The federal government announced approval of a new solar farm in Queensland “in just 17 days” on Tuesday. According to a statement from environment minister Murray Watt, the 100-megawatt Hookey Creek solar farm will be located 25 kilometres northwest of Gympie, and includes a 200 megawatt battery energy storage system with up to eight hours' storage capacity. It will produce “enough energy to power 40,000 homes, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions” and connect via underground cables to the Queensland SuperGrid with energy traded on the National Electricity Market. Watt said the government had given approval to 90 new renewable energy projects so far.
Leadership changes at ClearVue
Building-integrated photovoltaics company ClearVue Technologies announced on Tuesday that Global Chief Executive Officer Martin Deil has resigned, and Executive Director Jamie Lyford has stepped down from the board “effective immediately.” COO Douglas Hunt will serve as interim Global Chief Executive Officer and Michael Pixley and Theresa Smits as board directors. Victor Rosenberg, Non-Executive Chairman and Founder, ClearVue, said: “On behalf of the ClearVue Board I would like to thank Martin, Earle and Jamie for their commitment and contributions to ClearVue… Doug Hunt has been with the company for 4 years and… has been instrumental in the development of ClearVue’s generation 2 solar glazing and has continually advanced the ClearVue integrated solar façade product line to include solar cladding, spandrel, balustrade, skylight and rooftop solutions.”
Registrations open for tyre summit
Registrations have opened for the Round Trip 2025 Tyre & Conveyor Belt Recycling Summit, to be held on October 15-16 at NTRO, Port Melbourne. The event is hosted by Tyre Stewardship Australia and Tyrewise New Zealand, and will feature “engaging keynotes, expert panels, and powerful networking moments – all aimed at boosting tyre recovery, market growth, and innovation in tyre-derived products”, according to its hosts. The event's MC will be BAFTA-winning BBC UK journalist and author, Paul Kenyon, who recently reported “The Tyre Scandal” for BBC's File on 4 Investigates program. Tickets are $100 for the full two-day Summit (and networking drinks on both days) and more information is available here.
Nova Eye Medical announces record revenues
Glaucoma treatment technology company Nova Eye Medical announced record revenues of $28.8 million for the year ended June 30, 2025, in line with guidance. According to a statement on Tuesday, it has seen six consecutive half-years of growth in the USA with H2FY25 US sales up 25 per cent (based on pcp) and record quarterly sales of $8.4 million for Q4FY25. It cited drivers including US sales of $US 14.2 million, up 25 per cent, with iTrack Advance “delivering six consecutive half-years of revenue growth”. “The record result underscores the continued adoption of iTrack™ Advance and growing global recognition of Nova Eye’s technology,” the company said, adding that it “expects revenue growth to continue in FY26.”
Forget AI, the next leap will come from quantum tech: Monash expert
Monash University Professor Malin Premaratne has chimed in on the conversation on productivity and harnessing data and digital technology, stating that investing in quantum-enabling technologies stands out as a smart move. According to Premaratne, Australia has the opportunity to become a leader in quantum device technology – not just quantum computing – as it works to secure its technological future by strengthening local manufacturing and sovereign capability. “The real quantum revolution won’t come from algorithms alone – it’ll come from devices small enough to hold in your hand, but powerful enough to change the world,” he said, according to a statement from the university on Wednesday. “If Australia wants to be competitive in the global quantum race, building a skilled workforce is essential – one that can design, build and commercialise quantum systems. That means developing deep expertise in nanofabrication, optics and materials science.”
AMPYR achieves financial close of Wellington Stage 1 BESS
Power generation and storage asset investor AMPYR Australia announced on Tuesday that it has achieved financial close of the 300 megawatt / 600 megawatt hour Wellington Stage 1 battery energy storage system (BESS) project in regional NSW, scheduled to come online next year. AMPYR said it is on track to deliver more than 6 gigawatt hour of energy storage projects by 2030, including Wellington Stage 1 BESS and an additional 100 megawatt / 400 megawatt hour in Stage 2, providing a total 1 gigawatt hour of energy storage in the region by 2027. AMPYR has signed a ten-year virtual offtake agreement with ZEN Energy for 150 megawatts of the Wellington Stage 1 capacity, with the offtake agreement to “provide flexibility in capacity contracting for AMPYR while enabling ZEN to firm its portfolio of sustainability-driven customers.” Stage 1 will be delivered by Fluence Energy, using its Gridstack grid-scale energy storage product.
Picture: render of Wellington Stage 1 BESS (supplied)
