In this Weekly Dispatch:
- AEMO has released the 2026 Integrated System Plan, reaffirming renewables firmed by storage and backed by gas as the least-cost path as coal retires, with NEM consumption forecast to nearly double and a 35 GW home battery fleet expected by 2050.
- AEMO has published the 2026 WEM Electricity Statement of Opportunities, finding that coordinated home batteries are already flattening WA’s evening peak and are expected to reduce grid-scale investment needs by 2028-29, with data centres appearing as a separate demand category for the first time.
- The Australian Government has announced CIS Tender 8 results: 15 BESS projects totalling 4.2 GW/16.1 GWh were awarded, marking the second consecutive technology-neutral dispatchable tender where every winning bid was a battery.
- The Queensland 2026-27 Budget confirms the government will continue progressing Borumba Pumped Hydro and conduct further investigations into the Capricornia pumped hydro project in Central Queensland.
- The AEMC has commenced its Electricity Network Regulation Review, including consideration of a rule change request from Energy Networks Australia to allow distribution networks to install and operate kerbside EV charging infrastructure as a regulated service.
- JERA (Japan’s largest thermal generator) has announced it will build a 1 GW-scale LNG-fired power plant in the central U.S. for about US$3 billion, co-located with a data centre, with a target COD of 2028.
- With Middle East LNG disruptions pushing up fuel costs, JERA is considering offering multi-year coal-fired PPAs to retail electricity providers, reversing recent years where its coal output was sold mostly into the spot market.
- Bonus: The Socceroos qualify for the 2026 World Cup knockout round after drawing 0-0 with Paraguay.
- Podcast of the week: Our very own Hayato Ono features as a guest on the Japan Energy Podcast – Ep #3: The BESS Market: Hype vs Reality.