During the launch, Minister Husic announced Li-S Energy had been awarded an Industry Growth Program (IGP) Commercialisation and Growth Grant of $1.7 million to develop Australia’s first lithium foil production facility.

Related article: Li-S Energy announces plan for 200MWh battery facility

Li-S Energy is an Australian company, commercialising unique Australian IP from Deakin University for lithium sulfur and lithium metal batteries, which are far lighter than the comparable lithium-ion batteries. The batteries offer key performance advantages where weight is critical, such as in drones, electric aviation and defence applications.

The new state-of-the-art production facility is the largest of its kind in Australia, installed inside Australia’s largest battery dry room. Built at a cost of over $10 million, the facility spans the entire production process from creating and coating cathode powders to final cell fabrication and testing.

With the support of the IGP Grant announced by Minister Husic, Li-S Energy plans to extend beyond its cell manufacturing capability to produce high-quality lithium foils and laminates from lithium metal ingots.

Lithium metal foil is used as the anode for both lithium sulfur and lithium metal batteries, but current imported supply has limited quality and is not optimised for Li-S cells. This will be a new sovereign manufacturing capability for Australia, reducing supply chain risk and increasing the value of Australia’s advanced battery material exports.

Related article: Li-S Energy wins $1.35M grant for ‘dawn to dusk’ drone

Li-S Energy CEO Dr Lee Finniear said, “Australia currently produces 52% of the world’s lithium ore, yet much of this is exported without adding additional value.

“With global demand for lithium metal foil forecast to reach US$51 billion by 2032, Australia has a unique opportunity to capitalise on this emerging market to produce lithium foils here, adding value here, before exporting this high-value product to global markets.”

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Related article: FRV Australia secures $1.2B refinancing of solar portfolio

The 100MW/200MWh Terang BESS is financed under FRV Australia’s recent AUD$1.2 billion portfolio refinancing facility.

The refinancing process included 11 financial institutions, which are now also supporting the funding of Terang: ING Bank, Westpac Banking Corporation, MUFG Bank, Société Générale, Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale, Mizuho Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, United Overseas Bank, Clean Energy Finance Corporation, China Construction Bank, and Agricultural Bank of China.

The project will also receive AUD$7 million in funding to support the installation of new grid forming inverters, awarded under round two of the Victoria Government’s Energy Innovation Fund (EIF) to help continue the Victorian Government’s drive to a renewable energy target of 50% by 2030.

Located 2km north-east of Terang’s centre and approximately 40km north of Warrnambool, the BESS will  connect to the NEM and be built on the traditional land of the Eastern Maar people.

Related article: FRV’s first hybrid solar-plus-storage project goes live

FRV Australia has appointed Canadian Solar‘s e-STORAGE for the construction and signed a connection agreement with AusNet in 2024.

The post FRV Australia reaches financial close on Terang Battery appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Related article: Ark gets planning approval for Tasmanian wind farm

The 312MW Wimmera Plains Energy Facility is located 10km north-east from Horsham and includes up to 52 wind turbines connecting to an existing 220kV transmission line.

The project also includes a 100MW Battery Energy Storage system which can store up to 400MWh of dispatchable energy.

The project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, which is equivalent to taking more than 370,000 cars off the road each year.

Related article: Queensland Govt approves massive Tarong West Wind Farm

Plans include 52 wind turbines with a blade-tip height of 247m above the ground. Less than one hectare of native vegetation will be disturbed as a result of the project.

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The contract ensures the design, manufacture, supply and installation for Stage 1 of the Marinus Link interconnector project, a 750MW HVDC cable system.

Related article: Commonwealth agrees to fund 49% of Marinus Link

Marinus Link CEO Caroline Wykamp said, “Prysmian has proven and global expertise in delivering projects like Marinus Link.

“We have booked their most advanced cabling vessel—the Leonardo Da Vinci.

“Marinus Link will enable Tasmania to import excess supply of solar and wind produced interstate, while reserving its hydro and storing the extra energy. Clean hydropower can then feed the national grid when it is needed most, acting as a large battery for the nation.”

The project’s cables span 345km, with 255km undersea across the Bass Strait and 90km underground in Gippsland, Victoria.

It was recently announced that Hitachi Energy’s high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology has been selected to augment the connection between mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Related article: Hitachi Energy’s HVDC tech selected for Marinus Link

Marinus Link is a cornerstone project of the Australian Government’s Rewiring the Nation Plan and is classified as urgent in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s national energy plan.

The project is jointly owned by the Australian, Tasmanian and Victorian governments.

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Partnering with university and key offshore wind stakeholders, ACOWE will serve as the gateway to access multidisciplinary Australian research capabilities.

As a newcomer to Australia’s renewable energy portfolio, offshore wind faces several significant challenges including a complex regulatory environment, social acceptance, workforce shortage, environmental management, supply chain gaps, and the need for site-specific engineering. These challenges, if not addressed promptly, could become roadblocks to progress.

ACOWE director and The University of Melbourne associate professor Shiaohuey Chow said the Centre would collaborate with stakeholders to advance research, teaching and training to support the growing offshore wind energy sector.

“ACOWE’s collaborative approach is essential to unlocking Australia’s renewable energy portfolio because no single organisation can deliver the cross-functional support needed by governments, communities and industry,” a/prof Chow said.

The initiative aims to develop the labour force by offering training and education in the energy sector, equipping the future workforce with the necessary skills for building and maintaining offshore and onshore infrastructure.

The centre involves collaboration between the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, Federation University, the University of Newcastle, The University of Western Australia and the University of Wollongong.

University of Melbourne deputy vice-chancellor (research) Professor Mark Cassidy said, “The university is thrilled to contribute to Australia’s net zero goals through this initiative.

“By uniting leading experts from various universities, we can tackle the complex challenges of offshore wind energy and ensure our research drives tangible impacts in industry and policy.”

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Related article: Edify and Sosteneo partner to build Koorangie ESS

The Tesla Megapacks have arrived and been successfully craned into place at the KESS site, with the Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio MP onsite to help celebrate the milestone.

The Koorangie Energy Storage System is located in North West Victoria, near the town of Kerang.

Construction of the 185MW/370MWh KESS facility is on schedule and charging towards energisation and commercial operations in 2025.

KESS will be able to power 350,000 homes for 2 hours. With its grid forming capabilities, it will liberate significant renewable energy capacity in the region supporting Victoria’s and Australia’s renewable energy transition.

KESS has entered into a 15-year offtake agreement with Shell Energy and in parallel provides critical system strength services through a 20 year System Support Agreement with AEMO.

To finance and deliver the $400 million Koorangie Energy Storage System, one of the largest and most advanced energy storage systems on the network, Edify has partnered with Sosteneo, a specialist infrastructure investor.

Related article: Edify gets $48M funding for Townsville Green Hydrogen Hub

Minister D’Ambrosio said, “Koorangie is a cutting-edge facility that will help Victoria hit our energy storage targets and support our transition to renewable energy that will provide stability to our energy grid regional Victoria.”

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The annual apprenticeship program offers candidates a chance to become lineworkers, cable jointers, substation electricians or meter technicans. The four-year apprenticeship positions are available across regional and metropolitan areas, including Burnley, Brooklyn, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, Colac, Mildura, Warrnambool, Maryborough, Horsham, Kyneton and Echuca.

Related article: Tunnels reveal Melbourne’s past—and future

The successful candidates will join a growing cohort of more than 200 apprentices employed by CitiPower and Powercor over the past decade.

Powercor head of operations and delivery Barry David said it was the only opportunity to join a Victorian electricity network business directly as an apprentice lineworker.

“Our apprenticeships provide the best start to what can be a fulfilling and lifelong career,” he said.

“No two days are ever the same as a lineworker. One day you may be replacing poles, upgrading powerlines or connecting the latest renewable project, and then the next you could be responding to a major weather event, helping get the power back on to homes and businesses.”

The new recruits will join a 700-strong in-house field workforce, with the majority of these having started their careers as apprentices with the business. The selection process involves written, practical and interview-based selection criteria. Last year, a record number of women joined the business as apprentices.

“Having the right people in these roles is as essential as the poles and wires that deliver the power,” David said.

“To make sure we are ready for the future, we are building a diverse workforce and want people of all ages, genders and backgrounds to apply.

Related article: Powercor starts construction of new Echuca depot

“We want people with the right attitude, who like working in teams, are committed to safety and are excited about contributing to their local communities. They’ll love outdoor work, they’re happy working at heights in all weather, and enjoy practical, hands-on learning.”

To apply, candidates must have completed, or be completing, Year 11 VCE or VCAL and achieved a pass in General Maths/Numeracy or have completed (or be completing) a pre-apprenticeship TAFE training course in Electrotechnology (Cert II).

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The network

CitiPower moves electricity to and from more than 349,000 homes, businesses and essential services across Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD) and inner suburbs.

The network also supports a diversity of commercial and industrial customers, ranging from cafes and small businesses to restaurants and major office buildings as well as world-class sporting precincts, public health, education, government and cultural facilities.

The network is made up of more than 4,500km of wires and cables—enough to stretch from Perth to Singapore—and more than 57,500 poles and associated infrastructure. It’s operated and maintained by a team of highly-skilled tradespeople and professionals, committed to providing reliable power to homes and business.

Related article: CitiPower begins Melbourne underground power upgrade

CitiPower services are delivered from a depot in Richmond as well as from a customer contact centre in Bendigo and corporate office in Melbourne.

The network in Melbourne CBD, as with the rest of CitiPower, has an extensive annual maintenance and upgrade program dedicated to ensuring ongoing reliability and safety of the network.

Specifically for the CBD, CitiPower completed works in 2021 to upgrade supply capacity to the northern and eastern CBD, through development of the new Waratah Place zone substation. The works proposed at CitiPower’s Little Queen (LQ) zone substation will provide the same increase in capacity to meet the growing demand across the central and southern CBD for decades to come.

CitiPower head of network planning Andrew Dinning said demand for electricity in the CBD was already high and continually growing.

“Currently, the peak demand for the CBD network is around 500MW,” Dinning said.
“To set that in context, that’s the same as one generating unit at somewhere like the Loy Yang power station, but dedicated to supplying less than three square kilometres of CBD.”

It’s currently expected that demand in the Melbourne CBD will increase by at least 60% over the next 10 years.

Scope of the upgrade

This project is a major $24 million upgrade of the city’s power network to help future-proof it against growing demand. The tunnel upgrade is about developing the tunnel beneath Little Queen Street to make sure it remains a safe and reliable conduit for current and assets.

This work is a precursor to a larger three-year revamp of the nearby LQ zone substation, which will provide greater capacity and flexibility to support both planned new developments in the city and greater electrification of existing customers across the CBD.

The size of CitiPower’s team varies according to what stage of the work is being completed at any one time, but generally consists of 40-45 people. The team is made up of network planners, asset managers and analysts in the early stages, to define the best option to progress with.

Once the preferred solution is defined the project team changes to include project and design managers, civil/geotechnical engineers, electrical design engineers, civil contractors and specialists in equipment installation, along with fitters, testers and cable jointers.

Working in the tunnels

CitiPower works to minimise impacts to customers wherever possible and actively avoids unnecessarily impacting customers. Before upgrading any of its assets, CitiPower will move customers supplied from that asset onto other areas of the network to ensure minimal interruption.

CitiPower has access to a range of tunnels under the Melbourne CBD. Some of these are over 100 years old. The tunnel under Little Queen Street was first built in the 1930s and stretches for 80m.

Interestingly, a tunnel was unearthed during redevelopment of the Southern Cross station nearly 20 years ago that CitiPower repurposed to carry some of its underground cables.
Over the years, these tunnel excavations have yielded some interesting finds that provide a glimpse into Melbourne’s past.

Related article: CitiPower completes major power supply upgrade

“We found a thick road surface under Todd Road in Port Melbourne a few years ago,” a CitiPower spokesperson said.

“Through some research, the team discovered it was the old runway from World War II, where they built aircraft at Fishermans Bend then rolled them out on the runway and flew them to New Guinea.

“Another interesting find was an old cable car system in Lonsdale Street, including the culverts and a gear room that was just buried and abandoned in the city.”

Upgrade schedule

CitiPower expects to complete the tunnel upgrade by October before it begins the electrical upgrade work later this year.

“We expect the major upgrade work at the LQ substation to take up to four years and will include a 12-month design period, before construction and commissioning begin,’’ a spokesperson said.

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AusNet CEO David Smales said the new vision, which is to be ‘trusted to bring the energy today and build a cleaner tomorrow,’ has been established to guide the actions and decisions of the company through the energy transition.

“I have established a new leadership team to deliver on this vision and drive an increased focus on delivering improved outcomes for our customers, communities, key stakeholders and our business,” Smales said.

AusNet’s new leadership team has been structured to provide increased executive focus on four lines of business: electricity transmission, electricity distribution, gas and metering, and contestable energy infrastructure. This means it will shift from a functional operating model to a line of business operating model.

Related article: AusNet rolls out community response vehicles for outages

“Each business leader has been tasked with achieving exceptional performance outcomes for their respective community, customer and stakeholder groups, whilst enabling an efficient energy transition,” Smales said.

The executive leadership team is as follows:

• Liz Ryan will lead the Victorian Electricity Transmission business
• Andrew Linnie will lead the Victorian Electricity Distribution business
• Fran Duiker will lead the Victorian Gas and Metering business (on an acting basis)
• Jon D’Sylva will lead AusNet’s contestable Development and Future Networks business.

The four lines of business will be supported by five enabling functions:

• Mark Ellul, Chief Financial Officer
• Bridget Cairns, Executive General Manager People and Safety
• Amanda Robertson, Executive General Manager Compliance, Risk and Corporate Affairs
• Chris Galland, Chief Technology Officer (Acting)
• Sarah Hannah, Executive General Manager Group Operations (Acting).

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This licence approval grants RWE an exclusive seven-year seabed right to develop the Kent Offshore Wind Farm project. The approval also allows RWE to apply for a commercial licence to build and operate the wind farm for up to 40 years.

Related article: Germany’s RWE to build Australia’s first eight-hour battery

The lease area awarded to RWE has the potential to host a wind farm with up to 2GW of capacity, enough to power up to 1.6 million Australian homes with green electricity. The site is approximately 67km off the coast and has average water depths of 59m.

The wind farm is expected to become operational in the first half of the 2030s, subject to the timing of the planning and approvals process, secured offtake as well as grid connection.

RWE Offshore Wind CEO Sven Utermöhlen said, “Australia is a very attractive growth market for renewable energy. RWE has been active in the country for 10 years and operates one of Australia’s largest solar farms.

“By securing exclusive seabed rights in the Bass Strait off Gippsland, we are now entering the Australian offshore wind market and will bring our more than 20 years of experience in this field.

Related article: Feasibility tick for six Gippsland offshore wind projects

“With the Kent project, we will work on developing one of the first offshore wind farms off the Australian coast. This is in line with our strategy to grow our renewables portfolio in Australia and the wider APAC region.”

The next step for RWE in the further development of this early-stage project is to carry out studies to help determine the project design and to submit applications for planning permission. RWE will also engage with key stakeholders, First Nations groups and other communities.

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Related article: RES buys Ingeteam’s green division to form renewables giant

Ingeteam will provide advanced power electronics technology, including 15 transformers or power stations as a turnkey solution, and a power plant controller system.

Owned by Enel Green Power Australia, Girgarre Solar Farm will have a capacity of 93MWdc. Once operational, the project will generate the energy consumed by more than 43,000 Australian homes per year.

The Girgarre Solar Farm Project will consist of the construction and operation of approximately 169,500 PV modules and the related civil and electrical infrastructure.

The Project is in the Shire of Campaspe, in Victoria, Australia. The site is located approximately 10 km north-west of Stanhope and approximately 50km west of Shepparton.

The construction of the Girgarre Solar Farm has an investment value of over $140 million.

Related article: EVO Power and Ingeteam ink strategic partnership

The estimated construction timeframe for the plant is expected to be approximately 18 months, while the plant’s operational life is estimated at approximately 35 years.

The post Ingeteam signs supply deal for Girgarre Solar Farm appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Related article: Green Wind reveals plan for 600MW wind farm in WA

Cannie Wind Farm is awaiting referral decision on whether it requires environmental assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The proposed project will be located approximately 25km northwest of Kerang, in the Gannawarra Shire Council area.

RES has updated preliminary constraints mapping of the site and as a result has reduced the number of wind turbines to a maximum of 174 (from the previously advised maximum of 200 turbines). Wind turbines will have a blade tip height of up to 280m.

The proposed site extends over 17,000 hectares of land predominately used for grazing and cropping. Landowners within the wind farm boundary have entered into preliminary agreements with RES to host the wind farm.

Related article: Windlab’s Gawara Baya Wind Farm gets green light

Cannie Wind Farm is expected to generate enough electricity to supply over 600,000 Victorian homes.

The post RES reveals plans for 1.3GW Cannie Wind Farm in Victoria appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Victoria’s Tarneit leads the charge with an impressive 2,177 solar installations, showcasing the suburb’s strong commitment to sustainable energy. Following closely is Box Hill in NSW, shining brightly with 2,152 installations.

Queensland, aptly dubbed the Sunshine State, also makes a significant mark on the renewable energy landscape. Winfield in the Bundaberg region stands out with 1,735 installations, turning heads with its substantial investment in solar power. Further down the coast, Caloundra and Mackay are not just known for their scenic beauty but also as pioneers in the solar movement, each boasting installations in the thousands.

Related article: Research breakthrough could lead to ‘self-healing’ solar cells

Victoria’s Roxburgh Park and Queensland’s Maryborough demonstrate that suburban areas can transform rooftops into power stations, with 1,475 and 1,466 installations respectively. Meanwhile, Kellyville in NSW follows closely with 1,442 installations, further underscoring the widespread adoption of renewable energy across the nation.

“These findings are a testament to the growing momentum of renewable energy across Australia,” Solar Run CEO and managing director Anthony Kurta said.

“Communities are increasingly recognising the benefits of solar power, not just for the environment but also for economic resilience. Our report highlights the leaders in this green revolution and emphasises the importance of continued support and investment in clean energy.”

Read the full report here.

Top 10 Greenest Suburbs in Australia in 2023

1. Tarneit, Victoria
2. Box Hill, New South Wales
3. Bundaberg, Queensland
4. Caloundra, Queensland
5. Mackay, Queensland
6. Roxburgh Park, Victoria
7. Maryborough, Queensland
8. Kellyville, New South Wales
9. Toowoomba, Queensland
10. Werribee, Victoria

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Following the catastrophic February storm events which left hundreds of thousands of customers without power, AusNet has invested in the Emergency Management Mobile Assistance vehicles (EMMAs), which will be deployed to communities impacted by future large scale unplanned outages.

Related article: AusNet extends hardship grants following storms

AusNet executive general manager network operations Andrew Linnie said AusNet had listened to community feedback after the February storm event.

“We attended community engagement sessions following the storms to hear from communities about the issues that impacted them most. They told us that mobile phone charging and internet access are essential for regions impacted by long-term unplanned outages caused by severe weather events, so these will be incorporated into the vehicles,” Linnie said.

“They will also have a defibrillator and first aid, with our representatives trained in their use, for the unlikely event of them being needed.

“These vehicles will provide important relief for communities. We will be able to deploy them quickly in response to prolonged outages, and we hope they will provide important respite and essential advice on network restoration to people when they most need it.”

The vehicles will also be used in future awareness campaigns to help communities better prepare for prolonged outages.

Extreme weather events like the ones experienced in February are likely to become more frequent due to climate change. AusNet is working closely with local governments and communities to find help solutions that help enhance their emergency facilities and make them better equipped to deal with future extreme weather events.

Related article: AusNet launches $10M Energy Resilience Community Fund

“The first of the EMMAs is now operational, with the three larger vehicles due for completion by the end of the year currently being modified,” Linnie said.

Vehicle deployment will be decided on a case-by-case basis by a team of senior AusNet staff involved in the incident management efforts during large-scale unplanned outages.

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