Public consultation opens for 11 GW renewable energy hub
The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority is seeking public submissions on the massive Asian Renewable Energy Hub proposed for the Pilbara region.
WA government provides $11.6 million for solar+storage in remote indigenous communities
Six Aboriginal communities in WA’s Kimberley will see 400-600 kW solar arrays installed, supplanting diesel electricity generation. The program will be rolled out by Horizon Power, and ams to reduce the subsidy paid to the regional utility for the provision of power to remote sites.
Mining of battery resources to get funding boost, WA’s South West to become REZ under Labor
As part of its Future Mines and Jobs Plan, Labor has pledged to revive the Exploring for the Future funding and invest $75 million in developing the future mining of resources such as lithium. If elected in the upcoming federal election, the party will also make the south-west of Western Australia a renewable energy zone, meaning the region will be able to access funding through the party’s planned $5 billion Energy Security and Modernisation Fund.
Western Australian utilities roll out advanced meters
A total of 238,000 advanced meters will be installed by Western Power on the South West Interconnected System over the next three years, unlocking the benefits of the technology that gives consumers more control over their energy use. In another rollout, Horizon Power has made paying for power easier for 11 Aboriginal communities across regional WA.
WA battery research facility secures $25m of federal funding
The Perth-based Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) will address industry-identified gaps in the battery industry value chain, support battery deployment and optimise the circular economy for battery recycling.
Sods turned on Australia’s biggest lithium hydroxide facility
A ceremony was held today in WA’s South West to mark the commencement of construction on what is said to be Australia’s biggest lithium processing plant. The $1 billion facility is being developed by U.S. company Albemarle and targets 100,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide a year.
Making metals with renewable energy
Mining and metals company Element 25 has obtained funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to evaluate manganese production powered by wind and solar energy. By increasing renewable energy penetration potentially up to 90%, the company is set to improve the economics of its production process.
Australia starts producing solar powered signals intelligence
A 1.2 MW solar array has been powered up at Western Australian “spy station” near Geraldton. The array aims to take pressure off the region’s ageing power grid.
Risen breaks ground on 132 MW Merredin Solar Farm
A groundbreaking ceremony took place last Friday at the Chinese PV module maker’s utility-scale PV project in Western Australia’s wheatbelt region.
Carnegie Clean Energy gets funding lifeline, solar microgrid subsidiary to be sold or wound down
Following months of uncertainty around its financial position, Carnegie Clean Energy and its fully owned subsidiaries went into voluntary administration last week. In its latest statement to ASX, the renewable energy developer says it has struck a deal with one of its directors to provide funding support while administrators attempt to recapitalize its wave power business.
