Queensland and South Australian critical mineral processing plant pilots win grants
Australian producers of critical minerals needed for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries have received Australian government grants to a combined $13 million to help build diversified supply chains with the support of partners in the USA, Japan and Republic of Korea.
Federal government joins WA in supporting nickel miners
The federal and WA governments are stepping in to support struggling nickel producers with tax credits, critical listing grants, and rebates.
Australia’s critical minerals pipeline valuated at $10 billion
A report from consultancy Climate Energy Finance finds that Australia and New Zealand have a more than $10 billion (USD 6.7 billion) pipeline of investment proposals in resource value-adding critical minerals, including in lithium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, rare earths, hydrogen electrolysers, green ammonia, and value-added downstream battery developments.
Battery metals: How quickly can supply ramp up?
A couple of weeks ago, Goldman Sachs sent shockwaves through battery metals markets, issuing a prediction that cobalt and lithium in particular were due for a sharp price decline in the next two years. But London-based Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is loudly pushing back, outlining its reasons why it believes the call on lithium was wrong. Meanwhile, US analyst Wood Mackenzie says that the battery raw material chain will remain tight, but notes that recycling could help to ease the supply deficit.
Solar-plus-storage as an antidote to grid congestion in Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido
Chinese inverter maker Sungrow has switched on a 6 MW / 21 MWh solar-plus-storage facility on the island. The FIT project’s connected AC capacity is limited to only 845 kW, but the containerised storage solution provided by the company ensures its viability.
Unique hybrid solar PV installation now powering WA mine
The Nova Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Operation mine in the Fraser Range of Western Australia is now operating with fewer costs and emissions thanks to Zenith Energy’s hybrid solar PV-diesel power plant. The plant provides a litany of firsts, including being the first hybrid solar PV-diesel project completed without a single government subsidy.
Lithium Australia launches German cathode powder study
The study will evaluate the direct production of cathode powders from mica feed material sourced from mining operations, eliminating the need for cobalt and nickel.
