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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Catalysts are substances that speed up chemical reactions by providing a more efficient route for a reaction to occur and making it easier to start and finish. Since catalysts are neither consumed nor altered in the reaction, they can be used repeatedly, and they are essential in a variety of industrial, environmental, and biochemical processes.

Related article: Singlet fission could supercharge next-gen solar cells

The team, which included researchers from Hokkaido University, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and elsewhere, developed the catalyst, called NiOOH-Ni, by combining nickel (Ni) with nickel oxyhydroxide.

Ammonia can cause severe environmental problems, such as excessive algal growth in water bodies, which depletes oxygen and harms aquatic life. At high concentrations, ammonia can harm humans and wildlife. Effective management and conversion of ammonia are thus critical, but its corrosive nature makes it difficult to handle.

The researchers developed NiOOH-Ni using an electrochemical process. Nickel foam, a porous material, was treated with an electrical current while immersed in a chemical solution. This treatment resulted in the formation of nickel oxyhydroxide particles on the foam’s surface.

Despite their irregular and non-crystalline structure, these nickel-oxygen particles significantly enhance ammonia conversion efficiency. The catalyst’s design allows it to operate effectively at lower voltages and higher currents than traditional catalysts.

“NiOOH-Ni works better than Ni foam, and the reaction pathway depends on the amount of electricity (voltage) used,” explains Professor Zhenguo Huang from the University of Technology Sydney, who led the study.

“At lower voltages, NiOOH-Ni produces nitrite, while at higher voltages, it generates nitrate.”

This means the catalyst can be used in different ways depending on what is needed. For example, it can be used to clean wastewater by converting ammonia into less harmful substances. But in another process, it can also be used to produce hydrogen gas, a clean fuel. This flexibility makes NiOOH-Ni valuable for various applications.

“NiOOH-Ni is impressively durable and stable, and it works well even after being used multiple times,” says Associate Professor Andrey Lyalin from Hokkaido University, who was involved in the study.

Related article: Aussie breakthrough to slash green hydrogen costs by 40%

“This makes it a great alternative to traditional, more expensive catalysts like platinum, which aren’t as effective at converting ammonia.”

The catalyst’s long-term reliability makes it suitable for large-scale industrial use, potentially transforming how industries handle wastewater and produce clean energy.

The study has been published in Advanced Energy Materials.

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Thursday Island is one of the Torres Strait Islands and is located approximately 39km north of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland.

Related article: Alinga’s Ruby Heard on equity through energy

Thursday Island’s wind turbines are some of the oldest operating in Australia and demonstrate the suitability of renewable energy in Australian conditions.

Ergon isolated networks manager Dane Thomas said, “It’s great to see the turbines in the air once again. Thursday Island has once again welcomed the winds of change and is embracing a renewable energy future after leading the way when the wind farm was established in 1997,” he said.

“While this was cutting-edge technology when it was initially installed, it was due for a major overhaul, so the generating equipment was shipped to a specialist facility in South Australia while the towers were maintained onsite.

“With the completion of this $2 million project we have improved the reliability and efficiency of the wind turbines, which can generate enough energy to support around 100 high-use homes and are expected to save several thousand litres of diesel a week,” Thomas said.

To date, the wind turbines have generated more than 18,921MWh of renewable energy and savings of 220,000L of diesel a year on average.

As part of its commitment to decarbonising remote communities, and in consultation with the local councils and traditional owners, Ergon Energy Network is pursuing a range of renewable energy options on Thursday Island, including solar solutions.

Related article: Here’s how microgrids are empowering regional and remote Australian communities

“While the turbines can produce a lot of clean energy when the wind is blowing they won’t be as productive during those calm periods, known as ‘the doldrums’, and that’s why we need a mix of energy solutions,” Thomas said.

“There is widespread community interest in harnessing the power of the sun and we are working together with the council and other agencies to find the most suitable options and support a renewable energy future.”

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Related article: Yes, carbon capture and storage is controversial—but it’s going to be crucial

deepC Store and Azuli have been awarded two GHG acreages in waters off the coast of Australia. J-POWER intends to become a joint venture participant in the GHG Acreages, which have the potential to permanently store up to 1 billion tonnes of CO2.

J-Power executive officer Akira Yabumoto said, “We are excited to work with deepC Store and Azuli on CCS development.

“We expect that this development will contribute providing a valuable option to Japan and Australia as well as the surrounding region to reduce CO2.

“CCS will play a critical role in J-Power’s Blue Mission 2050, as well as global energy transitions. We will continue pursuing opportunities for CCS development and carbon reduction with CCS.”

Related article: Genex agrees to takeover bid by J-POWER

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing, transporting and storing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power stations, energy intensive industries, and gas fields by injecting the captured greenhouse gases back into the ground.

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Pumped hydro projects are being proposed as a post-mining use for the large holes left after open-cut mining, but new research from independent think-tank the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) suggests governments—and taxpayers—should be wary.

Related article: Pumped hydro: a vital part of Australia’s renewable energy storage solution

As the Australian mining sector sets its sights on making use of the voids left by mining, one widely suggested option is to convert these sites to pumped hydro facilities that would provide energy storage for the electricity grid.

However, a new report IEEFA highlights the technical, environmental and financial risks these projects could pose. Pumped hydro has a history of delays and cost-blowouts, and projects implemented in mine voids could also entail severe contamination risks.

The report, Filling the voids: Pumped hydro proposals could see taxpayers financing mine rehabilitation, also warns of the possibility these projects would effectively set a precedent of governments partially funding the rehabilitation of mine sites—a responsibility that should sit with the mine operator.

IEEFA lead analyst Anne-Louise Knight says, “Rehabilitating mine sites is a legal obligation miners enter when their mining licences are approved, and they should be budgeting for this ahead of the mine’s closure. IEEFA’s research raises concerns that proposals to build pumped hydro in these final voids may potentially be a way to get governments to share some of that financial burden, with taxpayers ultimately losing out.”

Mine sites with pumped hydro potential identified in ANU Study (QLD, Vic, NSW)

Along with the risks, IEEFA’s research found these projects are unlikely to deliver significant benefits for Australia’s energy system. While large-scale, strategically placed pumped hydro such as Snowy 2.0 could play an important role providing deep energy storage to complement renewable electricity generation, most of the schemes proposed for mine voids only offer medium-duration storage.

Analysis of projected storage requirements in the National Electricity Market (NEM) suggests demand for these specific projects will be limited, and might be met more competitively by alternative technologies.

Knight says, “There is little to no requirement in the NEM for the pumped hydro proposed in mine voids. The primary driver for pumped hydro proposals in mine voids appears to be an attempt to find a suitable post-mining use for mine voids rather than to fill the energy storage requirements in the NEM.”

The report argues that if final voids are permitted to be left after mining, Australia needs a clearly defined policy that sets out the obligations of mining companies to rehabilitate or repurpose mine pits to avoid significant financial burden on the taxpayer.

Related article: Muswellbrook Pumped Hydro named critical infrastructure

“Currently it is unclear what the rehabilitation strategies are for these giant holes dotted across the country,” Knight says.

“Governments must ensure companies meet their obligations in managing the ongoing risks these structures pose, while ensuring that taxpayers are not left to pick up the bill.”

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The appointment of globally renowned clean energy expert Professor Jonathan Love was announced at an industry event to launch the construction of the new Gladstone Hydrogen Central information centre that will be located at the University’s Gladstone Marina campus.

Related article: Queensland Govt approves massive Tarong West Wind Farm

As part of his new role as Stanwell Chair in Hydrogen, Professor Love will provide academic, research and strategic leadership to initiate, develop and steer a team of researchers to deliver knowledge and innovation to support the development of a thriving hydrogen and renewable energy industry, with a specific focus on the Gladstone region.

Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said Queensland’s energy sector is undergoing a transformational change to a clean energy future, and renewable hydrogen has the potential to play a key role in this transformation.

“Renewable hydrogen can help achieve several objectives for Queensland, Australia, and our trading partners including domestic decarbonisation, economic transition, and new clean energy export markets for Australia,” he said.

“Stanwell is committed to driving the development of Queensland’s hydrogen industry and we are delighted to deepen our partnership with CQUniversity by funding the establishment of the Stanwell Professorial Chair of Hydrogen at CQUniversity.

“In his role, Professor Love will focus on applied research that supports advancing the hydrogen industry in Queensland, including our flagship project, the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project (CQ-H2).

Related article: Unis launch Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy

Professor Jonathan Love will work with industry partners and clean energy researchers across Queensland and says he is looking forward to building strong industry partnerships and further building CQUniversity’s credentials in hydrogen and renewable energy research and development.

“There are already so many exciting projects happening in the region, and I believe we have a real opportunity to establish a brand-new industry, create jobs and deliver a lasting legacy of economic growth through clean, reliable energy,” he said.

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Related article: AVESS rebrands, reveals five-hour vanadium flow battery

Unicoh ESS Co Ltd will invest AUD$10.2 million to build a 500-tonne vanadium electrolyte sulfate manufacturing plant on a 24,235sqm site in South Korea’s Yeongil Port Industrial Complex Foreign Investment Zone.

The manufacturing plant is expected to create more than 60 direct jobs in Pohang City. The company is expected to invest AUD$4 million in Unicoh ESS Co Ltd to provide general working capital while strengthening its positioning in the global VFB market.

AVESS is now expected to pursue vanadium offtake opportunities with local vanadium developers to enhance Australia’s vanadium value chain.

AVESS Energy managing director Young Yu said, “The creation of Unicoh ESS and the signing of this vanadium electrolyte manufacturing MoU strengthens AVESS’ capabilities and positioning in the global vanadium electrolyte market, as we edge closer towards Australian-made vanadium batteries.

“Unicoh ESS comes at an exciting time as we synergise decades of complementary capabilities and expertise across the electrolyte space, while this MoU is another demonstration of our readiness to locally manufacture commercial-scale VFBs.”

Related article: Vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility opens in WA

The global vanadium electrolyte market size is projected to be worth US$126.3 million (2023) and is expected to reach US$537.8 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 23% between 2023 and 2030.

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The scorecard is produced through AEMO’s work with market participants, as well as transmission and distribution network service providers (NSP) involved in the comprehensive connection process.

Related article: AEMO says renewables “the most efficient path” to net zero

AEMO onboarding and connections group manager Margarida Pimentel said, “Compared to the previous 12 months, the capacity of projects working through the connection process have surged from 30GW to 43GW.”

“Early-stage application approvals involving the NSP and AEMO have increased 74%, from 6.9GW to 12GW, and the typical duration reduced by one month, from 10.9 to 9.7 months.

“AEMO has helped reduce the time taken for application approvals through collaborating, specifically by addressing key design elements early in the process and using opportunities to split scope between the NSP and AEMO to reduce duplication of work,” she said.

Over the past 12 months, projects that have application approvals from their NSP and AEMO are taking longer in the ‘proponent implementation’ stage, the stage when contracts are established, and plant is constructed.

In FY24, 75% of projects completed this stage within 21 months, compared with 12 months in FY23. The volume of projects currently in this stage has been steadily increasing and is currently sitting at 15GW compared to 11GW a year ago.

These delays can be attributed to issues such as longer equipment lead times, refinancing, delayed contract execution and construction due to the limited resources available across a growing pool of projects, and changeovers in original equipment manufacturers.

“While both registration and commissioning has not changed significantly compared to last year, we are starting to see a steady increase in new package submissions for registration, close to 7GW compared to 1.5GW at the same time last year,” Pimentel said.

“On a positive note, there has been a significant decrease in the time projects are taking to progress through commissioning, with 75% of projects commissioned to full output within 6.9 months, compared to more than 11 months in June FY23.

Related article: AEMO’s grid forecast update warns of “energy gaps”

“Contributing to this is a new approach to commissioning AEMO is using with a number of projects, taking learnings from the Federal Government’s summer readiness program and industry-supported Connections Reform Initiative trials, which has helped reduce time taken for plant to reach full output,” she said.

During the month of June 24, four projects totalling 0.72GW received application approval, with the majority from battery projects (365MW), followed by wind (276MW) and solar plus battery (80MW).

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

The $1.2 billlion refinancing guarantees the financial support for all the plants as well as a solid backing for future growth and development of new projects. The transaction also secures construction funding for the Terang project, the first utility-scale BESS project of FRV Australia, with a capacity of 100MW capacity in Victoria.

The transaction includes all FRV Australia’s operating and under-construction plants, including Lilyvale, Moree, Sebastopol, Goonumbla, Metz, Winton, Walla Walla and Dalby.

FRV Australia CEO Carlo Frigerio said, “We are thrilled to achieve this significant milestone in our journey This refinancing not only secures the future of our current operations but also provides a strong foundation for our continued growth and commitment to developing renewable energy projects across Australia.”

Related article: FRV reaches financial close on Walla Walla Solar Farm

The refinancing process involved eleven financial institutions, including ING Bank, Westpac Banking Corporation, MUFG Bank, Société Générale, Norddeutsche Landesbank, Mizuho Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, United Overseas Bank, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of China.

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Related article: ARENA spruiks huge potential of ultra low-cost solar

The design and piloting of first and second-generation prototype robots has the potential to reduce piling time and labour costs by approximately 82% and 88% respectively, increasing installation efficiency and safety.

“Australia is a technology hub for renewable energy, and Built Robotics is honoured to be working with ARENA to continue inventing better ways of building solar farms,” Built Robotics general manager and VP of business development Paul Kelly said.

“By helping to automate the most repetitive and difficult tasks on jobsites, Built’s robots aim to lower the cost of energy, accelerate construction and provide safer working conditions for skilled workers.”

ARENA is looking to reduce the installed cost of a solar project to just 30c per watt and reach a levelised cost of electricity below $20/MWh by 2030. This could help unlock a total installed capacity of 1TW of solar PV by 2050.

Related article: How ultra low-cost solar will unlock our superpower vision

The Built Robotics project is an example of the innovative ideas that ARENA expects to support through its $100 million Solar ScaleUp Challenge.

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It was revealed the Brady Heywood investigative report cost approximately $10 million while CS Energy’s legal fees cost taxpayers approximately $38 million.

Related article: Forensic report blames CS Energy for Callide C explosion

At the same time, company executives were paid a staggering $300,000 in bonuses.

The Brady Heywood investigative report into the catastrophic explosion at  Callide C power station in May 2021 found CS Energy failed to implement “effective process safety practices” at the facility.

CS Energy commissioned Dr Sean Brady of forensic engineering firm Brady Heywood to review the underlying cause of the 2021 explosion that resulted in major damage to Unit C4, which remains offline.

There were no fatalities, but the incident destroyed Unit C4’s turbine generator and destabilised the Queensland power grid. The explosion initiated a cascading failure of nine major generator units across the state, which caused almost half a million Queensland customers to lose power.

Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni was questioned about bonuses at the Budget Estimates meeting.

Related article: Callide C return-to-service date pushed back again

“I had a general dissatisfaction with board and the chief,” he said.

“The remuneration of government-owned corporation staff is entirely a matter for the board.”

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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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Enel Green Power Australia CEO Werther Esposito said, “We’re pleased to proactively collaborate with Elecsome in planning for any future instances where PV panel upcycling may be required across our portfolio of solar assets.

Related article: Report: Better solar recycling needed to deal with PV waste

“We’re committed to circular economy principles across our portfolio and recognize Elecsome’s innovative approach and capability as one of Australia’s first solar panel ‘upcycling’ plants.”

ElecSome founder and CEO Neeraj Das said, “We are thrilled to have signed this Framework Agreement for PV panel upcycling with Enel Green Power Australia, which is one of the first companies in Australia to take the initiative of signing a long-term agreement to responsibly recycle end-of-life PV panels. We appreciate their environmentally friendly approach towards net zero and circular economy initiatives.”

Enel Green Power Australia has been proactive in sustainability efforts, particularly in the area of recycling solar PV panels. The company promotes a circular economy approach to PV panel lifecycle management which involves consideration of the design of PV panels for durability, to enable efficient upcycling at the end of life, transforming them to valuable materials.

The #collaboration between Enel Green Power Australia and ElecSome aims to promote the importance of recycling PV panels and boost sustainable energy practices more broadly.

Related article: AGL studies solar recycling, cable manufacturing for Hunter

ElecSome is working with government bodies, councils and other institutions for a reasonable gate fee per solar panel, providing some incentives to encourage companies for upcycling and fostering a circular economy approach.

Approximately 1.4 million solar panels will reach their end-of-life in 2025 across Australia. The estimated waste generated due to non-usable PV panels is projected to be 145,000 tonnes a year by 2030 in Australia.

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In a study published in Nature Chemistry, researchers unravel the scientific understanding of what happens when light particles split—a process called singlet fission—and its underlying workings.

Lead researcher Professor Tim Schmidt from UNSW Sydney’s School of Chemistry has studied singlet fission for more than a decade. He says the process could be invoked and applied to improve existing silicon solar cell technologies.

“Today’s solar cells work by absorbing photons which are then sucked away to the electrodes to do the work,” Prof Schmidt says.

“But as part of this process, a lot of this light is lost as heat. Which is why solar panels don’t run at full efficiency.”

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

Pushing the limits

Almost all photovoltaic solar panels on the market today are made from silicon. Co-author Professor Ned Ekins-Daukes from UNSW’s School of Photovoltaics & Renewable Energy Engineering says although the technology is now cheap, it is also nearing its fundamental limits in terms of performance.

“The efficiency of a solar panel represents the fraction of energy supplied by the sun that can be converted into electricity,” Prof Ekins-Daukes says.

“The highest efficiency was set earlier this year by our industrial collaborator, LONGi. They demonstrated a 27.3% efficient silicon solar cell. The absolute limit is 29.4%,” he says.

Prof Schmidt says scientists are still trying to understand how the molecular process of singlet fission worked. Specifically, how does one become two? He says the process is complex and detailed.

“Our study addresses the route of this process. And we used magnetic fields for the interrogation. The magnetic fields manipulate the wavelengths of emitted light to reveal the way that singlet fission occurs. And that hasn’t been done before.”

Working smarter, not harder

Different colours of light have photons with different energies. Prof Schmidt says it doesn’t matter what the incoming energy of the light is—it will always supply the same energy to the cell, and any excess energy gets turned into heat.

“So, if you absorb a red photon then there’s a bit of heat,” he explains.

“With blue photons, there’s lots of heat. There is a limit on efficiency for solar cells.”

He says a paradigm shift is needed to allow silicon cells to achieve a greater potential.

“Introducing singlet fission into a silicon solar panel will increase its efficiency,” Prof Ekins-Daukes says.

“This enables a molecular layer to supply additional current to the panel.”

The process breaks the photon into two smaller energy chunks. These can then be used individually. This ensures more of the higher energy part of the spectrum is being used—not lost as heat.

Related article: CSIRO achieves record efficiency for printed solar cells

Investing in the future

Last year, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) selected UNSW’s singlet fission project for their Ultra Low Cost Solar program. The program aims to develop technologies capable of achieving greater than 30 per cent efficiency at a cost below 30 cents per watt by 2030.

The team used a single wavelength laser to excite the singlet fission material. Then they used an electromagnet to apply magnetic fields—which reduced the speed of the singlet fission process, making it easier to observe.

“From this firm scientific understanding of singlet fission, we can now make a prototype of an improved silicon solar cell and then work with our industrial partners to commercialise the technology,” Prof Ekins-Daukes says.

“We’re confident we can get silicon solar cells to an efficiency above 30%,” Prof Schmidt says.

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