United States

Australian battery materials technology company Sicona has confirmed it will develop its first commercial manufacturing facility in the United States as part of its ambition to become the biggest producer of silicon-carbon battery materials in the world.

Researchers in the United States have repurposed a commonplace chemical used in water treatment facilities to develop an all-liquid, iron-based redox flow battery for large-scale energy storage. Their lab-scale battery exhibited strong cycling stability over 1,000 consecutive charging cycles, while maintaining 98.7% of its original capacity.

Both active in the Australian renewables market, Philippines-based energy company ACEN has partnered with United States-headquartered producer BrightNight to develop the latter’s 1 GW renewable power portfolio in the Philippines.

Modular solar pioneer 5B has commenced construction of a potential giga-scale production facility in India that is to improve its access to international markets, but the Sydney-headquartered company remains committed to its manufacturing operations in Australia.

Around 800,000 new workers will be required in Europe by 2025 for the battery industry alone and, more broadly, existing workers will need to be retrained as the continent’s industries transition away from fossil fuels. International competition for workers is becoming increasingly fierce. Where are these workers and the required skills supposed to come from?

Energy providers, government and the broader energy ecosystem must raise up the access, appeal and affordability of clean energy in the United States, to help accelerate the uptake of clean energy.

Portable solar generators are making their way from the fringes of solar and energy storage to become a mainstream consumer item. The rise has been charged by a range of factors that have created massive brands. Where did the sector emerge from, who was buying before, who is buying now, and what’s next? Tristan Rayner reports.

The future is bright for community solar finds Arcadia, a utility data technology provider, in a new report. The report says the success of community solar is a result of US states strengthening support programs, federal legislation increasingly being implemented, and that billions of dollars are being invested in solar projects for all income levels.

The Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas sources 10 MW of off-site solar, as well as wind, geothermal and hydroelectric power, among other sustainability measures.

Fortescue has announced plans to open its first manufacturing centre in the United States, partnering with the state of Michigan to establish a production hub for automotive and heavy industry batteries, fast chargers and hydrogen electrolysers.