A new study from the Australian National University shows that a series of pumped storage projects currently in the pipeline across five states could triple Australia’s electricity storage capacity, and pave the way for more solar and wind.

In what is described as Australian first climate bond, which gives investors access to new ways to invest in solar and storage, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has contributed $10 million towards the latest of FlexiGroup’s green bond issuances. The inclusion of energy storage in the underlying asset base is viewed as an important market development.

The South Korean solar module maker has filed another claim with the Federal Court of Australia against Norwegian solar manufacturer REC Group, as well as PV distributors BayWa r.e. Solar Systems and Sol Distribution, for distributing products that allegedly infringe on its patents.

While renewables continue to do their bit on decarbonizing the energy sector, national emissions, especially in the transport sector, continue to rise amid a lack of any federal or state government limits, The Australia Institute warns. Total renewable supply, including rooftop solar, is at 21.2% of generation from all sources across the NEM, eating into the share once firmly held by coal and gas.

One of the Gold Coast’s most iconic pieces of infrastructure, the Sand Bypass System, will soon welcome a 100 kW solar array as part of a pilot project aimed at reducing operational costs.

The study will evaluate the direct production of cathode powders from mica feed material sourced from mining operations, eliminating the need for cobalt and nickel.

Toyota Australia will transform its former manufacturing site in West Melbourne into a renewable energy hub to produce green hydrogen with the help of funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). In other hydrogen-related news, researchers at UNSW Sydney with partners H2Store have received a $3.5 million investment from Providence Asset Group to develop a hydrogen residential storage.

The U.S.-based engineering firm has announced its entry into Australia with an office in Brisbane.

A 30 kW vertical array has powered up at Australia’s Casey research station in Antarctica. The project is one the largest solar installations on the southernmost, ice-covered continent.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place last Friday at the Chinese PV module maker’s utility-scale PV project in Western Australia’s wheatbelt region.