Catch up
Capital
|
Road fleet electrification will be crucial for achieving national emissions reduction targets, sparking an investment of $6 million by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) in Battery Electric Trucks (BETs). Global electric fleet specialist Zenobē and its electric vehicle as a service (EVaaS) model will be used to deploy BETs and charging infrastructure for Woolworths (ASX: WOW).
“Investing in Zenobē’s shared infrastructure model will allow major logistics and freight operators and users to transition to electric vehicles (EVs) without the significant capital expenditure and complexity associated with the uptake of BETs. It is essential to address the finance gap present in electrification of heavy fleet transport to accelerate the decarbonisation requirements within the sector. - CEFC Head of Infrastructure Julia Hinwood
 Projects
|
Victoria approved Spanish-owned GPG’s $190 million Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Tarrone under the Development Facilitation Program, after consultation with residents, the Country Fire Authority, Ausnet, Worksafe, and Moyne Shire Council. Prior to this fast-track pathway, more than one in five renewable energy project applications ended up mired in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) - delaying eventually successful projects by years.
CIMIC Group’s infrastructure construction contractor CPB released a Sustainable Construction Playbook to get subcontractors and suppliers on board with the decarb agenda. A fitting example of collaboration was a hybrid power system at a worksite in Aldinga, South Australia, which has a 20kW solar array and on-site battery, reducing the use of diesel at the road duplication project, according to Group Manager - Sustainability David Fox.
Policy
|
WA Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson warned federal Environment Minister Murray Watt against any environment law reform that would stymie future transmission and energy infrastructure projects. “If we are serious about supporting heavy industry to rapidly decarbonise, we need a structure that enables renewable generation and transmission projects to be delivered quickly,” she said. (AFR)
The UK government launched its first onshore wind strategy to reverse almost a decade of the sector’s stagnation. Ending a nine-year de facto ban in England and aiming to add 29GW by 2030, onshore wind will be added to the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime, putting it on an equal footing with offshore wind and nuclear. Some 10GW of the onshore wind project pipeline had faced objections on the grounds of interference with aviation and defence assets, which the strategy promises to “resolve”.
“Proposals to resolve challenges around aviation infrastructure and to give local planning teams the tools and information they need to make faster, evidence-based decisions are especially important. The socio-economic contribution made by renewables developers means communities also benefit from significant benefit packages that reflect local priorities. This flexibility should be maintained for future developments. Further investment can also be encouraged by ruling out zonal pricing, which risks creating further imbalances in consumer bills.” -Vattenfall Head of UK Regulatory Affairs and member of the Onshore Wind Taskforce Lisa Christie
Regulation
|
CAM Engineering was ordered by the Federal Court to pay a penalty of $250,000 for breaching the National Energy Retail Law by failing to join the Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) scheme, which denied vulnerable consumers access to dispute resolution.
“In circumstances where I have found that CAM’s conduct, persisting as it did over a period of 16 months, was at least reckless, if not deliberate… a penalty of some magnitude is warranted to deter other operators of retirement villages from ignoring their legal and regulatory obligations.” - Justice Sarah Derrington
Technology
|
A New Zealand company at the cutting edge of marine electric propulsion has been chosen to deliver Samoa’s first low-carbon vessels under a United Nations program. Whangarei-based McKay will design and manufacture five solar and battery-propelled electric catamarans under the Climate Action Pathways for Island Transport initiative. (NZH) (EVWorld)
Climate
|
Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory captured the reality of climate change. The US plans to shut it down. “We can’t solve the existential problem of climate change if we can’t track the changes. Losing Mauna Loa would be a huge loss to climate science. If it shuts, other observatories such as Australia’s Kennaook/Cape Grim will become even more vital,” UNSW researchers warn. (The Conversation)
People
|
Bernardo Rodriguez left JD Power to boost Wood Mackenzie energy data analytics as Chief Product & Technology Officer, effective July 7. He is based in the United States and will report to CEO Jason Liu.
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) called for expressions of interest for people to join a panel of Eligible Experts for a Rate of Return Instrument (RORI) review, which occurs every four years.
Research
|
Scientists are working on an industry-based project to transform solar power in space with the help of lightweight cadmium telluride (CdTe) solar cells on ultra-thin glass. The European Space Agency predicts a leap from just 1MWp/year to 10GWp/year of space solar demand by 2035, driven by expansion of satellite constellations like SpaceX’s Starlink and the rise of space-based manufacturing, including semiconductors and fiber optics. (Interesting Engineering)
Random
|
A team of researchers published an anti-autocracy handbook to help scholars protect their work and personal safety while navigating the “global trend of democratic backsliding, particularly in the US”. (Inside Climate News)