Solar-powered synthetic kerosene could be vital bridge to zero-emission flying
A study of the investment and innovation needed to achieve the European Green Deal’s aviation ambitions has highlighted the key role that synthetic fuel can play until hydrogen and electric flights become a reality.
Weekend read: Islands in the sun
Islandable microgrids are a growing niche, especially in remote regions at the end of electricity networks or parts of the world prone to natural disasters and outages. Renewably powered microgrids can provide a community with more stability and operate independently, so vulnerable regions are not reliant on distant sources of generation, as was the case during Australia’s Black Summer bushfires of 2019-20, when communities were left powerless. From California to Australia’s southern coast, the study and deployment of microgrids is on the rise. pv magazine’s Blake Matich takes a look.
Fortescue lands grant for massive hydrogen electrolyser in Queensland
Plans to build one of the world’s largest renewable energy powered electrolysers in Queensland continue to gather pace with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency awarding $13.7 million (USD 8.8 million) to the proponents of the project to help finance a $38 million front-end engineering and design study.
Victoria green lights six solar farms and four big batteries
Six new solar farm projects totalling 623 MW of renewable capacity and four big batteries delivering up to 365 MW and 600 MWh of new energy storage have been given the tick of approval by the Victorian government as it looks to meet its target of powering all its operations with clean energy by 2025.
WA project to produce ‘carbon-neutral gold’ with 13 MW hybrid solution
Australian gold miner Bellevue Gold has entered an agreement with distributed energy provider Energy Developments Pty Ltd for an off-grid solar, wind, and battery hybrid power station for the flagship project it is developing in central Western Australia.
NSW opens first in a decade of renewable tenders, targeting 12 GW of generation by 2030
New South Wales has today opened the first in what’s to be a decade of rolling tenders, part of the state’s momentous vision of fitting out 12 GW of renewable energy capacity and 2 GW of storage by 2030.
Victoria tips in $10 million to tackle solar panel waste challenge
With Australia’s appetite for solar energy fuelling a projected surge in end-of-life solar panels, the Victorian government has launched a $10 million program to help deal with the more than 180,000 tonnes of PV panels expected to enter the state’s waste stream by 2035.
Bright reports positive signs in sheep grazing pilot
Renewables developer Bright Energy Investments has reported positive signs after launching a sheep grazing trial to replace mechanical methods of maintaining vegetation growth at the 40 MW Greenough River Solar Farm in Western Australia’s mid-west.
Bowen points to manufacturing revival as part of national EV strategy
Australia’s car manufacturing industry could be restarted as the federal government considers ways to increase the affordability, supply and uptake of electric vehicle technologies.
Regulators reinforce need for ‘massive investment’ in energy sector
Australian energy regulators have called for urgent investments in renewable energy capacity and the transmission infrastructure needed to connect new projects to the grid as they look to ensure an orderly transition as coal-fired generation exits the National Electricity Market.
