Under the $842,000 study, Boral Timber, a hardwood and softwood supplier, will explore the technical and financial viability of establishing a biorefinery near the Herons Creek sawmill.
If constructed, the proposed biorefinery could cost around $35 million and could convert up to 50,000 tpy of waste sawmill residue into transport-grade renewable diesel and bitumen.
(Source: ARENA, World Highways, 8 May, 2019) Contact: Boral Timber , Wayne Manners, Exec. Manager, www.boral.com.au/products/timber, www.boral.com; Arena,
www.arena.gov.au/projects/hardwood-residue-bio-refinery-feasibility-study;
Global Ecofuel Solutions, https://gefs.es
More Low-Carbon Energy News Woody Biomass, ARENA,
Muradel developed Green2Black, a proprietary way of producing biofuel from biosolids, algae and other sustainable feedstocks. The company's $10.5 million demonstration plant in Whyalla in a bid to commercialize the technology which received $4.5 million in grant funding from the Federal Government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and more than $500,000 in state and council funds. Unfortunately, production costs were prohibitive - the pilot plant produced oil from micro-algae at about $9.90 a litre against a projected cost of less than $1 a litre. The company also built five algae ponds to support research.
The business was established in 2010 by the University of Adelaide, Murdoch University and majority shareholder SQC Pty Ltd, which is solely funded by Aban Australia Pty Ltd. (part of the Ausker Group of Companies).(Source: Daily Telegraph, The Advertiser, Others, 9 April, 2019) Contact: Muradel, +61 8 8645 5683, www.muradel.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Muradel, Biofuel, Algae,
(Source: Hydrostor, 12 Feb., 2019) Contact: Hydrostor,
Curtis VanWalleghem, CEO. www.hydrostor.ca; ARENA, Ivor Frischknecht, CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News ARENA, Hydrostor, Compressed Air Energy STorage,
The HPB will be a state-of-the-art facility containing biomass processing and fermentation equipment applicable to a range of biofuel and renewable chemical production technologies.
The first phase of the project received $4.6 million from the New South Wales (NSW) Government under the Growing Local Economies fund to unlock long-term growth opportunities in regional NSW through targeted infrastructure investment.
The foundation project of the Biorefinery is a $30 million cellulosic ethanol pilot plant project by Apace Research Limited (Apace), Ethanol Technologies Limited (Ethtec), the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Chinese engineering company JTL and the University of Newcastle. (Source: University of Newcastle, Australia, PR 17 Jan., 2019) Contact: NIER, Professor Alan Broadfoot, Executive Director, +61 2 4033 9000, www.newcastle.edu.au;
Ethtec, + 61 7 4776 5300, +61 7 4776 5392 - fax, www.ethtec.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Biofuel, Ethanol, Ethtec, Biomass,
The study will explore the potential conversion of up to 50,000 tonnes of sawmill hardwood residues from a BORAL owned sawmill near Port Macquarie, NSW, into renewable transport-grade diesel and bitumen using world-first technology.
The study will consider a mechanical catalytic conversion technology, developed by Spanish-based Global Ecofuel Solutions, combined with the potential biorefinery. The process has never before been used in a production-scale facility.(Source: BORAL, ARENA, AggNet, 18 Dec., 2018) Contact: ARENA, Ivor Frischknecht, CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au; Boral Limited, www.boral.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Diesel, Biofuel, Renewable Fuel, ARENA, BORAL,
Potential projects seeking funding will be assessed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Projects shortlisted for GSSF funding may also be eligible for ARENA funding under the Advancing Renewables Program . Under the GSSF, applicants must be able to match funding dollar-for-dollar and preference will be given to projects targeting financial close by the end of 2019.
ARENA is already supporting feasibility studies for two prospective pumped hydro plants at Cultana and Middleback Ranges, two virtual power plants trials and has contributed towards two grid-scale batteries -- Infigen's Lake Bonney battery and the ESCRI battery in Dalrymple. (Source: ARENA, Energy Storage, 23 Nov., 2018) Contact: ARENA, www.arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Australia, Energy Storage, ARENA,
The proposal, which would up the station's capacity from 240MW to 475MW should it go ahead, is to pump water from Lake Yarrunga to Fitzroy Falls Reservoir via a new underground pumped power station.
The feasibility study would be completed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and could cost as much as $6.8 million when completed in 2019. 2019. (Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Oct., 2018)
Contact: ARENA, www.arena.gov.au;
Origin Energy, Frank Calabria, CEO, www.originenergy.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Origin Energy, Pumped Hydro, Energy Storage,
The partners plan to construct a 500-KW electrolyser in western Sydney as part of Project H2GO.
The facility will be able to generate enough hydrogen to power about 250 homes. The resulting fuel would be stored for use across the Jemena Gas Network in New South Wales.
(Source: Jemena, Power Eng., 22 Oct., 2018) Contact: ARENA, Ivor Frischknecht, CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, www.arena.gov.au; Jemena, Frank Tudor, Managing Dir., 1300 536 362, https://jemena.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News ARENA,
Boral Timber's $1.2 million study will explore the technical and financial viability of establishing a biorefinery using innovative technology, which would see biofuels derived from waste sawmill residues from its Herons Creek sawmill.
According to the company, the proposed $50 million plant could process up to 50,000 tpy of waste sawmill residue into transport-grade renewable diesel and bitumen. (Source: ARENA, 27 Aug., 2018)
Contact: ARENA, Ivor Frischknecht, CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au;
Boral Limited, www.boral.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News ARENA, Woody Biomass, Biomass-to-Fuel,
Infigen has secured project funding agreements with the South Australian government and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) worth around $38 (AUS) million.
South Australia is home to the world's largest battery -- a 100MW system at the Hornsdale wind farm. (Source: Infigen Energy, 18 Aug., 2018) Contact: Infigen, Energy, Ross Rolfe, CEO, +61 2 8031 9901, rosalie.duff@infigenenergy.com, www.infigenenergy.com; Tesla Power Pack, www.tesla.com/en_CA/powerpack
More Low-Carbon Energy News Infigen Energy, Tesla PowerPack, , Wind, Energy Storage,
The facility will produce Green hydrogen from on-site solar using electrolysis, fueling a range of gas appliances and blending hydrogen into the natural gas pipeline. The $3.3 million ($2.5 million) development project will also evaluate the potential for renewable hydrogen to be exported at a larger scale.
Japan is seen as a potential market for Australian renewable hydrogen.
(Source: ARENA, MarEx, 31 July, 2018) Contact: ARENA, Ian Kay, Acting CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Hydrogen, Australian Renewable Energy Agency,
The project involves building a demonstration scale hydrothermal liquefaction reactor to produce the renewable crude oil from biosolids. The hydrothermal liquefaction will involve the treatment of the biosolids using a thermochemical conversion process to produce a biocrude oil that will be upgraded to renewable diesel and potentially renewable jet fuel.
ARENA previously funded Southern Oil Refining's first-of-its-kind biocrude and biofuel laboratory and testing facility built onsite at Gladstone as part of its advanced biofuel pilot plant.
(Source: ARENA, PR, 25 July, 2018) Contact: ARENA, Ian Kay, Acting CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, www.arena.gov; Southern Oil Refining, Tim Rose, +61 2 6925 8755, www.sor.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Southern Oil Refining, Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Biosolid, Renewable Fuel,
States like South Australia and Victoria have begun ramping up their renewable energy capacity, and grid managers are beginning to focus on integrating energy storage -- i.e. the mammoth Hornsdale Power Reserve, a 129 MWh Tesla lithium-ion energy storage facility in South Australia, which was turned on for the first time towards the end of 2017.
The new $7 million ($5.23 million US) in funding seeks to further develop new technologies that can provide grid stability and security services as well as support projects such as system strength provision, frequency control ancillary services (FCAS), fast frequency response (FFR), inertia provision and measurement, and other services that may enhance system security.
The Hornsdale Wind Farm in South Australia was a beneficiary of funding from ARENA to trial frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) (as was the 168 MW Musselroe Wind Farm in Tasmania which is still underway) and is now registered for six of eight FCAS markets in Australia. The project will provide valuable insights into the cost-benefit of using pre-curtailment to provide FCAS services from a new technology source.
(Source: ARENA, CleanTechnica, 16 May, 2018) Contact: ARENA, Ian Kay, Acting CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News ARENA, Renewable Energy,
Zen Eco Systems' two main products are Zen Thermostat that allows homes to remotely control and reduce their energy consumption, and the Zen HQ, a low-cost cloud-based platform for smaller businesses trying to manage energy-intensive assets across single and multiple sites.
Zen Eco Systems is one of 10 companies working on a demand response trail with the Australian Energy Market Operator and Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
As part of the project, Zen Ecosystems will deploy a network of connected, smart thermostats in commercial buildings and households in Victoria and South Australia. The network can then be controlled to reduce energy consumption when called upon by AEMO. (Source: Zen Ecosystems, Financial Review, 29 April, 2018) Contact: Zen Ecosystems, James McPhail, CEO, info@zenecosystems.com, www.zenecosystems.com; Clean Energy Finance, info@cefc.com.au; www.cefc.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Zen Ecosystems, Smart Thermostat, Clean Energy Finance,
Genex will conduct a feasibility study on the new wind farm proposal -- which is expected to come in at $300 million -- while it is targeting financial close for the second solar project and pumped hydro by the end of the year. The $115 million 50 MW wind farm is presently operating under-pinned by a 20 year Queensland government PPA.
Genex has received almost $8.9 million from the federal government's Australian Renewable Energy Agency for the first 50 megawatt solar project at Kidston and a further $9 million towards the pumped hydro and second solar stage of the project.
The company has also applied to funding from the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. (Source: Genex Power, Financial Review, 5 April, 2018) Contact: Genex Power Lid., www.genexpower.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Genex Power, Soilar, Energy Storage, Pumped Hydro Energy STorage ,
Ethtec is developing advanced biofuel production technology for the commercial-scale production of ethanol and other high-value fermentation products from crop stubbles, cotton gin trash, timber residues and sugar cane bagasse, and other lignocellulosic materials.
Ethtec has partnered with Apace Research Limited, the University of Newcastle's Institute for Energy and Resources and School of Environmental and Life Sciences as well as with Muswellbrook Shire Council to complete the project.
(Source: Ethanol Technologies, Prime Mover, 23 Nov., 2017) Contact: Ethanol Technologies, Dr. Russell Reeves, Chief Scientist and Managing Director, +61 423 770 264, +61 2 49 923 033,
russell.reeves@ethtec.com.au, www.ethtec.com.au; ARENA, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic, Ethanol Technologies , Cellulosic Ethanol, ARENA,
The University of Newcastle, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, Muswellbrook Shire Council and Ethanol Technologies (Ethtec) are collaborating to build a demonstration facility at Muswellbrook.
The process can reportedly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from a range of plant-based waste and could work in medium to large-scale facilities.
Research on the project will be carried out in phases over the next three to five years and will be tested at a demonstration facility based in Muswellbrook.
This new facility will be able to process two dry tpd of plant biomass.
(Source: Univ. of Newcastle, Farm Online, North Queensland Register, 21 Nov., 2017)21 Nov., 2017)
Contact: University of Newcastle, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources Prof. Peter Lewis, +61 2 4033 9000, www.newcastle.edu.au; ARENA, Ian Kay, Acting CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Ethanol, Biofuel, Woody Biomass, ARENA, Ethanol, Australian Renewable Energy Agency ,
Both Oakey 1 and Longreach have been funded to date by equity from Canadian Solar, grants from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) , and senior debt from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.
(Source: Canadian Solar Inc., PR, 16 Oct., 2017) Contact: Canadian Solar, Dr. Shawn Qu, CEO, www.canadiansolar.com; Foresight Group, www.foresightgroup.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News Canadaian Solar, Solar,
The plan, titled Innovating Energy, establishes four new priorities: delivering a secure and reliable electricity system; accelerating solar PV innovation; improving energy productivity; and exporting renewable energy.
Additionally, ARENA has launched A-Lab, a series of innovation and collaboration laboratories bringing together and objectives.
ARENA will also focus on reducing the cost of solar energy which is expected to produce one-third of Australia's electricity within 20 years. (Source: ARENA, May 1, 2017) Contact: ARENA, Ian Kay, Acting CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News ARENA, Solar, Renewable Energy,
The $85 million (AUS) project has received $9.8 million (AUS) ($7.5 million) in support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and has a 13-year PPA with local utility EnergyAustralia.
Construction is slated to get underway in June for completion in Q2, 2018. The project will increase First Solar's installed capacity in Australia to over 400 MW, according to First Solar.
(Source: First Solar, Various Media, Renewables Now, 27 Mar., 2017)Contact: First Solar, Brian Kunz, VP Project Dev., Steve Krum (602) 427-3359, steve.krum@firstsolar.com, David Brady, Inv. Rel., (602) 414-9315, dbrady@firstsolar.com, www.firstsolar.com
More Low-Carbon Energy News First Solar, Solar, Solar Australia,
The grant will cover a feasibility study into a Spencer Gulf project that the company says has a capacity to produce about 100 MW of electricity with six-to-eight hours of storage -- the equivalent of installing 60,000 home battery storage systems at one third of the cost. The project is expected to be online in 2020-21.
(Source: EnergyAustralia, 21 Feb., 2017)Contact: EnergyAustralia, www.energyaustralia.com.au; ARENA, Ian Kay, Acting CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News EnergyAustralia, Australia, Pumped Energy Storage, Energy Storagen Renewable Energy Agency ,
Upon completion of the first phase in Q1 of 2018, the solar power plant is expected to generate 145.9 GWh per year of electricity, which is sufficient for about 26,500 homes.
The company has now finalized funding for all EPC and O&M requirements of the project, which will eventually be expanded to include a 250 MW pumped hydro storage installation.
Genex has begun construction of the first phase of the project and is now seeking financing support for the second phase, according to a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange. (Source: Genex Power, Clean Energy Finance Corp., PV Mag, 14 Feb., 2017) Contact: ARENA, Ian Kay, Acting CEO, 011 +61 2 6243 7773, arena@arena.gov.au, http://arena.gov.au; Clean Energy Finance Corp., www.cefcexpertreview.gov.au;
Genex Power Lid., www.genexpower.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News ARENA, Clean Energy Finance Corp., Solar, Genex Power,
Southern Oil Refining and JJ Richards & Sons, joint venture partners in the Northern Oil Refinery at Yarwun, built the newly opened multi-million dollar laboratory, which is freely available for testing and other research to Australian biofuels developers. (Source: ARENA, Various Media, 12 Dec., 2016)Contact: ARENA, Ivor Frischknecht, CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, www.arena.gov.au; Southern Oil Refining, Tim Rose, +61 2 6925 8755, www.sor.com.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Southern Oil, Australian Renewable Energy Agency , Biofuel,
ARENA is contributing $1.87 million to the ISF trial project. (Source: ARENA, PR, 25 Nov., 2016)Contact: ARENA, Ivor Frischknecht, CEO, +61 2 6243 7773, www.arena.gov.au; Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, +61 2 9514 4950, www.uts.edu.au
More Low-Carbon Energy News Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Energy Storage, Wind, Solar,