Australia’s largest renewable energy zone is one step closer to fruition with the New South Wales Government calling for registrations of interest from developers of solar PV, wind and energy storage projects.

The Smart Energy Council’s Zero Carbon Certification Scheme continues to gain traction with ammonia producer Yara the latest to sign on as a founding partner as it seeks to guarantee the green credentials of its products for customers both here and overseas.

Tesla has revealed it expects to spend more than $1 billion a year on raw materials from Australia for its batteries but the electric vehicles giant said the nation has the chance to secure a much more lucrative slice of the global supply chain as the world transitions to renewable energy.

Victoria is accelerating plans to carve out a share of the evolving global hydrogen market, calling for Expressions of Interest from parties keen to play a role in the newly launched Greater Geelong Hydrogen Technology Cluster.

Australian electric vehicle charging company Tritium has sealed a $1.55 billion merger deal with a United States-based special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) which will see it publicly listed on the Nasdaq.

Oil and gas giant Woodside Energy is exploring a move into large-scale solar PV, floating plans to develop a 100 MW solar plant alongside its Pluto liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

The Queensland Government is doubling down on its renewable energy strategy, announcing the state’s largest battery is soon to be connected to the grid and unveiling plans to build a large-scale standalone battery alongside the coal-fired Tarong Power Station.

Australian software firm Dug Technology has revealed its ambition to build the “world’s first” carbon-free data centre powered by renewable energy in Western Australia’s coastal city of Geraldton.

A national motoring body has called on the Federal Government to “provide leadership”, declaring the rollout of electric vehicles in Australia is facing significant roadblocks.

Renewable energy developers in Australia have turned their attention to energy storage with the level of investment in utility-scale batteries skyrocketing by more than 300% in the past three months but that has been offset by a worrying decline in the number of large-scale solar PV and wind projects reaching financial close.