Countrywide teams with Wirsol on solar-to-hydrogen opportunities
Aspiring green hydrogen manufacturer Countrywide Hydrogen will explore solar-to-hydrogen co-development opportunities in the island state of Tasmania after inking a deal with large-scale solar PV and battery energy storage specialist Wirsol Energy, which already operates a portfolio of Australian projects with a combined capacity of more than 720 MW.
$44 million boost to accelerate pumped hydro energy storage
The New South Wales government has announced funding for five pumped hydro schemes spread across the state as it looks to deliver large-scale energy storage and firming capacity to allow for an increased uptake of renewable energy and to help plug the gap left by exiting coal-fired generation.
SunDrive achieves 26.41% efficiency with copper-based solar cell technology
Australian solar technology company SunDrive continues to impress with its copper-based solar cell technology, achieving 26.41% efficiency for a full-size silicon cell using mass-production compatible heterojunction technology.
Australia’s first solar garden for renters launched
Haystacks, Australia’s first large-scale solar garden, to be built in the New South Wales Riverina region, has opened its solar “plots” to purchase for NSW households unable to install rooftop systems.
Vanadium flow battery electrolyte focus of three year industry-backed study
West Australian company Technology Metals Australia, or TMT, will work with the government-backed Future Battery Industries agency to develop enhanced electrolytes for vanadium redox flow batteries. TMT will provide both the feedstock for the research as well as funding and hopes to eventually leverage the project’s findings.
Native forest wood waste burning to be excluded from ‘renewable’ classification, Senate report recommends
As Australia’s Climate Change Bill 2022 progresses through parliament, a Senate committee has recommended using wood waste from native forests to generate electricity should no longer be classified as “renewable energy.” It is not yet clear what impact such changes would have on the growing pipeline of Australian ‘biomass’ projects.
Largest DC-coupled hybrid project in Australia acquired by Spanish company in major expansion strategy
Spanish power and gas provider Naturgy has acquired its first PV project in Australia – the Cunderdin hybrid solar + storage project east of Perth in WA. The project is set to be the country’s largest DC-coupled project to date.
Energy Renaissance moves ahead with battery giga-factory
Australia’s first lithium-ion battery giga-factory is expected to begin operations soon with battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance announcing the successful completion of a $1.47 million pilot program designed to develop and test its manufacturing processes, systems and plant design.
H2X goes to market with hydrogen electricity generators
Clean energy start-up H2X Global has notched a major milestone with the first of its hydrogen-powered generators – built to replace traditional fossil-fuel fired gensets and provide green electricity for emergency supply and off-grid operations – released to the Australian market.
CEC warns labour and skills shortages threaten clean energy transition
Australia’s transition to a clean energy future is at risk with a new report indicating the nation’s quickening shift to a grid dominated by renewables has resulted in labour and skills shortages that could deepen as the sector continues to grow.
