Energy Source & Distribution
@esdnews.bsky.social
The voice of Australia's energy generation, transmission and distribution sectors, bringing you the latest news and views. www.esdnews.com.au
Powerlink has joined the Australian Defence Force in a multi-agency exercise called Austral Shield 26 to help protect the nation’s critical infrastructure. #transmission #defence #australshield #electricitynetwork #grid #military
Austral Shield 26 puts critical infrastructure to the test
Powerlink joined the Australian Defence Force in Exercise Austral Shield 26 to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure.
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The US Department of War's Office of Strategic Capital will loan US$400 million to Australia's Sunrise Energy Metals to build the world’s first primary Scandium mine. #rareearths #criticalminerals #departmentofwar #pentagon #mining #renewables #energytransition
Pentagon funds world-first Scandium mine in Australia
The US Department of War will fund Sunrise Energy Metals to build the world’s first primary Scandium mine in Australia. Read more.
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What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? That’s the problem federal energy minister Chris Bowen is faced with in creating a set of national standards for data centres. #datacentres #renewables #energytransition #AI #grid
Bowen takes on Liberal states over data centre rules
It's a paradox faced by Australian energy minister Chris Bowen in his quest to create a set of national standards for data centres.
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A Chinese national working as a senior manager for a leading solar and battery inverter company has been charged with allegedly trying to bribe a public official during a product approval process. #solar #renewables #corruption
Solar company manager charged with alleged bribery attempt
A man working as a senior manager for a solar and battery inverter company has been charged for allegedly trying to bribe a public official.
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Researchers have found a way to turn carbon dioxide from factory emissions directly into fuel without having to clean or purify the gas. #emissions #carbonemissions #CO2 #energytransition #pollution #renewables #sustainablefuels
New technology could turn factory fumes into useful fuels
A team of international researchers has found a way to turn dirty factory fumes into fuel without first cleaning or purifying the gas.
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Residents living near a data centre are suing its operator over the relentless, high-pitched whining sound they say is emanating from it day and night. #datacenter #datacentre #AI #energytransition #renewables
Lawsuit over data centre's 'relentless' high-pitched noise
Residents living near a data centre have launched a lawsuit against the operator over its relentless, high-pitched whining sound.
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Hailed as “the best energy minister the state has ever had”, Victoria's Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio has announced she is retiring from politics. #auspol #energytransition #renewables #energyminister #victoria
Australia's longest serving energy minister to retire
Australia's longest serving energy minister, Victoria's Lily D’Ambrosio, has announced is retiring from politics. Read more.
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Australian ocean engineers have used simple geometry to create a floating wind turbine design that can be built and installed for 40% cheaper than traditional turbines. #offshorewind #windturbine #engineering #renewables #energytransition
New floating turbine design to make offshore wind cheaper
Ocean engineers at UQ have overhauled the design of floating wind turbines in an effort to make offshore wind farms cheaper to build.
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Stage 2 of Quinbrook’s massive Supernode Battery in Queensland has successfully completed construction and commenced commercial operations. #BESS #batterystorage #renewables #energytransition #bigbattery
Supernode Battery Stage 2 begins commercial operation
Stage 2 of Quinbrook's Supernode Battery in Queensland has successfully completed construction and begun commercial operations.
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The Western Australian Government has granted State Significant Project status to Woodside’s controversial proposed Browse Gas project, despite strong opposition from environment and conservation groups. #browsegas #fossilfuels #renewables #energytransition #gas #LNG
Woodside's Browse Gas declared State Significant Project
The Western Australian Government’ has granted State Significant Project status to Woodside's proposed Browse to North West Shelf Project.
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A motorist has captured incredible footage of a brown bear stranded on top of a power pole in New Mexico. #bears #powerpole #electricity #weird #nature
Video captures bear stranded on power pole in US
A motorist captured incredible footage of a brown bear stranded on top of a power pole in New Mexico in the United States.
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The tiny town of Menzies will soon have one of the cleanest power supplies in Australia, with a new energy system to deliver up to 80% renewable energy. #renewables #energytransition #australia #cleanenergy
Tiny Western Australian town to run on 80% renewables
The tiny Goldfields town of Menzies will soon have one of the cleanest power supplies in Western Australia. Read more here.
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Transgrid has begun readying New South Wales’ transmission system to enable the installation of 10 synchronous condensers—massive spinning machines that will help stabilise the grid as it transitions from coal to renewables. #syncon #transmission #renewables #energytransition #grid
Transgrid begins grid preparations for syncons
Transgrid has begun readying New South Wales' transmission system to enable the installation of synchronous condensers—or 'syncons'.
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A new 'citizen science' initiative is helping inform energy policies in Australia, with participants sharing energy data and insights on their energy use and technology uptake. #livinglab #citizenscience #grid #renewables #CER #csiro
Citizen science on steroids with NEAC's Living Lab
CSIRO’s new National Energy Analysis Centre is helping inform energy policies in the real world through its Living Lab. Read more.
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To meet demand from AI companies, some of the world’s largest data centres are planned for the outskirts of major Australian cities. Dozens more are planned. #renewables #datacentres #energytransition #electricity #grid
Data centre boom won’t mean higher power prices—if we unlock stalled renewable projects
Some of the world’s largest data centres are planned for the outskirts of major Australian cities. Dozens more are planned.
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New research shows efficient electric hot water systems could provide energy storage equivalent to 2 million home batteries while saving billions in energy bills. #hotwater #waterheater #electrification #renewables #energytransition
After home batteries, could the humble water heater be the next big step forward?
For the average Australian home, water heating is still the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Read more here.
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Renewable energy supported by storage continues to be the lowest cost pathway for Australia to reach net zero, according to the latest GenCost report from CSIRO and AEMO. #netzero #renewables #energystorage #gencost #energytransition
GenCost 25-26 shows renewables and storage remain Australia's lowest-cost net zero pathway
The latest GenCost report shows renewables supported by storage are the lowest cost pathway for Australia’s electricity system.
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Origin Energy will issue refunds to more than 4,500 customers following an ACCC investigation into its 'Ongoing Saver' residential electricity plan. #originenergy #electricitybill #energybill #ACCC
Origin Energy to refund customers after ACCC investigation
Origin Energy will voluntarily refund over $270,000 to more than 4,500 customers following an ACCC investigation. Read more.
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Australia will bolster its energy storage capability with a groundbreaking new compressed CO2 battery. #CO2battery #batterystorage #renewables #energytransition #technology
Victoria to build Australia's first CO2 battery
Victoria's SEC has revealed plans to develop Australia's first compressed CO2 battery in partnership with Energy Dome. Read more here.
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Volvo Group Australia has rolled the first Australian-made electric trucks off its production line in Queensland. #etrucks #electrification #renewables #energytransition #freight
Volvo rolls out first Australian-made OEM electric trucks
Volvo Group Australia has rolled the first Australian-made electric trucks off its production line in Wacol, Queensland. Read more.
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Tilt Renewables has started construction on its 288MW Palmer Wind Farm, 70km east of Adelaide between Palmer and Tungkillo. #windfarm #renewables #energytransition #southaustralia
Construction begins at Palmer Wind Farm in SA
Australian-owned Tilt Renewables has started construction of the 288MW Palmer Wind Farm, 70km east of Adelaide. Read more here.
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Australia’s largest synchronous condenser has begun operation, supporting system stability and allowing the grid to host more renewable energy. #renewables #syncon #energytransition #grid
Australia's largest synchronous condenser goes operational
Australia's largest synchronous condenser, the Ararat Synchronous Condenser, has begun operating in Victoria. Read more here.
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Encouraging households to use electricity during the middle of the day, when rooftop solar generation is at its peak, makes sense. But as with any major shift in how and when energy is consumed, there are technical realities that must be managed. #solarsharer #energytransition #solar #renewables
Solar Sharer's free power comes with a technical catch
As Australia accelerates its transition to renewables, initiatives like the Solar Sharer program are a positive step forward. Read more.
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When a company submitted a development application to build a $4.8 million data centre in New South Wales’ iconic Blue Mountains, locals fought back—and won. #datacenter #datacentre #environment #energytransition #AI #renewables
Blue Mountains residents score win against data centre
Residents living in New South Wales' Blue Mountains are celebrating the news that a data centre development application has been withdrawn.
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More than 24km of ageing gas mains in Hamilton will be replaced as part of an $8.2 million investment by AusNet, Victoria’s largest energy network business. #LNG #gas #energytransition #gasnetwork #victoria
AusNet invests $8.2 million in gas network upgrade
More than 24km of ageing gas mains in Hamilton will be replaced as part of an $8.2 million investment by AusNet in Victoria.
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Australia's energy minister has written to the heads of the ACCC and Australian Energy Regulator over electricity retailers increasing daily supply charges. #renewables #energytransition #electricityprices
Bowen asks ACCC and AER to investigate retailer pricing
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has written to the heads of the ACCC and AER to ask them to investigate electricity retail pricing. Read more.
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Woodside’s controversial Browse Gas Project is now open to public comment after Environment Minister Murray Watt accepted a reconsideration request from the Australian Conservation Foundation. #fossilfuels #browsegas #environment #renewables #gas #lng
Woodside's Browse Gas Project now open to public scrutiny
Woodside's controversial Browse gas project is now open to public comment following a decision by Environment Minister Murray Watt.
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The biggest renewables project in United States history is now operational and sending clean energy to the grid. #windfarm #renewables #energytransition #cleanenergy #windpower
Massive SunZia wind farm now producing power in US
The 3.6GW SunZia wind farm is now producing power, marking the operationality of the biggest renewable energy project in in US history.
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Powerful ‘super fungi’ engineered by Australian researchers could be used as a greener method of extracting critical minerals from toxic mining waste. #criticalminerals #renewables #mining #fungi #bioengineering #energytransition
Aussie-made 'super fungi’ could help recover critical minerals
Super fungi engineered here in Australian could help extract critical minerals from toxic mining waste while also helping to remediate sites.
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New research shows that while the global fuel crisis is accelerating Australians’ interest in EVs, more charging infrastructure is needed before they become mainstream. #EV #EVs #renewables #energytransition #fuelcrisis
Charging gaps are limiting Australia's EV uptake
New research shows more EV charging infrastructure is needed before electric vehicles become mainstream in Australia. Read more.
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