Australia

Data shows a sharp increase in the number of fires caused by the DC isolators that separate the grid from solar panels. ABC News gathered state-by-state data revealing a dramatic increase in fire incidents in the last 12 months.

Brookfield and Reliance have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the production of solar panels, long-duration battery storage, and other renewable energy equipment in Australia.

Over the next five to 15 years, batteries will undercut the business case for major transmission and interconnector projects. These assets will nonetheless likely be built, decreasing price spreads and eating into the revenues of batteries, predicts analyst Warwick Johnston.

Key Energy has installed a three-phase flywheel energy storage system at a residence east of Perth, Western Australia. The 8 kW/32 kWh system was installed over two days in an above-ground enclosure, dramatically cutting the time needed to install the flywheel system.

The Hazelwood big battery has been commissioned at the site of the retired Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria. A collaboration between Engie, Eku Energy and Fluence, the 150 MW battery claims a number of Australian firsts.

India’s Himadri Speciality Chemical has acquired a 12.79% stake in Sicona Battery Technologies, an Australian startup that specializes in high-capacity silicon anode technology for lithium-ion batteries.

Pune-based Thermax has partnered with Australia’s Fortescue Future Industries to explore opportunities for the joint development of fully integrated green hydrogen projects for commercial and industrial customers in India. They also contemplate collaborating on electrolyzer and subsystem manufacturing facilities to support green energy projects in India.

The Melbourne-based electrolyzer specialist has signed a technology development and licensing agreement with Adani New Industries Ltd.

Australia’s Tindo Solar has unveiled a new solar panel based on M10 wafers for residential and business rooftop systems. The new addition to the company’s Karra range has a rated power of 410 W at 20.6% module efficiency and 23.1% cell efficiency.

Australian-born vanadium redox flow technology and new homegrown electrolyte sources are set to bulk up renewable energy storage options in the Pacific region and plug the gap left by lithium supply-chain issues. Natalie Filatoff reports from Sydney.