renewables

Rio Tinto has called for proposals to develop large-scale wind and solar power in Central and Southern Queensland to power its aluminium assets, help meet its climate change ambitions and further encourage renewable development and industry in the region.

The CSIRO has released a Roadmap highlighting the research required to continue Australia’s transition to a more secure and affordable electricity system, showing that innovation can drive the integration of renewables. 

The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and the Clean Energy Council have published the Connections Reform Roadmap, seeking to improve the process of connecting new renewable energy, energy storage and hybrid projects to the National Electricity Market (NEM). 

CSIRO’s annual GenCost report has again found renewables to be the cheapest new-build electricity generation option in Australia. 

Trafigura, one of the largest global physical commodities trading groups, and the SA government have unveiled a landmark $750 million hydrogen project to be integrated with the Nyrstar Port Pirie smelter. 

As part of the 2020-21 Budget, the Government will invest $28.5 million to fund energy infrastructure projects to increase Western Australia’s energy security while lowering costs and reducing emissions. The Government’s funding will support: an initial investment in a Big Battery project that will increase capacity in the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) by 100 … Continue reading $28.5m to be invested to delivering cheap and reliable energy in WA →

Early works will start before the end of the year on a $380 million wind farm in Far North Queensland, creating 150 jobs, thanks to a sales deal with publicly-owned CleanCo. Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said Neoen Energy would build the Kaban Green Power Hub near Ravenshoe, 80 kilometres south-west of Cairns now that … Continue reading New wind farm to be constructed in North Queensland →

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has signed a 10-year renewable power purchase agreement (PPA) that will halve its carbon emissions from electricity, a significant step towards achieving net-zero emissions across its operations. Through the Agreement, signed with ZEN Energy, 26 CSIRO-managed research sites in ACT, NSW, and Victoria will be supplied by renewable generation from … Continue reading CSIRO to cut emissions through renewable power →

Leading energy infrastructure company, Jemena, has called for a national approach to green accreditation for renewable gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, as part of its submission to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Bioenergy Roadmap. A certification system would enable customers to purchase verified and accredited zero emission gas as is currently the case … Continue reading Call for renewable gas certification to unlock Australia’s bioenergy potential →

Last week, on behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced $1.71 million in funding to BP Australia to assess the feasibility of building a renewable hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Geraldton, Western Australia.   BP will be supported by GHD Advisory to deliver the $4.42 million feasibility study, which will … Continue reading BP Australia study looks to scale up renewable hydrogen for export →

As battery storage technology becomes more affordable, more companies are turning to renewable energy as a means of cutting down on energy costs. PACE talks to Total Construction’s James Bolton and Rob Blythman about what needs to be considered when transitioning to solar power. With high power costs looking likely to remain a norm, Australian … Continue reading Powering the factories of the future →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has released a report that outlines renewable energy options for all Australian industrial users of process heat. The report, Renewable Energy Options for Industrial Process Heat, states that abundant opportunities exist for industrial users to switch to renewable energy alternatives to provide process heat. The report considers all industries … Continue reading ARENA releases report on renewable options for process heat →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $8 million in funding to Neoen Australia for an expansion of the Tesla-built Hornsdale Power Reserve battery in South Australia. The $71 million project will see the current battery, which is already the largest in the world, expanded to demonstrate the ability for grid-scale batteries to provide … Continue reading World’s largest battery to be expanded →

The federal government will provide $24.2 million in funding and a $90 million loan for a project that will see daytime operations at two Pilbara iron ore mines powered entirely by solar power. Alinta Energy will construct a large solar farm at Fortescue Metals Group’s mining hub in the Chichester Ranges, three hours drive south … Continue reading Two Pilbara mines to be powered solely by solar →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has provided $1.9 million in funding to Queensland Nitrates to assess the feasibility of the construction and operation of a renewable ammonia plant at its existing facility near Moura in Central Queensland. The consortium, led by QNP and partners Neoen and Worley, proposes to produce 20,000 tonnes per year … Continue reading ARENA funds feasibility study for renewable ammonia production →

The federal government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), has announced $460,500 in funding to the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) to investigate opportunities for using renewables in process heating in manufacturing. Process heating accounts for the largest share of onsite energy use in Australian manufacturing. Low temperature processes offer the greatest opportunity … Continue reading Federal government funds study into renewables potential for process heating →

Australia’s future aerospace and renewable energy engineers are set to emerge from the Hunter following the launch of two brand new degrees at the University of Newcastle (UON). The Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering (Honours) are new programs designed to create highly specialised professionals for the jobs of the … Continue reading Jobs of the future to stem from new aerospace and renewable energy degrees →

This months Renewable Energy Index released by Green Energy Markets reveals how each of the states feeding into the National Electricity Market (NEM) is tracking for electricity production and consumption. While the NEM is on track to achieve a 33.3 per cent contribution from renewables by 2020, almost a doubling the 17.3 per cent achieved … Continue reading Renewable Energy Index: How are the states are tracking on renewables? →

Schneider Electric has launched new services to assist businesses in the adoption of low-cost renewable energy, through power purchase agreements (PPAs) and other projects. According to the Schneider press release, it says the rapid closures of coal-fired power plants and an increase in the price of large-scale generation certificates — two of several converging events … Continue reading Schneider renewable energy services to alleviate energy costs →

Cimic Group company UGL has been awarded contracts by Equis Energy to build and maintain the Tailem Bend 127MW Solar Farm in South Australia. The project will generate revenue to UGL of approximately $170 million and is due to commence in early 2018, with power generation to the grid expected in 2019. CIMIC Group Chief … Continue reading Cimic’s UGL awarded $170m contract →