ACLE Services Pty Ltd

A new report from Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and RACE for 2030 has found that Australia’s electricity workforce needs to double in the next five years if we want to hit our 2030 renewable energy targets — and over 80% of those jobs will be in renewables. At ACLE Services Pty Ltd, we’re proud to have delivered over 1.2GW across more than 43 solar and battery projects, with plenty more in the pipeline. However, any EPC with ambitions to grow its own workforce knows just how crucial a healthy national labour workforce is to getting projects delivered on time, meeting the increasing demand, and staying competitive. Right now, we’re already seeing labour shortages slowing things down —especially when it comes to electricians and engineers. From experience, I can tell you that having a skilled, diverse workforce is the only way we’ll keep up with the pace of change. In fact, jobs in energy storage alone are expected to overtake coal and gas roles within the next few years. AEMO’s Integrated System Plan makes it clear: we need to grow from 33,000 electrical workers today to 66,000 by 2029, and if we’re serious about becoming the “renewable energy superpower,” that number could hit 96,000. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has pointed out that skills shortages are already leading to delays, which could slow our progress towards net-zero. Here in Australia, we’re feeling it too — with a shortage of key workers like electricians and engineers, and fierce competition for talent as other infrastructure projects ramp up. While initiatives like the New Energy Apprenticeship scheme and the Australian Skills Guarantee are great, we need even more apprentices, more diversity in hiring, and better training pathways in Renewable Energy Zones to really make this work.

As ACLE Services Pty Ltd expands operations, retrofitting existing systems is proving to be a powerful and viable option for addressing Australia’s energy storage challenge — especially when compared to the lead time required to start from scratch with a new project. One of the standout benefits of retrofitting is that many of these projects are already zoned, which significantly streamlines the process. This means less time spent on regulatory hurdles and more focus on enhancing efficiency and performance. This is especially crucial in the case of providing much needed storage capacity, given that states like NSW and Victoria typically take an average of 746 and 376 days respectively, for planning approvals on wind, solar, and battery projects, as reported by the Clean Energy Investor Group. Whilst retrofits can present unique technological challenges, these upgrades can not only enhance energy storage capabilities but can also be implemented faster than hybrid systems in many cases. Our first retrofit project is currently under construction, and we’re looking forward to tracking how it will improve grid stability overnight. With Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)’s recent call for a significant shift in operating protocols — requesting that large batteries stand by on empty to help address periods of extremely low or even negative operating demand — upgrading existing projects is certainly worth considering. Retrofits offer a viable solution to alleviate the stress of delivering sufficient battery and hybrid technology during these critical times. #Retrofits #RenewableEnergy #GridReliability

Last week, I mentioned that at ACLE Services Pty Ltd we currently have 20 hybrid and battery energy storage systems (BESS) either operational or under construction. This led to a deeper conversation about the need to expand these solutions, both within Australia and as part of our due diligence toward global targets.   Recent analysis from the Climate Council shows that a striking three-quarters of Australians support the federal government pushing for policies that accelerate solar and storage installation.   Although it’s a polarising subject, many Australians recognise the urgent need for a transition to cleaner energy sources, especially as this means energy storage can continue contributing to lowering energy costs and strengthening Australia’s energy independence. Governments on all levels, in arms with Arena and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), are placing increasingly higher importance on storage in tenders and subsidies.   So much so, that ARENA has recently approved AU$143 million in funding toward community battery energy storage installations under its Community Battery Funding Round 1 initiative. This would see 370 community batteries installed across all states.   Leonard Quong from Bloomberg NEF pointed out that we’re experiencing the most significant shift in global energy systems since the Industrial Revolution. This is especially true for Australia, where we’ve transitioned from a major coal producer and exporter to actively integrating renewable energy, which now accounts for nearly 40% of our NEM.   The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference is likely to adopt an ambitious target to increase global energy storage capacity by more than sixfold by 2030—meaning we’ll need to add over 158 GW of storage capacity annually.   For Australia to effectively meet these challenges, we need policies that encourage investment and facilitate delivery through open tenders, creating a level playing field for both investors and developers. This is where EPCs can make a significant impact, leveraging our expertise in engineering, project management, and stakeholder collaboration to provide efficient and effective energy solutions that will take Australia to the next level.

🔆 Exciting Times Ahead for ACLE On Tuesday, I discussed the closure of the NSW Government’s latest tender. The tender, excitingly, saw a trend in the direction of prioritising storage within the NEM. At ACLE Services Pty Ltd we have personally seen the growth of this trend in NSW, having recently completed four successful retrofits on previous generation projects. Excitingly, we are seeing a trend toward the hybridisation of generation and storage projects right across the state and the nation more broadly, with this approach becoming the norm. In fact, at ACLE we’re managing the construction and delivery of approximately 20 hybrid and battery energy storage system (BESS) retrofit projects that are either operational or under construction, with another 20 in the pipeline.  It’s a testament to just how crucial hybrid and battery energy storage systems play in strengthening Australia’s clean energy infrastructure. These green tech solutions are not just necessary — they are the answer to revolutionising how energy is stored. With solar energy accounting for nearly 39.4% of renewable energy output and record-breaking tenders announced by the government, the sector is thriving. Local communities, government bodies, investors, and developers are all central to this success. We’re excited about the future and look forward to continuing to deliver clean energy technology solutions that power Australia’s energy future. Clean Energy Council Smart Energy Council Australian Government

At ACLE Services Pty Ltd, we are proud to say that we’ve successfully delivered over 1.2GW across more than 43 solar and battery projects, either completed or under construction. Over the last few years, the need for the nation to move toward prioritising storage solutions has become clear as day.   This need to prioritise storage and not just generation was highlighted recently with the closure of New South Wales’ latest tender last week. The tender saw submissions of significant wind and solar projects totalling over 15GW, competing for access in the South West REZ. The tender conducted by Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) attracted nearly four times the 3.98GW capacity on offer.   Encouraging however, was that this tender’s call for 1GW of long-duration energy storage (at least eight hours) received proposals totalling more than 2GW. To overcome intermittency challenges, the storage element of these tenders must continue to grow.   Whilst it’s encouraging to see the scale and pace of these tenders exceeding expectations. My only concern is whether the record number of project submissions, especially those that provide long duration energy storage solutions, will be approved swiftly, given that major clean energy and transmission projects currently take around 746 days to approve.   Congratulations to EnergyCo, the administrator of the South West REZ access scheme, and NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe for this significant investment and advancement in NSW’s clean energy sector.   #NSWGovernment #RenewableEnergy #NSWREZ NSW Government

💬 Is Australia’s Workforce Key to Reaching Net Zero Emissions by 2050?   The Climate Change Authority's (CCA) latest report details a blueprint planner for hitting our net-zero emissions goal by 2050. What’s interesting is that it breaks the economy into six sectors: electricity and energy, transport, industry and waste, agriculture and land, resources, and the built environment.   In terms of electricity and energy, the report recognises that Australia will need about 10,400 electricians and 7,900 engineers from 2025 to 2030 to build the necessary infrastructure, as forecasted by Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).   What’s critical for many EPCs, is to cultivate a workforce that is not only available but also upskilled and adaptable to keep pace with rapid advancements in technology and increasing demands for green energy solutions.   The report’s recommendation to decarbonise Australia’s energy supply by ramping up wind and solar power, along with energy storage solutions as a must-have integration with projects and instalments also signals that a healthy and skilled workforce is crucial to Australia’s energy landscape transition.   As we move toward a future where, by 2035-36, the total capacity of residential battery systems is projected to exceed that of shallow, medium, and deep utility-scale BESS, it becomes clear that having a well-prepared workforce is critical.   Ultimately, reaching our 2050 targets will depend on expanding both rooftop and utility-scale solar PV, and integrating these with advanced battery storage solutions. However, achieving this will require a ready, skilled workforce and an adaptable labour market to bring the recommendations of the CCA to life. #RenewableEnergy #EPC #CleanEnergyWorkforce

💬 Australia ranks 10th in the race to renewables but is this good enough?   Last week, I conducted a poll on whether Australia is investing enough in energy storage, and nearly 70% of respondents felt that more action is required. This sentiment signals two critical areas we need to focus on:   🔆 Boosting solar adoption: Solar energy is one of the most cost-effective green resources available. We need to ensure that it's more widely utilised across the country.   🔆Advancing Energy Storage: As noted by Meredith O'Brien, Head of Energy at Compare the Market, effective energy storage is crucial for maximising the benefits of renewable energy. Solar and wind energy can be intermittent, so robust battery storage systems are essential to ensure a steady and reliable energy supply.   A recent study by Compare the Market forecasts that Australia will generate 4.79 TWh of renewable energy per million people by 2028, positioning us 10th worldwide for our net zero emissions target by 2050. This is on par with Chile (4.74 TWh) and ahead of the United States (4.55 TWh), though we still lag 2.59 TWh behind New Zealand.   At ACLE Services Pty Ltd, we are taking proactive steps to address these needs. We’re deploying multiple distributed utility-scale battery energy storage systems (DBESS) across Australia. Our efforts are aimed at enhancing energy reliability, recognising that the growth of renewable energy in Australia has largely got to do with battery energy storage solutions.   To achieve our 2030 and 2050 net zero goals and strengthen our position in the global renewable energy transition, we must intensify our focus on these areas. While ranking 10th globally is a commendable start, we should view this position as a baseline rather than a benchmark.   We need robust energy infrastructure coupled with forward-thinking policies that address both global standards and local market needs.   #GlobalRenewableEnergy #RenewableEnergy #BESS Australian Government

💬 Is Australia taking energy storage seriously? While solar and wind continue to be the most cost-effective sources of green energy, the focus is now shifting to how we can effectively store that excess energy. For many, like myself and ACLE Services Pty Ltd, the answer lies in pairing solar projects with BESS systems. I’m glad to see six large-scale energy storage projects, totalling 573MW/2,047MWh, reach financial commitment in Q2 2024, as reported by the Clean Energy Council of Australia. Notably, four of the last five quarters have seen over 2GWh of energy storage projects secure funding in Australia. With a 12-month average investment nearing AU$1.6 billion, the sector is thriving, led by NSW in Q2 with four projects. Though Q2 figures were slightly lower than Q1, the overall investment is surpassing 2023 totals. On the solar PV front, 161MW of projects have been funded since early 2024, pushing wind and solar PV figures beyond last year's totals. Victoria also excelled with 74.1GWh of energy discharged from BESS this winter. To put that into perspective, this amount of energy is equivalent to powering over 200,000 homes for a month. While Q2 2024 shows a promising increase in investment, achieving the 46 GW storage target requires continued effort in project delivery and investment. It’s encouraging to see NSW, QLD, and Victoria ramping up their efforts to reach financial commitments and deliver green projects with long-term energy storage solutions as their focus. #EnergyStorage #BESS #RenewableEnergy NSW Government Queensland Government Victoria State Government (Victorian Government)

💬 Solar is dominating the global energy landscape, but how is Australia tracking?    It’s been a remarkable year for ACLE and the broader solar industry, and the latest Q3 2024 Global PV Market Outlook from BloombergNEF confirm just that. Research shows that the global solar industry is on track to install a phenomenal 592 GW of modules this year—a 33% increase compared to 2023 and on a scale not seen before.   This growth is driven by plummeting module prices, which is making solar more accessible and opening up new markets worldwide.    In the local market, the Australian Energy Update reports a 21% increase in solar electricity generation for the 2022-23 period. Solar now accounts for 27.3% of all renewable energy, surpassing wind and hydro. Solar has also experienced the largest growth of all renewable energy sources over the past decade, with an increase of 27%.   NSW and Queensland are leading the way in large-scale solar projects, while Tasmania and South Australia achieve 98% and South Australia 74% renewable energy usage in 2023. From experience, I believe we can assume these figures will increase in 2024.   I remember back in the 2000s when solar PV was just getting started and represented just 0.1% of energy output in 2010. Fast forward to today, and solar is approaching nearly 30% of NEM output.   It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, with solar installations expected to reach 996GW by 2035, and Australia being a key player in this forecasted record. NSW Government SA Government

💬 Can Australia keep up with the growing demand for battery storage? I’ve had a front-row seat to Australia’s clean energy transformation, and I can tell you from experience that the future is both exciting and challenging. With projections showing that by 2050, Australia will need around nine times its current utility-scale solar and wind capacity, our focus must shift to how we store and manage these renewable resources effectively. At ACLE Services Pty Ltd this has seen us place renewed focus on energy storage and BESS solutions for our projects. According to Rystad Energy, we're on track to exceed the 2024 forecast of 4 GW for major battery projects. Currently, 3.6 GW of battery storage capacity is already under construction in 2024, with key players like Origin Energy and Energy Australia, leading the charge. This surge is driven by a robust pipeline of projects, falling battery cell costs, and numerous storage tenders nationwide. At ACLE we have seen firsthand the significant evolution in battery storage technology. Whilst some of the earliest projects in Australia focused on short storage durations of between1 to 1.5 hours (primarily for frequency control), now, we’re seeing a shift towards longer storage solutions designed to capture and shift the output of wind and solar energy. This shift is crucial for replacing fossil fuels and storing excess solar power for evening use, with up to four hours of storage capacity becoming the norm. Falling battery cell costs, which are now decreasing at a pace similar to solar PV modules a few years ago, combined with record-low PV module prices, are creating a more favourable environment for battery storage. However, despite these advancements, our industry still faces significant challenges. High upfront costs and complex grid integration are hurdles our industry must overcome. Supportive government policies and financial incentives are crucial in this regard. With targeted tax credits, grants, and streamlined regulatory processes, we can make battery storage projects more economically viable, attract private investment, and accelerate our progress.