David Carroll
Modular solar startup secures backing of bp ventures
Australian modular solar manufacturer 5B has secured a $13.7 million (AUD 20 million) investment from the venture capital arm of British energy giant bp, which will allow it to accelerate the development of its preassembled, relocatable modular solar technology.
Australian researchers release heat maps for wind, solar project siting
Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) have unveiled a new online tool to identify the best possible locations for the development of new large-scale wind and solar farms.
Australian science agency to back domestic silicon, solar supply chain
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has urged the Australian government to develop a domestic solar manufacturing industry. A new report warns that the high concentration of global silicon and PV cell supply chains pose real risks to the national energy security.
Novel sodium-sulfur battery for renewables storage
A Chinese-Australian research group has created a new sodium-sulfur battery that purportedly provides four times the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries. They say it is far cheaper to produce and offers the potential to dramatically reduce energy storage costs.
Trina Solar unveils 425 W all-black solar module with 21.3% efficiency
China’s Trina Solar has developed an upgraded version of its Vertex S All Black PV module, with about 30 W of additional output. It is offering the new product on the Australian market.
Sterling & Wilson switches on 162 MW solar plant in Australia
The Australian state of Queensland’s push to source 70% of its energy supplies from renewables by 2032 has received a boost with the completion of the 162 MW Columboola Solar Farm.
Woodside lands agreement for 50 MW first-stage solar project
Woodside Energy has secured an agreement with the traditional owners of land on which it plans to build the first 50 MW stage of a potential 500 MW solar power plant in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Rio Tinto to spend big on solar, storage
Rio Tinto plans to invest $402 million (AUD 600 million) to build two new solar farms and battery energy storage systems in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, as part of its efforts to decarbonize its iron ore operations.
Australian startup to fast-track gravity energy storage system
Australian renewable energy startup Green Gravity plans to accelerate the commercialization of its gravitational energy storage technology – which aims to generate clean, dispatchable energy by lowering weights down old mine shafts – after signing an agreement with global professional services company GHD.
Neoen secures grid approval for hybrid wind-solar-storage project in Australia
Neoen has signed a grid-connection agreement with ElectraNet for the first stage of its AUD 3 billion ($2 billion) Goyder South project in Australia, paving the way for future wind, solar and battery storage opportunities at the site.
