Oceania

A newly-launched New Zealand startup claims its catalyst layer technology reduces the amount of iridium and platinum needed for electrolysis by a factor of 25. The startup, a spinout from a research institute, has raised NZD 2.5 million ($2.3m/USD 1.55m) in a seed funding round.

Industry peak body the Clean Energy Council has arrived at a starkly different conclusion about Australia’s large-scale renewable segment in 2023 compared to independent analyst Sunwiz. In its latest report, it hails the number of utility projects under construction and is highly optimistic about the segment’s prospects.

Finance consultancy explains in a new report that the levelised cost of green hydrogen (LCOH) is well below USD 2/kg with subsidies. Using either PEM and alkaline electrolysers, green hydrogen normally has a lower levelised cost than pink hydrogen. Meanwhile, Australian authorities are trying to increase the competitiveness of the local hydrogen sector, and car companies are updating their fuel cell plans.

Australia’s transition to clean, renewable energy has reached a major milestone with AGL today commencing the process of shutting down the last of three coal-fired generating units still operating at its Liddell power station in New South Wales as it prepares to completely close the facility before the end of the month.

New Zealand’s large-scale solar market is set to shift up a gear with the government announcing two new projects with a combined generation capacity of more than 500 GWh per annum have been referred for fast-track consenting.

Researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney have developed a new microwave technology that could advance solar-cell production by improving manufacturing processes and making them easier to recycle.

Energy and environment ministers from the Group of Seven nations have announced new targets for solar power and offshore wind capacity after vowing to drastically increase renewable energy development and accelerate the phase out of “unabated” fossil fuel use.

Australian mining and processing company IGO and billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo Metals will progress plans to build the nation’s first integrated battery material facility in Western Australia after the state government approved the allocation of land for the up to $1 billion project.

The federal government is increasing its investment in green hydrogen and low-emissions steel with $50 million in research and development funding to help progress the technologies as a new report warns that Australia must act quickly or risk being left behind in the race to become a renewable energy superpower.

Observations shared by solar data and forecasting provider Solcast have shed new light on the impressive performances of New South Wales solar farms which dominated the utility PV generation performance rankings last month.