energy

In light of rising energy prices, questionable security and ever-changing policies, some manufacturers are turning to renewables to ensure reliable production, writes Stephanie Stefanovic. As energy prices continue to soar, manufacturers are increasingly being pushed out of Australia. The Federal government seems to believe reducing wholesale gas prices is the answer, with Prime Minister Malcolm … Continue reading Renewables light the way to success in manufacturing →

Telstra has reportedly seen its power costs increase by $100 million in the past year, with a senior executive calling on Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos for urgent action to address Australia’s energy crisis. This follows a recent decision by the Federal Court to increase NSW electricity prices by $3 billion over the next few years, on … Continue reading Telstra’s power costs up $100m; company calls for price correction →

The Turnbull Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), has taken the next step in the development of a solar thermal plant at Port Augusta in South Australia. ARENA has requested information from prospective industry participants on the costs and benefits of Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST). This information will help ARENA and the Clean Energy … Continue reading Next step taken in solar thermal development →

The Federal Court has handed down a decision that will increase electricity prices for NSW customers by around $3 billion. According to environment and energy minister Josh Frydenberg, this reaffirms the Turnbull Government’s position of wanting to abolish the Limited Merits Review (LMR) process to stop network businesses gaming the system. The Australian Energy Regulator … Continue reading Electricity prices to increase $3b for NSW consumers →

With the right technology, homeowners and businesses with solar and battery storage systems have the potential to play a vital role in stabilising a grid with high renewable generation, according to Luke Osborne, chief operations officer for Reposit Power. By integrating innovative software with solar battery systems, Reposit Power helps customers who invest in these … Continue reading Solar battery storage ‘vital for energy market’ →

A University of Adelaide (UoA) researcher is proposing Australia use a “climate sharing system” to help solve the current power crisis. The architect of the system, Professor Mike Young, is Professor of Environmental and Water Policy with UoA’s Centre for Global Food and Resources. He played a leading role in creating Australia’s water sharing system, … Continue reading Climate sharing system could end Australia’s power crisis →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will be conducting a three year pilot in South Australia and Victoria to temporarily free up energy supply during extreme weather and unplanned outages. The pilot demand response initiative will aim to trial 100 megawatts of demand response capacity by this December, with the potential for demand response to … Continue reading ARENA conducting energy security tests →

Victorian Manufacturing Awards 2017 was presented in the Crown Palladium and rewarded the best Manufacturers in small, medium and large businesses. The theme for the event was centred around Australia’s drive towards growing advanced manufacturing – a concept that is gaining traction among many Australian manufacturers, especially the SMEs. The opening keynote address by Jake … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing to be a focus: Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards 2017 →

Esso Australia has announced the completion of its Longford Gas Conditioning Plant, which processes gas from the Kipper Tuna Turrum development. This marks the conclusion of the $5.5 billion Kipper Tuna Turrum project. Located in Longford, Victoria, the Kipper Tuna Turrum gas fields and conditioning plant will process 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to … Continue reading Esso completes new gas conditioning plant →

From July this year, there will be a significant increase in wholesale electricity prices for NSW. This has sparked fears that the cost of doing business in the state will be so high that manufacturers will be forced out. While NSW wholesale electricity prices were stable for a number of years, prices have increased by … Continue reading Rising wholesale electricity prices will threaten NSW businesses →

South Australia has reached its renewable energy target of 50 per cent almost eight years ahead of schedule. The state has already surpassed its target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2025, reaching 53 per cent from 2016-2017. In 2014, this figure was 36 per cent. “I am pleased that South Australia is leading … Continue reading SA reaches 50 per cent renewable energy target 8 years early →

Kingspan Insulation has announced the opening of its insulation manufacturing facility at Somerton in Melbourne. The $40 million factory is the first Green Star-rated manufacturing facility in Australia, aiming to support production entirely through renewable energy. With the opening of the Melbourne plant, Kingspan will not only be able to supply products to Australia, but it … Continue reading Australia’s first Green Star-rated factory opens in Victoria →

A $1 billion solar farm and battery storage project is soon to be built in South Australia’s Riverland region. The system will include 3.4 million solar panels and 1.1 million batteries, making it the biggest of its kind, according to battery storage developer Lyon Group. Construction is due to begin in the next few months, … Continue reading SA to house world’s biggest solar farm and battery storage project →

Rising energy costs and lack of reliable supply are threatening to push Australia’s red meat processing offshore. The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) is currently conducting a survey of its members to determine the scale of the problem and help create an energy policy for the industry. According to AMIC’s Robert Barker, affordable and reliable … Continue reading Energy costs threaten Australia’s biggest manufacturing industry →

Epson is expanding its range of SCARA (selective compliance assembly robot arm) robots with the launch of its T series of robots that will offer a low total cost of ownership (TCO). The T3, the first product in the series, has recently been released, with a gradual rollout in other regions to follow. The T3 … Continue reading Low-TCO SCARA robots →

A team of scientists from Edith Cowan University has developed what they say is the world’s first commercially viable clear solar glass. Referred to as energy-harvesting clear glass, the technology has been developed by a team of researchers from the Electron Science Research Institute (ESRI) at Edith Cowan University, in collaboration with Perth-based company ClearVue … Continue reading Perth team producing world’s only clear solar glass →

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has warned that Victoria could face 72 days of power supply shortfalls over the next two years, following the shutdown of the Hazelwood plant next week. According to AEMO, the shutdown of the Hazelwood plant, which supplies up to a quarter of Victoria’s power, could lead to breaches of … Continue reading Victoria warned of 72 days of potential blackouts →

Australian energy solutions company Cool or Cosy has bought Tindo, Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer.  Cool or Cosy CEO Glenn Morelli has plans to expand Tindo’s Mawson Lakes factory. According to Morelli, a 400 square metre expansion will create at least ten more jobs and significantly increase manufacturing capacity.  The CEO has also expressed interest … Continue reading Cool or Cosy acquires solar panel manufacturer Tindo →

Over the past few decades, the manufacturing industry has undergone numerous major upheavals. Right now, we are witnessing the dawning of the next era with Industry 4.0, boosted in Asia by China’s recently announced China 2020 vision, in which they outlined plans to adopt new technologies and industries, marking a shift away from traditional manufacturing, … Continue reading The dawn of the new industrial era with the smart factory →

Australian industry has backed AGL’s $300 million plan to import Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) into NSW & Victoria from Western Australia, according to The Australian Financial Review. The plan comes as manufacturers and industry have complained about increasing gas prices and concerns that too much of Australia’s local supply of gas is being exported. The … Continue reading Australian industry backs AGL gas plan →