The University of Queensland’s Professor of Protected Cropping, Paul Gauthier, has said technological solutions, for example around energy use, and a change of mindset are needed to help controlled environment agriculture live up to its potential and feed a growing population. In a statement from the university on Wednesday, Gauthier mentioned long-term thinking and a…
By Michael Anenburg, Australian National University Extinct volcanoes are hard to study – we never see them erupt. Using a unique experimental technique, we were able to recreate a certain type of extinct volcano in a lab, learning more about the magma these volcanoes produce. We found that some rare magma types are surprisingly efficient…
Iron ore miner Fortescue Metals and equipment manufacturer Liebherr have signed a $2.8 billion partnership aimed at developing zero emission mining solutions. The companies made their announcement, which included approximately 360 autonomous battery-electric trucks, 55 electric excavators and 60 battery-powered dozers, at industry event MINExpo. The 475 new Liebherr machines represents about two thirds of…
Microphone and audio equipment manufacturer RØDE has branched out, announcing a new production console that combines video switching, production and recording capabilities with a complete professional audio studio. The Sydney manufacturer said that just as its’ RØDECaster Pro had revolutionised podcasting, the RØDECaster Video (pictured) did the same for video production, offering an all-in-one solution…
Fortescue Zero and engineering company Downer have announced a collaboration to jointly design and develop a Battery Electric Locomotive (BEL), marking an important step forward to the commercialisation of zero emissions power system technologies in heavy industry applications. The agreement sets forward a path to deliver an innovative zero emissions solution for heavy haul rail…
The Queensland government has invested $25 million in debt and equity – with a further $40 million contributed from an unnamed UK investment firm – which it says will see Energy Storage Industries – Asia Pacific (ESI) establish the nation’s first grid-scale battery factory. According to a statement on Tuesday, ESI is building the plant…
New large-scale renewable energy sources are strengthening at an accelerating rate, according to the latest Quarterly Carbon Market Report from the Clean Energy Regulator. The regulator’s Q2 2024 report found that total added renewable energy capacity could exceed 7 gigawatts (GW) this year — a combination of an upgraded estimate of 3-4 GW large-scale wind…
By Peter Roberts The emerging pattern of Australia digging up the critical minerals while others finance the construction of value adding processing in their own markets is repeating itself in battery material manganese, with Element 25 securing lucrative US government support. Element 25, which is developing the Butcherbird manganese deposit in Western Australia’s Pilbara, has…
The NSW government has said that the next generation of Sydney’s Freshwater ferries will be locally-made, with Transport for NSW beginning “market sounding” for a zero-emissions fleet, contrasting this with previous decisions to purchase three overseas-made vessels for the Circular Quay to Manly route. In a statement on Tuesday, the government said the upcoming Freshwater…
CSIRO researchers have successfully developed a next-generation uniform prototype that employs nanofibres to safeguard Australian troops from chemical and biological threats. The innovative material is a lightweight fabric that effectively filters out harmful particles while remaining light-weight and breathable, keeping the wearer comfortable in extreme temperatures. CSIRO Manufacturing Research Unit Director Dr Marcus Zipper said…