Technology

Thanks to the Covid-19 many of us find ourselves in lockdown with little reprieve other than a morning potter or an evening stroll. In Goulburn, thanks to what is being called Australia’s largest solar lighting installation, locals can now more easily walk and cycle their way to the salutary effects of a daily jaunt.

The Australian renewables sector was not immune to a host of challenges that marked the first half of the year, but the pipeline of renewable energy projects in the country reached new heights. While new construction dipped to a four-year low and financial close remained out of reach for a great number of projects, the second half of the year is looking more positive, according to Norwegian consultancy Rystad Energy.

Researchers at Monash University will conduct a desktop study to explore issues and strategies associated with connecting inverter-based generation such as batteries, solar, and wind into weaker parts of the National Electricity Market.

In a world-first, scientists in Australia and the United States have managed to upconvert light from below the silicon bandgap with the help of oxygen into high energy light that can be captured by silicon solar cells.

The Chinese manufacturer has claimed a world record for a large-size, contact-passivated solar cell. The result, certified by Germany’s Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin, betters the company’s previous record by almost 0.6%.

Commercialisation of hydrogen production is a Government priority. Today seven applicants for ARENA funding of large-scale hydrogen proposals made it through to the next round, in which they will submit full applications for projects that will be expected to commence construction in 2022.

Digital technologies are enabling integration of vast volumes of data, to provide sophisticated modelling of projects, arriving at highest yield and lowest levelised cost of energy. An Australian leader in the field, Aurecon has been recognised for the innovation of its siteLab software in bringing far-flung stakeholders and disparate sources of information into the one virtual reality.

The University of Queensland-owned and developed utility-scale Warwick Solar Farm is complete, bringing together the University’s ambitions to not only become 100% renewably powered, but to provide hands-on learning, research and development opportunities for generations of students seeking fulfilling employment that contributes to a greener future.

IHS Markit’s latest report looks at a wave of new investments in large-scale projects. Economies of scale and technological improvements, as well as renewables deployment, could make green hydrogen price-competitive with grey and blue hydrogen.

University of New South Wales researchers have published research disproving claims that the energy transition to large-scale wind and solar would hinder the global economy. The research, which ousts outdated and cherry-picked data while showing the economically salutary effects of renewables, comes as 500 UNSW staff face the axe due to the impact of Covid-19.