Australia’s critical minerals strategy released, includes no major policy schemes nor onshoring action plan
Australia’s federal government has released its anticipated Critical Minerals Strategy, and while the document decisively flags industry imperatives and challenges, the plan of action and policy solutions are far more hazy.
Bslbatt unveils 100-mm batteries for rooftop solar
China’s Bslbatt says its new batteries have 10.24 kWh of storage capacity and a nominal voltage of 51.2 V. It measures 700 mm x 980 mm and is 100 mm thick.
CSIRO tests semi-transparent solar film at greenhouses to enhance growth conditions
The CSIRO has run an internal ‘Shark Tank’-style competition which will see it test semi-transparent, printed solar films at its greenhouses to assess whether the technology can be used to enhance crops’ growth and cut emissions.
Flywheel mechanical battery with 32 kWh of storage installed in WA property
Sydney company Key Energy has installed a three-phase flywheel energy storage system at a residence east of Perth, WA. The 8 kW / 32 kWh system was installed over two days in an above-ground enclosure, dramatically cutting the time needed to install the flywheel system.
Neoen wins WA’s Collie big battery tender, moves into long-duration storage market
French renewables developer Neoen has won a 197 MW / 4-hour duration storage contract with AEMO. The contract pertains to the Collie big battery in WA’s south west, with Stage 1 to be operating commercially by October 2024.
AGL unveils three new big batteries as part of 12 GW decarbonisation strategy
Energy generating and retailing giant AGL has added three new grid-scale batteries and a 200 MW solar farm to its development pipeline as it looks to accelerate the transition of its energy portfolio from high-emission coal-fired power generation to backed-up renewables.
China polysilicon prices in freefall
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, OPIS, a Dow Jones company, provides a quick look at the main price trends in the global PV industry.
SolarEdge unveils bidirectional EV charger
SolarEdge’s new bidirectional DC-coupled electric-vehicle (EV) charger enables vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid applications and can seamlessly integrate with its home energy systems. It is scheduled for release in the second half of 2024.
Weekend read: Solar recycling’s glass ceiling and other problems
The insolvency of a major Australian solar recycler has highlighted the complexity of remodelling a linear-thinking industry and society into a circular one, reports pv magazine Australia’s Bella Peacock.
Sunshot gets state backing to deliver Queensland renewable energy zone
The Ross Garnaut-led Sunshot Industries will develop and deliver a renewable energy industrial precinct in central western Queensland which will be linked to large-scale wind and solar projects and provide manufacturing tenants with competitive low-carbon electricity.
