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GFG enters strategic partnership with Shanghai Electric

Shanghai Electric will provide EPC for the Cultana project.

SIMEC Energy Australia (SEA), a member of GFG Alliance, has signed a key strategic partnership with Shanghai Electric for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) for the Cultana Solar Farm project in South Australia which began in June.

In a statement, the GFG Alliance said the agreement was signed by GFG Alliance executive chairman and CEO, Sanjeev Gupta, and president of Shanghai Electric, Huang Ou.

Cultana is the first project of SIMEC Energy Australia’s landmark US$1 billion ($1.44 billion) 1GW dispatchable renewable energy program in South Australia. With capacity of 280MW, Cultana is expected to produce around 600GWh of energy per year, powering GFG’s Whyalla Steelworks and a range of key government and commercial customers.

Cultana will deliver a range of benefits to the local community, increasing the reliability and security of the state’s electricity. The project is set to boost local employment, with approximately 350 positions during construction. “Cultana Solar Farm is an ambitious project that will deliver globally-competitive renewable energy on a large scale to powerheavy industry. It is a great step forward in our vision to revitalise industry and we look forward to working with our partners to bring our renewables projects to life,” said Gupta.

GFG previously announced its ambition to invest in up to 10GW of large-scale solar and other renewables projects across Australia, supporting industry.

Shanghai Electric will provide EPC for the Cultana project. Shanghai Electric’s expertise includes the completion of the world’s largest concentrated solar power project in Dubai.

“Electric have embodied the best form of partnership, working hand in glove with our people in Whyalla to develop the project. We are confident of their performance, to deliver this project on time, and on budget, to the highest standards, supporting our commitment to the creation of hundreds of new local jobs in South Australia,” said Gupta.

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Business Council calls for measures to boost innovation for increased competition

Federal parliament needs to work with the government to pursue measures that will boost innovation and make industry more competitive in to counter strong economic headwinds, according Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott.

Westacott said that “all stops” must be put out to accelerate Australia’s rate of growth and build a more resilient and innovative economy that provides more opportunities for job creation and wage boosts. “We need to come to terms with the fact that Australia’s economy is slowing and productivity, which is the key driver of wages growth, is going backwards,” Westacott said.

Current figures show that the national growth rate is just 1.8 per cent, which Westacott said was unable to deliver the new jobs and higher wages Australians need.

“Australia’s slow economic growth leaves us exposed to gathering economic headwinds. Only with a plan for a more competitive and productive economy can we provide Australians with a buffer against an unpredictable global economy,” she said.

“A slowing economy isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet. Weak economies are those that see people losing their jobs, see regional towns struggle to stay afloat and see young people missing out on the opportunities they deserve.”

Westacott called on parliament to pass measures that “supercharge” business investment and lead to more money circulating around the economy.

“Politicians, business and the community must act together to deliver the world’s best skills system, to attract the investment Australians need and give Australian workers a modern workplace relations scheme,” she said.

“Australians deserve a thriving economy and access to the new opportunities they want for themselves and their families. Only a thriving business sector can deliver a stronger Australia.”

Industrial jobs secured at Incitec Pivot

Incitec Pivot has announced it will continue manufacturing at its Gibson Island industrial chemical plant after securing a $100 million new gas supply agreement with Australia Pacific until December 2022 in Brisbane.

Incitec’s Gibson Island plant uses gas as a feedstock to produce industrial chemicals and fertilisers, distributing to more than 4000 cotton, sugarcane and sorghum farmers in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said in a statement that Queensland has been the state doing the most for gas supply for Eastern Australia.

“Domestic gas supply is vital for electricity supply, energy for industrial customers, and as a feedstock for companies like Incitec Pivot,” Palaszczuk said.

“Whether its Incitec Pivot here in Brisbane, Sun Metals near Townsville, or Rheinmetall’s soon to be completed Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence near Ipswich, Queensland is cementing its place as

Australia’s new home of industrial manufacturing.”

Jeanne Johns, managing director and chief executive officer of Incitec Pivot, said securing the gas supply agreement and other commercial arrangements with Australia Pacific provides certainty for workers at Gibson Island, as well as for Incitec customers, suppliers, and shareholders.

“We are grateful for the support of the Queensland state government and their domestic-only gas policy initiative to support local manufacturing businesses and jobs,” Johns said.

“The new supply agreement demonstrates the benefits of the Queensland government’s domestic only gas policy initiative in supporting local manufacturing businesses and jobs in Queensland.” Anthony Lynham, Minister for Natural Resources, said Queensland’s move to allocate gas tenements exclusively for manufacturing was an important extension of the Queensland state government’s market-only gas policy.

“We know that all businesses crave certainty when it comes to planning future investment,” Lynham said. “Incitec Pivot’s three-year deal with Australia Pacific provides them with that certainty to plan for the future.”

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Continued economic growth despite dip in PMI

The Australian Industry (Ai) Group’s Australian Performance of Manufacturing Index (Australian PMI) has remained in expansionary territory at 52.7 points in May. It marks the 33rd consecutive month of stability and reading over the 50-point mark.

Despite its positive streak, the PMI has dipped 2.1 points from the previous month, indicating a slower rate of growth. “While Australia’s manufacturing sector continued to grow in May, performance was mixed across the range of manufacturing industries and there are signs of further softening in the months ahead,” said Innes Willox, chief executive of Ai Group.

“Manufacturers are hoping that the resolution of political uncertainties associated with the election will provide a base for a return to more robust conditions. As one member put it in responding to the servery, ‘elections kill businesses’. The medium-term outlook remains clouded by the prospect of uncompetitive prices for gas, both for direct industrial use and as a critical input into electricity generation.”

Ai Group’s survey reports five of the seven indexes in the Australian PMI indicates expanding conditions in May, while two indicated broadly stable conditions.

All indexes slowed compared to April except for employment (up 4.1 points to 55.6) and finished stocks (up 2.9 points to 50.8). The production index experienced its largest fall since October 2017 but remained in expansion (down 6.9 points to 51.2).

The PMI’s May key findings indicated that three of the six manufacturing sectors expanded, led through food and beverages (up 1.8 points to 63.9) and building materials, wood and furniture (up 3.8 points to 62.0). “Momentum eased for production, sales, exports and new orders with at best moderate growth recorded in these sub-indices. While the large food and beverages sector continued to grow strongly, as did the building, wood, furniture

All indexes slowed compared to April except for employment and finished stocks.

and other products category, the important metals products and machinery and equipment sectors slipped further,” Willox said. “The chemicals sector lifted modestly and the businesses in the textiles, clothing, paper and printing sector recorded a slight reduction in performance.” Both the metal products (down 0.3 points to 45.2) and machinery and equipment (down 0.9 points to 45.1) sectors contracted further in May, weighed down due to slowing economic conditions.

In addition, the input prices index has risen (up 3.6 points to 68.3) after falling in the previous two months, with elevated energy prices remaining the largest concern for many manufacturers. The selling prices index slipped 2.8 points to 52.1, suggesting the prices for more manufactured goods went up but at a slower pace compared to April and the average wages index declined 2.2 points to 55.5 in May. This indicates ongoing wage pressures across the manufacturing sector, but at its slowest rate since March 2017.

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Government grant builds global connections

Australian researchers and businesses will receive up to $50,000 in funding from the federal government to take their products global under the Global Connections Fund (GCF) Bridging Grants.

Karen Andrews, Minister for Industry, Science, and Technology, said the grants are designed to strengthen international partnerships between small businesses and researchers. “The grants will help develop

Connecting SMEs in the research community will help create jobs.

business-researcher relationships and lead to the translation of research knowledge into market ready products and services,” Andrews said. “Connecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the research community will help grow our economy and create new Australian jobs.”

Andrews said the GCF grants will help get innovation ideas off the ground, with the funding supporting early stage proof of concept and knowledge transfer, product development, and marketing testing. The federal government has to date provided $4.2 million in GCF grants, which has been used to increase collaboration in science, technology, and innovation at an international level.

University of Queensland and Gilmour Space collaborate on rocket testing

Gilmour Space Technologies has partnered with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) to collaborate on advanced rocket technology research, and testing, and science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) initiatives.

Gilmour Space has been developing new hybrid-propelled rockets for commercial small satellite launches since 2021. “Our initial focus for this Research Partnership will be to develop space-grade composite capabilities and to explore new rocket test facilities in Queensland,” said James Gilmour, co-founder of Gilmour Space Technologies. Professor Peter Schubel, executive director of USQ’s Institute for Advanced Engineering and Space Science said, “this research partnership is a perfect match of space-related capabilities between industry and academia to develop advanced automated composite manufacturing, hypersonics, high temperature flow diagnostics, rocket fuel analysis, and satellite tracking.” “USQ’s unique facilities such as the long duration Hypersonic wind tunnel, solid rocket fuel manufacturing facility, composite cryotank expertise and Mt Kent Observatory place USQ as a leading space research Institute in Australia, aligned to the needs of the fast

paced space industry,” he said.

USQ and Gilmour Space, along with other national and international partners, are also developing STEM related activities to encourage and train the next generation of space scientists and engineers.

“We believe it’s important to

provide more pathways for bright young minds to get involved locally in the global space industry without having to leave the country,” Gilmour said. “We want to play our part in building this futureready industry for Queensland and Australia.”

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CSIRO partners with Canada for climate change initiative

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the University of British Colombia (UBC) have announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in response to Mission Innovation’s Renewable and Clean Hydrogen Innovation Challenge. Mission Innovation is made up of more than 23 countries and the European Commission working to accelerate clean energy innovation through research, development, and demonstration.

Launched in May 2018, Mission Innovation’s eighth Innovation Challenge aims to “accelerate the development of a global hydrogen market by identifying and overcoming key technology barriers to the production, distribution, storage, and use of hydrogen at gigawatt scale”. CSIRO’s collaboration with UBC will enhance research and industry partnerships with Canada and Australia on clean energy, providing economic growth for both countries. Hydrogen technologies have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the resilience of the global energy system, which could be a major clean energy commodity for Australia.

“CSIRO is conducting hydrogen research along the entire value chain, and we look forward to collaborating with UBC to help facilitate demonstrations that will clear the path or market for new technologies,” said Tim Finnigan, CSIRO energy director.

“By working together, we can pool resources and expertise for mutually beneficial outcomes.”

Dr Dean James Olson, UBC Faculty of Applied Science, said UBC is thrilled to joining CSIRO in advancing the objectives of Mission Innovation’s Renewable and Clean Hydrogen Innovation Challenge.

“UBC has long been a leader in hydrogen fuel cell-related research and development in Canada, and we are eager to draw on our vast expertise in hydrogen production, storage, distribution, to help pave the way to a cleaner future,” Olson said.

Hydrogen technologies have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the resilience of the global energy system.

BISA, Australian and Chinese universities sign MoU

The Brain and Intelligence Science Alliance (BISA) is collaborating with The University of Sydney, and China’s Fudan University to deepen their research into cognitive neuroscience, brain disorders, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI).

The partnership will apply the research of both universities to the field of brain intelligence, science, and technology. Fudan University, located in Shanghai, is one of China’s top universities and is known for its strengths in applied mathematics, computer science, neurobiology and clinical medicine.

This research will further the understandings of data science, neuroscience and AI. Applying this research to the manufacturing industry will develop more advanced processes built on AI and data science – areas that are critical to the adoption of industry 4.0 practices.

While AI has the potential to drive growth in the productivity and profitability of manufacturing, the ethical implications that come with the adoption of this technology are still being determined.

Human-machine connections are also being pioneered as part of Industry 4.0 solutions, and a better understanding of how the brain works will allow these technologies to work more effectively.

“We need to work across disciplines and oceans if our research is going to improve lives. The challenges of brain disorders, computational neuroscience and the ethics of artificial intelligence can only be addressed if we get the sharpest minds working on solutions. That’s why we are working with Fudan University on this important research,” said Michael Spence, vice chancellor of the University of Sydney.

As part of this partnership, the two universities will make funding available on a competitive basis for joint research and education projects. Successful projects will be judged by academic panels from Sydney and Fudan.

While research conducted by BISA will have immediate applications in the field of medical research and technology, processes developed in this sector will enable other manufacturers to take advantage of the highly precise and technical findings of neuroscience. The University of Sydney hopes to see this partnership broaden to include other areas of academic knowledge.

“We have lots of strong engagement across the board with Fudan and we are keen to encourage collaboration across the basic sciences, medicine, and humanities and social sciences too,” said Kathy Belov, pro-vicechancellor (global engagement) at the University of Sydney.

As part of this partnership, the two universities will make funding available on a competitive basis for joint research and education projects.

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Positive credit rating in Victoria follows with commitment to job creation

Moody’s, and Standard and Poor’s ratings have recognised the Victorian economy’s health, and the state which has contributed 40 per cent of all fulltime jobs created in Australia with a triple AAA rating.

According to previous reports by the state government of Victoria, manufacturing has continued to support jobs and economic growth in Victoria, with the industry worth $27.7 billion to the almost $400 billion state economy and employing 288,000 people.

The credit agencies have given the Andrews government a vote of confidence, maintaining Victoria’s AAA rating, despite drops in revenues from stamp duty as the property market softens. The announcement from the credit agencies follows Premier Daniel Andrews handing down the Victorian 2019/2020 budget in May.

As part of the 2019/2020 budget, the state government has announced tax relief for businesses to enable the economy to continue to grow. Growth is currently projected at 2.75 per cent for the next four years. Treasurer Tim Pallas has committed to lifting the payroll taxfree threshold to $700,000 by 2022/23. This is an increase of $50,000 on the current threshold.

“Our responsible economic management means businesses will continue to invest in our state, creating more jobs and opportunities for Victorians,” said Pallas.

In growing the state economy, the Victorian government has focussed on creating manufacturing jobs. Launched in late 2017, the Advancing Victorian Manufacturing — A Blue Print for the Future strategy aims to help small to medium businesses grow, innovate and capture new market opportunities while strengthening the local supply chain and finding export opportunities for Victorian companies.

In 2018, the Victorian government supported the Automotive Innovation Lab with the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association. The lab offers 3D scanning and printing, technology transfer and Computer Aided Design services, helping to create more than 600 jobs

Victoria’s growth is currently projected at 2.75 per cent for the next four years.

in the automotive aftermarket manufacturing sector.

In Geelong, the former Ford Motor manufacturing site has been repurposed to assemble wind turbine components. A partnership between Danish manufacturer Vestas and Victorian firm Marand, the facility employs more than 20 employees and is responsible for the assembly of 100 turbine hubs and 50 drive trains for the 180MW Berrybank Wind Farm and the 336MW Dundonnell Wind Farm.

In April, the new fleet of X’Trapolis trains began production, supporting the employment of 65 people at Alstom’s Ballarat workshop. These trains are being built with higher local content as part of the Andrews government’s focus on retaining manufacturing in Victoria.

These projects, in addition to private investment in Victoria’s manufacturing sector, which in 2018 was over $1.6 billion, contributed to the positive jobs and economic outlook in the state, which was confirmed by the two credit agencies yesterday.

“We’re maintaining Victoria’s triple-A rating as we get on with delivering the major projects and services our growing state needs,” said Pallas.

Gladstone solar farm generates manufacturing job opportunities

The Department of State Development has approved Acciona Energy’s proposed 762-hectare Aldoga solar farm in Gladstone, Queensland.

Acciona Energy signed a 30-year agreement in April 2018 with the Queensland Government to lease its land for the Aldoga renewable energy project.

Cameron Dick, Minister for State development, manufacturing, infrastructure, and planning, said the Aldoga farm will produce more than 240 construction and manufacturing jobs and 10 ongoing jobs once operational.

“At maximum capacity the $400 million solar farm will generate more than 250 megawatts of energy, which is enough to supply approximately 122,000 homes annually,” Dick said.

“The power generated will be fed into the national electricity grid via a connection into the Powerlink Larcom Creek Station.”

Dick said a community benefit fund will be established through Acciona Energy. Acciona will invest between $50,000 to $120,000 from the project back into the community each year.

“Over the lifetime of the project, this will see a total of more than $1.5 to $3.6 million put back into Gladstone and surrounding areas,” Dick said.

Glenn Butcher, Members for Gladstone, said locals will notice progress on site with the installation of two meteorological monitoring stations.

“These are being installed to gather data on the location’s climatic conditions,” Butcher said. “The information gathered will help fine tune the design of the solar farm, ensuring it is as productive as possible.”

Anthony Lynahm, Minister for Natural Resources, Mines, and Energy, said the project will contribute to the Queensland state government’s renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2030.

“This solar farm will help us reduce emissions and tackle climate change,” Lynham said.

“The proponent will also adopt Buy Queensland and Gladstone Buy Local procurement policies, giving preference to the local subcontractors and manufacturers.”

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Swinburne researchers develop nanomaterials in sensors for use in health monitoring

A Swinburne University research team has been focussing its efforts on ground-breaking work on sensors and nanomaterials and their practical use for health and environmental monitoring.

The team is lead by Dr Shafiei, a Swinburne vice-chancellor’s Women in STEM research fellow. The fellowships have been designed to address the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering and maths research and teaching.

With funding support from the university’s Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Shafiei has established a well equipped sensor laboratory at Swinburne.

“Nanoscience, nanotechnology and sensing are powerful technologies that enable the development of integrated and portable sensor devices,” Shafiei said.

Together with collaborative networks at ANU and RMIT, she is investigating non-invasive medical diagnostics by breath analysis, thanks to an Australian Research Council Discovery Project. “In our research, we are developing reliable, portable and inexpensive sensors to monitor important biomarkers in our breath that could enable early disease diagnosis and management,” she said. “For example, in diabetics we can measure the concentration of acetone, a specific volatile organic compound (VOC) that is the biomarker for Type 1 diabetes. A high acetone reading is a warning sign that your diabetes isn’t under control.”

In 2017, Shafiei and her Swinburne colleagues with their industry partner were awarded a grant from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science to develop a hydrocarbon liquid sensing system to be integrated into the Internet of Things (IoT) platform for continuous real-time environmental monitoring. The developed system has a potential use in the oil industry where leakage and spillage could contaminate soil and ground water.

International collaborations are an important part of sensor research and Shafiei has developed strong links with other laboratories in Italy, Japan, Canada and Hong Kong. With grant support from Swinburne’s School of Software and Electrical Engineering, she is collaborating with leaders in the field of nano-sensing at the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan.

This work aims to integrate nanofibres developed by her PhD student with novel sensing platforms developed by the NIMS group for VOCs and humidity sensing.

More recently, Shafiei’s group has added a research project that aims to develop low-power, portable sensing systems to monitor hydrogen gas and VOCs as part of an ARENA project to produce hydrogen from renewable energy.

“The project will establish a pilot plant to test a range of new technologies in hydrogen production,” Shafiei said.

As well as Swinburne, the project involves QUT, Griffith University and the University of Tokyo, along with industry partners Sumitomo Electric industries (Japan) and Energy Developments Limited (Australia).

This year Shafiei and colleagues also established a new international collaboration with researchers at UNICAMP on two-dimensional nanomaterials for gas sensing.