CSP green methanol plant firms ties with German fuel giant
Thermal solar company Vast Renewables and German-headquartered energy company Mabanaft have further cemented their partnership with a joint development agreement to advance Vast’s CSP-powered green methanol reference plant, Solar Methanol 1.
RMIT leads global research into solar panel recycling
Melbourne’s RMIT University researchers are in Europe leading an international network focussed on advancing the reuse and recycling of solar panels, including critical mineral recovery.
AGL and Origin switch gears on energy transition strategy
AGL Energy has followed suit with Origin Energy to say it will shift from direct investment into renewable energy generation toward decarbonisation targets, favouring alternatives like pumped hydro, gas and batteries.
UNSW team creates vortex generators for passive solar module cooling
University of New South Wales researchers have created vortex generators that can reportedly reduce the operating solar module temperature by up to 2.5 C. They built two different prototypes, based on aluminum and a conductive 3D printable polymer, and tested them under several scenarios in an experimental setting deployed in Sydney.
Upsurge of SMEs borrowing to invest in green vehicles and equipment
Green finance for vehicles and equipment is selling like hot cakes in Western Australia where National Australia Bank has seen a 305% increase in loans there in a six month period, and demand for electric bus loans are up 168%, new data finds.
Pacific Blue starts build of 60 MW battery in South Australia
Pacific Blue Australia has turned the sods on construction of its $100 million, 60 MW / 130 MWh grid scale battery at Clements Gap in South Australia and is the company’s first storage system scheduled to commence operation in 2026.
Landmark PPA inked through $700 million program to source 500 GWh per year
Investment fund managers IFM Investors and QIC have inked Australia’s largest power purchase agreement worth $700 million through its infrastructure renewable energy program which has a potential total size at peak of 500 GWh per year.
JA Solar takes top spot on WoodMac’s list of PV module manufacturers
Wood Mackenzie says that JA Solar has taken first place on its list of solar panel manufacturers. Nine of the first 12 positions are held by Chinese manufacturers, seven of them could surpass 100 GW of capacity by 2027, and eight are self-sufficient in cell capacity, according to the research firm.
Modular solar solution helps mining operation shift to renewables
Modular solar specialist 5B’s pre-assembled and relocatable Maverick solar solution has been unfolded in another off-grid hybrid renewable energy project as the decarbonisation of Australia’s mining sector continues.
Frontier Energy boosts Waroona battery duration
Renewables developer Frontier Energy has boosted the duration of the 80 MW battery energy storage system planned for the Waroona Renewable Energy Project being developed near Perth by 12% to 4.5 hours. The first stage of the project is to also include a 120 MW solar farm.
