Renewable energy company Sunshine Hydro has won Queensland’s 2024 Telstra Best of Business Award for Promoting Sustainability.
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Sunshine Hydro chair Michael Myer said the award was recognition for the company’s efforts to solve what is one of the biggest challenges facing the clean energy transition: how to produce reliable, affordable, 24/7 carbon-free energy and green fuels.
“Our Superhybrid business model is a compelling solution to this question and it is well showcased by our flagship project Djandori gung-i near Gladstone. The project was named by our First Nations partners and it means ‘Spirit in the Water’.”
Sunshine Hydro CEO Rick McElhinney said the company’s innovative Superhybrid technology used proprietary software, AESOP, to integrate renewable wind and solar energy, with pumped hydro energy storage and production of green fuels like hydrogen and methanol.
“The project has secured the land and is at the approval stage. With 600MW of pumped hydro energy storage, and 350MW of electrolysis, the Djandori project could power 400,000 homes and run a fleet of 4,400 long-distance trucks,” he said.
“The award is recognition of the dedication of our team to develop our technology and our commitment to our First Nations partners, the local community, and helping Queensland in its quest to decarbonise its economy.
“This award is timely, because it comes when Sunshine Hydro is inviting the broader community to join us on our journey to sustainability. This opportunity is available to the public on the Birchal crowdfunding platform.”
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The prestigious Telstra Best of Business Awards celebrate small and medium-sized businesses and people building Australia’s economic, social and cultural prosperity.
The National Awards will be announced in Canberra on 8 February 2024.
