power its offices with renewable energy from next year.

The companies announced plans to set up a 50:50 joint venture almost two years after BP made its return to the solar market by snapping up a 43% stake in Lightsource for £200m.