Forum - Green Opportunities in South Australia
Friday, June 07, 2024
Event Overview:
AREA is a non-profit organisation that fosters business opportunities within the renewable energy sector, AREA continues to play a pivotal role in advancing Australia’s sustainable energy landscape.
The forum event focused on the 2024 South Australia Energy Market updates, held at the University of Adelaide, was successfully completed. We extend our sincere appreciation to all members who attended and contributed to the insightful discussions on South Australia’s renewable energy landscape. Below is an overview of the key points presented by each speaker:
The presentation by Jack Bampton from Invest SA highlights South Australia’s strengths and opportunities for investment. Invest SA supports businesses with location selection, government connections, talent acquisition, and networking. In South Australia, key sectors include minerals, energy, defence, health, food, and agribusiness, with strong renewable energy initiatives aiming for 100% by 2027. South Australia boasts advanced infrastructure, world-class research in agriculture, and a leading role in the green economy. Various innovation hubs and technical colleges enhance collaboration and development. The state also offers robust biosecurity and food safety, making it an attractive destination for investors.
The presentation by Richard Day from the Office of Hydrogen Power SA outlines South Australia’s strategic focus on green reindustrialization, particularly through hydrogen power. Key points include South Australia’s competitive advantages in renewable energy, optimal locations for solar and wind farms, and significant opportunities in green metals and chemicals. The state is advancing the Hydrogen Jobs Plan with a site in Whyalla, featuring 250MWe of electrolysers, 200MW of power generation, and hydrogen storage. There are ongoing partnerships for infrastructure and hydrogen supply, including agreements with ElectraNet and GFG Alliance. The presentation also highlights the development of a seawater desalination plant, the introduction of the Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Act, and plans for a Green Iron and Steel Strategy and a large-scale hydrogen production precinct at Port Bonython.
The presentation by Bettina Venner from the Industry Capability Network (ICN) highlights how ICN connects suppliers to renewable energy projects in South Australia and beyond. ICN supports businesses by offering a database of industry specialists, facilitating expressions of interest (EOIs), and providing opportunities through their ICN Gateway platform. Major projects include the Hydrogen Jobs Plan, various renewable energy initiatives, and significant infrastructure developments like the Northern Water and BHP projects. The presentation outlines the hydrogen supply chain, emphasizing South Australia’s existing capabilities and opportunities for growth in areas like wind turbines, hydrogen electrolysers, and hydrogen fuel cells. Suppliers are encouraged to create a free ICN profile, search projects, submit EOIs, and leverage support to enhance their capabilities.
The presentation by Ashley Manna from ElectraNet discusses South Australia’s energy transition journey led by ElectraNet. The focus is on the state’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, marked by significant milestones such as the operation of the world’s largest battery at Hornsdale, the completion of the Eyre Peninsula Link, and the construction of the Project EnergyConnect interconnector. The presentation highlights South Australia’s leadership in renewable energy, achieving high levels of wind and solar integration, and aiming for 100% net annual renewable energy by 2027. It also covers the challenges and opportunities in managing variable renewable energy supply, the growth in battery energy storage systems (BESS), and the increasing electricity demand driven by green hydrogen, steel, and mineral production. The importance of timely transmission investments to ensure energy reliability, address network constraints, and support the clean energy transition is emphasized.
The presentation by Richard Petterson from Tindo Solar highlights the country’s challenges and opportunities in advancing towards NetZero. Australia has seen a decline in its Economic Complexity Index, falling from 55th to 93rd, with predictions of dropping to 122nd by 2031, indicating potential sovereign and supply chain risks. Tindo Solar’s gigafactory plans are discussed as part of the solution, emphasizing the benefits of local renewable manufacturing for economic resilience and sustainability. The presentation underscores the importance of commitment to long-term renewable energy initiatives in Australia.
The presentation by Wejie Mak from Aurora Energy Research discusses the landscape and outlook for renewables and battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the National Electricity Market (NEM) of Australia. The presentation highlights Australia’s ambitious decarbonization targets, the increasing dominance of renewables, and the critical role of BESS in managing energy variability. It addresses the economic challenges and opportunities for short-duration batteries, noting the shift from ancillary services to energy arbitrage as the primary revenue source. The presentation also emphasizes the need for significant investment in firming capacity and longer-duration storage to ensure system reliability amidst the growing penetration of variable renewable energy sources. Aurora’s detailed analysis and forecasts support strategic investment decisions in the evolving energy market.
The presentation by Yanyan Zhao from CSIRO discusses the challenges and opportunities of lithium-ion battery recycling in Australia. The presentation highlights the rapid growth in battery usage, driven by electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy storage, and the resulting increase in battery waste. Challenges include low collection rates, environmental and fire risks, and high recycling costs. Opportunities lie in recovering valuable materials, promoting a circular economy, and leveraging Australia’s position as a major lithium exporter. By developing a comprehensive battery value chain, from mining to recycling, Australia could significantly boost its economy and create thousands of jobs by 2030.
The presentation by Chris Sayers on behalf of HIUV Material Technology discusses the core activities of HIUV in PV panel recycling. Their core activities include R&D and manufacturing innovative film materials for PV panels, new energy vehicles, and electronics. HiUV is entering the Australian market, which has seen rapid PV power adoption and anticipates significant end-of-life (EOL) PV panel waste growth. Australia’s federal government is introducing new legislation to support e-waste recycling, benefiting large-scale recyclers like HiUV. Their Australian subsidiary, HICYCLE, will use advanced recycling technologies to process EOL PV panels, emphasizing environmental sustainability, local economic support, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
CO-HOST:
