Oceania

Australia’s first hybrid solar and renewable hydrogen microgrid has officially launched as green hydrogen production began at Horizon Power’s demonstration plant in the coastal community of Denham in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region.

Brisbane Airport Corporation has entered a long-term renewable energy agreement and announced it will develop a 5 MW solar installation on site as part of plans to power the airport’s operations with 100% green energy by 2025.

Fortescue Future Industries will partner with clean energy company Windlab to develop a renewable energy ‘Super Hub’ in northwest Queensland. The Hub is expected to deliver more than 10 GW of wind and solar power, underpinning the industrial-scale production of green hydrogen from purpose-built facilities.

China manufacturer DAH Solar offers four versions of its new panels, with power outputs ranging from 540 W to 555 W and efficiency ratings from 20.89% to 21.48%. The modules are reportedly ideal for steel rooftops with small installation angles.

A team of scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed lightweight floating photocatalyst devices that produce green hydrogen and syngas. The leaf-like photoelectrochemical devices show potential for scalability.

Residential, commercial and industrial solar generation in South Australia has returned to normal operations following heavy curtailment by authorities working to stabilise the grid after storms caused extensive damage to transmission infrastructure.

The New South Wales government has received bids for more than 5.5 GW of wind and solar projects, along with more than 2.5 GW of long-duration storage projects, in response to its first tender to secure renewable projects to transform its coal-reliant energy system.

New Zealand’s solarZero says it aims to provide fast, sustained reserves with its virtual power plant of 10,000 household battery systems. Meridian Energy, meanwhile, has secured approval for a 100 MW battery energy storage system – the country’s largest such system to date.

Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries is reportedly exploring an offtake agreement with what will be the world’s largest PV project as it advances plans to build a $9 billion (USD 6 billion) mega green hydrogen production facility in Brazil.

Mining magnate Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest is the founder and executive chair of Fortescue Metals Group, a major Australian iron ore producer. The company recently announced an ambitious USD 6.2 billion ($9.3bn) decarbonisation strategy. Meanwhile, a fully owned subsidiary – Fortescue Future Industries – has rapidly become a global player in green hydrogen, along with a host of other technology pathways in the energy transition. Whether it is pushing to decarbonise mining, hashing out headline-making green energy deals, or using the popular “Rick and Morty” cartoon to educate people about the potential of green hydrogen, Fortescue and its shining magnate are talking the talk. But can they walk the walk? Blake Matich reports.