Research

A pilot hydrogen energy plant that will employ a novel approach by producing green hydrogen directly from water and sunlight, without relying on electrolysers or grid power, is on track to begin commissioning in South Australia next month.

Australian researchers are reporting a breakthrough with zinc-ion battery technology, developing a new method to significantly boost the structural stability of the cathode material that enables the battery to operate reliably for more than 5,000 charge-discharge cycles.

Researchers at the CSIRO have proven a new full thermochemical hydrogen production cycle – from solar input to hydrogen output – has the potential to achieve a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of higher than 20%, 5% more than many existing systems.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a new dry electrode fabrication strategy for aqueous zinc-iodine batteries they say delivers cathodes with more than double the performance of iodine and lithium-ion batteries.

Researchers at the University of Queensland are leading a project aiming to improve how hybrid renewable power plants – typically including solar and/or wind, along with battery energy storage – connect into Australia’s electricity grid.

An international research team has developed a hydrogel composite that absorbs moisture in solar modules overnight and facilitates evaporative cooling throughout daylight hours. The system has undergone lab tests and outdoor experiments on two continents.

The Renewable Energy Test Center has released its 2025 PV Module Index, assessing solar module reliability, quality, and performance across industry benchmarks. The report highlights manufacturers that meet high standards in long-term durability and energy yield.

New research from Hong Kong confirms that rooftop PV systems could raise daytime temperatures in urban environments. The scientists explained that although their findings highlight important urban resilience considerations, they should not detract from the broader benefits of PV systems for energy sustainability and carbon reduction.

An international team of researchers used a novel interfacial treatment to improve the performance of perovskite solar cells across a range of narrow and wide bandgap single junction, tandem, and mini-module samples. An all-perovskite tandem solar cell demonstrated its use with a certified efficiency of 29.5%.

Researchers at Deakin University have launched a first-of-its-kind project exploring how Australian households and small businesses with solar and or battery systems can sell their excess clean energy to others without the technology.