Natalie Filatoff
Australian solar provides cheapest energy, incurs highest frequency ancillary services payments
New research from Cornwall Insight shows that grid-scale solar farms are paying 10% to 20% of the cost of providing frequency ancillary services to Australia’s National Electricity Market, despite currently generating around 3% of energy in the system.
Digital prospecting and selling tools for rooftop PV
An Australian-developed aerial mapping technology is being deployed to speed PV uptake.
Mobile, quick-install mounting system for medium and large scale projects
An Australian innovator has designed a secure racking system he says enables super-fast installation of solar fields, which can then be relocated as needed.
Seven major players shortlisted for Australia’s hydrogen funding round
Commercialisation of hydrogen production is a priority of the Australian government. Seven applicants for ARENA funding of large-scale hydrogen proposals made it through to the next round, in which they will submit full applications for projects that will be expected to commence construction in 2022.
Low-cost direct solar-to-hydrogen ambitions see the light
The road to cheap hydrogen production is riddled with potholes and energy losses. Researchers in Australia have demonstrated rethinking solar technology and skipping electrolysers could hold great promise for reaching the hydrogen holy grail.
Electric aircraft engines could take to the skies over Australia
Zero-emission, low-cost regional flights with just eight other sanitized folk and a disinfected pilot! Yes, Covid-19 is warping our view of the future but the successful electrically-powered maiden flight of a Cessna Caravan last week offers the potential for new modes of transport to support a wider economic recovery in Australia.
Policy, policy, policy: BloombergNEF’s path to hydrogen uptake
A hot energy topic with little coordinated analysis, green hydrogen has finally attracted the number crunchers of BloombergNEF.
Australian government redirects funding for Energy Transition Hub
The Australian federal government said last week that it will curtail funding for the five-year Energy Transition Hub research initiative.
Smart Energy Council rallies industry to halt decline of Australia’s renewables market
Renewable energy developers and investors have told Australian industry body the Smart Energy Council ‘they’re done. The sovereign risk in Australia is too great,’ according to the organization’s government relations manager, Wayne Smith. With prospects, employment and energy prices in jeopardy, the trade organization has vowed to petition policymakers for a bankable plan.
The psychology of climate-change denial – we’re all on the spectrum
With fire-extinguishing rain on the east coast, coronavirus flagged an urgent threat and PM Scott Morrison drumming up support for technology and free-market forces to beat climate change, it all made for a weekend to shake the resolve of some Australians to act on their carbon emissions. Understanding the psychology of how we perceive risk and commit to action can help us focus and keep fighting the fight.
