Australia

Gas major Atco has ditched its plans for a commercial-scale green hydrogen manufacturing facility proposed for Western Australia’s remote midwest, saying the distance between the production facility and end use undermined the commercial viability of the project.

One of Australia’s major winemakers has taken a big step forward in its transition to 100% renewable energy, switching on what it claims is the largest winery solar installation in the country. The 2.6 MW rooftop and carport array is the continuation of a wider trend of winemakers adopting solar to bring down energy costs and strengthen their brands.

Australian battery technology company Vaulta has unveiled its first dedicated residential battery with the small-scale energy storage system purportedly able to operate for 4,000 cycles with an 80% depth of discharge.

Renewable energy developer Neoen will scale up the installed capacity of the Western Downs Battery being built in Queensland to 270 MW/540 MWh as it looks to keep pace with rising demand for energy storage and realise opportunities across Australia’s evolving energy system.

Australian natural hydrogen explorer Gold Hydrogen plans to start drilling on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula later this year after early testing at its maiden Ramsay project site detected the presence of naturally occurring hydrogen in soil samples.

Addressing climate change means enduring some economic pain in the early part of this century to avoid worse outcomes in the long run. But recently the narrative has shifted from pain to opportunity.

A grid-connected community battery has gone live in Sydney’s western suburbs with New South Wales electricity distributor Endeavour Energy trialling the technology as a means to maximise the benefits of rooftop solar generation and more efficiently manage supply and demand in the network.

As the world grapples with escalating environmental concerns, the need for sustainable solutions becomes increasingly vital. Anaerobic digestion technology has emerged as a powerful tool that not only addresses waste management challenges, but also significantly contributes to a more sustainable environment.

Transgrid, Australia’s major grid operator, plans to soon launch a competitive process to procure grid support services from third-party battery operators as it looks beyond traditional network infrastructure to help maintain the reliability of electricity supply in two growth regions in New South Wales.

The Australian government has committed $50 million to support the development and diversification of clean energy supply chains in the Indo-Pacific as it seeks to increase manufacturing opportunities and enhance energy security in the region.