Among the many similarities between California and Australia, both are impacted by bushfires and climate change, and both are home to larger cars and trucks than is the norm in developed countries. They are dissimilar, though, when it comes to electric vehicles and vehicle regulations. While California has been pursuing low-carbon and electric vehicles for decades, Australia has trailed most developed nations.

American investment behemoth BlackRock has agreed to acquire New Zealand rooftop solar PV and battery energy storage specialist SolarZero as part of its push into renewable energy in the Asia Pacific region.

The Australian arm of French renewable energy developer Neoen has lodged an application to build a 1000 MW /4000 MWh big battery in Western Australia as the state government looks to ramp up energy storage capacity to support its planned transition from coal-fired power to renewables.

Australia’s ambitions to become a major player in global green hydrogen production and trade have received a boost with a new report from Geoscience Australia confirming the potential for large-scale, underground storage of hydrogen in salt caverns across the country.

The decarbonisation of Australia’s electricity grid continues with the Australian arm of global renewable energy developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures confirming the 115 MW Metz Solar Farm in New South Wales has achieved commercial operation status and is now generating at 100% of its capacity.

A crucial outcome of Australia’s jobs summit earlier this month was the commitment to review programs aimed at boosting the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.

Australian battery minerals company Liontown Resources will install what is shaping to be the nation’s largest off-grid renewable energy hybrid power station at its $545 million Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia, allowing the mine to be powered by 100% on-site renewables during periods of high wind and solar resource.

The New South Wales government’s plans to develop a renewable energy zone in the state’s central west is one step closer to fruition following the release of the scoping report for the transmission infrastructure required to connect at least 3 GW of new renewable energy generation capacity to the grid.

German investment management company Aquila Capital has expanded its Antipodean asset base, inking a deal to buy a 220 MW/440 MWh portfolio of battery energy storage projects in South Australia from Spanish renewables developed Gransolar Group.

Transmission network operator Transgrid is counting on technology developed in the United States to increase the capacity for the bidirectional flow of energy between Australia’s most populous states with works on the Victoria to New South Wales Interconnector upgrade project nearing completion.