Markets & Policy

Battery technology company Lithium Australia’s 100%-owned subsidiary Envirostream is seeking to scale up its battery recycling efforts, signing an updated agreement with South Korean manufacturer LG Energy Solution in a move that could deliver 770 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries for recycling.

Adelaide-headquartered renewable energy gen-tailer Zen Energy will build South Australia’s second-largest battery energy storage system in a move expected to boost the reliability of electricity supply as the state gallops towards its 100% renewable energy target.

Perth-based resources company Australian Vanadium Limited has executed another element of its planned ‘pit to battery’ strategy, producing the first battery-ready vanadium electrolyte at its new manufacturing facility in Western Australia.

Chinese solar manufacturer Longi has responded to recent media reports claiming that it might cut 30% of its global workforce.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) released a new report on the sidelines of the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue this week describing the actions needed so the world complies with targets set at the recent COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates. IRENA President Francesco La Camera says renewables are the only energy sources with the speed and scale to achieve the ambitious targets set in Dubai.

Singapore-headquartered renewable energy infrastructure developer Metis Energy has reached financial completion and pressed go for construction to start on the 94 MW Gunsynd Solar Farm being developed in southwest Queensland.

Plans to develop a $3 billion green hydrogen and ammonia project in the far north of Western Australia have been boosted with the federal government tipping in more than $1.6 million to support a feasibility study that will explore the potential of the giga-scale project.

A team of Australian researchers has designed a new catalyst that has the potential to deliver a new generation of lithium-sulfur batteries that are capable of being charged in less than five minutes, instead of several hours as is currently the case.

Western Australian government-owned utility Synergy has commenced construction of its third grid-scale battery as the state government looks to ramp up energy storage capacity to support its planned transition from coal-fired power generation to renewables.

The Victorian state government has reported a record uptake of hot water rebates and has announced an expansion of this program. Meanwhile, six projects have been given funding to deliver 25 neighbourhood batteries across 20 towns.