Energy Magazine November 2024

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EDITOR’S WELCOME

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VIC 3008 Australia P: (03) 9690 8766 www.primecreativemedia.com.au enquiries@primecreative.com.au ISSN: 2203-2797

Editor

Katie Livingston

A ssistant Editor

Sarah MacNamara

Journalists Tess Macallan

Kody Cook

Art Director

Alejandro Molano

Designer

N

Brett

M arketing

Radhika

M arketing

Amy Boreham

Publisher Sarah Baker

M

Laura Pearsall

elcome to the final issue of Energy for 2024. As we reflect on how the last 12 months have played out for the energy sector, it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s been a huge year.

The 2030 deadline is now just five short years away, and decision makers from all facets of the sector are leading the charge towards our clean energy future.

For me, some of the most exciting news has been to see the Federal and State governments prioritise the energy transition with initiatives like the National Hydrogen Strategy, Rewiring the Nation, Future Made in Australia and the Capacity Investment Scheme. While there is much more to be done to deliver AEMO’s ISP, 2024 has already seen the sector deliver on some of the critical infrastructure needed to transition the NEM.

In this November issue, we explored some of the work that Origin Energy is doing to deliver the large-scale storage needed to bolster Australia’s clean energy future; and we took a deep dive into the newly established Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy (ACOWE), which is enabling the research and training needed in the establishment of an offshore wind energy sector here in Australia.

It goes without saying that this transition cannot happen without transmission, so we spoke with Powerlink about some of those key projects it has in the powerline, including the critical CopperString 2032.

edition, we took a trip down Horizon Power and Synergy’s WA EV Network, and spoke with team behind the Reliable, Affordable, Clean Energy (RACE) for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), which is working to support an equitable EV transition.

We also heard from Western Australian Minister for Energy, Reece Whitby, who shed some light into how the State Government is helping consumers manage their energy bills.

For this issue, we’ve partnered with All Energy, so we’re thrilled to share some great insights from the event’s exhibitors and speakers.

I hope you enjoy this issue, and as always, if you have any topics, projects, technologies or challenges that you want us to cover in future issues, we’d love to hear from you.

Katie Livingston Editor

If you have a story idea, tip or feedback regarding Energy, I’d love to hear it. Drop me a line at katherine.livingston@primecreative.com.au , and don’t forget to follow us on social media – find us on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

Energy Magazine acknowledges Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and pays respect to their cultures and Elders past and present.

8 Charging ahead with EV technology

10 Unlocking the local electricity grid

12 Building Australia’s offshore wind industry

16 Boosting support for wind developments

18 Remote solutions bolstering the NEM

20 The road to net zero

24 The rail-less revolution

26 L arge-scale batteries lead the charge

30 Grid intelligence software enabling the transition

32 Good chemistry: safer lithium batteries

34 Electricity credits securing WA’s energy affordability

36 Revolutionising Australia’s energy

38 Consumers at the heart of the EV transition

42 A consumer-focused energy system

46 Creating a safe and sustainable network

48 Securing Queensland’s electricity supply

52 Blending Australia’s hydrogen future

54 Training the next generation of hydrogen workers

EACH ISSUE

58 Transitional technology for renewable methanol

Improving storm preparedness in Vic

Afinal report that investigated the response from privately owned power companies to the extreme storms in February 2024 was released, aiming to support a quicker response and faster reconnections for Victorians in future outages.

The 19 recommendations and 12 observations made by the expert panel form a clear pathway of improvements for distribution businesses in response to an outage.

Some of the same communities that were affected by prolonged outages during the February storm experienced outages again in September 2024 following extreme winds. In response to the interim Network Outage Review

released in July 2024, power companies had already begun to change preparedness processes.

The review, however, made strong recommendations for further improvements to power company processes and engagement to improve the response to storm-related outages.

Some of the recommendations in the report include:

• A new financial support mechanism that provides more immediate support for customers impacted by outages, putting the onus on distribution business to reduce restoration times

• Formalising mutual aid arrangements between power companies before an

Pilbara transmission line progresses

Pilbara’s first major transmission line continued to make headway, with the project set to provide green energy from Maitland to Karratha and the Burrup Peninsula once complete.

Traditional Owners, the Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation and Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation – who formed an alliance for the project that is part of a working group with the Western Australian Government –continue to work alongside Perdaman, Woodside, and Yara Pilbara on the development.

The Western Australian Government said it is continuing to work closely with Traditional Owners and industry to design the transmission assets, while ensuring minimal impact to Country.

The Pilbara is responsible for about 20 per cent of Western Australia’s gross state product and contributes about a quarter of the State Government’s revenue.

It is anticipated the Maitland–Karratha–Burrup line will provide the template for future common use renewable infrastructure to support the region’s decarbonisation.

In September, the Western Australian Government announced that it was seeking project proponents that can build transmission that can decarbonise industry while minimising on-Country impacts.

Successful proponents will be granted Priority Project status, meaning the project can benefit from State

outage, to ensure a quicker response and faster reconnection

• Accurate and timely information on customer reconnection times, and the importance of ensuring that communications tools, such as outage trackers, can meet surge demand

“Our recommendations focus on step change improvements that will strengthen support for communities, including for electricity infrastructure in high-risk areas for outages, and by other critical infrastructure operators, like telecommunications and water, in their planning and preparation for the first 72 hours of an event,” said the Network Outage Review Panel Chair, Rosemary Sinclair.

Government facilitation, as well as receive the state’s recommendation to negotiate with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to access funding through the Federal Government’s $3 billion Rewiring the Nation fund.

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Qld launches solar recycling program

The first 15 sites of the Queensland Government’s solar panel recycling, reuse and recovery pilot officially opened, expected to save approximately 26t of waste from entering landfill.

In partnership with the Smart Energy Council, the Queensland Government said the program will deliver solar panel recycling across the state and guide better practice in the renewable energy sector by improving industry engagement with communities.

The Solar Panel Stewardship program was officially launched in Redlands as part of Community Cabinet, with six solar panel collection sites across the state confirmed, including Capalaba and North Lakes in greater Brisbane, along with the Gold Coast,

Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville along the coast.

The pilot is supported by almost $5.5 million in funding as part of the State Government’s Recycling and Jobs Fund, and the Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Association Grant to deliver the end-of-life solar panel recovery trial.

The product stewardship pilot is designed to test the feasibility of collection, re-use and recycling for solar panels from homes, businesses and solar farms, ensuring a significant reduction in landfill.

panels for pick-up, and installers and importers with accumulated stock are included in the collection.

The program aims to plan for the future and will inform the creation of a national stewardship scheme.

The trial will also incorporate two regional “legacy runs” in which local councils will gather household

Participating in the pilot are recycling, reuse companies and solar industry firms Rexel, Resolarcycle, and Solar Shift. The Smart Energy Council is working closely with local councils in the rollout of this program.

Ten-year works plan for Tasmania

Hydro Tasmania will invest $1.6 billion over the coming decade to upgrade and modernise its existing hydropower assets.

Hydro Tasmania CEO, Ian Brooksbank, laid out the forward plan for capital works, including major refurbishments across ten power stations and five dams that will extend the operational life of Hydro Tasmania’s power stations.

Mr Brooksbank said the capital works complemented plans to redevelop the Tarraleah Hydropower Scheme and to build pumped hydro at Lake Cethana.

“Our incredible hydro network has played a significant role in fuelling Tasmania’s economic growth,”

Mr Brooksbank said.

“But it can’t stand still in time. We must invest in our infrastructure for a new era of Tasmanian hydropower that will help meet the state’s energy demands now and in the future.”

The $1.6 billion investment is in addition to the approximately $100 million it costs to operate and maintain the fleet every year.

Tasmanian Minister for Energy and Renewables, Nick Duigan, said that

hydro had been the cornerstone of Tasmania’s economic growth over the past century.

“With Tasmanian energy consumption predicted to continue to grow, we can’t afford to reduce our hydro generator fleet. We need it well maintained, while being safe and reliable to ensure our state has the energy it requires into the future,”

Mr Duigan said.

“This ten-year investment will ensure that Tasmania’s hydro generation continues to drive the state’s economy and jobs into the future.”

Innovation for the future

As the sector evolves, companies that design, build and maintain major electrical infrastructure hold the key to ensuring Australia’s energy system is reliable and resilient.

Enerven plays a critical role across the entire energy ecosystem, from power generation to transmission, distribution, and residential projects. The company’s expertise also spans telecommunications and emerging technologies, contributing at every level to build and maintain Australia’s essential infrastructure.

Recently Enerven delivered the Zero Cost Energy Future project, which involved the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of 242GWh of solar and 34MWh of energy storage across 33 sites in metropolitan and regional South Australia – all of which were completed within 24 months.

Enerven CEO, Richard Amato, said delivering a project of this magnitude within such a short timeframe required innovation at every step.

“The Zero Cost Energy Future project is a prime example of how we approach complex challenges – by combining technical expertise with agile solutions to meet our clients’ goals,” Mr Amato said.

Enerven’s work also includes some of the largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Australia – such as the Torrens Island 250MW, 250MWh BESS project in South Australia, which

plays a key role in stabilising the grid and integrating renewable energy.

In New South Wales, Enerven is also charging ahead with the Eraring Battery project, which is set to be one of the largest BESS in the country, delivering a combined capacity of more than 700MW across two stages.

“The Torrens Island and Eraring batteries are just two examples of how we are supporting Australia’s transition to renewable energy, delivering solutions for our clients that will power the future,” Mr Amato said.

Enerven also provides comprehensive solutions for both power transmission and distribution. These services include designing, constructing and maintaining transmission lines and substations up to 500kV, as well as step-up transformer assembly, testing and maintenance. This is in addition to the company’s modern infrastructure solutions, such as electric vehicle charging stations, smart metering, virtual power plants and underground residential development.Mr Amato said that Enerven’s background in regulated energy markets is one of its greatest strengths.

“It enables us to deliver solutions that are both robust and scalable in deregulated environments, where flexibility and innovation are crucial. This unique experience allows us to meet the complex demands of our clients with precision,” he said.

“Some of the biggest organisations in mining, defence, and transmission and distribution trust us to look after their assets and infrastructure.”

Rooted in South Australia but with a national reach, Enerven’s workforce is skilled, diverse, and equipped to tackle a wide range of challenges.

“We’re not just focused on building for the present; we’re designing and building for the future,” Mr Amato said.

“As the energy and telecommunications sectors continue to evolve, our ability to deliver innovative, resilient infrastructure solutions will only become more important.

“We’re proud of the work we do. Our teams are at the forefront of some of the most innovative projects in the country, and our commitment to delivering long-lasting, reliable infrastructure ensures that Australia is well-equipped for whatever the future may hold.”

Enerven’s workforce is skilled, diverse and equipped to tackle any challenge. Image: Enerven

Charging ahead with EV technology

CSIRO and Essential Energy are connecting on vehicle-to-grid opportunities in regional Australia.

IVehicle Council (EVC) reporting a doubling of sales from last year, the country is on track to reach 100,000 new EVs on the road in 2024.

As these numbers continue to increase, it is crucial to understand EVs’ impact on Australia’s electricity grid and the opportunities integration into the network provides consumers.

CSIRO recently partnered with Essential Energy, one of Australia’s largest electricity distribution networks, to trial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology as part of the home electricity management system.

V2G allows for bidirectional electricity flow, enabling the car battery to capture excess rooftop solar generation to run

potential and they’re going to play a big part in the future electricity system, but at the moment our understanding of how they might work in the Australian context is limited,” CSIRO Transport Electrification team lead, Kate Cavanagh, said.

“Our project is set in regional Australia, and we are using real household appliances in a laboratory setting to provide a range of realistic and controllable household types and scenarios to test out V2G in the Australian context.

“This includes a mix of selfconsumption, solar-soak (using your own solar power), and grid-export of vehicle battery power.

manage their own energy and be quite self-sufficient.”

The basics

The idea of using EVs as energy storage was first proposed in the late 1990s, and a small experimental trial in California in 2001 demonstrated that EVs could be used to feed energy back into the grid.

It’s only in the last decade, however, that the concept has gained momentum, with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) noting that more than 80 trials are underway around the world, primarily in Europe.

V2G technology operates through a bidirectional charger that allows two,

A V2G charger connected to an EV. Images: Essential Energy, Courtesy of CSIRO

two-way exchanges of energy between the car, the home and the grid. This enables the EV to become a mobile energy storage system that can capture excess renewable energy when it’s abundant – when the sun is shining and rooftop solar panels are generating surplus power – and supply energy back to the home or the grid during peak demand times.

Senior Research Engineer at CSIRO’s Newcastle Energy Centre and technical lead for the collaboration with Essential Energy, Dr Sam Behrens, outlined the potential benefits.

“At the moment you can buy stationary home storage system and connect it to your home, but those batteries have fairly small storage capacities compared to an EV,” Dr Behrens said.

“An EV can have more than five times the battery storage of a stationary storage system, and V2G technology will allow us to leverage that and use it in the home.

“If you use your EV to store solar energy as it is generated during the day, you can then use that for nighttime electricity needs. It can also be used to support the grid, enhancing reliability and resilience by flattening peak loads.”

Essential Energy Chief Operating Officer, Luke Jenner, said the use of a bi-directional charger can transform EVs from being just a vehicle into a part of the future energy solution.

“Trialling V2G technology is an important part of supporting customers to gain better value from their rooftop solar and electric vehicle batteries,” Mr Jenner said.

“V2G technology also has potential to lead to lower costs for all customers by helping to optimise the flow of energy throughout the network, offsetting the need for additional investment in the network.”

An Australian context

V2G technology currently has limited availability for EV owners in Australia. Customers attempting to connect their V2G charger to the grid may encounter regulatory challenges, including complying with current and evolving Australian standards.

And different drivers have motivated the early research so far.

Energy trial is to understand how the technology can be integrated into buildings and the broader grid by identifying potential obstacles that could impede its progress as a widely used energy resource for households and businesses in Australia.

The project is based at an innovation hub in Port Macquarie, New South Wales, where Essential Energy has built an electric home of the future for testing ideas. It is equipped with common appliances including a washing machine and dryer, fridge, dishwasher, air-conditioner, hot water system and pool pump.

The hub is also fitted with solar panels and a bidirectional EV charger plugged into a Nissan Leaf. Certain models of the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross are currently the only EVs on the Australian market that are V2G enabled.

All of these resources and loads are fully controllable, allowing the research team to replicate different household profiles and scenarios. This enables a range of experiments to be conducted on electricity usage patterns, charge and discharge behaviours, and network stability.

“This is really a platform for both organisations to deepen our understanding of how things perform and learn about the technology in the Australian context together,” Dr Behrens said.

“We can look at the grid impacts and the opportunities in Australia that might

to ease their cost of living.”

Outcomes and future work

A 2023 ARENA report described bidirectional charging as one of the largest potential enablers in Australia’s energy transition, making clear just how important this technology will be over the coming decades.

While lessons from Europe and the US have helped inform local progress in the V2G space, it is crucial that Australia focuses on research projects that are tailored to its own specific context – in terms of electricity generation and storage, power grids, and technical and regulatory standards.

The findings of this CSIROEssential Energy project will be key in those efforts.

“The trial helps Essential Energy prepare the network for the house of the future that will have electric vehicles with the capability, through bidirectional chargers, to power homes and the grid,” Mr Jenner said.

“The collaboration between CSIRO and Essential Energy will help to develop energy efficient products and services for customers to support them through the energy transition and to trial user-friendly ways to manage home electricity usage.”

For more information, contact enquiriesteam@csiro.au

Consumer household products are included in the Essential Energy and CSIRO V2G trial.

Consumer energy resources such as electric vehicles and rooftop solar are on the rise in Australia. Image: Slavun/shutterstock.com

Unlocking the local electricity grid

Australia’s transition to net zero is full steam ahead, but the energy grid now faces unprecedented changes in demand and new challenges in maintaining stability.

Released in August 2024, Energy Networks Australia’s (ENA) The time is now report that found that Australia’s distribution grid is under-utilised and identified opportunities within the local electricity grid that could provide cleaner, cheaper energy. To achieve this, the report recommendations include:

• Linking locally generated solar with unused capacity in the grid to operate as local energy hubs

• Amplifying untapped solar opportunities by introducing incentives for large commercial properties to install more solar panels and share with the community

• Soaking up surplus solar by attaching large batteries to existing grid infrastructure

• Plugging in more EV chargers by enabling networks to install and maintain kerbside charging

• Syncing with the grid by connecting and coordinating all energy resources

The increasing utilisation of consumer energy resources (CERs) such as solar, battery storage and EVs, however, can create its own challenges.

In the case of rooftop solar, Itron’s Head of Technical Sales for Asia Pacific, Nick Phillips, said that both over and under generation can cause issues in the low voltage network, with over generation running the risk of damaging

inadequate infrastructure and sudden under generation leading to outages and instability.

To tackle these challenges and reap the full benefits of ENA’s recommendations, Mr Phillips said that increased visibility of CERs and their constraints is required, as well as the ability to control CERs within the operating envelope of the network.

“You need to be able to see the whole problem, right down to the bottom level of individual households. Trying to aggregate all of the data at the top level just doesn’t work,” Mr Phillips said.

A path forward

Itron’s Low Voltage Distributed Energy Resource Management Solution (LV-DERMS) offers a data-driven method for managing CERs while ensuring stability is maintained in the low-voltage network.

“LV-DERMS is specifically designed to harness our existing ability to be able to see behind the meter and give the distribution companies the power to plan and control the amount of energy to be released at any one time,” Mr Phillips said.

“It has a forecasting system that looks two days ahead, driven from the weather forecast. This gives us the ability to roughly work out for each individual home what we expect the generation profile to be,” Mr Phillips said.

Being able to plan ahead in this way enables communities to maximise the solar energy being generated in their neighbourhood.

When it comes to batteries, Mr Phillips said that the forecasting feature allows distribution companies to visualise where network constraints are and plan which parts of the network can safely charge batteries to their full capacity, ensuring any excess solar is soaked up for later use.

In addition to forecasting, LV-DERMS offers the ability to connect to and control assets, which provides a means for the coordination of consumer energy resources to ensure local transformers can handle increased demand.

“Being able to charge EVs and batteries at a coordinated time, along with solar, is really important to be able to make the most of things,” Mr Phillips said.

“LV-DERMS provides that visibility to see when the power is going to be available and the connectivity to be able to change the schedules as needed.”

Working in combination with other Itron solutions, LV-DERMS provides a clearly defined path to implement ENA’s recommendations by enabling the connection and coordination of all energy resources across the low-voltage network.

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Building Australia’s offshore wind industry

To take advantage of its natural resources and foster a thriving offshore wind industry, Australia needs to overcome a range of challenges.

Offshore wind is an established industry in many countries around the globe, providing clean and reliable energy as the world continues to decarbonise.

Though Australia is yet to fully tap into this resource, the Federal Government is taking steps to build the industry, naming six designated offshore wind areas around the country.

In July 2024, the Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy (ACOWE) was launched to address the challenges standing in the way of the sector. It aims to deliver evidence-based solutions and a new, skilled workforce to enable sustainable offshore wind development in Australia through a nationally coordinated, interdisciplinary research and training partnership.

Collaborative approach

ACOWE was launched with six founding universities – the University

of Melbourne, Deakin University, Federation University, the University of Newcastle, the University of Western Australia and the University of Wollongong, all strategically located within Australia’s declared or proposed offshore wind zones.

ACOWE Director, Shiaohuey Chow, said that the principal force behind the establishment of ACOWE is the recognition that no singular organisation can deliver the research, teaching and training needed in the establishment of an offshore wind energy sector in Australia.

“Many of us involved in the centre have been engaged in offshore engineering and marine research for a number of years,” Dr Chow said.

Key challenges

Australia has been generating onshore wind power since 1987, and there are some important lessons that the

offshore wind industry can draw from this long history.

Australia can learn from onshore wind proponents, given their long experience in community engagement as well as the similar research needs to monitor the impact to onshore flora and fauna.

Ultimately, however, Dr Chow said that the environments in which the structures are built, operate and will be decommissioned differ.

“Seabed, metocean and marine life – and the need to build these massive structures in ocean environments that may have cultural heritage significance – are added complexities facing offshore wind energy.”

The unique challenges Australia’s offshore wind industry must overcome are many and varied, and it’s hard to identify just one challenge that is standing in the way of the industry’s development and success.

“Our social scientists would tell you that there is still considerable work to be done to ensure the development of offshore wind occurs in an equitable, inclusive and socially and culturally responsible manner,” Dr Chow said.

“The marine environment and biodiversity researchers recognise the sheer scale of work still to be done given the size of the declared offshore wind zones with offshore and onshore environments to be studied, and our metocean and geotechnical engineers are keen to provide practical solutions tackling the unique metocean and challenging seabed sediments for each zone.”

Some of the biggest challenges –supply chain and ports – are yet to be fully explored by ACOWE.

“The need for the infrastructure and equipment to install wind turbines is in high demand globally, and Australia is a latecomer to this renewable energy source,” Dr Chow said.

“We must also remember that we need to build a workforce to meet the many demands across the multiple phases of an offshore wind farm.”

Australian wind resources

Australia has some of the best natural wind resources in the world, and a team of experts – led by Professor Alexander Babanin from the University of Melbourne – has been studying offshore wind resources in Gippsland in regional Victoria.

The team said that the southern and western seas of Australia, particularly those near the westerly wind belt, possess richer wind energy resources compared to other regions, with an average annual wind energy density of approximately 500W per square metre (W/m²).

The wind energy potential along Australia’s southeast coast, including offshore Victoria, has been

Australia has some of the best wind resources in the world. Image: PHOTOCREO Michal Bednarek/shutterstock.com

an ideal location for wind energy development because of its stable wind energy density.

Professor Babanin and his team explained that in recent years, China has been actively developing its offshore wind energy resources, which have an average annual wind energy density of about 300 W/m².

Compared to China, the southern offshore regions of Australia have more abundant wind energy resources, with an average annual wind energy density approximately 200 W/m² higher than China’s 300 W/m².

“I believe we are well positioned to support the offshore wind industry,” Dr Chow said.

“However, given the unprecedented scale of offshore wind development in Australia, close collaboration and coordination among the various stakeholders will be crucial to support and advance this burgeoning sector.”

Offshore wind workforce

To support the growing industry and lead Australia on the path to net zero, a skilled workforce will be essential, and establishing this workforce will require a range of strategies.

In 2023, Dr Chow developed an elective – CVEN90071 Offshore Wind Geotechnical Engineering – for engineering Masters students, in which industry and government are regularly invited to participate through a series of guest lecturers.

Dr Chow said that it is equally important to engage with the future workforce through outreach activities.

“For instance, I have championed the establishment of a student team, Victoria Offshore Wind, at the University of Melbourne to raise awareness about the new sector in Australia.

“The student team has engaged with school children and their families by conducting beach demonstrations of offshore wind structure installation in Melbourne, in partnership with offshorewind4kids, an international non-profit organisation.”

As suggested by an industry partner, ACOWE is also investigating the development of an offshore wind 101 short course that could be delivered across Australia.

“The aim is to provide an overview for those entering the industry, for example an engineer coming from the mining sector, or a finance specialist wanting to join the offshore energy wind sector,” Dr Chow said.

The course is not designed to replace upskilling, and the Centre would need to look into offering micro credentials in specialised areas such as geotechnical engineering, however, Dr Chow said that it would provide an informative overview for those considering joining the sector.

Additionally, each of the ACOWE universities work with their local TAFE, and Federation University through its Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre (APRETC), offers training to support the wind energy sector meet demand for localised skilled workers.

Dr Chow said that multiple discussions have also been held with the Victorian Government.

“We are focused on teaching and training the engineers, marine and social scientists, and the electricians

and marine operations – to name just a few of the many skills required to build an offshore wind energy farm,” Dr Chow said.

Community concerns

When it comes to addressing community concerns with new offshore wind developments, Dr Chow emphasised that community and cultural heritage is one of ACOWE’s key research priorities.

It was the first research priority to have a workshop to discuss what ACOWE saw as the most pressing concerns to be responded to and begin the co-design of a research program.

Dr Chow said that the researchers involved are working in their communities and are well placed to understand their community’s concerns and help address issues. The researchers recently submitted their responses and recommendations to the Senate Inquiry on Offshore wind industry consultation process.

ACOWE social scientists will also work with the marine researchers to study impact on marine and pathway to sustainable offshore wind developments – using information from overseas – as well as conducting studies in Australian waters.

“Our aim is to provide best practice and ensure environment remains front of mind in all offshore wind developments,” Dr Chow said.

Research plans

Each institution associated with ACOWE has been engaging with industry and government on a one-to-one level, with a number of universities undertaking research, or signing MOUs

with developers to explore research opportunities, as well as submitting proposals to government.

“The purpose of ACOWE is not to restrict participating universities from individually participating in offshore wind research, rather it acknowledges that no one institution can deliver the research, teaching and training required for what is a 40+ year proposition for Australia across the whole development lifecycle of offshore wind farms,” Dr Chow said.

In terms of future research, ACOWE is seeking funding to undertake whole of sector research in fields such as community perception and the marine environment before, during and after construction of offshore wind turbines. ACOWE is working towards identifying funding streams to complete these large scale and long-term projects.

“Taking the cue from the Crown Estate in the UK and the marine exchange database, we envisage building a central depository of data from each offshore wind zone to aid industry and future research,” Dr Chow said.

Looking to the future

Dr Chow said that ACOWE is looking forward to seeing the first offshore wind turbine installed and the establishment of a financially viable sector. However, ACOWE is equally interested in ensuring that offshore wind development in Australia is pursued in an equitable, inclusive, socially and culturally responsible manner.

“We envision a thriving and sustainable offshore wind sector which contributes to the decarbonisation of Australia more broadly.”

Five members of the ACOWE Steering Committee during the launch of the centre. Image: University of Melbourne

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Boosting support for wind developments

Expanding Australia’s wind energy capacity will help the country meet its net zero ambition, and getting local communities on board is the key to success.

AAustralia’s clean energy future.

developments often face significant opposition from locals, with some of the most common concerns raised being noise and environmental impact.

issues is essential to gaining community support for new wind projects to boost renewable energy generation as Australia continues to stride towards net zero.

Yaw brake noise

Those living in the vicinity of a proposed wind farm often express concern over the noise that they expect wind turbines will create.

One of the contributing factors is the yaw brakes, which turbines rely on to face into the wind to effectively generate power.

Regal Rexnord’s National Product Manager, Rex Sinclair, explained that noise is generated by contact between the yaw brake pads and the disc during nacelle adjustments.

Wind yaw noise is often caused by glazing on the brake pads, which occurs when high temperatures and friction smooth and harden the brake pads, leading to increased noise when the yaw brakes are engaged.

However, selecting the right parts can go a long way in mitigating this noise.

Environmental concerns

In the age of sustainability, it is no surprise that locals wish to protect their community from environmental harm, and just because wind energy is renewable does not mean it is exempt from this expectation.

One way that wind turbines may negatively impact the environment is through toxic materials in brake dust.

Historically, brake pads were made with toxic materials, including asbestos and high concentrations of heavy metals such as mercury, chromium, lead and cadmium.

“When wind turbines turn around to face the wind, the brakes clamp down, and then when the wind direction changes, the rotor lifts slightly and drags through the brakes, which creates friction and generates brake dust,” Mr Sinclair said.

When this happens, heavy metal remnants are then released into the environment, contaminating surrounding air, soil and water.

A quiet, eco-friendly solution

Svendborg Brakes, a Regal Rexnord brand, is a trusted and reliable partner of the wind industry, having delivered braking solutions to the world’s first offshore wind farm in 1991.

The company is setting a new standard in the wind industry with its Green Alternative friction material, which can help ease concerns about both noise and environmental impact.

Mr Sinclair said that Svendborg Brakes pads are designed to meet strict

environmental standards around the globe. The Green Alternative yaw brake friction material is asbestos free, and contains less than 0.1 per cent mercury, chromium 6+ and lead, as well as less than 0.01 per cent cadmium.

This means that Svendborg Brakes pads are not only engineered to produce less brake dust, but that the dust that is created does not contaminate the surrounding environment with toxic materials.

When it comes to noise, Mr Sinclair said that Svendborg Brakes pads are formulated with patented technology, including specifically designed grooves in the yaw brake disc that remove debris build-up and prevent glazing.

“This technology helps to significantly reduce the noise produced, ensuring quieter operation of wind turbines,” Mr Sinclair said.

By reducing both the noise generated and the environmental impact, Svendborg Brakes pads can reassure communities to support new wind projects, helping to boost Australia’s wind energy capacity.

For more information, visit regalrexnord.com

Yaw brakes contribute to the noise generated by wind turbines. Image: SCi Nature/shutterstock.com

Remote solutions bolstering the NEM

With more than 40 years’ experience in the renewable energy space, Pacific Energy is expanding its operations to deliver clean energy solutions to Australia’s east coast.

Pacific Energy is a market leader in the provision of sustainable distributed energy in Australia.

Operating since 1981, the company has long been at the forefront of renewable energy projects in Australia’s west, aiming to transition the world to a clean energy future by providing clean energy solutions and helping customers decarbonise.

Remote power solutions

With 49 remote sites and 868 MW under longer term contract in Western Australia alone, Pacific Energy has historically focused on providing off-grid power supply to remote areas.

Supplying clean energy to these communities presents unique challenges, according to Pacific Energy Managing Director – Connected, Mark Sinclair.

As Australia’s only independent power provider with in-country manufacturing, Pacific Energy is uniquely qualified to overcome such challenges and provide safe and reliable power solutions to even the most remote areas.

“We manufacture the technology to be capable of dealing with challenges that are specific to our projects.

“We’ve focused on getting technical solutions right, and that’s been built into our DNA,” Mr Sinclair said.

East coast expansion

As the Australian energy system continues to decarbonise, an opportunity to drive this into different sectors of the market presents itself, Mr Sinclair said.

In May 2024, Pacific Energy established Pacific Energy Connected (PEC) to meet the growing demand for clean energy solutions on Australia’s east coast. PEC will leverage Pacific Energy’s full-service delivery model to support green hydrogen projects

nationally and deliver renewable energy systems to the NEM.

“We’ve got a suite of technologies that were developed in remote areas that are equally applicable to the NEM, a lot of which enable higher penetrations of renewables into the system,” Mr Sinclair said.

“It’s an opportunity to bring all of the skills and learnings that we’ve developed in the west and deploy them in the eastern states.”

For example, Pacific Energy is delivering a new 26MW hybrid power system for Tronox’s Atlas–Campaspe mineral sands mine, comprising of an 11MW solar farm, 3MW/6MWh battery storage, 12MW of diesel generation and 13km of high-voltage powerlines.

Mr Sinclair said the new system will consolidate the 41 diesel generators at the site to only six, reducing emissions by approx. 13,000t and its diesel usage by nearly five million litres per year.

“It’s a great first step on a journey to complete decarbonisation,” Mr Sinclair said.

On the hydrogen side, Mr Sinclair shared that one exciting project Pacific Energy has in the works is a significant expansion of Australia’s first publicly available hydrogen refuelling station, located in Canberra.

“We’re looking at the opportunity to increase the generation of hydrogen in Canberra and provide expanded services to a larger fleet of vehicles including trucks and buses.”

Mr Sinclair said that the crux of the project is determining what a hydrogen ecosystem will actually look like, initially in the Australian Capital Territory.

“We’re pleased to be working with the ACT Government, Toyota and Hyundai on staging the rollout and deployment of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure to meet the needs of an increased fleet of vehicles,” he said.

“Our learnings from the ACT ecosystem will inform the solutions that we’re looking to deliver across other major cities.”

For more information, visit pacificenergy.com.au

The hydrogen refuelling station is the first in Australia to be publicly available. Image: Pacific Energy

Transitioning Australia to a clean energy future

As leaders in sustainable distributed energy, we provide end-to-end solutions to our diverse clients Australia-wide. We manage design, construction, and operation of scalable energy assets ensuring optimal outcomes for our clients’ energy and decarbonisation goals.

Our in-house capability and experience

Hybrid systems | Wind | Solar | Gas | Stand alone power systems | Integrated battery storage | LNG storage | Green hydrogen | Hydrogen refuelling stations | Diesel | Hydroelectric

Pacific Energy is Australia’s only independent power provider with in-country manufacturing.

The road to net zero

Horizon Power and Synergy have joined forces to deliver one of the longest EV networks in the world.

The WA EV Network has 98 charging stations across 49 locations. Image: Horizon Power

It is safe to say that the WA EV Network is already serving it primary purpose, namely making it easier for electric vehicle (EV) drivers to explore Western Australia and connect to the rest of the country.

Stretching 7000km along the WA coast, from Kununurra in the north to Albany in the south and out to the Nullarbor, this innovative project will be one of the world’s longest EV networks once complete.

WA electronics engineer and EV enthusiast Harald Murphy is something of a modern-day pioneer in this area.

Since buying his first EV in 2017, Mr Murphy has clocked up more than 400,000km circumnavigating Australia – twice while towing a caravan. This month he will have completed his seventh ‘big lap’ around the country. His EV journeys have taken him from his home in Perth to all of Australia’s other major cities, as well as some of the country’s most far-flung locations.

For the moment, Mr Murphy is leading the charge – no one else has travelled around the country as many times as he has in an EV. But with uptake rapidly increasing, many other EV drivers could soon be joining Mr Murphy on the open road, and journeys

like his may one day soon be the norm.

“In the past, EV road trips have been arduous journeys only undertaken by pioneering enthusiasts, mostly to prove a point,” Mr Murphy said.

“Hopefully in years to come there will be thousands of laps of Australia completed every year by EV drivers, without anyone noticing.

“I think we will also see many more EV owners crossing the Nullarbor to come to Western Australia for longer road trips.”

Mr Murphy is part of an exclusive club. The first person to travel around Australia in an EV did so in 2011 and, since then, only 39 laps of the country have been completed in an EV.

“The reason I bought my first EV was the technology embodied in the vehicle,” Mr Murphy said.

“Another significant factor was that I could charge my car at home and not have to go to a petrol station – which meant that every morning I woke up, my car had full range.

“I guess you could say I bought my first EV because of laziness. Although the environmental benefits of driving an EV weren’t my prime consideration, it is certainly a pleasant bonus that those benefits are there and are significant.”

Seven years after he bought his first EV, Mr Murphy is now driving a Tesla Model Y Performance and, as the Secretary of the Tesla Owners Club, he has no regrets.

“Absolutely none,” he said.

“I can’t imagine any circumstance whatsoever where I would ever go back to a fossil-fuel vehicle of any kind.”

Mr Murphy’s trips around Australia have become a lot quicker since his inaugural journey, and a big part of this improvement is due to the WA EV Network, which opened its first charger in Geraldton in April 2023.

When Mr Murphy set out on his first lap in a Tesla Model X in 2018, it was the first time someone had done the drive in an electric SUV.

That trip took Mr Murphy 19 days –but the same trip now can take as little as ten days.

Back in 2018, the fast DC-charging landscape was all but non-existent.

“On my first day of that trip I travelled 907km from Perth to Carnarvon, and during that day, I had to spend seven hours and five minutes by the side of the car charging on slow AC chargers,” Mr Murphy said.

“That same trip now requires little more than an hour of fast charging.”

From left: Member for Bunbury, Don Punch, Bunbury Mayor, Jaysen Miguel, and City of Bunbury Acting Director of Sustainable Development, Dave Russell, at the new Bunbury EV charging site. Image: Synergy

Harald Murphy’s EV at a charging station in Western Australia.

Image: Horizon Power

When complete, the WA EV Network is expected to be one of the longest in the world, with 98 charging stations across 49 locations.

Chargers are located in popular tourist destinations, such as Broome, Exmouth, Kings Park, Margaret River and Esperance, and in more remote locations such as Mueller Ranges in the Kimberley and Mundrabilla on the Nullarbor.

The project, which will be completed in coming months, is being delivered by Horizon Power and Synergy on behalf of the Western Australian Government.

Drivers on the network will be able top up their vehicles in as little as 20 minutes – from chargers located every 200km – which Mr Murphy said would transform the landscape for EV drivers.

“I think it will also remove one of the main barriers stopping West Australians in built-up and remote areas from purchasing an EV – range anxiety, “Range anxiety is an often-used term among EV drivers, but it is really, in essence, about access anxiety. It’s the fear that there are no chargers where you need them.”

According to Mr Murphy, the remoteness of many of the chargers also highlights the importance of those locations having working chargers that allow drivers to continue their journey.

“At the completion of the WA EV Network, there will be an unbroken string of pearls (EV chargers), which will enable all EV drivers to seamlessly undertake a road trip from the very top of Western Australia all the way through to the South Australian border,” Mr Murphy said.

“It will make a journey from Kununurra all the way to the South Australian border a simple and normal trip – an unremarkable undertaking.

The WA EV Network is part of the State Government’s $43.5 million investment in EV infrastructure, aimed at boosting uptake to support the state’s journey to net zero emissions by 2050.

Horizon Power, Western Australia’s regional energy provider, is responsible for the delivery of 29 fast chargers and 25 back-up AC chargers across 27 locations from the Kimberley, Pilbara, and Gascoyne to Esperance, and the Goldfields.

One of the key goals of the WA EV Network is to relieve range anxiety and make EVs an option for more people, whether they live in the city or in regional parts of the state.

According to 2023 research from Goldman Sachs, EVs will make up about half of global car sales by 2035, with numbers soaring to about 73 million units in 2040.

Horizon Power CEO, Stephanie Unwin, said EVs were one of the biggest changes to road transport current generations would see in their lifetime.

“Horizon Power has an important role to play in making sure our communities can take advantage of EVs and that we can get them to their next destination –wherever that may be,” Ms Unwin said.

“We are really proud of this project.

The network is pioneering.

“We know that the number of EVs is going to continue to rise significantly and we are doing everything we can to support this expected uptake. We are installing EV charging infrastructure around the state so that we can be prepared for this uptake.”

Horizon Power’s service area is the largest geographical catchment of any Australian energy provider. The organisation manages the North West Interconnected System in the Pilbara; the connected network covering three interconnected systems in Kununurra, Wyndham and Lake Argyle; and 34 microgrids tailored to meet the unique needs of some of the most isolated and remote communities in the world.

“Our chargers are located in some of Australia’s most remote regions, which brings with it unique challenges and requires novel thinking, something Horizon Power is well equipped for,” Ms Unwin said.

Horizon Power is deploying standalone systems to power some of the more isolated charging locations, providing EV drivers with access to chargers in remote locations that don’t have an existing power supply.

Western Australia’s largest electricity generator and retailer, Synergy, is responsible for the delivery of 25 fast chargers and 19 back-up chargers across the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), which includes Perth’s metropolitan area and expands from Kalbarri to Kalgoorlie to Albany.

Synergy Deputy CEO and Executive General Manager Future Energy, Kurt Baker, said that the WA EV Network was already proving to be a success.

“The WA EV Network runs through some of the most picturesque locations in Western Australia,” Mr Baker said.

“The route includes Geraldton, Lancelin, Manjimup, Walpole, Albany and Hyden, just to name a few places.

“So far, more than 22,000 charges have occurred via charging stations located across the SWIS, with drivers able to charge their car in 32 minutes on average.

“We now have EV chargers available in key locations across Western Australia, from Kings Park, our main city park, to beautiful regional tourist towns such as Margaret River and Bunbury.”

“It’s heartening to see more EV owners getting out on longer road trips. Thanks to the WA EV Network those trips are quicker, but also a lot more enjoyable,” Mr Baker said.

Mr Murphy has visited all the charging sites along the network, and every time he pulls up at one, he said he is reminded of just what a significant achievement the successful roll-out of this project has been.

WA EV Network fast facts

• Part of the WA Government’s $43.5 million investment in EV infrastructure

• One of the longest EV networks in the world

• 98 EV charging stations across 49 locations

• Charging sites spread out over 7000km

• First EV charging station opened in Geraldton in April 2023

• Chargers from Kununurra to Albany and out to the Nullarbor

• An average distance between charging stations of 200km

• Drivers can top up their vehicles in as little as 20 minutes

• Delivered by Horizon Power and Synergy

• More than 22,000 charging sessions recorded on the network so far

Horizon Power CEO, Stephanie Unwin (right). Image: Horizon Power

The rail-less

Metal roofing is the ideal platform for direct-attach solar installations.

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.

For solar installers, challenges come in the form of resisting environmental loads, new load distribution and waterproofing that last the life of the solar – without compromising the integrity of the roof.

S-5! is poised to revolutionise the traditional rail approach with its PVKIT® engineered systems, which eliminate rails, reduce collateral loads, redistribute live loads, and offer faster installation and lifetime service without penetrating a concealed-fix roof, marking a significant shift in the industry.

“When we initially entered the Australian market, we found that the modules supplied were often subpar and accompanied by poorly engineered and tested mounting

systems, leading to a decline in quality across the board,” S-5! Vice President of Research and Development, Dustin Haddock, said.

“It seemed to be a race to the bottom; however, it quickly became evident that others in the Australian solar market were also noticing quality issues and beginning to take proactive measures.

“We began engaging with others like the Smart Energy Council and Solar Cutters who were committed to elevating industry standards. We connected face-to-face with EPCs and worked alongside those genuinely dedicated to driving change and improving solar quality in Australia.”

S-5! has a proven global portfolio of more than 7GW of metal-roof solar arrays, including high-profile installations like the striking Apple World HQ and the Googleplex in the US state of California, five Costco stores in Australia, and the Crown Towers Resort in Sydney.

S-5! clamps and brackets, first pioneered in 1991, can be attached directly to the metal roof and the solar module – circumventing the need for rails and obviating the need to find structural battens below for attachment. This makes module layout much more flexible.

Mr. Haddock is leading S-5!’s efforts throughout Australia and the surrounding the region, and has been working with a team of installers in New Zealand to familiarise them with the rail-free approach.

“We found many contractors who were new to direct-attach and who were very skilled in rail set-ups,” Mr Haddock said.

“Installers who had never used our products before were installing much more quickly: four modules installed with direct-attach in the same time it took them previously to do just one module using rails.

“We spent two hours with the team, laying down modules and explaining the best ways to fix the modules. The first day, the team installed 54 modules in three hours ‘all-in’ with a two-man team, and the second day, 60 modules in two hours – that’s one module every two minutes.

“At the end of the job, they were down to 80 seconds per module and figured at least a 20 per cent cost savings on mounting hardgoods to boot. They said they never want to use rails again.”

For more information, visit S-5.com.au

S-5! Fixing on the Vaisala Office Headquarters in Colorado. Image: S-5!

Large-scale batteries lead the charge

Origin Energy is investing in energy storage projects across the country to bolster Australia’s renewable future.

ustralia’s energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, fuelled by a strong commitment to renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions.

At the heart of this shift are largescale battery storage systems, which help support renewables by storing the energy they produce and then releasing this into the grid at times of peak demand. Batteries can also help maintain security of supply by releasing short bursts of energy that help stabilise

Origin Energy is positioning itself at the forefront of this transition, spearheading innovative projects that aim to enhance the reliability and efficiency of Australia’s power supply. Among these initiatives are two largescale battery projects: a 300MW battery at Mortlake Power Station in Victoria, and a 700MW battery at Eraring Power Station in New South Wales.

These projects not only represent significant advancements in energy storage technology but also highlight the evolving role of traditional power stations in the new energy era.

In line with its strategy to lead the energy transition and accelerate the integration of renewable energy and storage into its portfolio, Origin has already invested more than $1.45 billion in these large-scale battery projects over the past few years. This significant financial commitment underscores the Australian energy business’ belief in the critical role that energy storage will play in a decarbonised energy market.

Mortlake Power Station

In August 2024, construction commenced on the $400 million largescale battery at the Mortlake Power Station in south-west Victoria, with commissioning expected by late 2026. With a capacity of 300MW, the Mortlake battery is expected to deliver an output of up to 650MWh, a key factor in firming up the variable renewable supply and maintaining reliable power for customers.

The Mortlake Power Station is strategically located adjacent to the Moorabool to Heywood 500kV transmission line, and it also sits within Victoria’s South-West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). Western Victoria is already home to several operating

A 300MW battery is being built at Mortlake Power Station in Victoria. Images: Origin

renewable energy generators, and additional new renewable energy developments are expected within the South-West REZ in the coming years.

Origin’s Head of Energy Supply and Operations, Greg Jarvis, said, “The Mortlake Power Station is an ideal site for a large-scale battery being adjacent to the Moorabool to Heywood 500kV transmission line, meaning the battery can utilise existing transmission infrastructure, and support both existing and new renewable energy generation in the area over the coming years.”

Eraring Power Station

Eraring Power Station, another focal point in Origin’s battery storage strategy, is set to undergo a significant transformation.

In April 2023, the first stage of a $600 million large-scale battery project began at Eraring, involving the construction of a 460MW battery storage system with a two-hour dispatch duration. This project is on track to be operational by the final quarter of 2025, marking a critical milestone in Origin’s broader strategy to transition away from coal-fired power.

“Eraring is Australia’s largest power station and supplies up to a quarter of the electricity in New South Wales.

“This development is a key step in our plan to transform Eraring for the future as we move toward phasing out coal-fired generation by as early as August 2027.

“Like Mortlake, Eraring was chosen as a strategic site with high-quality connection infrastructure, enabling us to deliver energy into major demand centres,” Mr Jarvis said.

The strategic importance of Eraring as a hub for energy storage was further reinforced in July 2024, when Origin approved the second stage of the Eraring large-scale battery project. This additional $450 million investment will add a further 240MW of capacity with a dispatch duration of four hours. Upon completion, the combined energy storage capacity of both stages will exceed 2GWh, greatly enhancing Origin’s ability to stabilise the grid and support the influx of variable renewable energy.

“Our investments in large-scale batteries at our existing power stations reflect our belief that storage will play a vital role in the evolving grid by firming up the variable supply from wind and solar,” Mr Jarvis said.

“Upon completion, the Eraring battery’s four-hour duration will be

capable of absorbing excess solar generation during the day and ensuring reliable energy supply during peak demand in the evening.”

Innovative battery technologies

In addition to its large-scale battery projects, Origin is also exploring innovative technologies that could further enhance its energy storage capabilities. The business has acquired a five percent equity interest in Newcastle-based clean-tech company Allegro Energy and agreed to pilot its water-based, long-duration battery technology at Eraring Power Station.

Mr Jarvis said, “We are pleased to be making an investment in what we view as a very promising technology.

“We believe long-duration storage will ultimately play an important role in the energy mix, and we look forward to watching the progress of this trial and seeing how this technology could complement other storage projects within Origin’s portfolio.”

The agreement with Allegro Energy includes options for Origin to support the company’s growth and development. Once an initial 100kW (800kWh) Redox Flow Battery module

Greg Jarvis at the Eraring BESS site.

is successfully deployed at Eraring, plans are in place to develop a 5MW (60MWh) battery, which could provide 12 hours of energy storage capacity.

Australia’s energy transition is rapidly gaining momentum, with large-scale battery storage systems playing an increasingly pivotal role. Origin Energy’s significant investments in projects like the Mortlake and Eraring batteries, coupled with its exploration of cutting-edge technologies like Allegro’s Redox Flow Battery, demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to the challenges and opportunities of a decarbonised energy market.

As these projects come online, they have the potential to stabilise the grid and support Australia’s renewable energy goals while ensuring a reliable power supply.

Origin’s leadership in this area is not just about adapting to change – it’s about driving it and setting a standard for the industry as Australia moves towards a more sustainable energy future.

Enabling Project Delivery

The Australian Marine Complex Common User Facility (AMC CUF) suppo s the renewable energy sector by providing extensive ocean-front assets, services and infrastructure including:

• Loadout and maintenance wharves for cargo receival

• Laydown area for staging and dispatch

• Access to the High Wide Load Corridor for road transpo

• 24 hour manned security with CCTV

Contact us to discuss your next project or to find out more about our capabilities and infrastructure.

info@amccuf.com.au I +61 8 9437 0500 australianmarinecomplex.com.au/cuf

Construction has commenced at the Eraring BESS.

IGrid intelligence software enabling the transition

Intelligent software running on next-generation smart meters at the grid-edge will deliver value to retailers, DNSPs and consumers.

n the age of sustainability, the role of consumers in the renewable transition continues to evolve.

In this Q&A, Sense Head of Australia, David Johnson, explains what this shift means for each stakeholder and how smart technology can transform the Australian energy market.

How has consumer behaviour evolved during the energy transition?

Today, Australian consumers are more aware of their energy use, in part due to rising living expenses. Consumers are also more aware of environmental concerns, investing in clean technologies such as solar and EVs.

It’s still early days, but consumers are at the heart of the energy transition, and their actions are significantly accelerating electrification.

Why must utilities and consumers be on the same page when it comes to energy generation and consumption?

As the energy transition evolves, the role of grid-edge ‘behind the meter’ generation – primarily through rooftop solar and EVs – is growing at a phenomenal rate. Rooftop solar will likely become a significant new generation resource and EVs are emerging as controllable storage resources for home demand-side

response (DR) and network virtual power plants (VPPs).

Retailers and DNSPs recognise that their customers are changing, and they must help facilitate their evolution. When all parties are aligned, and utilities have full grid-edge visibility, it’s possible to effectively manage supply and demand, prevent grid overloads and optimise distribution – especially during peak periods.

What does the increasing uptake of CERs mean for retailers and DNSPs?

While electricity supply margins will continue to face pressure, consumer energy resources (CERs) offer retailers

opportunities to grow ARPU and customer value over longer lifecycles and reduce bills without discounting tariffs and margins.

Building customer trust, consent, participation and engagement is essential for retailers to scale highermargin propositions such as DR and VPP that leverage CERs for both home and grid use over longer and more predictable periods.

Retailers need better real-time gridedge intelligence data to see when new CERs are added to offer better tariffs and propositions that can be scaled across all customers.

To maintain reliable and balanced networks, retailers and distribution

network service providers (DNSPs) require better grid-edge intelligence and visibility. For example, monitoring changes in distribution transformer health as new loads come online is vital to avoid grid strain and prioritise network reinforcement. They will also need DR services to ease network congestion and balance the grid.

First-generation DR and VPP services shifted load by only two to four per cent. The next generation of DR, however, can achieve peak consumption reductions of up to 18 per cent, as seen in households in the US.

How can smart meter technology bridge the gap between consumers and utilities?

Sense’s AI software helps consumers understand and manage their energy consumption through a personalised, real-time view of whole home energy usage and individual appliances. On average, consumers reduce their consumption by eight to ten per cent.

Sense can also detect the highestconsuming appliances in real-time, making domestic DR at scale a reality. For example, Sense AI enables retailers and DNSPs to monitor the adoption and charging of EVs without extra hardware integration with EV chargers.

Outside the home, faults on the grid can be identified and located within 10m, based on tiny fluctuations in the power supply into the smart meter. The low voltage network can be monitored with greater precision, with a real time view on power quality, voltage and frequency right to the grid’s edge.

Sense will be rolled out to millions of US homes, have there been any learnings?

Our biggest learning is that scaling across entire distribution networks or customer bases is certainly possible, but requires a world class engagement app.

This app must provide consumers with specific, real-time information, give them time to establish familiarity and trust, and offer easy steps to engage with energy-saving behaviours to participate in DR at scale.

Sense AI software is the quickest and most effective way to gain grid-edge visibility and scale DR and VPPs affordably across a large number

of users without requiring hardware IoT appliance deployments to be in place first.

How does the Australian energy market differ to the rest of the world?

It might be surprising to some, but Australia is much further along in the energy transition than other markets around the world.

The US is the first country to begin upgrading networks to AMI 2.0, the next generation of grid intelligence. However, Australia outpaces the US and Europe in rooftop solar and EVs, with grid-edge community storage likely to follow.

Australia is uniquely positioned to become the first market to transition to a next-generation distribution network. This shift to AMI 2.0 would reduce operational costs while providing comprehensive grid-edge intelligence and visibility to support the country’s energy transition.

What’s next for Sense?

Through our pilot with Melbourne families, we have developed an in-depth understanding of both Australian homes and appliances.

In a mature market like the US, our detection rate is 95 per cent accurate in explaining over 70 per cent of appliance consumption. In Australia, we’re rapidly approaching this level of performance as we gather more data and develop market specific algorithms. For instance, we have reached 98 per cent EV detection in Australia.

Our Australian beta testers have provided excellent feedback on our technology, with 91 per cent agreeing that Sense allows for better management of home energy use. Additionally, 96 per cent would be more likely to participate in DR if the Sense app advised them which appliances to switch off.

We are now working with meter technology and service coordinator partners to ensure Sense runs on the next generation of AMI 2.0 smart meters in this market.

Consumers will benefit from enhanced energy insight, the cost of grid management will fall, and domestic flexibility will become viable at scale.

We’re excited to help contribute to the energy transition in Australia.

The Sense app allows consumers to see the real-time energy usage of their appliances. Image: Sense

LiFePO₄ batteries are one of the safest chemistries on the market. Image: petovarga/shutterstock.com

Good chemistry: safer lithium batteries

A recent increase in lithium battery fires has sparked safety concerns; however, the lithium category covers a vast number of chemistries – not all of which are created equal.

Lithium batteries are a key component in Australia’s energy transition. Their high energy density and lightweight properties make them ideal for large scale energy storage and electric vehicles, but this technology has also seen its fair share of controversy surrounding safety.

So, how can the energy sector utilise this technology without risk of disaster?

To find the answer, Energy turned to R&J Batteries Energy Storage Manager, Justin Skaines, for advice.

Mr Skaines explained that the term ‘lithium’ refers to a very broad category of batteries.

“People assume that the main component of the battery is lithium, but that couldn’t be further from the truth – normally between two and

seven per cent of the battery is actually lithium, and it’s the transfer of lithium ions from the positive to the negative plate within the battery that gives them their name,” Mr Skaines said.

“As lithium is such a small part of the battery itself, this means that there are a lot of other elements in the batteries that define their performance and what their role can be.”

There are six main families of lithium batteries: lithium nickel manganese cobalt, lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium titanate (Li₂TiO₃) and finally, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄).

The use of nickel, manganese or cobalt in the positive plate of these batteries increases their susceptibility

to thermal runaway, which is the main cause of a battery fire. However, these rare earth materials are not used in two of these families: Li₂TiO₃ and LiFePO₄.

Mr Skaines said that five of the six families have a carbon or graphite negative plate, however Li₂TiO₃ batteries have titanium oxide negative plate, which means that thermal runaway is not an issue at all for this battery.

“They’re really the safest of the lithium technologies, but the biggest downside of those batteries is they’re a lot more expensive upfront and they’re not as energy dense, so you need a bigger battery to get the same energy.”

Alternatively, LiFePO₄ batteries offer more balance between cost‑effectiveness, safety and functionality.

“The main element in the positive plate of the battery is phosphate, and the reason for this is that it’s mechanically and chemically stable – which means that they’re less susceptible to thermal runaway,” Mr Skaines said.

Thermal runaway occurs when a battery gets too hot, either as a result of a faulty charge or external conditions.

Mr Skaines said that most lithium batteries with a graphene negative plate are unable to dissipate that heat quickly enough, which causes flammable gases to build up as the heat increases. Those gases then ignite and create a self maintaining fire that is very difficult to extinguish.

“LiFePO₄ batteries have a higher tipping point compared to other graphene or carbon plated batteries, which means that they’re more resilient in high temperatures and more resistant to overheating,” Mr Skaines said.

Inside the box

Despite their wide temperature range, there is still a chance that thermal runaway can occur in an LiFePO₄ battery. To combat this, most modern cells include a battery management system (BMS), which actively monitors the temperature and voltage during operation and will disconnect the battery when certain trigger points are reached – preventing dangerous faults from occurring.

Mr Skaines said that the quality of the BMS is a crucial factor when it comes to safety.

“Most companies are looking for LiFePO₄ batteries because it is a safe technology. And, as a supplier to the market, if we’re offering these batteries then they’ve got to have the protection there so that the battery can do what it’s meant to do,” Mr Skaines said.

“With Mictronix Power Systems (MPS), for instance, the BMS is designed specifically for their batteries.

“The owner of MPS actually comes from the solar industry so he knows the unique features of the inverters and how to protect his batteries from those elements.”

MPS batteries include two stages of protection: passive balancing and MOSFETs. To maintain the lifespan of cells and avoid over charging and over discharging, LiFePO₄ batteries

need to be balanced before they come into service.

Mr Skaines said that balancing is often performed on site as part of the commissioning of a battery system, which can take one or two days to complete.

“MPS batteries are balanced before they get to market. That’s done in house to make sure that they’re already ready to go in the field, and he also puts a flash test over the batteries to make sure there’s no hot joints or other potential issues in the battery,” Mr Skaines said.

MOSFETs act as the second line of defence by responding to signals from the BMS and electronically disconnecting the batteries when the temperature, current or voltage are outside the acceptable range.

“Some inverters will have voltage

overshoot issues and MPS understands that, so [the owner] puts more MOSFETs in to protect the battery and make sure that we get a long, sustainable life out of it,” Mr Skaines said.

Although its strong tolerance to extreme temperatures and hazardous events makes LiFePO₄ one of the safest chemistries on the market, good chemistry alone does not guarantee complete safety.

“It’s really important that you do your research for your specific needs and ask questions of your supplier,” Mr Skaines said.

“On the outside, the batteries can all look flash but it’s what’s inside that’s important. Have a look at the warranty and ask questions about the BMS – they’re the parts of the battery that are going to protect you.”

MPS batteries are balanced before they get to market. Image: MPS

Electricity credits securing WA’s energy affordability

By Reece Whitby, Western Australian Minister for Energy

As cost-of-living pressure continue to rise, the Western Australian Government has introduced electricity credits to reduce power bills.

WState Government is proud of Western Australia’s economy.

many families still face real challenges.

moving to Western Australia to work and take advantage of our state’s sunshine, warmth and beaches, many households are focused on cost-ofliving pressures, including how to pay the bills.

Our government has been able to deliver meaningful cost-of-living relief in recent years, including $2100 in electricity bill credits distributed to every Western Australian household since 2020. Our latest household electricity credit will be rolled out

alongside the Federal Government’s own electricity bill relief, which means every household in our state will this year receive $700 towards their electricity bills.

This is our government’s most substantial credits yet and will also provide 90,000 small businesses with some much-needed financial relief.

These payments are also supported by our annual (currently) $334.49 energy assistance payment, which benefits pensioners, veterans and families on eligible concessions who may need that little bit more assistance in paying their bills.

This is critically important for families who are impacted by interest rate rises and struggle to put food on the table.

By offering families direct electricity bill relief, they will now have some

Western Australian Minister for Energy, Reece Whitby. Image: Office of Reece Whitby

Western Power are owned by the people of Western Australia.

This gives our government the ability to monitor and regulate energy prices and deliver a wide range of programs designed to help those in our state who might benefit from flexibility or targeted support.

Residents across Western Australia can benefit from several Synergy and Horizon Power initiatives, including dedicated case management, which

either going through or are at risk of financial hardship to better understand their electricity usage and reduce financial pressures.

More than 1000 people have already benefitted from this $13 million program, which provides eligible households with personalised one-on-one coaching, tips for saving on energy bills, and regular visits with program support workers.

It’s an important program for places like the West Kimberley, where

because we know there are many challenges facing the people in our state.

While many Western Australian families are struggling with the cost of living, we are responding.

Not only is our government investing in the energy transition and supporting jobs of the future, we are also committed to providing all households with electricity that is affordable, secure, and reliable.

Western Australian households will receive $700 in electricity credits in 2024. Image: Grusho Anna/shutterstock

Revolutionising Australia’s energy

As demand for renewables increases, an innovative approach to building construction is needed to foster a more sustainable future.

Decon Corporation, Solagenica, Deloitte Emissions Solutions and GreenRen Power have announced a groundbreaking partnership to bring innovative solar structural insulated panels (SSIPs) to the Australian market.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in Australia’s transition to a sustainable and energy-independent future.

SSIP building systems feature a proprietary fibreglass skin and EPS core, which allows them to surpass traditional wood or steel structures in both strength and energy efficiency.

Decon Corporation – a leading manufacturer of switchboards, electrical components and clean energy solutions – will produce the SSIPs at its facility in Scoresby, Victoria.

The partnership leverages each party’s expertise in developing advanced solar technology, with Decon bringing its manufacturing capabilities and deep understanding of the Australian electrical and telecommunications industries to the table. This synergy aims to drive widespread adoption of sustainable building practices across the country.

The power of SSIPs

SSIPs are prefabricated building components consisting of an insulating core sandwiched between two laminated panels. They offer exceptional thermal performance, thereby reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling. By integrating solar cells into these panels, the product not only insulates but also generates clean electricity.

The potential applications of this technology extend far beyond residential homes, and the partnership aims to cater to a diverse range of sectors, including commercial buildings, Agricultural structures, emergency and social housing, remote communities, backyard suites, storage sheds, medical facilities and job site accommodations.

Accelerating the energy transition

The SSIP building systems align perfectly with the Federal Government’s Future Made in Australia initiative, which prioritises the development of renewable energy solutions. By integrating solar generation directly into the building envelope, SSIP technology offers a significant contribution to the nation’s decarbonisation goals. Key benefits of SSIP building systems include:

• Decentralised energy generation: by producing electricity on site, SSIP buildings reduce reliance on the centralised grid, which enhances energy security

• Reduced carbon emissions: the integration of solar power into the building fabric significantly lowers greenhouse gas emissions

• Job creation: the manufacturing and installation of SSIP panels create new employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector

• Technological innovation: SSIPs take a revolutionary approach to construction, driving innovation and fostering a domestic supply chain for renewable energy components

• Community resilience: SSIP buildings can enhance the resilience of communities by providing on-site power generation during grid outages

A brighter energy future

The collaboration between the three companies is poised to reshape Australia’s energy landscape. By combining advanced solar technology with efficient building materials, the partnership offers a compelling solution to the country’s energy challenges.

As demand for renewable energy continues to grow, innovative approaches to building construction will play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering a more sustainable future. This partnership aims to create new jobs, stimulate economic growth, and enhance Australia’s reputation as a global leader in clean energy technologies.

With the production of SSIPs commencing at its Scoresby facility, Decon hopes the Australian market will see a wave of sustainable and energyefficient buildings that redefine the way we live and work.

For more information, visit deconcorp.com.au

SSIP buildings reduce reliance on the centralised grid. Image: Decon

Consumers at the heart of the EV transition

By Oliver Hill, RACE for Electric Vehicles Program Leader, and Professor Ross Gordon, University of Technology Sydney Behaviour and Social Change

As the race to electrify vehicles continues to accelerate in Australia, it has never been more important to understand how we can support an equitable transition.

The project will explore the challenges consumers face by understanding their lived experience. Image: Halfpoint/shutterstock.com

Despite some commentary suggesting a global slowdown of electric vehicle (EV) purchases, sales in Australia continue to grow.

In 2024, plug-in vehicles sales made up roughly eight per cent of total vehicles sales, inching up from 2023’s total of 7.2 per cent. Growth also remains strong internationally, with the International Energy Agency estimating sales reaching 17 million1 by the end of 2024, compared with 14 million for the 12 months to the end of 2023.

EV sales in Australia are still significantly behind other geographies as a proportion of total market share. However, 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.

With the Treasury Laws Amendment (Electric Car Discount) Act 2022 and the Driving the Nation Fund to provide Australia’s first national EV charging network, there is a clear vision to lower emissions and to improve the wellbeing of Australians by making EVs a more affordable and practical choice.

Yet, how consumers currently or will behave in relation to EVs – including purchasing, charging, servicing, battery management, driving patterns and use of energy management technologies –is not entirely clear.

Existing research has largely been conducted in the US and Europe using predominantly descriptive surveys, with less attention on providing in-depth insights about how various personal, socio-cultural and structural factors shape EV-related behaviours, how to achieve behaviour change to drive adoption of EVs, or that focus on social concerns about who may be left behind through this transition.

The result is a lack of understanding about the issues and challenges Australian consumers will face during the EV transition in terms of their lived experience.

Researching these lived experiences will be critical to inform a successful and inclusive EV transition for Australia. This is where innovative research supported by the Reliable, Affordable, Clean Energy (RACE) for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) can help.

Innovation through research

The RACE for 2030 CRC is an industryled research collaborative established in 2020 to drive energy innovation across the supply chain, and deliver improved, lower-cost and loweremission energy services for end users.

Projects supported by the RACE for 2030 CRC leverage industry funding and work with leading Australian universities and CSIRO to develop innovative research that can catalyse lower energy costs, reduce carbon emissions and improve energy reliability.

RACE plays a core role in Australia’s innovation system, delivering integrated energy and decarbonisation research to enhance whole-of-system planning and the equitable optimisation of Consumer Energy Resources (CER) for all end users.

Since 2023, RACE has been developing new research projects investigating the key role EVs play in the optimisation and decarbonisation of our energy system, and how they may also contribute to how consumers manage their energy needs.

Given EVs are expected to become even more widespread over the next decade and will potentially represent the majority of private passenger vehicle sales in Australia by 2030, there is an urgent need to plan for and optimise the additional capacity these ‘batteries on wheels’ can unlock to support a grid dominated by new and renewable forms of energy.

Through research RACE has supported so far, it has been observed that certainty of policy, coordination of governance, and the development of local capability all contribute

CONSUMER RESOURCES

significantly towards a successful technological transition. This is similar to what has been observed in the rollout of comparable user-focused technological transitions such as household rooftop solar, which has seen world-leading adoption in Australia.

Through this experience, the Australian energy sector has developed strong capability to support the delivery and coordination of consumer energy resources, which can also provide an excellent foundation for powering the EV transition. It is, however, equally important to note what has not been observed from research to date.

Our research informed understanding of EV consumer behaviour to date is overwhelmingly informed by highincome early adopters of technology, and it is important to recognise that accessibility to the EV transition is far from equitably distributed. More needs to be done to understand the lived experiences, behaviours, and barriers and enablers for transitioning across all end users.2

RACE has recently supported research that will engage directly

with these issues and leverage the experience RACE’s partners to bring in behavioural and social sciences expertise and adopt whole-of-systems research approaches to minimise these potential inequities.

Breaking EV barriers

To understand and develop what is required for an equitable transition to EVs, it will be critical to identify and engage with behaviour-change approaches that put Australian consumers at the heart of the EV transition.

As illustrated in Figure 3, such approaches would acknowledge how personal, socio-cultural and structural factors shape EV related behaviours and involve using a combination of interventions at different levels of influence to support change.

Recent Australian consumer sentiment surveys have provided helpful descriptive findings regarding attitudes and intentions towards EVs.

For example, survey research by the Consumer Policy Research Centre (2022) has provided descriptive data on the percentages of Australians that

consider upfront cost (49 per cent), range anxiety (34 per cent), lack of access to charging infrastructure (32 per cent), charging time (22 per cent), running costs (25 per cent), difficulties and stress in planning journeys (21per cent), and concerns about performance and reliability (19 per cent) as barriers to EV uptake and use.

A survey study by Loengbudnark et al (2022) identified that purchase costs and safety concerns were barriers to EV adoption in Australia and identified how basic demographic factors such as age, sex, education level and income mediate these consumer perceptions.

Meanwhile, important ethnographic research by Pink et al (2022) showed that ensuring good accessibility to EV charging and parking infrastructure, home charging and battery and roadside assistance services will be important to support the transition. However, this pays less attention to equity issues, priorities for non-EV users and those who are at risk of being left behind, and recommendations for effective behaviour change strategies.

Strategic Behaviour Change Intervention Mix3. Image: Diagrams: RACE for

This existing research, although informative, has mainly focused on early adopters and has largely informed technical, engineering and market-led solutions, with less attention paid to developing deep and meaningful behavioural insights or the adoption of behaviour change principles from the behavioural and social sciences (Michie et al 2014; French & Gordon 2020; Carrasco et al 2021) to support a successful EV transition.

This is despite the proven success of behaviour-change approaches in cognate areas such as promoting household energy efficiency (McAndrew et al 2021), as well as across a range of other health and social issues.

Our limited body of existing knowledge leaves significant gaps in understanding how to facilitate a successful and inclusive EV transition in Australia.

There remains a need to develop greater understanding of everyday lived experiences among users and non-EV users that move beyond descriptive survey studies. That process must draw upon in-depth ethnographic research, as well as sophisticated longitudinal survey studies to provide insights about the issues and challenges users will face during the transition to net zero mobilities.

Understanding consumer challenges

A recently commenced project supported by RACE, ‘Australian Consumers at the Heart of the EV Transition’, will aim to explore the issues and challenges that will face all Australian consumers during the EV transition by understanding their lived experience.

The project will focus on all consumer behavioural aspects related to EVs. It will feature in-person, qualitative ethnographic interviews and visual ethnographies with consumers alongside quantitative survey research to tell us not only the what, but the how and why, concerning EV consumer behaviours in Australia.

Outputs, including research insights, policy recommendations and support in the crafting of customer messaging, will be co-designed with consumers and industry to put end users at the heart of the process.

Participation in this research will be balanced across urban and regional areas, and across different socioeconomic, geographic and cultural groups on the east and west coasts of Australia.

Knowledge developed during this research will be informed by conversations with everyday Australians in their homes and help us understand what different socio-economic, cultural

and geographic factors are at play in consumers experiences in the EV transition.

Supported by several of RACE’s industry and government partners –including Ausgrid, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water, Energy Policy WA, Schneider Electric – and led by the University of Technology Sydney and University of Canberra, this research will provide critical consumer insights and recommendations for effective policies, behaviour change strategies, and technologies to support uptake and use of EVs.

Insights will also help to guide policy development and implications for federal and state government EV strategies.

As the race to electrify vehicles continues, it has never been more important to understand how we can support an equitable EV transition. Actions taken over the next few years will be fundamental to Australia achieving its national emissions reduction goals and have the potential to create a wide range of benefits for all consumers.

RACE is grateful for the opportunity to support the development of critical research on this topic and looks forward to supporting Australian consumers at the heart of the EV transition.

Sales of EVs in Australia are continuing to grow. Image: Owlie Productions/shutterstock.com

A consumer-focused energy system

By Dr Brendan French, Energy Consumers Australia CEO

Energy plays a key role in our everyday lives, but affordability is a growing concern among consumers.

With the huge success of the Paris Olympics, France has been even more in the spotlight than usual as ‘the place to be’ this year.

I’ve always tried to avoid being a bandwagon-jumper, but when it comes to summarising the new approach I believe the energy sector must take to consumers, I’ll steal a French phrase –vive la différence.

Energy should be for everyone. It is an essential service and an enabler of everything we all want and need in a contemporary society.

As a sector that exists to serve the fundamental needs of everyone living in Australia, we should all be working together to build a market that provides equitable access to such a basic need and ensures the cost structures required by the many different consumers in the country.

Energy Consumers Australia’s (ECA) research has revealed that some consumers are saying that the market is unintentionally making their lives even harder.

ECA surveys have found that affordability is consistently the number one priority for the energy system for households and small businesses since we started running them nearly ten years ago.

Over the last few years, however, our research is showing that the energy divide – the gap between consumers who can easily access efficient, reliable energy and those who cannot – is growing. This is being driven by three factors: affordability, being left behind by the energy transition, and complexity.

Complexity in particular cannot be underestimated, as it negatively impacts consumer beliefs.

At ECA, we are constantly advocating for an energy system that places consumers at the heart of the pricing process. Our research shows consumers need information at the right time, in the right place and from sources they trust in order to take the actions that we as a sector are assuming they will make during the energy transition.

But more than a third of consumers are unable to understand their energy prices, let alone make informed decisions about new technologies.

Energy Consumers Australia CEO, Dr Brendan French. Image: Energy Consumers Australia.

ECA advocates for an energy system that places consumers at the heart of the pricing process. Image: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/shutterstock.com

Consumers not understanding their bills can lead to a lack of trust in the system and consumers who are more inclined to disengage from it. A clear and transparent energy sector is needed to ensure the active and constructive participation of consumers in the energy transition.

The key is to have a market that understands the fact consumers have diverse preferences and behaviours and sees this as a strength.

Not all households and small businesses have the same means and opportunity to manage their energy use and, if left unaddressed, this could worsen the energy divide.

Accommodating such diversity should be a key feature of the energy system if consumers are to be brought along for the journey.

ECA research has consistently shown that people have different motivations, opportunities and ability to take part in the energy market, or to participate in the transition to a net zero energy system. Our work has demonstrated the importance and incredible value of designing for that diversity, ensuring energy policies, programs, products and services are tailored to the needs of the people using them.

As I mentioned, energy is essential. What is the energy transition for, if not

for improving lives and livelihoods and making the world a fairer and more equitable place to live? Energy has always been a civilising agent in human society – that’s why we use terms like ‘enlightenment’, ‘illumination’, ‘warmhearted’ and ‘lucidity’.

As a sector, we cannot underestimate the importance of securing social licence; however, we can only achieve this social licence by ensuring consumers are placed at the heart of the energy transition and that we earn their trust.

At ECA, we are continuing to advocate for a system where consumers are enabled to choose a retail pricing structure that works for them. Choice must be accompanied by simple-to-use tools and information that allows people to easily identify the retail electricity pricing structure that best suits how they can integrate energy management into their lives and business processes.

That’s why we’re also continuing to work with other market bodies to propose changes to how distribution planning and expenditure reviews are conducted. There is opportunity to improve the regularity and scope of these so we get a true whole-ofsystem plan (i.e. a better view from transmission to consumer), including the contribution from consumers

through their own energy assets – all supported by new smart meter data.

Such a plan would also more easily identify communities at risk of longduration outages, as well as constraints in parts of the network that might be addressed by lower-cost solutions (such as community batteries), rather than network upgrades.

Bringing consumers along on the journey is crucial to building a system that works for everyone. In many ways, the success of the energy transition will hinge on whether consumers see themselves at the centre of it with an important role to play.

There have been some encouraging recent moves towards consumerfocused retail pricing reform.

At ECA, we will continue working with industry, policy-makers and regulators on every possible way we can think of to keep costs down for small businesses and households.

As the energy transition accelerates, we have a real opportunity to ensure consumers are in the driving seat and are fully invested in the process and outcomes.

To steal another French phrase, vouloir c’est pouvoir – where there’s a will, there’s a way.

It’s time for a sector-wide change in mindset to place consumers at the front of the decision-making process.

AUSTRALIAN MADE DIESEL GENERATORS

Creating a safe and sustainable network

Load break switches are fundamental to the reliable operation of the distribution grid, but not all designs are evenly matched.

Among some of the earliest equipment developed for the distribution network, load break switches (LBS) are an essential element to the reliable operation of the distribution grid.

They enable operators to switch elements of the network on and off as required and allow operators to divide the overhead distribution network into smaller zones, minimising the number of people effected by network faults.

This ability to divide the network will be critical as Australia’s continues its clean energy transition and the grid adapts to increasing input from renewable sources, as resources such as wind and solar can cause fluctuations in electricity supply and distribution.

The evolution of LBS

Since their invention, there have been multiple LBS designs used.

Air break switches rely on the distance between contacts in an openair environment to provide isolation, however, exposure to the weather means they are prone to corrosion and device failure. Additionally, the exposed insulation gap can pose significant risk to operators when the switch is in the open position.

To combat this, the SF6 LBS was developed, encasing the contacts

of the switch in a sealed metal tank filled with sulphur hexafluoride (SF6).

Though this design is more reliable, the visible isolation is removed, meaning operators must rely on the gas and external indicators to confirm the insulation. However, SF6 has since been identified as one of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases.

Modern LBS design utilises dielectric insulation to enclose the switch, which protects the contacts of the switch, improves the device’s reliability and eliminates the use of harmful gas. However, the major flaw with this design is a lack of visible isolation.

Without clear visibility, it is difficult for operators to confirm that the current has been isolated, which poses a significant safety risk.

A modern solution

NOJA Power’s VISI-SWITCH® is the world’s first solid dielectric enclosed LBS with visible isolation.

This means that operators can count on the reliability of a dielectric LBS with the safety benefits of visible isolation, enabling them to visually confirm the point of isolation before undertaking any linework.

The SF6-free design uses a vacuum interrupter and an air-insulated isolator, with the vacuum interrupter providing

the current make and break capability and the isolator providing the working point of isolation, with zero worry of harm to the environment.

When an operator opens a NOJA Power VISI-SWITCH®, the sequencing mechanism first opens the vacuum interrupter to break the line current, then automatically retracts the isolator.

To close the VISI-SWITCH®, the order of operations is reversed – the mechanism closes the isolator while there is no current present, and the vacuum interrupter is closed to restore the circuit.

Because it is enclosed, the isolator remains reliable, safe and free from corrosion, meaning it is maintenance free for its entire 30-year service life.

Manufactured at its Brisbane headquarters, NOJA Power has ramped up production and released a new user manual with the addition of operational accessories to help operators with installation and integration.

As Australia continues its renewable energy transition, the VISI-SWITCH offers a reliable, safe and sustainable LBS to support the grid through the inevitable changes in energy generation and distribution.

For more information, visit nojapower.com.au

The VISI-SWITCH is the world’s first solid dielectric enclosed load break switch with visible isolation. Image: NOJA Power

THE WORLD’S MOST ADVANCED AUTORECLOSING OUTDOOR CIRCUIT BREAKER SYSTEM

MEDIUM VOLTAGE OUTDOOR SWITCHGEAR FOR CONNECTING RENEWABLES AND PRIVATE INFRASTRUCTURE

THE WORLD’S FIRST SOLID DIELECTRIC INSULATED LOAD BREAK SWITCH WITH VISIBLE INTERNAL ISOLATION

CUTOUT MOUNTED RECLOSER –A RELIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO MV FUSES

Reinforcing Queensland’s transmission network is essential as renewable energy generation continue to increase. Images: Powerlink

Securing Queensland’s electricity supply

Powerlink is spearheading a range of transmission energy projects across Queensland in an effort to boost the state’s grid security.

Powerlink – Queensland’s government-owned transmission business – is playing an instrumental role in shaping Queensland’s future power system and developing the state’s future economic prosperity.

In a bid to ensure reliable supply of electricity amidst growing demand and evolving energy landscapes, Powerlink has embarked on several critical projects.

Topping the list is reinforcing the transmission network in Central Queensland and delivering the CopperString project to connect North West Queensland to the National Electricity Market (NEM).

These projects are aimed at fortifying the state’s energy future.

Decarbonising central Queensland

Central Queensland is a unique area of the state which features heavy industry, rich renewable energy resources and existing coal-fired power generators. The area is forecast to experience a significant rise in electricity demand as existing industrial loads seek to electrify their operations and reduce their emissions.

Over the medium term, Powerlink said Queensland is likely to see changes in electricity demand and investment in renewable projects.

A reinforcement to the transmission network will be essential to prevent potential bottlenecks and ensure that energy can be efficiently transmitted to where it is needed most.

The planned retirement of the Gladstone Power Station also requires a rethink of the transmission connection into the Gladstone region.

Calvale to Calliope transmission line works

Community and landholder engagement is well underway as Powerlink begins work on an additional 275kV transmission line between Calvale Substation and Calliope River Substation, mostly co-located with existing transmission infrastructure. Powerlink said the main benefit of co-locating the new transmission line with existing infrastructure will be reducing the social, environmental and economic impacts compared to constructing in a new location.

It will also enable Powerlink to provide a tangible legacy for communities as it delivers the time-critical project to ensure reliable and secure supply.

Delivering Queensland’s REZs

Powerlink has been appointed the body to deliver Queensland’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZ), with work well underway in developing the first REZ in Central Queensland, known as the Callide REZ.

Queensland is taking a unique approach which will see the market guide how REZs are developed. Powerlink’s role will be to ensure the best electricity generation mix in the right location at the right time by identifying areas of developer interest, close to areas of the transmission network with sufficient capacity.

Powerlink said that ongoing engagement with communities within REZ boundaries will be a priority.

REZ projects deliver economic benefits to nearby regions, generating employment opportunities and fostering long-term economic growth through improved energy security and reliability.

CopperString 2032

Another key focus for Powerlink is to deliver CopperString 2032, an 840km mega-project that will connect Mount Isa to the NEM near Townsville.

In connecting North West Queensland to the NEM, Powerlink said that more than $500 billion worth of minerals critical to the energy transition will be unlocked, along with potentially the nation’s largest REZ in the Flinders council area.

Connecting regional mining and industrial hubs to the broader national electricity grid means energy accessibility and reliability in remote areas will be enhanced, as will the delivery of new renewable energy sources to major energy consumption centres across the NEM.

The CopperString project also serves as a catalyst for other infrastructure investments in the region, such as telecommunications, thereby fostering comprehensive regional development in areas such as education, health and community safety, Powerlink said.

CopperString is more than a construction and regional development project – it’s a community project.

Sentiment along the corridor from local government, community and local businesses is largely positive and shows a commitment to regional development, potentially transforming North Queensland into a hub of industrial and economic activity.

The CopperString 2032 Experience Centre recently opened in Townsville.

It showcases the significance of the project to North Queensland through immersive educational experiences, genuine critical minerals from the North West Minerals Province and job opportunities across the project and the renewable and mining sectors more broadly.

The CopperString project does, however, have its challenges.

The sheer length and terrain the transmission line traverses requires meticulous planning and coordination to ensure timely and to-budget completion, Powerlink said.

Securing the necessary regulatory and environmental approvals as well as land access agreements is another critical aspect that requires ongoing, effective stakeholder communication and engagement.

The project must also address the technical complexities of integrating a vast and remote area into the national grid, which involves sophisticated engineering and construction techniques.

The project team have scoured the world learning about different tower designs and innovative construction techniques to deliver CopperString.

Additionally, Powerlink said environmental and cultural heritage considerations must be carefully managed to ensure that the project is sustainable and respectful of local communities and ecosystems.

Powerlink is nearing completion of the detailed design of the project, which has resulted in two realignments to the original concept to date.

Long-standing relationships with global suppliers have also resulted in Powerlink securing critical equipment with long lead times such as shunt reactors, transformers and conductors.

Boosting grid security

Powerlink’s efforts through CopperString and the reinforcement of the grid in Central Queensland underscore a commitment to bolstering Queensland’s energy security and reliability and driving prices down for Queenslanders.

Unpredictable global factors remain a strong influence on delivering Powerlink’s program of works across the state.

As the world transitions to renewable energy, demand and costs for critical specialist equipment increases. As transmission lines are

constructed to support the transition, the demand for skilled workers increases as well.

These projects, while complex and challenging, offer immense benefits in terms of infrastructure resilience, economic growth, and environmental sustainability, Powerlink said.

By addressing current limitations and preparing for future demands, Powerlink is securing the energy future of Queensland and contributing to the broader goals of sustainable, inclusive development and mandated targets for emissions reduction and renewable energy.

As these projects advance, they will play a crucial role in shaping the energy landscape of Queensland, ensuring that the state remains at the forefront of innovation in power transmission.

Powerlink said that by undertaking projects like building a resilient

Central Queensland backbone and CopperString, it is demonstrating a commitment to enhancing the resilience and reliability of Queensland’s electricity supply.

Such projects are not just about building new transmission lines and substations; they are about creating a sustainable and secure energy future for all Queenslanders.

Reinforcing the grid in Central Queensland and building CopperString represent critical components of Powerlink’s broader strategy to maintain reliability of supply, support the state’s long-term energy needs and decarbonise the state’s economy.

Through these efforts, Powerlink said that it is not only addressing immediate challenges but also laying the groundwork for a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable energy system that will benefit Queensland for generations to come.

The successful implementation of these projects will require continued collaboration and engagement with all stakeholders, including government agencies, Traditional Owners, industry partners, local communities, and environmental groups.

New infrastructure also brings the opportunity to bridge the digital divide to regional communities by stringing telecommunications cable, Powerlink said.

Work being scoped through Powerlink and Energy Queensland’s subsidiary, Queensland Capacity Network (QCN), has potential to increase internet speeds and reduce mobile blackspots.

Landholders who are hosting transmission infrastructure across Queensland will also have access to nation-leading compensation scheme, the SuperGrid Landholder Payment Framework.

Powerlink said that the framework was recently revised with changing community expectations and now also extends to landholders adjacent to transmission easements.

By working together, Powerlink and its partners can overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities on offer, ultimately contributing to a world-class energy future for Queensland and the NEM

The CopperString Experience Centre highlights the significance of CopperString to North Queensland.

Blending Australia’s hydrogen future

ATCO has reached a key hydrogen blending milestone that sets a precedent for broader adoption and lays a foundation for a renewable future.

As part of a pilot project in the City of Cockburn, ATCO has successfully blended up to ten per cent hydrogen into around 3000 homes connected to Western Australia’s main natural gas network.

This major milestone underscores ATCO’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and aligns with Australia’s broader strategy to transition to a future powered by sustainable energy.

Hydrogen is increasingly recognised as a critical component of the global energy transition. As the most abundant element in the universe, hydrogen can be produced from various resources, including natural gas, biomass and renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

When used as a fuel, hydrogen produces only water as a by-product, and it is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels when produced from renewable energy.

This type of versatility allows hydrogen to be used across many different sectors, including transportation, power generation and industrial processes.

ATCO’s clean energy innovation hub (CEIH), launched in 2019 with the support of the Western Australia Government, aims to exemplify how hydrogen can be integrated into existing energy systems. The CEIH produces renewable hydrogen, which is then blended with natural gas into parts of the existing network. This initiative demonstrated that hydrogen blends of up to ten per cent can be safely and effectively incorporated into the natural gas network without affecting the performance of residential appliances.

ATCO Executive General Manager of Gas Operations, Russell Godsall, said the project not only advances the use of renewable gases but also sets the stage for future developments.

“ATCO’s demonstration hydrogen home in Jandakot [a suburb of Perth], equipped with 100 per cent hydrogen appliances, showcases the potential for hydrogen to become an alternative energy source in Australian homes,” Mr Godsall said.

The significance of ATCO’s achievement is complemented by its recent collaboration with Delorean Corporation to support the development of bioenergy projects in Western Australia and enable ATCO to purchase biomethane (renewable natural gas) to replace system losses in the network.

This collaboration further paves the way for hydrogen and renewable gases to play an important role in Australia’s renewable energy transition.

ATCO Australia CEO, John Ivulich, emphasised the importance of regulatory support in advancing these kinds of initiatives.

“Amendments to the national gas

law and rules to include hydrogen, biomethane and other renewable gases will provide confidence for industry to further invest in these emerging fuels,” he said.

Mr Ivulich also called for the establishment of a renewable gas target, which could further accelerate the country’s transition to a low-carbon energy system.

As Australia strives to achieve its net zero emissions goals, renewable hydrogen’s role as a clean, versatile and abundant energy source will be indispensable. ATCO’s work in this area not only benefits the local community, but it also sets a precedent for the broader adoption of hydrogen as a key component of the global energy mix.

With continued innovation and collaboration, renewable hydrogen has the potential to revolutionise the way we produce and consume energy, paving the way for a sustainable and resilient future.

ATCO’s Clean Energy Innovation Hub. Image: ATCO

Training the next generation of hydrogen workers

A new TAFE Queensland training facility is changing the game in renewable energy education.

The state-of-the-art-facility opened in July 2024. Images: TAFE Queensland

TAFE Queensland is continuing its legacy of innovation with the opening of its Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility and Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab at the Townsville Trade Training Centre.

Officially opened on 10 July 2024, this state-of-the-art facility is TAFE Queensland’s first purpose-built hydrogen and electric vehicle training facility. It marks a significant advancement in supporting Queensland’s clean energy transition and preparing a new generation of skilled workers for the growing hydrogen sector.

Supporting Queensland’s renewable future

Queensland is set to become a global hydrogen powerhouse. According to the Queensland Government’s Department of Energy and Climate, independent modelling by EY Australia estimates that Queensland’s hydrogen industry will be worth $33 billion by 2040, supporting 10,000 jobs.

TAFE Queensland General Manager for North region, Susan Kinobe, emphasised the importance of the new facility in Bohle.

“For over 140 years, TAFE Queensland has been at the heart of Queensland communities, and now, with our world-class Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility, we are continuing this legacy into the future,” Mrs Kinobe said.

“Each year more than 2,000 trade apprentices are trained at the Bohle campus, and these new facilities will provide North Queenslanders with even greater access to the training and skills required for the future of work in hydrogen and advanced manufacturing,” she said.

Developed through close collaboration with Government and local industry, the facility meets the evolving needs of Queensland’s energy and manufacturing sectors. By aligning training with these needs, we ensure that students are equipped with the hands-on training they need to thrive in their chosen career, driving the success of their industry and communities.

“The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility will provide greater access to the training and skills required for the future of work in hydrogen and advanced manufacturing,” Mrs Kinobe said.

TAFE Queensland Faculty Manager for Building and Industries, Andy Kent, highlighted the facility’s role in meeting industry demands.

“The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility allows us to deliver specialised training that aligns with current industry needs and future growth demand in North Queensland,” Mr Kent said.

“The Basic Hydrogen Safety Skill Set (UEGSS00013) is a Queensland-first, designed to ensure the safety and uniformity of Queensland’s approach to hydrogen as a power source, which is essential as hydrogen emerges as a key player in Queensland’s transition to cleaner energy sources.

“The training covers a wide range of topics, including the fundamental properties of hydrogen, safety regulations, hazard identification, emergency response procedures, and the policies relating to environmental and sustainable energy,” he said.

This skill set is particularly relevant for tradespeople in fields where hydrogen technology is becoming more prevalent. For example, graduates of Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820) are likely to

The new facilities will support Queensland’s hydrogen sector.

encounter hydrogen in their work and will benefit from this training.

Similarly, those with a Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services (CPC40920), who hold a gas license, and Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (MEM30219), who work with large equipment or transport vehicles that are set to be powered by hydrogen, are also likely to undertake this upskilling opportunity. By equipping these industry professionals with advanced skills in hydrogen safety and technology, this training helps them future proof their careers.

Student success

Scott Walsh, a Training Advisor at Sun Metals Corporation, was fortunate enough to be part of the first cohort of students enrolled in the Basic Hydrogen Safety Skill Set.

Mr Walsh, who collaborated on the course’s development, shared his perspective on the training.

“Sun Metals’ early involvement in the development of the training units got me really excited to see the final product as well as participate in the training. The skill set has definitely deepened my understanding of hydrogen’s role in energy production and its practical applications.

“It also teaches a deep understanding of hydrogen’s characteristics, production, storage, and transport. This knowledge is crucial as we move towards a future where hydrogen will play a significant role in energy production.”

Mr Walsh also noted the impact of the training on his role.

“Working in the training department at Sun Metals, I’ve been able to apply what I’ve learned to address safety concerns about hydrogen.

“The training helps demystify hydrogen and provides a solid foundation for communicating its benefits and safety to not just industry professionals, but also the public.”

The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility features advanced training resources such as hydrogen generators and power cell boards, providing hands-on training that is essential for understanding hydrogen technology.

Walsh praised these practical experiences, saying, “The facility is

equipped with cutting-edge equipment so you can see how hydrogen is generated, and how it gets transformed into electricity. It’s a learning experience that you simply can’t get elsewhere.”

Hydrogen and beyond

The Basic Hydrogen Safety Skillset is just one of the new programs that will be on offer at the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility and Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab at the Townsville Trade Training Centre in Bohle. The facility will also offer a range of new training options, from nationally recognised certificates and diplomas to skill sets, micro-credentials, and trade tasters for high school students as part of the TAFE at School program.

“Our educational offerings are expanding with new programs and skills sets in sustainable energy process plant operations, electric vehicles, autonomous technologies, manufacturing technologies, Cobots, and Industry 4.0,” Mr Kent said.

“Excitingly – and a first for TAFE Queensland – we will be offering the

new Diploma of Applied Technologies (MEM50822) from this facility, which will commence this year in term four.”

“Our educational offerings are continually expanding to meet the evolving needs of the industry,” he said.

“The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility is a testament to our commitment to leading the way in renewable energy education.

“It ensures that our local workforce is equipped with the skills needed for the future,” Mr Kent said.

According to Mrs Kinobe, there has never been a better time for students to pursue a trade.

“The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility at TAFE Queensland North will significantly contribute to the development of skills needed for the future of work. We are proud to be at the forefront of this transition and to support Queensland’s clean energy goals,” Mrs Kinobe said.

For more information, visit tafeqld.edu.au

More than 2,000 students are trained at the Bohle campus each year.

Transitional technology for renewable methanol

By Colin A. Scholes, University of Melbourne Department of Chemical Engineering

Tindustries will make methanol a key component in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving a circular chemical economy, if methanol is derived from carbon dioxide (CO₂) and renewable hydrogen.

hydrogenation process, which involves captured CO₂ being directly reacted with renewable hydrogen. This is a recognised carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) strategy, and a method to mitigate carbon emissions.

The methanol economy

The potential for methanol is significant, especially outside of the energy sector. Methanol will play a crucial role in the

intensive industries that are vital to the modern economy to become carbon neutral. The importance of methanol is recognised by these sectors, and significantly, renewable methanol production is set to evolve over the next decade, driven largely by technology innovation.

Using CO2 hydrogenation to produce methanol presents several challenges

competing reactions during CO2 hydrogenation can generate carbon monoxide (CO), which further reduces methanol production.

Currently, the methanol yield from CO2 hydrogenation is less than 40 per cent due to these limitations, and the process struggles to compete against the conventional natural gas route as a result.

produce methanol through a membrane reactor, which integrates the reaction and separation processes into a single process unit.

A membrane reactor utilises a selective material that actively removes the products (methanol) of the reaction directly from the reaction zone as they are formed. The reagents – in this case, CO2 and hydrogen – experience the

material as a barrier and subsequently remain in the reaction zone until they react to produce methanol, which freely passes through the membrane material. This enables the membrane reactor to overcome the thermodynamic and equilibrium limitation through in-situ reaction product removal and is based on extending the Le Chatelier’s principle.

developed catalyst membrane reactor technology that can effectively produce purified methanol at a rate that is over 300 per cent higher than conventional approaches. This technology is based on two core achievements, development of a structural catalyst morphology ideal for CO2 hydrogenation, and utilising high temperature performance polymeric membranes.

Membrane reactor for the production of methanol. Images: University of Melbourne

Methanol will play a crucial role in the global chemical industry. Image: SergeiShimanovich/shutterstock.com

The catalyst is one innovation in the University of Melbourne technology and is vital to the overall process as the catalyst is used to speed up the CO2 hydrogenation reaction, without which CO2 and hydrogen would not covert to methanol in a meaningful timescale.

Copper-based catalysts are among the most widely studied for CO2 hydrogenation because copper is effective at facilitating the reaction at relatively low temperatures and pressures. For the developed membrane reactor, the catalyst is based on a copper-zinc oxide (Cu/ ZnO) combination, where the zinc oxide enhances the catalytic performance.

The novelty in the University of Melbourne approach is the deposition of the catalyst as nanoparticles in an open morphology upon the membrane surface. This is achieved through a process known as flame spray pyrolysis, that vaporises and atomises the catalyst material at high temperature, which is then sprayed onto the membrane surface.

The hot catalyst material upon experiencing the membrane surface strongly adheres as nanoparticles that are melded into the open morphology are vital for allowing CO2 and hydrogen to mix with the catalyst. The positioning of the catalyst directly upon the membrane surface ensures that the produced methanol is removed directly from the catalyst reaction zone upon formation, meaning high conversion efficiencies are achieved.

The membrane is the other innovation in the technology, as the membrane needs to be selective for methanol, while CO2 and hydrogen must experience the membrane as a barrier. This is a challenge because membranes generally allow smaller molecules to pass through compared to larger molecules (known as size sieving), which is not the situation for the CO2 hydrogenation.

Methanol is a much larger molecule than both CO2 and hydrogen, hence, the design behind the material must be different to other membrane processes. This is further complicated by the high temperature of the reaction, and the fact that few membrane materials can withstand these temperatures while still having selectivity.

The innovation that the University of Melbourne has developed has

enabled the utilisation of high temperature resilient polyimide and polybenzimidazole materials as the membrane. These polymers will only degrade at extreme temperatures (above 400°C) and can easily be fabricated as ultra-thin membranes.

Methanol selectivity

The methanol selectivity challenge is overcome by fabricating the membranes as non-porous layers where separation is achieved through solubility mechanisms, rather than size separation.

Methanol has a high sorption affinity for these polymers, which allows the methanol concentration to build up within these polymers and results in a high methanol flux through the membrane. Conversely, CO2 and hydrogen have very low sorption affinity for these polymers and therefore cannot accumulate within the membrane, resulting in a low flux.

This was the key to providing methanol selectivity for the membrane while ensuring operability at high temperature. An additional advantage of these polymers is that water also actively permeates through, and as water is a by-product of the CO2 hydrogenation reaction, removal of water further enhances conversion.

This combination of catalyst and high temperature membranes enables the University of Melbourne’s membrane reactor technology to successfully produce methanol between 100°C to 200°C, significantly lower than the 300°C required through a conventional reactor.

This is possible because the active removal of methanol from the reaction enables lower temperature

thermodynamics, while sustaining a reasonable reaction rate. In addition, the membrane’s high selectivity ensures the methanol is separated under pressurised conditions. As such, the membrane reactor produces a methanol product that is of high purity, with almost no CO2 or hydrogen present.

Looking to the future

The next challenge for the technology is large-scale demonstration, transitioning the bench-scale system to a plant that can produce methanol on a sizeable scale. Currently, there are no large-scale CO2 hydrogenation to methanol plants globally, so there is potential for the University of Melbourne’s technology to become the global leader.

The demonstration plant will be focused on producing methanol as an intermediate in the chemical production chain to dimethyl ether and liquid hydrocarbons, as green substitutes for gasoline. This is to fully demonstrate the methanol economy, while we wait for large-scale uptake of hydrogen as an energy vector.

CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is a promising approach that offers a way to recycle carbon dioxide and produce a valuable chemical. By utilising advanced catalysts and integrating membranes, optimal membrane reactor technology has been developed, which will contribute to a more sustainable future.

Whilst there are challenges remaining, the key research and development has been achieved, and viable technology is ready for demonstration that will fully unlock the full benefits of CO2 hydrogenation to methanol.

An example of a flat-sheet membrane.

Combining the resources of our respected editorial team with the knowledge and insights of some of the best and brightest minds in the sector, Energy shares thoughtleading and thought-provoking content that tackles the industry’s critical questions.