Renewable Energy

Energy Minister Bill Johnston and the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River have begun a five-year trial of community battery storage in Margaret River. Located at the Margaret River Recreation Centre, the 464-kilowatt hour Tesla battery will improve power quality for the local community and allow more homes to install solar panels. The battery will sit inside … Continue reading WA government launches battery trial at Margaret River →

Rail manufacturer Alstom is the first manufacturer in its sector to commit to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) on the sidelines of the COP25 meeting of climate and environment ministers. The SBTi brings together large companies to reduce carbon emissions. The program is managed by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the World … Continue reading Major manufacturers commit to reducing carbon emissions →

Multinational battery manufacturer Alpha-ESS has increased its production in South Australia, with the aim to double its production by 2020. At its assembly site in Lonsdale, the China-headquartered company will produce 500 battery systems per month for the rest of 2019, with production to hit 1000 systems a month next year. “As one of the … Continue reading SA steps up battery manufacture →

Work towards developing a hydrogen industry in Western Australia is now able to gain support from the $10 million Renewable Hydrogen Fund. Projects which range from feasibility studies, demonstration, or capital works are able to apply for grants for between $300,000 to $3m. “Renewable hydrogen could be the next big job-creating industry for Western Australia, … Continue reading Grants to develop hydrogen strategy in WA →

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 →

Steel manufacturer Molycop has signed a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with energy retailer Flow Power. Using energy from the Bomen Solar Farm and the Sapphire Wind Farm, both of which are located in NSW, the manufacturer will have more than half of its energy needs met by these two renewable projects. The Sapphire Wind … Continue reading Steel manufacturer offloads electricity to renewables →

During the sessions of the Clean Energy Council’s Australian Clean Energy Summit 2019, at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Sydney, across two days and numerous panel sessions, the consensus was clear, clean energy is here, and now is the time to get onboard. According to Robyn Denholm, chairman at Tesla, we are “at the tipping … Continue reading The clean energy transition is here – but how are manufacturers affected? →

Solar manufacturers and those involved in the construction of solar farms have a new guideline in Victoria. The planning guidelines will apply to large-scale solar farms, and cover decision makers, solar farm developers, and communities. The document, “Solar Energy Facilities – Design and Development Guideline”, was the product of nine months of development and consultation, … Continue reading Guideline to create certainty in Victorian solar energy →

On either side of Australia, announcements on July 18 and 19 pointed towards the growth of hydrogen as a potential energy source for local and international consumption. In Western Australia, the WA government launched its Renewable Hydrogen Strategy while opening Canadian energy company ATCO’s Clean Energy Innovation Hub in Jandakot, south of Perth. The Western … Continue reading Hydrogen’s potential as an energy source continues to expand →

Wind turbines made in Australia have begun to be built for the Berrybank Wind Farm. The project is worth $276 million and will be built by Spanish firm Global Power Generation (Naturgy Energy Group) with assembly and manufacture carried out in Victoria. The farm will involve 213 construction jobs as well as 24 apprenticeships. The … Continue reading Wind turbines in Victoria support regional manufacturing jobs →

In a recent report, climate change think tank, Beyond Zero Emissions, outlined how manufacturing can benefit from renewable energy investment in the Northern Territory (NT). The report pointed towards opportunities for manufacturers who seek to power their operations with renewable energy is one of these opportunities, as is the potential to reduce the cost of … Continue reading Renewable energy to drive potential for manufacturing jobs in NT →

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the University of British Colombia (UBC) have announced a Memorandum of Understanding in response to Mission Innovation’s Renewable and Clean Hydrogen Innovation Challenge. Mission Innovation is made up of more than 23 countries and the European Commission working to accelerate clean energy innovation through research, development, … Continue reading CSIRO partners with Canada for climate change initiative →

Ascham has become one of the first New South Wales schools to sign onto a Corporate Renewable Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with business energy retailer Flow Power. Under Flow Power’s PPA, Ascham School aims to be powered by more than 90 per cent renewable energy. The NSW school will be powered by a combination of … Continue reading NSW school pioneers with corporate PPA →

A team of University of Queensland researchers will join forces with 40 other organisations to form a new cooperative research centre (CRC), set to improve offshore renewable energy production. The Blue Economy CRC is a $329 million research project that combines seafood, renewable energy and offshore engineering for the first time. It is underpinned by a $70m … Continue reading Research centre to improve renewable energy production and offshore engineering →

New analysis from business energy retailer Flow Power reveals that businesses signed onto its corporate renewable Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) product secured total savings of up to $14m since the start of 2018. The analysis highlights the significant opportunity for businesses to drive down energy expenditure, while benefiting from the long-term nature of these contracts, … Continue reading Businesses unlock $14m windfall from corporate renewable PPAs →

For companies that are large users of electricity (generally over 100 MWh/yr), it is likely that they are paying a hefty charge for peak demand, according to the Ecoefficiency Group. The group explained that every time a light or a piece of equipment is switched on it creates a demand for electricity. There is also … Continue reading Managing peak demand charges helps large energy users →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and TasNetworks have released a report on the feasibility study for a second interconnector that could form a key part of Australia’s future energy network. With $10 million of funding committed from ARENA, TasNetworks is investigating how a second Bass Strait interconnector – proposed to be called ‘Marinus Link’ … Continue reading New energy project in Tasmania key part of Australia’s future network →

The Snowy Hydro scheme has been approved in a bid to force energy prices down and make power more reliable for Australian businesses and families. On February 26, prime minister Scott Morrison visited Tumut in southern NSW to announce the approval, with early works on the project now beginning. “Snowy 2.0 will inject the energy … Continue reading Snowy Hydro scheme goes ahead to bring low-cost, reliable energy →

Queensland has a new publicly-owned generator that uses all renewable energy. Energy Minister Anthony Lynham said the generator will help drive down energy prices and support even more jobs in the renewable sector. “CleanCo will be fully operating with its own generation assets this year and that means more jobs for more Queenslanders. “This third, publicly-owned generator will help to increase electricity supply, driving … Continue reading CleanCo: Queensland’s newest electricity generator →

UNSW Sydney’s $3m deal with Providence Asset Group (PAG) will accelerate research into reliable energy networks and fund a new centre supporting global development of renewables markets. The deal is part of a 10-year commitment to joint research and collaboration in sustainable energy technologies. PAG has made an initial investment of $500,000 to support renewables technology research at … Continue reading UNSW development of renewables markets powered by $3m deal →