Rewired

As we look back at 10 years since ARENA was first established, we’re speaking with one of the most important names in Australia’s clean energy journey, Ross Garnaut.

Economist Ross Garnaut has many descriptions attached to his name  - emeritus professor at the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University, former economic adviser to Prime Minister Bob Hawke, ambassador to China, author - but there’s one label you may not have heard: “An old dog for a hard road”.

Read more: arena.gov.au/blog/ross-garnauts-renewable-energy-road/

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Hysata CEO Paul Barrett explains how research undertaken by two Australian universities is helping them produce the world’s most efficient hydrogen electrolysers.

Early in 2022, Australian technology company Hysata announced they had developed a groundbreaking hydrogen electrolyser.

The news made a splash, offering a pathway for emissions free hydrogen to compete with methods of production that rely on fossil fuels.

Read more: https://arena.gov.au/blog/rewired-game-changing-electrolysers-with-hysatas-paul-barrett

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Creative ways of storing energy from the wind and sun will be needed to power the next phase of the energy transition.

This week on ARENA’s podcast Rewired, we speak to Dr Marnie Shaw from the Australian National University about a new wave of community energy projects.

Unlike the small household batteries that are installed behind the meter to soak up rooftop solar power, community batteries can be installed across the distribution network to benefit all households.

Read more: arena.gov.au/blog/stockpiling-solar-power-in-suburban-batteries/

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The gift of a solar powered car at just eight years of age set 5B’s Nicole Kuepper-Russell on a pathway that is transforming the way the world produces energy.

Now the Chief Operating Officer at solar pioneer 5B, Kuepper-Russell joins Rewired to explain how the company's unique approach is making solar faster to deploy and more affordable.

With support from ARENA, 5B is deploying robots and automation at their Sydney manufacturing plant. The project aims to bring down the cost of their prefabricated 'Maverick' solar arrays that will soon underpin the world's largest solar farm.

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Australian innovators AMSL Aero are taking renewable energy to the skies with their futuristic reimagining of the aircraft.

Founders Andrew Moore and Siobhan Lyndon joined us this week to share their vision for air travel and explain how soon we might take off in their emissions free ‘air taxi’.

Moore has used his aeronautical engineering background, paired with 15 years experience in the aviation industry, to inform the design of AMSL Aero’s “Vertiia” aircraft.

It takes off vertically like a helicopter, using eight electric powered rotors that rotate to horizontal to allow it to fly using a pair of wings. It will come with the option of hydrogen fuel cell or battery electric propulsion, with hydrogen able to travel 1000 kilometres for the same weight as the battery version which can cover about 250 kilometres.

Read more - https://arena.gov.au/blog/a-bit-like-the-jetsons-green-hydrogen-takes-flight

 

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When Professor Martin Green started his solar research in the 1970s, the idea of using solar panels to power our homes was out of this world. 

NASA was developing solar technology to power spacecraft and satellites, but was far too expensive and inefficient for terrestrial applications.

Half a century on, more than three million Australian homes have panels on their rooftops, combining into a force that is transforming the way we use energy.

This week Professor Green joined us this week to share his remarkable story and look to the future of energy, now that solar has officially changed the game.

Read more - https://arena.gov.au/blog/revolutionising-energy-with-australias-solar-superman 

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This week, SEA Electric’s Bill Gillespie joins us to share exciting developments in the world of zero emissions heavy vehicles.

Their trucks are now in operation across some of Australia’s biggest fleets, ferrying deliveries for Woolworths, IKEA, Australia Post and DHL, and also helping local councils to reduce emissions.

Founded in Australia and now based in Los Angeles, SEA Electric is expanding into international markets, with a growing presence in the US, Europe and Asia.

As well as helping companies to meet their customers’ sustainability expectations, Gillespie explains that the growth of electric trucks offers fleet operators a way to make “extreme” savings on their fuel bills.

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Australian solar pioneers have set a new efficiency benchmark with their next generation cells.

From humble beginnings in a garage in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, solar startup SunDrive is on a rapid rise.

In September, they announced that they had developed the world’s most efficient silicon cell, claiming the record from China’s Longi Solar.

The record is made more significant by the fact that SunDrive’s cells are manufactured with copper in the place of silver, a precious metal that is in limited supply.

This week co-founder and CEO Vince Allen joined Rewired to discuss their new world record for solar efficiency, and what it could mean for the transition to renewable energy.

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Fresh off the back of launching ARENA's new investment plan, CEO Darren Miller joins us to explain how renewables could soon shake up the heaviest of heavy industries.

In our conversation he explains that investment decisions made today will be key to transforming our energy system and achieving net zero emissions.

We also explore the bold vision that underpins ARENA's new investment plan. As well as helping to decarbonise emissions-intensive industries, success could see more value captured from Australia’s renewable energy and new opportunities created in jobs-rich manufacturing industries.

Read more: arena.gov.au/blog/darren-millers-vision-for-a-prosperous-renewable-future/

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Working on solar since the 1990s, Professor Renate Egan has helped to transform the way we consume energy, recently taking up the challenge to “electrify everything”.

Professor Egan is living her vision, investing in a small solar system in 2008 that she has since expanded and backed up with battery storage. Renate's electrification journey has seen her switch to an electric vehicle and she aims to replace her gas cooktop and water heater within the next year.

In 2013 Renate co-founded Solar Analytics, which provides monitoring information to help solar households understand their energy generation and usage.

Read more on ARENAWIRE: arena.gov.au/blog/electrifying-our-lives-with-professor-renate-egan

 

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