Energy & Sustainability

During the construction of the Eiffel Tower, engineer Gustave Eiffel noticed the tower could be used as a giant thermometer. Due to the structure expanding and contracting with temperature changes, its height can vary by up to 15cm. This engineering quirk demonstrates the impact of temperature extremes on industrial structures. However, temperature is just one of many engineering considerations in today's complex industry settings. Here, James Chester, director at Technidrive, explains how the right systems integrator can help to navigate these complexities. Environmental conditions can wreak havoc on the longevity of motors and gear units. From extreme temperatures and corrosive substances to dust, moisture, and vibration, the environment can put a significant strain on equipment. Consequently, engineering suitable drive trains can be extremely challenging. Additionally, many end users are unaware of these specific requirements when commissioning a system. Among the most common challenges is the fluctuation of temperatures. Whether extremely hot or cold, this variation can lead to thermal stress, affecting the lubrication and performance of motors and gear units. Continuous operation at either end of the temperature spectrum…

Gold Fields has awarded a contract to Goldwind to design, manufacture and construct seven wind turbines for its St Ives gold mine, located 80km south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The turbines will form a 42MW wind farm as part of Gold Fields’ landmark $296m St Ives Renewable Energy project, which will become one of Western Australia’s largest renewable energy initiatives at an existing mine site. It’s not the number of turbines that’s news, but their gargantuan size. Together, these elements make the project one of the largest to be commissioned at an existing mine site in WA. Mobile batching plants will be deployed to the site in Kambalda to mix the 900m3 volume of concrete and allow for continuous pours at each of the seven turbine bases. The entire renewable system is projected to provide power for 73% of the St Ives site and reduce the mine’s carbon emissions by approximately 50% by 2030. Gold Fields Principal Specialist and Project Director Simon Schmid said the St Ives project was part of Gold Fields’ expanding decarbonisation…

Scientists have observed water molecules splitting in real time to form hydrogen and oxygen. Just before they split, the molecules did something entirely unexpected: They flipped 180 degrees. This micro acrobatic stunt requires energy, which explains why splitting water demands more energy than theoretical calculations indicated. The researchers suggest that further study could provide vital insights into enhancing the efficiency of splitting water molecules—paving the way for more affordable, clean hydrogen fuel. Hydrogen possesses several key properties that render it an attractive source of green energy. This energy-rich fuel can power trucks and even cargo ships, and it stands as the sole alternative to fossil fuels in industries such as steel and fertiliser manufacturing. When burned, the fuel emits water instead of carbon dioxide. However, the steep energy requirements for hydrogen production significantly limit the scale at which the fuel can be produced. According to the International Energy Authority, 322 million tonnes of hydrogen fuel must be generated annually to satisfy global energy needs. Yet, in 2023, only 97 million tonnes were produced…

Last year, research from IEEFA revealed that electrification could slash energy use in industrial processes, using heat pump technology that is commercially available today. However, adoption remains slow in Australia, with only a few industrial heat pumps (IHPs) deployed here. In contrast, New Zealand is already well ahead of its larger neighbour. New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) estimates that about a quarter of their country’s potential for IHPs has now been captured. The shift appears to have contributed to a material decrease in coal and gas use in the country’s food and beverage sector. Between 2019 and 2022 (the latest year of available data), coal use in the food and beverage sector decreased by 12% and gas use by 21%, while electricity use increased by 7%. The successes achieved in New Zealand offer Australia a range of valuable learnings if decisive action is taken now. A comprehensive approach was key to success The New Zealand government started supporting the deployment of IHPs in 2013 through the…

Today, the AMW halls were open from 10am to 7pm, so there’s plenty of space in the day if someone wanted to carve out some hours in the halls. Impress your manager with your initiative by coming across to AMW for the final day tomorrow, Friday, 10am to 4pm. Thad Roos from KAESER compressors was in early Thursday, hoping for the predicted bump that exhibitors experience on the Thursday of these shows. I think everyone is feeling the same anticipation at this time of the morning. He was pleased with the quality of the visitors and that they were at that stage of ordering compressors. Grahame Aston, son Matthew and the others in the PPC Moulding services crew were setting up, ready for the day. They had a Liquid Silicone 3D printer release a couple years ago which uses injection-grade LSR. Front and very much centre was their extremely new Freeformer 750-3X 3D polymer printer. These and other printers take carbon fibre re-enforced Nylon, ABS, PC, TPU, PLA, PP with more…

From 2024, commuters on sections of regional New South Wales began travelling on a state-of-the-art fleet of intercity trains. Named after the Dharug word for emu, the 610 carriages in the Mariyung fleet offer modern safety and advanced features for customers who make almost 45 million journeys a year on this network. To support these critical assets, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) constructed a 500,000 square metre depot at Kangy Angy, near the Central Coast. The TfNSW Intercity Fleet Maintenance Facility, which operates 24/7, features approximately 6 kilometres of electric rail lines and heavy equipment, including a 50-tonne wheel lathe. One of the core requirements for the facility was to implement a robust safety system, and CNFiTech was assigned the task of developing a flexible and functional design for a Depot Personnel Protection System (DPPS). The system needed to be SIL-2 rated, crafted using readily available proprietary safety hardware and software tools, and easy to…

The Future Made in Australia Production Tax incentives constitute a significant step toward boosting the production of renewable green hydrogen and critical minerals in this country. The Federal Government's Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2024 passed to Parliament in February this year, a big step in making Australia indispensable to the global net zero transformation. The legislation provides tax offsets for producing renewable hydrogen and critical minerals and expands Indigenous Business Australia’s role and scope. Jointly announced by the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, Minister for Resources, Madeline King; and Assistant Minister for a Future Made in Australia, Senator Tim Ayres, the legislation establishes two tax incentives: A Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive worth two dollars per kilogram of renewable hydrogen produced between 2027–2028 and 2039–40 for up to ten years per project. A Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive worth 10% of relevant processing and refining costs for Australia’s 31 critical minerals, for critical minerals…

Steel fabricators may not think much about corrosion after completing their work. However, major infrastructure like wharves, bridges, pipelines, and tanks is constantly threatened by corrosion, which, if it takes hold, will make them unsafe. Traditionally, phase control cathodic protection (CP) systems were used to protect infrastructure, but these come with several challenges, such as the high cost of copper cabling and associated power loss. These issues become even more significant for asset owners who must address environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting. Here, David Celine, managing director of cathodic protection specialist Omniflex, explains how CP system design can support ESG commitments while simultaneously reducing costs and enhancing maintenance capabilities. At the core of any impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) system is a transformer-rectifier unit (T/R), which provides the essential electrical current for ongoing protection. There are two primary types of T/R that can be employed to supply current for an ICCP system: phase control and switch-mode. While both technologies are hugely important to the global CP market, it is not always clear which is…

A leading Australian electrical company has found a solution that delivers Standards-compliant, safe, and portable switchrooms to sites for its major projects nationwide. The electrical project specialist worked with Modulate Group to create a fully sealed containerised switchroom that can easily be moved from site to site. The customised switchroom houses a motor control centre, variable-speed drive, distribution board, transformer, local control station, fire indication panel, and remote switching panel. Modulate manufactures customised containerised buildings at its 20,000sqm production facility in Mayfield, near Newcastle, NSW. Production and customisation to different needs are handled in-house. “Electrical switchrooms are some of the more complex containerised buildings we manufacture. We ensure they meet strict AS3000 Standards, other relevant safety Standards, and any client-specific requirements,” said Jack Adams, General Manager, Modulate. “The customer placed a high importance on safety and quality from the start, and they were clear with their requirements. Not only did they want to meet all relevant Standards, but they wanted to maximise internal space, which is an area where Modulate sets itself apart from other portable offices,” he added. The…

FPR Energy, a new venture from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has secured $15m in seed funding to commercialise next-generation solar thermal technology to help reduce industrial emissions, accounting for 20% of Australia’s annual carbon footprint. The company was launched today with global advisory and funds management firm RFC Ambrian and utility leader Osaka Gas, raising the most extensive seed funding for a CSIRO co-founded venture. FPR Energy aims to cut emissions in heavy industries such as mineral refining, steel, cement, and chemical production using CSIRO’s particle-based Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) technology, which can produce temperatures up to 1200 degrees Celsius—an industry-first. The technology uses abundant and low-cost ceramic particles to store sunlight as heat, enabling long-duration energy storage to support industrial processes, green fuel production and reliable, dispatchable power. CSIRO Energy Technologies Research Director Dr. Daniel Roberts said FPR Energy is a significant step in meeting the growing demand for renewable solutions in hard-to-abate heavy industries. “FPR Energy is building on years of solar thermal research, demonstrating CSIRO’s commitment to supporting emissions reduction using impact-focussed science and…

The renewable energy and clean technology industries are at the forefront of the global transition to sustainable energy systems. Solar farms, wind turbines, battery storage solutions, and emerging innovations in energy optimisation are reshaping Australia’s energy landscape. Yet, the sector’s rapid growth comes with unique challenges. To remain competitive, companies in this space must manage complex project portfolios, meet stringent environmental and regulatory requirements, and integrate cutting-edge technologies. Achieving these goals requires more than innovation—it demands operational excellence powered by advanced systems. NetSuite, with its cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities, is enabling renewable energy businesses to streamline operations, enhance compliance, and position themselves as leaders in sustainability. Managing complexity in renewable energy The renewable energy industry is defined by its complexity. Companies often manage diverse projects across multiple locations, each with unique financial, operational, and regulatory demands. Coordinating resources, tracking project progress, and ensuring profitability require a unified approach. At the same time, compliance pressures are mounting. Renewable energy companies must adhere to international standards such as ISO 14001 for environmental management and local requirements like the Australian Privacy Act…

Howard Smith Wharves by Artemus Group took another step toward its goal of becoming the most sustainable precinct in the world this month by installing 179kW of rooftop solar panels. After engaging Origin Zero, Howard Smith Wharves commissioned an energy audit and kitchen electrification study in its ambitious quest to reduce emissions by 44% by June 2026, compared to 2022 levels. It has already diverted 97% of its waste from landfill, with this energy audit another avenue to reduce emissions and support its sustainability mission. Following the audit, Origin Zero proposed the rooftop solar and power factor correction (an adjustment of the power supply systems to enhance efficiency) to achieve immediate supply-side emissions savings of 7.2% across the precinct’s restaurants, cafes, bars, event spaces, hotel and brewery. Luke Fraser, CEO of Artemus Group, says that sustainability is his top priority. “These two quick and simple solutions drastically reduce our emissions, so we jumped at the opportunity. We aim to become the most sustainable precinct in the world, and we’re proud to continue to partner with industry leaders…

The Australian Aluminium Council has welcomed the Australian Government’s announcement of a production credit for the aluminium smelting sector as part of its Future Made in Australia plan. This marks a globally significant step towards securing the future of Australia’s aluminium industry and strengthening Australia’s role as a leader in the energy transition. “Until now, we have seen many other countries take decisive action to support their domestic manufacturing industries while Australia has been less proactive in comparison,” the Council’s CEO, Marghanita Johnson, said. “Competitive energy is the critical foundation that enables Australian businesses to compete internationally. [This] announcement is an important step in support of the industry’s transition to the competitive, reliable, lower-carbon energy needed for the aluminium industry to secure a sustainable future.” The Climate Council, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Workers Union also endorsed the move. AWU National Secretary Paul Farrow said the announcement showed the government understood the magnitude of the industry’s potential. “Abundant renewable energy, access to raw materials, and skilled workers – Australia has every advantage necessary to…