Archive

31 March 2026

50 articles collected

Today's Signal

ARENA investment helps freight shift from diesel to electric trucks

ARENA News AU EV ·

ARENA is providing $25.3 million to NewVolt for the construction of three open-access fast-charging hubs in Victoria. This initiative aims to facilitate the transition of heavy road freight from diesel to electric vehicles by establishing a shared charging network.

Senate to deep dive on gas export taxes

The Energy Co AU Policy ·

The Australian Senate has established a Select Committee to investigate potential changes to gas export taxation, chaired by Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May. The inquiry will evaluate how current tax settings and Middle East volatility affect LNG profitability and government revenue, with final findings due by May 2025 ahead of the federal budget.

Plans for three big charging hubs for electric trucks gets federal funding

The Driven AU EV ·

The federal government is providing funding for a $61 million initiative to establish three high-capacity charging stations for heavy vehicles. These hubs are intended to support the power requirements of approximately 100 electric trucks to lower carbon output within the Australian logistics industry.

Zenobē to double Australia’s electric-truck fleet with $100m investment

Energy Magazine AU Grid ·

Zenobē has announced a $100 million investment aimed at doubling the number of heavy electric trucks currently operating in Australia. The funding is intended to accelerate the decarbonisation of the nation's freight sector by expanding the existing fleet of large-scale battery-powered vehicles.

1.6GWh grid-forming Rutherglen Battery receives EPBC Act approval in Australia

Energy-Storage.News AU Storage ·

The 1.6GWh Rutherglen Battery project in Queensland has secured federal environmental approval under the EPBC Act. This grid-forming storage facility is expected to provide significant firming capacity and essential system strength services to the regional network.

Industry pays while coal and gas “cook the books:” Modelling reveals urgent need for Safeguard reset

RenewEconomy AU Gas ·

New modelling indicates the Safeguard Mechanism allows coal and gas firms to avoid decarbonisation costs while shifting the financial burden of emissions reductions onto other industrial sectors. The report suggests current policy settings provide fossil fuel producers an unfair advantage, necessitating an urgent regulatory reset to ensure equitable climate accountability.

Portable data centers target curtailment, grid constraints

PV Magazine AU Grid ·

Australian startup WinDC and US firm Armada are deploying modular data centers at renewable energy facilities to mitigate generation curtailment. These portable units aim to utilize excess power for high-intensity computing while bypassing existing grid bottlenecks.

Open the grid: Why Australia needs power availability maps now

RenewEconomy AU Grid ·

RenewEconomy argues that Australian network operators must release transparent grid capacity maps to eliminate the current 'fishing expedition' approach to connection applications. Providing developers with clear data on power availability would streamline project siting and reduce the high risks associated with opaque grid integration processes.

Why the “generational” data centre opportunity feels a lot like the coal and gas debates of old

RenewEconomy AU Gas ·

Australia faces a shifting economic debate as multinational investment pivots from traditional mineral extraction to energy-intensive data centres. This emerging sector mirrors historical disputes over resource taxation and domestic benefit, raising questions about how the nation should price its energy and infrastructure assets for global technology firms.

Beyond the OCE

APAC’s urbanising economies power the global steam and gas turbine market

Power Technology GLOBAL Power ·

Surging industrial growth and urban expansion across the Asia-Pacific region are driving increased demand for steam and gas turbines to ensure energy security. These technologies remain critical infrastructure components as regional economies scale up power generation capacity to meet rising electricity requirements.

Japan’s Kyocera, Cosmo Energy units enter solar, wind PPAs

PV Magazine GLOBAL Wind ·

Kyocera Corporation will commence solar power deliveries to Cosmo Energy Solutions in April 2025, alongside a separate agreement to procure electricity from Cosmo Eco Power’s 48 MW wind facility.

IFC loans $125 million for polysilicon factory in Malaysia

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

The International Finance Corporation has issued a $125 million loan to OCI TerraSus to support the construction of a semiconductor-grade polysilicon manufacturing plant in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Matrix and EDF optimise 500MW BESS in Scotland

Power Technology GLOBAL Storage ·

Matrix Renewables has entered a long-term agreement with EDF to manage the market optimisation of a 500MW/1GWh battery energy storage facility currently being built in Eccles, Scotland.

UK defining stronger energy cybersecurity rules after Poland attack

PV Magazine GLOBAL Policy ·

The UK government is proposing enhanced cybersecurity mandates for all licensed gas and electricity entities following recent infrastructure attacks in Poland. These updated regulations aim to broaden baseline security requirements and potentially revise compliance thresholds under existing NIS frameworks.

Tongwei moves into hybrid heterojunction back contact solar cell technology

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Tongwei has partnered with GS-Solar and Golden Solar to establish a large-scale production plant for hybrid heterojunction back-contact (HBC) solar cells. This new manufacturing facility aims to integrate heterojunction passivation with TOPCon-style tunneling oxide and polysilicon structures into a grid-free front-side architecture.

On the Wire

Gas giant makes 11th hour decision to pull massive CCS project from EPBC

RenewEconomy AU EV ·

Woodside Energy has withdrawn its proposed carbon capture and storage project at the North West Shelf in Western Australia from the federal environmental assessment process. The unexpected cancellation of the offshore sequestration scheme follows previous internal skepticism regarding the technology's viability.

How the fuel crisis is supercharging the EV market

Energy Magazine AU EV ·

Escalating liquid fuel costs are accelerating consumer and industrial interest in transitioning to electric vehicles across Australia. This shift is driven by the increasing economic appeal of electrification as a hedge against volatile traditional energy prices.

bZ4X review: More range, lower price, still very Toyota

The Driven AU EV ·

Toyota has updated its bZ4X electric vehicle for the Australian market, featuring an increased driving range, accelerated charging capabilities, and a reduced retail price point compared to previous iterations.

Indonesia’s path to 100 GW of solar

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

A study from the Institute for Essential Services Reform and Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs explores how Indonesia can turn its target of deploying 100 GW of solar from mandate to mobilization.

Video: Will Australians join the EV rise?

The Driven AU EV ·

Industry analysts Sarah and Sam evaluate the correlation between current high fuel prices and potential growth in Australian electric vehicle adoption. The discussion focuses on projected sales trajectories and market timing for increased EV uptake over the coming months.

Lithuania’s solar capacity surpasses 3 GW

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Lithuania has reached 3,040 MW of total solar capacity following the addition of 600 MW in 2023. While 4 GW of further projects hold technical permits, future expansion is expected to rely on battery storage integration due to increasing grid congestion constraints.

US startup begins manufacturing grid-scale flywheel ESS

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

US-based startup Qnetic has commenced production of its grid-scale flywheel energy storage technology, with plans to secure $20 million in funding by 2026. The company intends to spend the upcoming two years conducting field trials and performance validation alongside the National Lab of the Rockies.

The Driven Podcast: Apartment EV charging moves from theory to reality

The Driven AU EV ·

NOX Energy COO Charlie Richardson outlines the operational requirements for implementing large-scale electric vehicle charging infrastructure within Australian apartment complexes. The discussion focuses on transitioning from conceptual planning to the practical deployment of shared residential charging systems.

Pushing perovskite solar cells to the ultimate thickness limit

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Nanyang Technological University researchers have developed ultrathin perovskite solar cells using a 10 nm absorber layer that achieves 12% efficiency. This vacuum-processed technology enables high optical transparency and scalability, targeting seamless integration into building-integrated photovoltaics.

Multi-year field study finds that agrivoltaics can support healthy potato yields

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Italian field trials over multiple years demonstrate that agrivoltaic installations can maintain stable potato harvests through strategic shading and dynamic light management. The research indicates that precise control of solar exposure during vital growth phases prevents significant yield reductions in dual-use land configurations.

DIY plug-in solar shows $0.65/W potential in US market

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

US-based research indicates that self-assembled plug-in solar systems using secondary market components can reach price points of $0.65/W. This low-cost model is intended to offer immediate electricity cost reductions for tenants and residents of multi-unit dwellings.

How perovskite solar cells age under temperature stress

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Researchers from Germany and Sweden identified that rapid temperature fluctuations degrade perovskite solar cells via thermal stress and phase transitions. The study highlights that incorporating specific organic spacer molecules can mitigate these effects and improve the structural durability of the technology.

Beware of cleaning photovoltaic panels with dishwashing detergent

PV Magazine GLOBAL Solar ·

Researchers in Finland have advised against using dishwashing detergent for solar panel maintenance after finding it leaves residues that decrease light transmittance and overall module performance. The study suggests that even thorough rinsing fails to remove these deposits, potentially impacting long-term energy yields.