energy

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given the environmental approval for Snowy Hydro 2.0, Australia’s largest ever renewable energy project. The move will create thousands of new jobs and put downward pressure on electricity prices. Morrison has announced that Commonwealth environmental approval for the project was granted after a rigorous environmental process. ”This marks the final … Continue reading PM greenlights Snowy 2.0, thousands of jobs to be created →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has opened applications for $70 million for two or more large scale renewable hydrogen projects. The funding, first announced in November 2019, is looking to enable hydrogen to be produced in Australia from renewable energy sources at a competitive price, or ‘H2 under $2’. The funding hopes to spark … Continue reading $70m on offer for renewable hydrogen →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $480,000 in funding over the next 12 months to start-up accelerator program, EnergyLab Australia, to support the Australian startup acceleration program designed to assist clean energy entrepreneurs. EnergyLab has four core programs: 1) Pre-Acceleration which is about helping entrepreneurs with an idea to test its commercial viability. … Continue reading Government funding support for clean energy startups →

Resources and energy exports are on track to reach nearly $300 billion this financial year, $18 billion more than the previous record despite the impact of the coronavirus. Some of Australia’s largest resources companies and industry groups together with the Australian government have united during over discussions on how to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. … Continue reading Resources exports on track to reach almost $300bn →

New energy innovation projects that draw on resources from the oceans and outer space will receive $344,000 in funding from the Australian Government. Two industry collaborations, led through National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), will be supported by the grant. The first project, to be delivered by the newly formed Australia Remote Operations for Space and … Continue reading Federal funding announced for new NERA projects →

The Queensland government has announced that joint venture partners Australian Pacific LNG and Armour Energy have been granted a petroleum lease near Chinchilla in south-west Queensland, with the gas produced to be directed to local manufacturing operations. State mines minister Anthony Lyndham said the lease would help boost east coast gas supplies and help secure … Continue reading Newly leased Qld gas field to supply local manufacturers →

A new report by Energy Quest, prepared on behalf of the NSW Business Chamber, highlights that the Illawarra will face gas shortages if supplies are not increased. Titled “Running on Empty”, the report investigates forecasts from the Australian Energy Market Operator, and how they will apply to regions such as the Illawarra. “Illawarra gas users … Continue reading Gas supplies cut into Illawarra manufacturing: NSW Business Chamber →

The Australian Energy Market Coordinator (AEMC) has sought industry feedback on how regulations for a new energy market can protect consumers. The AEMC forecasts that with new technologies and the take-up of renewables, the distinction between consumers and producers of electricity will break down, and a two-sided market will emerge. “Technology is moving us towards … Continue reading AEMC seeks feedback on energy rules →

A Queensland munitions factory has benefited from the state government’s $9 million investment for improved energy supply and connection. The Rheinmetall NIOA Munitions (RNM) factory faced a challenging energy environment, due to its complex energy needs, noted Minister for State Development and Manufacturing Cameron Dick. “We worked with Ergon Energy and RNM to best understand … Continue reading Munitions factory energised by state government funding →

A change to the national electricity market proposes that large electricity users could be paid for cutting their energy use. Connor Pearce reports on how this will affect manufacturers. Over the past five years, Australia has experienced a revolution, almost unlike anything the country has seen before. As Australia’s fleet of coal-fired power stations reach … Continue reading Powerful demands →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will develop a roadmap for bioenergy to be utilised in the decarbonisation of the Australian industrial sector. The roadmap will be developed after Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, asked ARENA to look into how bioenergy could enable Australia to have a competitive advantage in the transition … Continue reading ARENA to set national bioenergy strategy →

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), along with allied unions, released a joint report on November 8, outlining how workers previously employed by the fossil fuel industries can be redeployed into renewable energy. With offshore wind testing occurring off the coast of Victoria, the report noted the need to support the renewable energy sector to … Continue reading Manufacturing union joins call for just transition →

The first pilot project for the mass creation of hydrogen from coal for export has broken ground in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria. Conducted by a consortium of Japanese industry heavyweights, including Kawasaki Heavy Industry, J-Power, Iwatani Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, and Marubeni Corporation, the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) pilot, will lay the groundwork for a … Continue reading First test for hydrogen to provide new export energy source →

Duelling proposals for cutting energy prices have squared off at the AFR National Energy Summit. Speaking at the two-day event, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, outlined he saw a heightened need to focus on investing in dispatchable energy, with the rise of intermittent energy generation from wind and solar. Taylor proposed that … Continue reading Visions of a reliable energy future →

Coming to the stage for the last session of any summit is a hard task, and after a packed day of speeches and panels at the National Manufacturing Summit, the job of Jim Stanford, director of the Centre for Future Work at the Australia Institute, was no easier. His task? Wake Australia up to the … Continue reading More than luck: making the most of our lithium endowment →

With the federal government announcing measures to reduce the price of electricity and gas for industrial consumers, the manufacturing industry confronts a number of alternate pathways to a green energy future. Connor Pearce reports. When the federal government announced on August 6 that is was going to act to reduce gas prices across Australia, a … Continue reading Flicking the switch to a powered manufacturing sector →

Atlassian founder Mike Cannon-Brookes has announced he will look into personally funding a future Australian steel manufacturing sector, driven by renewable hydrogen. Outlining his investment in a $25 billion solar farm in northern Australia and a cable to connect the energy to Singapore, Cannon-Brookes highlighted that the energy produced by the solar panels could be … Continue reading Mike Cannon-Brookes looks to solar-powered steel →

A solar-powered microgrid will provide electrical energy for industry at the Peel Business Park in Nambeelup, Western Australia. Built by a consortium led by Enwave Australia, the project will be Australia’s first ever industrial renewable energy microgrid. The solar farm will be supported by a battery to provide constant power to the 120 hectare lot. … Continue reading WA industrial park powered by solar microgrid →

Hydrogen’s potential to compliment traditional energy sources is getting greener, with gas company BOC to produce green hydrogen from renewable energy at its Bulwer Island gas facility in Brisbane. Using existing industrial gas equipment and infrastructure, the project will utilise a 220kW electrolyser and a 100kW solar array to manufacture 2400 kg of renewable hydrogen … Continue reading Queensland invests in green hydrogen for vehicles and industrial supply →

Small manufacturing businesses will be able to lower their energy costs with a new tool from the federal government. The Business Energy Advice Program (BEAP) provides businesses with a personalised energy advice service and an online tool to identify where the business can trim their energy bill. For businesses with 6-20 employees, the NSW Business … Continue reading New tool to cut energy bills →