Search

In an outback region known as "Silver City", a Canadian company is working towards an Australian first - a renewable energy storage centre using compressed air technology. "As a fuel-free storage technology, compressed air storage technology has similar applications to pumped hydro, such as providing dispatchability to ensure reliability of the power system as more solar and wind power is installed." Australia's first renewable energy storage facility using compressed air is on track to be developed in a disused Broken Hill mine in outback New South Wales. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports that lan Hickie, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre, has been researching how internet-based tools can support youth mental health with increasing demand ror mental health services; and online support platforms such as Mental health and wellbeing apps are shaking up existing models of healthcare while developing the first online suicide prevention program, called Reach Out.

As part of the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) NSW Koala Strategy, Mella is studying koalas and climate change. "In January 2020, the Gunnedah koalas had the highest temperature (40.8°C) ever documented in a free-ranging koala population", Mella says. The self-styled koala capital of the world is seeing a huge decline in its marsupial citizens at the hands of climate and disease. [Extracted from the article]

The article reports that Greenlight Project, a series looking at how regional Australia is responding to climate change and checks out an ambitious ecovillage in south-west Western Australia with comforts of community and modern living. Topics include development in the world that can claim to achieve energy, water and food self-sufficiency for real community; and ecovillage claims a unique ability to meet obligations of both the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio was amember of a delegation from the Council of Mayors of SouthEast Qld (COMSEQ) to look at TransPod technology inVancouver. TransPod's system was invented by scientist Dr Ryan Janzen,co-owner of TransPod, who set out to create a practical andsafe version of high-speed tube transportation. Gendron says unlike conventional transport corridors,the route does not interfere with use of the land, with theinfrastructure to be built above farmland and buildings. [Extracted from the article]

Greenlight Project Wind energy now accounts for more than 11% ofAustralia's total electricity - much of it generated inregional Australia. All the indicators are now pointing tothis strong wind of change becoming a cyclone The winds of change are blowing in Australia as wind powerbecomes a key component of our evolving energy market. [Extracted from the article]

The paper Miscibility Gap Alloys -- A New Thermal Energy StorageSolution, written in 2017 by University of Newcastle researchersincluding Kisi and Post, stated Miscilibity Gap Alloys "demonstratedexcellent characteristics for thermal storage applications over a widerange of temperatures". MGA Thermal expects the first Miscibility Gap Alloy (MGA) blocksto be in commercial production early in 2023, and hopes to have its 5MWh demonstration-scale thermal energy storage system pilotcompleted at a factory in Tomago in the Hunter region of New SouthWales at about the same time. Technology As Australia progresses from creating renewable energy to making it areliable 24-hour prospect, New South Wales researchers are takingtheir thermal energy storage innovation from concept tocommercialisation. [Extracted from the article]

Originally published by Cosmos as Solar vehicle's papertrail around Australia Stuart McBain with the printed solar panels helping powerhis trip around Australia. If you are UK sustainable energy advocate Stuart McBain,you seek out the latest in solar technology from theUniversity of Newcastle, New South Wales, and charge aroundAustralia in an electric car to test it out. Stuart McBain and Professor Paul Dastoor with the EV thatis bringing the solar power message to schools aroundAustralia - and test-driving printed solar panels. [Extracted from the article]

A concrete and steel structure anchored off the coast of Tasmania's King Island is creating waves around the world. Wave Swell Energy's Project Bluefire will essentially build on the learnings from the pilot to refine the technology - including incorporating a variable speed control system for the turbine to speed up further and maximise efficiency. Geason says it is this technology - simple and robust - that is largely behind the technology's success. [Extracted from the article]

The turbine has since won a "Turbine of the Year" gold medalin the category of onshore turbines with 4.7MW+ rating in anindustry publication award. Technology 3D imaging of wind turbines in a dry hilly landscapeAn artist's impression of the Nordex Delta N163/5.X turbineson a sheep farm at the MacIntyre Wind Farm site. [Extracted from the article]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses articles in the issue on topics including stories of agriculture, industry, energy and First Nations people.