Energy Magazine

Hadean Energy is trialling its electrolyser technology at a CSIRO testing facility, which could produce #greenhydrogen using up to 30 per cent less #electricity than conventional #electrolysers. The tubular solid oxide electrolysis technology can also be used to efficiently produce #syngas for #efuels. Its simple tubular design and proprietary catalyst is expected to lower #manufacturing and #maintenance costs.  Hadean Energy CEO, Chris Rowland, said #testing has proceeded smoothly, with great support from the CSIRO staff. “Successful completion of our #trial will help us progress to commercial scale electrolyser production and make a vital contribution to #decarbonising hard-to-abate industries." The long-term durability and performance of Hadean Energy’s electrolyser module is being tested over several months at CSIRO’s Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Facility (HTDF), which provides the #infrastructure for #hydrogen technologies to be tested and demonstrated by innovators in industry and research. CSIRO Hydrogen Industry Mission Deputy Leader, Karen Kozielski, said the facility is particularly useful for #researchers moving their #technology from benchtop scale to pilot and commercially relevant scale, when #safety is very important. “The HTDF also gives innovators a secure and trusted place to show people their technology in action," Ms Kozielski said.

Hydro Tasmania will invest $11.5 million in its Huxley Wind Farm, one of Australia’s oldest continuously working wind farms. The #windfarm was built in 1998 and is a vital part of the world-leading off-grid hybrid #energysystem that powers King Island, which isn't connected to a mainland #electricity supply. The upgrades would extend the working life of its five #windturbines for at least ten years, Hydro Tasmania Executive General Manager of Assets and Infrastructure, Jesse Clark, said. Hydro Tasmania will #repower the wind turbines rather than purchasing new units. This involves buying #refurbished used equipment and reusing as many parts as possible. “The repowering will provide an important example of how to effectively maintain and refurbish aging wind farms to reduce waste and cost,” Mr Clark said.  

After 20 years of research, Essential Energy has revealed that vegetable oil can be used as an alternative to traditional mineral oil to insulate #transformers, reducing environmental impacts and improving #safety. Essential Energy began using #vegetableoil to insulate transformers adjacent to the National Parks in 2005 before joining with Monash University and Ausgrid in 2007 to do #research and #development on further use of vegetable oil in the business. The utility now has 22 transformers up to 132kV, each containing about 10,000L of vegetable oil along the borders of the National Parks, with more at other sites in its network. Data from two decades of research from annual tests for acidity, oxidisation and moisture exposure has shown that natural esters such as vegetable oil are proving to be a great alternative to mineral oil in applications where fire risk or environmental sensitivity is a concern. Essential Energy Senior Engineer, Dan Martin, said “We’ve been looking for any changes in the chemical measurements, and so far, all the data has remained within our standards, even during #poweroutages and extreme temperatures. “We expect about 60 years of life for the transformers, so now that they’re entering their 20th year, this data gives us the confidence they will last another 20–30 years at least.” 

Despite some commentary suggesting a global slowdown of #electricvehicle (EV) purchases, #sales in Australia continue to grow. Though #EVsales in Australia are still significantly behind other geographies as a proportion of total market share, the introduction of new vehicle emissions standards and the launch of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy has shown strong government support to meet with consumers’ increasing #demand to go #electric. Yet, how #consumers currently or will behave in relation to EVs – including #purchasing, #charging, #servicing, #batterymanagement, driving patterns and use of #energymanagement technologies – is not entirely clear. In this piece from our November edition, Oliver Hill from RACE for 2030 and Professor Ross Gordon from University of Technology Sydney talk us through the innovative research that aims to understand consumers' lived experience to support an equitable #EVtransition.

Powerlink Queensland has requested community feedback on its newly released #transmission corridor as part of the #gridconnection for the #TheodoreWindFarm. 

Western Power is preparing to deploy 24 #drones as part of a trial to explore whether the #technology can be used to reduce pole-top fires, deter wildlife from #powerlines, and accelerate #decisionmaking, in a move to monitor #networkfaults and maintain #reliability. Western Australian Energy Minister, Reece Whitby, said, “Having sweltered through record-breaking heat last summer, I’m glad to see Western Power is on the front foot in investigating whether these drones could be used to reduce the risk of fires or faults. “Our #network is large and complicated, and these investments will ensure we can make the #powersupply as reliable as possible.” 

A new #study has revealed that two-thirds of Australians support #cleanenergy projects, challenging the belief that those in #regional areas oppose the #energytransition. The #data from Winds of Change: Regional Australians’ Real Views on Renewables, conducted by Porter Novelli Australia and market research firm Quantum Market Research, shows that most Australians are optimistic and prepared for a clean #energyfuture, with 59 per cent recognising the positive impacts #renewable projects will have on their #community. Porter Novelli’s CEO, Rhys Ryan, said that the key to a smoother #transition towards #netzero was effective #earlyengagement with #ruralcommunities. #Communication with regional communities must be flexible, localised and must address their unique concerns, said Porter Novelli’s Managing Partner and Agribusiness Lead, Patrick McClelland.

The Government of Western Australia has secured additional power supply for the #Goldfieldsregion by sourcing back-up generation from TransAlta from BHP Nickel West’s temporarily suspended operations. The announcement follows the conclusion of months of negotiations with #energyproducers in the Goldfields and represents a significant additional investment in the #security of the region’s #electricitysystem. Western Australian Energy Minister, Reece Whitby, said the announcement is a big win for the Goldfields. TransAlta Australia’s Managing Director, Robert O. Millard, said with BHP the company is proud to be part of this collaborative solution with BHP Nickel West and Western Power to bring #energysecurity to the Goldfields community.” 

A 2024 report by Energy Networks Australia found that Australia’s #distributiongrid is under‑utilised, identifying a number of opportunities within the local #electricitygrid that could provide cleaner, cheaper energy. Many of these included the utilisation of consumer energy resources (CERs), such as #solar, #batterystorage and #electricvehicles. The increasing use of #CERs, however, can create challenges of its own. In the November edition of Energy Magazine, Nick Phillips – Head of Technical Sales for Asia Pacific at Itron, Inc. – talks us through how Australia can balance this risk, implement ENA's recommendations and reap the full benefits of CERs.

Australia’s abundance of metal rooftops, coupled with a growing #demand for premium #solar components and installations, creates an ideal environment for the widespread adoption of direct-attach mounting systems. S-5! is confident in this potential and is actively collaborating with #installers and #engineering, #procurement and #construction (EPC) contractors to increase awareness of the benefits of rail-less solar fixings, allowing for faster and less complicated installations. In this article, S-5! VP of Research and Development, Dustin Haddock, talks us through why metal roofing is the ideal platform for direct-attach #solarinstallations.