Bella Peacock
Australia opens applications for $2 billion green hydrogen support program
Australia’s federal hydrogen support program has now opened to applications after this process was expedited – likely in response to concerns Australia is rapidly losing ground in the hydrogen race.
‘Haven’t seen anything like this’: fire crews called to thermal energy storage pilot plant
Thermal energy storage startup MGA Thermal had fire crews called to its demonstration plant in Tomargo, north of Sydney after the company’s pilot unit overheated. “We haven’t seen anything like this before,” Scott Dodson from Fire and Rescue NSW said.
Brookfield’s $18 billion bid for Origin approved by ACCC
Australia’s antitrust watchdog has approved Brookfield’s takeover bid for Origin Energy, clearing the way for shareholders to vote on one of Australia’s largest recent corporate buyouts.
Two million more workers needed to enable Australia’s energy transition, government report finds
Australia will need a 40% increase in workers in building and engineering trades by 2050 to enable the energy transition, a new report from the Australian government says.
Fortescue ‘lead investor’ in US$1 billion electrolyser startup, signs 1 GW supply deal
Fortescue has become a “lead investor” in, and signed a 1 GW supply deal with, US-startup Electric Hydrogen, or EH2. Fortescue, which is pursuing both green hydrogen projects and electrolyser manufacturing, says EH2’s systems produce hydrogen at “transformational” low cost.
Octopus Australia acquires Queensland’s largest battery proposal, the 1 GWh Blackstone battery
Renewables player Octopus Investments Australia, a subsidiary of UK-based Octopus Group, has purchased Queensland’s largest battery project, the 500 MW / 1 GWh Blackstone project just outside of Brisbane.
‘Pretty crazy’: Queensland’s solar + storage payback periods plunge
Solar payback periods worsened in Australia between 2020 and 2022, but have now turned a corner, data from analyst Sunwiz illustrates. Queensland has seen the most remarkable journey, with payback periods for residential solar and storage falling from 10 to 6.6 years within 12 months.
ClearVue’s next-gen ‘solar window’ tested in Singapore
Western Australian solar window company ClearVue Technologies has completed third-party testing with the Singapore Building and Construction Authority, saying the results illustrate strong thermal and energy outcomes.
WA ushers in major reforms to support transition on its main island grid
A package of major regulatory and market reforms designed to support Western Australia’s energy transformation have gone live. The changes relate to the state’s main islanded grid, known as the SWIS.
600 MW solar farm in Central Queensland finally secures approval
Developer Edify Energy has had its 600 MW Smoky Creek solar farm in Central Queensland approved by the federal government.
