February 2022

South Australia has found itself at the heart of a 21st century gold rush, though this time for naturally occurring hydrogen. Since February 2021, 18 exploration licenses have been granted or applied for in the state by six different companies searching for natural hydrogen.

Western Australian ocean energy company Bombora Wave Power has received an investment of $6.74 million to deliver its pilot projects and commercialise its technology from one of the world’s largest shipping companies, Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

Researchers in Portugal have tested how vanadium redox flow batteries can be integrated with rooftop PV to balance the system load to ensure firm power output. They proposed a 5 kW/60 kWh battery configuration for a 6.7 kW building-integrated PV microgrid. According to their findings, the battery can be used in different energy management strategy scenarios to better complement solar photovoltaic generation.

U.S. researchers have investigated how rooftop PV systems may affect air and building temperature in urban environments and, conversely, how the urban heat island (UHI) effect may have a negative impact on PV system performance. Their work considered urban air temperature, urban air pollution, the partial shading of the PV system, soiling, building heating and cooling loads, and outdoor shade.

U.S.-based hydrogen vehicle maker Hyzon has announced Melbourne will soon be home to its Australian headquarters as part of a newly formed partnership with RACV, which will see the pair develop a purpose-built facility for Hyzon out of RACV’s Noble Park operation in the city’s south east.