The federal government has launched its Environmentally Sustainable Procurement Policy, which will be phased in from July and initially see companies bidding for government construction services contracts needing to meet agreed sustainability outcomes, including products with recycled content. In an announcement from environment minister Tanya Plibersek (pictured on right) on Wednesday, two phases of the…
The federal government has announced $330 million in grants for clean energy and emissions reduction projects at heavy industrial sites around the country. The government’s Powering the Regions Fund is supporting nine projects ranging from powering mine sites with renewables, eliminating the use of coal in iron pellet production, trialling the use of biocarbon in…
Today in our editorial series – Towards 3% R&D – Turbocharging Australia’s Innovation Effort – we turn to the role of national industry policy. Here Roy Green points to innovation and the success of a Future Made in Australia as intertwined. While lacking detail at this stage, the significance of Prime Minister Albanese’s Future Made…
Sparc Technologies raises $2.25 million Graphene and green hydrogen developer Sparc Technologies has received firm commitments from sophisticated and other professional investors to raise $2.25M through a share placement. New and existing investors strongly supported the placement. Sparc Technologies Managing Director Nick O’Loughlin, said: “Sparc is very pleased with the strong support it has received…
RMIT University and Visy have partnered up to develop energy-efficient bricks, which switch out clay for recycled materials and show promise in boosting energy-efficiency. The new bricks contain a minimum of 15 per cent waste glass and 20 per cent combusted solid waste (ash), as substitutes for clay, according to a statement from RMIT University…
Metal 3D printer manufacturer AML3D has signed a contract with the Australian Government Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) to provide components for testing in defence marine applications. The $240,000 contract requires AML3D to 3D metal print two representative marine components using a Nickel Aluminium Bronze (NAB) alloy and high strength duplex steel alloy. Manufacturing…
Lithium ion battery materials company Lithium Australia has increased battery recycling at its Envirostream facilities (pictured) as agreements with overseas manufacturers lead to higher collection volumes. The company told investors it collected 344 tonnes of batteries during the March quarter, including 177 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), an 18 percent increase in LIB collection volumes…
Consultation opened on Tuesday morning on the design of the federal government’s Solar Sunshot program, announced late last month. Sunshot is budgeted at $1 billion. It was announced on March 28 by prime minister Anthony Albanese during a visit to NSW Hunter Valley, which has a strong heritage in coal mining, pledging to “invest in…
With business and direct government spending on R&D falling, and only university research rising, our editorial series – Towards 3% R&D – Turbocharging Australia’s Innovation Effort – turns to collaboration between industry and public sector researchers. By Dr Tony Peacock. If Australia is to turbocharge our R&D to reach 3% of GDP, businesses will have…
Nova Systems wins Norwegian support contract Nova Systems International will support the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) with Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) of C130J Super Hercules aircraft. This is a major milestone for us that supports operational capability delivery for the RNoAF, and builds on the existing contracts with Norwegian Government departments. “Nova Systems…
