Researchers from Deakin University in Victoria have announced a breakthrough in the development of new polymer electrolyte chemistries that they believe could pave the way for a safer and cheaper alternative to current lithium-ion battery energy storage technologies.

The Australian government’s green bank has extended its collaboration with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, committing up to $200 million as part of a clean energy asset purchasing program to help Australian businesses invest in energy efficient and renewable technologies to cut costs and reduce emissions.

Australian renewables company Wave Swell Energy says the time has come for wave power to sit alongside wind, solar and energy storage as part of a modern energy mix after a 12-month trial of its technology in the seas of Bass Strait produced an average rate of conversion from ocean energy to electricity of up to 50%.

Construction has commenced on what will be Western Australia’s biggest battery energy storage system with the first of the battery units installed for the 100 MW/200 MWh Kwinana Big Battery being built at the site of the decommissioned Kwinana Power Station near Perth.

Frontier Energy’s plans to produce green hydrogen powered by renewable energy sourced from the potential 500 MW Bristol Springs Solar project it is developing in Western Australia has received a major boost with a study revealing the cost of hydrogen production could be as low as $2.85 per kilogram.

Queensland’s publicly-owned energy generator and retailer CleanCo has inked a long-term deal to supply shopping centre major Scentre Group with 100% renewable electricity for its Westfield centres across the state from 2025.

The story of recent times in Australia’s National Electricity Market has been the significant escalation of wholesale price outcomes in the market.

New South Wales is a step closer to adding another big battery to its network with Greenspot securing planning approval from state government authorities for a massive 500 MW/1,000 MWh grid-connected battery to be developed at the site of the defunct coal-fired Wallerawang Power Station near Lithgow.

The Australian Capital Territory government has unveiled plans to phase out the use of fossil gas by 2045 at the latest and move the market towards a net zero emissions future by “electrifying Canberra with renewable electricity over the next two decades”.

New South Wales has given the green light for another large-scale solar PV and battery project with German-owned renewable energy developer Wirsol Energy announcing it has secured amended development approval for a 445 MW solar and energy storage hybrid power plant in the state’s central west.