Strategic Alliances

Rio Tinto has joined a group of industrial heavyweights including Equinor, Amazon and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as investors in United States-based renewable hydrogen start-up Electric Hydrogen which plans to build green hydrogen production facilities at scale for industrial and infrastructure applications.

Queensland government-owned generator CS Energy has announced plans to build the largest grid-scale battery in the state at Greenbank in Brisbane’s outer southern suburbs. The 200 MW/400 MWh project will be delivered in partnership with Queensland network operator Powerlink.

United States-based solar power developer VivoPower International has secured its largest solar contract to date with Australian subsidiary J.A. Martin Electrical appointed to complete the electrical works for the 204 MWdc Edenvale Solar Farm being developed on Queensland’s Western Downs.

Australian solar and battery optimization technology provider Evergen will seek to accelerate its expansion in both the domestic and international markets after closing a $15 million fundraising round led by FRV-X, a division of Saudi-owned energy developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures.

Australian renewables developer Energy Estate is seeking to raise more than $500 million to support its development activities and bankroll the construction of renewable power plants in both Australia and New Zealand.

In aviation news, Qantas has announced a partnership with Airbus to invest up to $285 million to establish a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia. Meanwhile, startup Aviation H2 says it is in the process of acquiring test engines it will modify to run on hydrogen, which are due to arrive in the next five weeks.

Australian gentailer Snowy Hydro has signed a power purchasing agreement with CWP Renewables for its biggest wind farm, currently in development in New South Wales.

Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen has declared Australia is “under new management” and determined to “unleash private investment” in new clean energy projects, urging the sector to take advantage of the opportunities available in the renewable energy market.

Australian solar thermal specialist Vast Solar has partnered with storage development company 1414 Degrees to revive the long-awaited Aurora Solar Energy Project – which is to comprise a combination of solar thermal, PV, and battery energy storage technologies – at Port Augusta in South Australia.

Oil and gas giant BP will take a 40.5% stake in the 26 GW Asian Renewable Energy Hub megaproject proposed for Western Australia’s north coast.