By Changlong Wang, Monash University and Stuart Walsh, Monash University Hydrogen was once sold as a universal climate fix — a clean, green wonder fuel for cars, homes, power grids and even global export. But reality has cooled that buzz. This week, the South Australian government shelved plans for a A$593 million hydrogen power plant,…
A newly-announced project led by Space Machines Company (SMC), which is developing vehicles for in-space servicing of satellites, is aiming to develop an orbital robotics testbed. According to a statement from SMC on Friday, the project aims “to develop a ground-based proximity operations robotic test bed for space-borne perception and intelligence targeted at [on-orbit servicing],…
By Geoffrey Brooks, Swinburne University of Technology Whyalla is a proud steel town. The steelworks physically dominates the townscape, and most jobs in the town are either directly at the steelworks or heavily reliant on it. In recent months, however, the steelworks have lurched from one setback to another, from serious technical problems that forced…
The federal government has announced a $1 billion Green Iron Fund, aimed at encouraging investment in green iron and steel production at new and existing sites, with half of this money to aid in the transition of the collapsed Whyalla steelworks in South Australia. In a statement on Thursday – coinciding with a broader package…
The federal and South Australian governments have announced $2.4 billion in support for the Whyalla Steelworks, following the SA government’s move on Wednesday to put the site’s owner in administration. In a statement on Thursday, it was revealed that the assistance will come in “three distinct parts”, comprising $100 million in immediate on-the-ground support, $384…
Thirty-million dollars in conditional funding has been awarded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to a project by VSPC, aiming to commercialise a new process for producing cathode powder for lithium-ion batteries. In a statement from ARENA on Thursday, it said the project will see a 250 tonne per annum demonstration plant built, likely…
ASX-listed semiconductor developer and maker BluGlass has announced an order worth $120,000 for “semi-custom Gallium Nitride (GaN) laser diode bar products” from the University of Central Florida’s College of Optics and Photonics, a repeat customer. According to a statement on Thursday from the company, which operates across Australia and the United States, the order follows…
Lightweight timber-cardboard construction panels developed at University of Queensland’s School of Civil Engineering offer a promising solution in temporary housing for displaced people, according to the university. According to a statement from UQ on Wednesday, the panels are the subject of a new paper in the journal Structures, and come with benefits including reduced cost…
The South Australian government is pushing through legislation to move the Whyalla Steelworks into administration, allowing the state to take control of the facility.
Global fibre cement maker James Hardie has seen net incomes drop 15% in the third quarter, blaming volatile North American conditions for the fall.