Australia

South Korean technology giant Samsung is reportedly looking to develop a ‘mega scale’ renewable generation, storage, and green manufacturing hub in the Northern Territory, its government has announced. However, no actual details on the size, nor any real specifics, appear to be known.

A key success factor in managing energy crises in a decarbonised grid is seasonal energy storage or ultra-deep storage, as we like to call it. The discussion has traditionally circled around the pros and cons of different energy storage technologies like pumped hydro and flow batteries, or the feasibility of using hydrogen as a storage medium. However, the most cost-efficient solutions may actually lie outside of the electricity sector.

Researchers from UNSW say they have found a commercially viable pathway to the decentralised production of green, renewable ammonia. An alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch method, the researchers used nanosecond pulsed plasma bubbles coupled with electrocatalysis.

The commissioning of stage two of Vena Energy’s 180 MW Tailem Bend solar farm in South Australia is now complete, with a 41.5 MWh battery to be coupled shortly. Tailem Bend 2 was first energised in February, but took until now to be fully commissioned.

Australian company Pure Hydrogen has announced that its ‘Taurus’ hydrogen fuel cell prime mover is now available for sale.

Fortescue has applied for land tenements spanning 150,000 hectares, an area twice the size of Singapore, to build renewable projects to supply its operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

CS Energy has signed an agreement with United States-headquartered GE Vernova for the supply of key equipment for Queensland’s first “hydrogen-ready” gas peaking power plant which will initially be capable of operating on 35% renewable hydrogen.

Australian lithium explorer St George Mining’s critical minerals strategy has received a significant boost with global battery industry giant Shanghai Jayson New Energy Materials tipping a further $3 million into the Perth-based company.

Queensland’s second large-scale battery energy storage system has received approval to immediately commence full commercial operations after Genex Power successfully completed the commissioning of its 50 MW/100 MWh Bouldercombe Battery Project.

A ‘Feasibility First Value Selling’ can transform solar sales processes, James Allston of Orkestra argues.