RenewEconomy

“Playing catch-up:” Sunshot targets cheaper construction in quest for ultra-low cost solar

Arena opens a third Solar Sunshot round aimed at cutting utility-scale solar construction costs, while recapping grants already handed to 5B, Tindo Solar, Solquartz, Stellar PV, Luminous Robotics and Built Robotics' local subsidiary.

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Solar robotics innovators win Arena funding to build manufacturing plants on Australian soil

Arena is funding two robotics companies to build Australian plants: Luminous for panel-installing robots in Melbourne and Built Robotics Australia for piling robots in Brisbane.

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Australian company behind home battery that Bowen bought enters administration, hit by flood of “cheaper” imports

Brisbane home battery maker RedEarth has entered voluntary administration, appointing an administrator, after shareholders cited overwhelming cash flow difficulties amid competition from cheaper imported batteries under the federal rebate.

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Home battery automation champion raises $78.5 million towards local growth, global expansion

Energy retailer Amber has closed an oversubscribed $78.5 million round led by Morgan Stanley's 1GT fund, with existing backers participating, to add vehicle-to-grid capability and expand into Europe.

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Australian green hydrogen hopeful launches AI-backed electrolyser production line

Hysata has started production on the first line of its AI-monitored electrolyser factory at Port Kembla, within a project worth nearly $100 million, and plans to expand capacity to 200 megawatts.

Solar recycler losing “insane amount of money” and about to shed staff as PV pilot program remains suspended

Australian solar panel recycler ReSource says it is burning cash and may cut staff or wind up while the federal government's solar recycling pilot stays suspended; the firm earlier received $7m in grants.

UK group snaps up leading wind, solar and battery consultancy as part of Australian buying spree

UK asset manager RSK has bought Cogency, a Melbourne consultancy advising renewable energy developers, adding to a string of Australian and New Zealand acquisitions that now numbers 19 companies.

Arena notches up 100 community battery installations, boosts funding for second round of grants

ARENA celebrates its 100th installed community battery and hands out fresh grants under Round 2 of its scheme, with Yes Group, Ausgrid and City of Newcastle funded for dozens of new batteries.

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Australian renewables retailer and consumer energy pioneer hits the auction block

Flow Power, a Melbourne-based clean energy retailer, is on the block: OPTrust, its biggest shareholder, and founder Matthew van Linden have tasked Lazard Australia with finding buyers, RenewEconomy reports.

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Fortescue green iron rival wins Arena cash to scale up Perth demonstration plant

Element Zero, founded by ex-Fortescue executives, has secured a $26 million Arena grant to expand its Perth green iron demonstration facility toward commercial-scale production in the Pilbara.

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Fortescue green iron rival wins Arena cash to scale up Perth demonstration plant

Element Zero, a green iron startup built by three ex-Fortescue executives, has landed a $26m Arena grant to grow its Perth high-purity iron pilot from 10kg to 10 tonnes a day.

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Homegrown home battery upstart shares in $1.7 million of funding to boost local manufacturing

Three WA manufacturers, among them battery maker Magellan Power, have been awarded grants totalling $1.7 million under a state program backing local battery manufacturing, which is reopening for applications.

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Homegrown home battery upstart shares in $1.7 million of funding to boost local manufacturing

Three Western Australian firms, including battery newcomer Magellan Power, have been awarded grants totalling $1.7 million under the state's Local Battery Manufacturing Program to develop prototypes and expand battery manufacturing capacity.

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“State-of-the-art facility” wins funds to service and refurbish wind turbines on Australian soil

Western Australia's government has committed $500,000 to National Electric Motor Services, helping the Malaga company bring wind turbine servicing and refurbishment onshore under its wind manufacturing co-investment program.

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“State-of-the-art facility” wins funds to service and refurbish wind turbines on Australian soil

WA's government has announced half a million dollars for National Electric Motor Services via its co-investment program for wind manufacturing, backing a Malaga facility to overhaul turbines locally; earlier recipients are also named.

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From solar cells to solar farms: Quest for ultra-low cost PV gets $100 million federal boost

ARENA will spend up to $105.6 million on 20 solar research projects, including grants for Sunspence, Proa Energy and a University of Sydney tandem-cell team working with panel maker Unison Solar.

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From solar cells to solar farms: Quest for ultra-low cost PV gets $100 million federal boost

The national renewable energy agency is directing over a hundred million dollars into twenty solar research projects, including grants to two companies building bifacial panel systems and fault-detection tools for utility-scale solar.

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Tesla reportedly discontinues solar roof tiles, and will now focus only on conventional PV modules

Tesla has reportedly shelved its roof-tile solar product after sources called it uneconomic; the piece also recalls the SolarCity takeover and Volt, an Australian startup that secured backing in 2024.

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Tesla reportedly discontinues solar roof tiles, and will now focus only on conventional PV modules

Tesla has reportedly dropped its Solar Roof tiles as financially unviable and will supply only conventional panels; the piece also recalls Australian startup Volt raising funds in 2024 for a competing product.

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Big, four-hour battery that survived long-distance objectors hits financial close, moves to construction

UK-based BW ESS has bought Acenergy's 250 MW Yanco battery storage project in south-western NSW, taking it to financial close and into construction, with CATL as system integrator and operations targeted for 2028.

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Big, four-hour battery that survived long-distance objectors hits financial close, moves to construction

Acenergy's 250 MW Yanco battery in NSW has been bought by UK-based BW ESS and has secured financing, with construction due to begin this year and operations targeted for 2028; CATL is system integrator.

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Fertiliser from thin air? How farmers can make their own fertiliser from air, water and on-site renewables

RenewEconomy profiles PlasmaLeap, an Australian company whose reactors let farmers make nitrogen fertiliser on-site with renewable power, noting its roughly $30 million Series A backed by Gates Foundation, Investible, Yara and agribusiness investors.

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Fertiliser from thin air? How farmers can make their own fertiliser from air, water and on-site renewables

Australian electrochemistry company PlasmaLeap has raised a Series A from Gates Foundation and agricultural investors to commercialise modular on-farm fertiliser production powered by renewables.

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Investor behind Amber Electric hits $10 million under management, milestone for new fund

Climate tech fund manager Impact Ventures has passed $10m under management and taken its follow-on vehicle to a first close; its portfolio spans Amber Electric, Orkestra and Infravision.

Investor behind Amber Electric hits $10 million under management, milestone for new fund

Sydney early-stage climate tech backer Impact Ventures says it now manages $10 million and has completed the first close on its follow-on vehicle, which will keep backing its maturing portfolio companies.

Australian lithium refining pilot gets government funding for “cleanest and most cost efficient” technology

ARENA has committed $2.9 million to Electralith, a Monash University offshoot, for a Western Australian pilot refining lithium from mining waste using electricity; the company earlier raised $27.5 million.

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Australian lithium refining pilot gets government funding for “cleanest and most cost efficient” technology

The federal renewable energy agency funds a $2.9 million pilot in Western Australia for Electralith, a Monash spin-out whose electricity-based lithium refining process previously drew $27.5 million in early 2025.

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“Every tool in the kit:” From kerbside EV charging to microgrid building, 10 companies line up for funding, incubation

EnergyLab picked 10 hardware-focused climate startups for its 2026 accelerator cohort, offering early funding and a six-month program; it recalls Catch Power's 2024 acquisition of Solar Analytics and government grants held by three members.

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“Every tool in the kit:” From kerbside EV charging to microgrid building, 10 companies line up for funding, incubation

EnergyLab names ten hardware-focused climate tech companies joining its 2026 Climate Solutions Accelerator, which pairs seed investment with a six-month program. Several hold government grants, and Catch Power's 2024 purchase of Solar Analytics is recalled.

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Too much solar, not enough storage: Zen Energy faces liquidation as administrators blame high risk strategy

Zen Energy faces liquidation after administrators blamed its risky solar-heavy trading strategy; its Zen Futures infrastructure unit was sold for $45 million, and creditors look likely to recover little.

Too much solar, not enough storage: Zen Energy faces liquidation as administrators blame high risk strategy

Administrators McGrathNicol say troubled renewable retailer Zen Energy must liquidate, blaming a risky trading strategy; creditors face heavy losses, its infrastructure arm was sold for $45 million, and a Gunvor retail deal collapsed.

One of state’s biggest batteries sits idle after owner sent into administration

A large South Australian battery has stood idle for weeks because part-owner Zen Energy entered voluntary administration, triggering its market suspension, while its hoped-for sale to commodities trader Gunvor collapsed.

Australian developer gets funding boost for 2 GW-plus renewable energy plans and big solar battery hub

Yanara, a renewable developer created from BrightNight's Asia-Pacific operations, has raised €150 million from asset manager Mirova to advance over 2 GW of projects across Australia, with much earmarked for its Mortlake Energy Hub.

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Australian developer gets financing boost for 2 GW+ renewable energy plans and big solar battery hub

Yanara, a renewables developer created from BrightNight's Asia-Pacific operations last year, has landed roughly A$245 million from asset manager Mirova to progress over 2 GW of Australian projects, including its Mortlake Energy Hub.

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Can EVs help get more out of the grid, for less? Two new grant winners hope to show the way

Fourteen projects, including EV charging firms Jet Charge and Charge Hub Australia, have won federal grants under a new grid-enhancing technologies program aimed at getting more from existing electricity networks.

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Can EVs help get more out of the grid, for less? Two new grant winners hope to show the way

Fourteen projects won grants under the federal government's Grid Enhancing Technologies program, including EV charging firms Jet Charge and Charge Hub Australia, to show how EVs and other tech can ease grid constraints.

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The little big battery using local smarts and deeper storage to help fill gap in most renewable grid

South Australian startups Lunio Energy and OptiGrid launch a 5 MW Strathalbyn battery into market trading; the piece recalls OptiGrid's seed round backed by CEFC, IP Group, Hostplus, universities and EnergyLab.

The little big battery using local smarts and deeper storage to help fill gap in most renewable grid

A 5 MW South Australian battery has started trading, the first project for developer Lunio Energy and the first four-hour site run on OptiGrid's optimisation platform, whose seed backers are recapped.

SwitchedOn podcast: Why the booming home battery market is staying clear of virtual power plants

Podcast interview with Plico's chief executive on why few Australian battery owners join virtual power plants, lessons since the company's 2017 Western Australia launch, and what mainstream VPP adoption would take.

Electric trucks, mines and farms, low carbon fuels key to break Australia's foreign fuel dependence

A Superpower Institute study says electrifying vehicles and machinery, plus local low-carbon fuel production, would greatly lift Australia's fuel security, while oil drilling would barely help; the report suggests five policy shifts.

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Electric trucks, mines and farms, low carbon fuels key to break Australia’s foreign fuel dependence

A think tank report finds electrifying vehicles and machinery plus local low-carbon fuel production would greatly lift Australia's fuel security, while oil drilling would not; also notes a waste-to-fuels firm's $2m investment.

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Network owner says it sought to wind up leading renewable retailer due to outstanding debts

South Australia's grid owner says it moved to liquidate Zen Energy over unpaid debts; the renewable power seller then entered administration, lost its retail licence, and customers were shifted to AGL, Origin and EnergyAustralia.

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Network owner says it sought to wind up leading renewable retailer due to outstanding debts

Renewable retailer Zen Energy entered administration after SA Power Networks sought a Federal Court winding-up order over unpaid debts; its retail sale to Gunvor collapsed and customers move to AGL, Origin or EnergyAustralia.

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Zen Energy sinks despite 11th-hour rescue efforts, blaming volatile market as banks and networks get cold feet

RenewEconomy reports renewable utility Zen Energy entered voluntary administration after rescue talks failed, with McGrathNicol appointed administrators, a creditor's winding-up application lodged, and the retail book shifted to AGL.

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Zen Energy sinks despite 11th-hour rescue efforts, blaming volatile market as banks and networks get cold feet

Renewable utility Zen Energy has entered voluntary administration despite regulators clearing Gunvor to buy its retail business; McGrathNicol is administrator and customers moved to AGL.

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Green hydrogen hopes lift as “headstart” project reaches crucial financial milestone

Orica will proceed with its Hunter Valley green hydrogen plant after a final investment decision, the first under Hydrogen Headstart; earlier government grants to it and CIP's Murchison are recalled.

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Green hydrogen hopes lift as “headstart” project reaches crucial financial milestone

Orica has reached a final investment decision for its Hunter Valley green hydrogen and ammonia project, confirming government grant support, while other planned Australian hydrogen projects advance slowly or have been abandoned.

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HMC unveils new-look energy development arm to advance pipeline of “fully funded” projects

HMC Capital renames its energy platform Illuma Energy, bringing together Stor-Energy and ex-Neoen Victorian assets, backed by KKR's $603 million investment and a pipeline it says is fully funded to final investment decision.

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HMC unveils new-look energy development arm to advance pipeline of “fully funded” projects

HMC Capital has rebranded its energy platform as Illuma Energy, housing Stor-Energy and ex-Neoen Victorian assets, with KKR's $603m investment backing a pipeline it calls fully financed for final investment decisions.

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New 1,660 megawatt-hour battery kicks off commercial operations, including “virtual tolling” deal

Akaysha Energy's 415 MW Orana battery in New South Wales has reached commercial operation, with EnergyAustralia taking 200 MW under a virtual tolling deal, lifting the developer's operating storage past four gigawatt-hours.

Australian researchers test new tech to help smash the solar ceiling, bring PV to apartments

UNSW Canberra is piloting an AI energy system with industry partners Voltval and JT Solar, backed by a $1.2 million TRaCE grant, to bring rooftop solar and shared batteries to apartment residents.

Game changer for EVs? Australian battery pioneer lands $45m grant for silicon anode that boosts energy density

Sicona Battery Technologies has won a $45 million federal grant to commercialise silicon anodes that lift battery energy density, with manufacturing capacity set to scale up dramatically at Port Kembla.

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Game changer for EVs? Australian battery pioneer lands $45m grant for silicon anode that boosts energy density

Sicona wins a $45m federal government grant to build commercial-scale silicon anode manufacturing at Port Kembla; the piece also recalls a $17.5m investment from India's Himadri in May 2025.

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Swiss commodity trader gets approval to buy Zen retail business and PPA deals. Will it take on Big 3?

Competition regulator approval lets Swiss trading giant Gunvor proceed with buying Zen Energy's retail arm and power purchase agreements; terms undisclosed. Article weighs whether the newcomer will challenge Australia's dominant gen-tailers.

Swiss commodity trader gets approval to buy Zen retail business and PPA deals. Will it take on Big 3?

The competition regulator has cleared Swiss trader Gunvor to buy Zen Energy's retail arm and linked PPAs; terms undisclosed. The article asks whether the deep-pocketed newcomer will challenge Australia's big three gen-tailers.

Fifteen big battery projects named winners of massive CIS storage tender, nearly half of them in Queensland

Australia's Capacity Investment Scheme storage auction names fifteen grid battery winners; Ampyr takes four projects, with Ascera, Potentia and Equis among the others, and a further tender has opened.

Fifteen big battery projects named winners of massive CIS storage tender, nearly half of them in Queensland

Australia's Capacity Investment Scheme named 15 winning battery storage projects, seven of them in Queensland; Ampyr Energy took the most slots, and a further tender is open for bids until August 2026.

Burning forest “waste” to make cement is poor climate policy, poor environmental policy and bad economics

Two academics argue the federal government's $53 million commitment helping a Tasmanian cement maker burn forest biomass and tyres is bad climate, environmental and economic policy.

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Burning forest “waste” to make cement is poor climate policy, poor environmental policy and bad economics

Commentary contends the federal government's near-$53m backing of a Tasmanian cement kiln switch to burning wood waste and tyres is misguided, arguing biomass burning raises emissions, damages forests and wastes public money.

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First of a kind “carbon refinery” to embed emissions in concrete and other building materials

MCi Carbon has launched a Newcastle facility that converts captured carbon dioxide into sellable building products, beginning with Austrian customer RHI Magnesita.