British energy giant BP’s plans to build one of the world’s largest renewable energy and green hydrogen hubs in remote Western Australia has received a significant boost with the state government allocating land that supports the development of the proposed 26 GW project.

Australian miner Core Lithium has made the transition to lithium producer with 15,000 tonnes of unprocessed ore from its Finniss mine in the Northern Territory now heading to China where it will be converted into materials for the global renewable energy storage and electric vehicle markets.

Construction has started on France-headquartered renewable energy developer Neoen’s fifth grid-scale battery in Australia with contractors commencing work on the 200 MW/400 MWh Blyth Battery storage system in South Australia’s mid-north.

The New South Wales government aims to “turbocharge” the state’s transition from coal and gas to a renewables-based grid with a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70% in little more than a decade on the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050.

New Zealand generation company Lodestone Energy has commenced early construction works on the first of five utility-scale solar farms it intends to develop across the nation’s upper North Island at a cost of $285.5 million (USD 191.5 million).

Researchers from the University of New South Wales have been tapped to work with European space enterprise Airbus Defence and Space on a strategic research program to fast track the development of high-efficiency solar cells to be used in space.

Almost one in three Australian households have solar panels on their roofs. Most are motivated by rising electricity prices and environmental concerns. Households are paid a so-called feed-in tariff for surplus energy they export to the grid.

The New South Wales government has declared the Illawarra region on the state’s south coast is set to become a renewable energy and clean manufacturing powerhouse after outlining plans for a coordinated renewable energy zone that will deliver at least 1 GW of new network capacity as the state transitions from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

Australia is well-positioned to be a global leader in green hydrogen production. Green hydrogen is produced using a renewable power source such as solar or wind. As a substitute for fossil fuels, it will help to meet growing renewable energy needs.

Danish investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners has sharpened its focus on long-duration storage in Australia, announcing it has acquired the proposed Bowen Renewable Energy Hub project that is expected to combine 1.4 GW of pumped hydro storage with huge solar and wind generation.