By Thomas Longden, Western Sydney University How long does it take to build a solar or wind farm? It’s a simple question with wide implications. To reach our ambitious 82% renewable energy target by 2030, we have to build many new projects – and start them soon. In 2022, renewables hit a new high of 36%…
The federal government’s signature manufacturing initiative, the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, is progressing with the appointment of an inaugural CEO and a new form for submitting proposals added to its website. The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation board was appointed in August last year, with a search for a CEO announced in October. The board…
Twenty eight Queensland small businesses will share in $1.9 million to help them grow through the latest round of the state’s Business Growth Fund. Through the fund, eligible Queensland small businesses can access grants of up to $75,000 to purchase specialised equipment to accelerate growth, increase production and expand their workforce. Business Growth Fund recipients…
Standards provider GS1 Australia has announced the release of new Australian Standards by Standards Australia, marking a pivotal milestone towards a more uniform Australia. These new standards incorporate the use of standard GS1 keys, which enable organisations to assign standard identifiers to products, components, documents, assets, and physical locations, according to an announcement. The keys…
The federal government has announced $200 million in grant funding through the first round of the Powering the Regions Fund (PRF), awarded to upgrade steelmaking at BlueScope’s Port Kembla and Liberty Steel’s Whyalla sites. In a statement on Wednesday, the two grants were described as: $136.8 million to assist BlueScope with the reline and upgrade…
VSUN Energy has completed the manufacture of its first vanadium flow battery (VFB, pictured) at its Western Australian facility with factory testing being undertaken in Q1, 2024. The company, owned by vanadium producer Australian Vanadium, said the prototype residential battery has 5kWH of power and 15kWh storage capacity and would then be installed in a…
Exports were down 2 per cent by value to $1.9 billion and 3 per cent by volume to 607 million litres in the last calendar year, Wine Australia’s Australian Wine Export Report shows. The export figures, published by the federal agency on Wednesday, show an improvement versus the September quarter’s export report, though figures remain…
The New Zealand subsidiary of defence business EPE has been awarded a contract on reconnaissance and surveillance work for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF.) According to a statement from Brisbane-based EPE, EPE New Zealand will deliver the Exensor Flexnet Remote Ground Sensor (RGS) system in collaboration with Bertin Exensor. The RGS system is described…
Assistant Minister for Defence Matt Thistlethwaite has rejected media criticism quoting military sources that defence urgently needs to add killer drones to its arsenal to give Australian forces a fighting chance on the modern battlefield. Responding on radio Thistlethwaite said: “The Australian Defence Force is investing in new drone technology and I’ve seen that firsthand.…
Aluminium 4WD tray and canopy manufacturer Norweld has unveiled a new generation tray design (pictured) – the result of a 2.5 year investment in research and development worth $750,000. The Elite tray launch comes after Norweld’s most successful year to date, the company in 2023 opening two new purpose-built facilities in Brisbane’s north and Perth,…
