Sustainability

The decarbonisation of mining operations continues to find support with a new report showing that an all-electric underground fleet for the Cosmos nickel project in Western Australia would be technically feasible and cost competitive with the existing all-diesel operating fleet that was planned.

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that the world could miss out on a target of 11,000 GW of global renewables capacity by the end of the decade, as agreed at COP28. It also predicts that solar will become the world’s largest source of installed renewable capacity, surpassing hydropower.

Australian miner Liontown Resources has flicked the switch on one of the largest off-grid renewable energy hybrid power stations in Australia with the solar, wind and battery energy storage system helping to power operations at its $895 million Kathleen Valley Lithium Project in Western Australia.

Climate change advisory and investment firm Pollination Group has launched a $150 million venture capital fund to invest in early-stage tech companies in Australia aimed at facilitating the renewable energy transition.

The Clean Energy Council has launched a new report, The Future of Long-Duration Energy Storage, exploring emerging technologies capable of firming renewables in the wake of coal-fired power generation closures.

Queensland businesses can now apply for up to $10 million funding for large-scale recycling projects that tackle commercial and industrial waste and provide recovery solutions for renewable energy technologies, including end-of-life solar panels and batteries.

Clean energy technology company Enosi Energy has entered into a first of its kind initiative with real estate investment business EG Funds using a matched energy supply agreement to bulk up renewable energy used by Sydney commercial properties.

United Kingdom-based solar and energy storage developer Elements Green is seeking to develop one of Australia’s largest renewables projects with its application for a 696 MW solar farm and 1,332 MWh battery energy storage system lodged with the federal government for assessment.

International beverage company Suntory Oceania has started work on a 3.2 MW rooftop solar install that will help power its new $400 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Queensland.

Australia’s first large-scale solar and big battery storage installation – the Lakeland project in far north Queensland – has been placed on the sales block with MPower announcing it will use the proceeds to further expand its portfolio of PV and battery storage projects.