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Airport receives sustainability certification

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Newcastle Airport’s terminal expansion has officially achieved a 5 Star Green Star Buildings ‘As Built’ certification from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

The 5 Star Green Star certification assessed a range of sustainability initiatives incorporated into the terminal expansion, including energy efficiency, operational performance, environmental impact reduction and sustainable building practices.

“Newcastle Airport has demonstrated how major infrastructure can reduce its environmental impact while creating lasting value for passengers, the community and the region,” GBCA CEO Davina Rooney said. “We congratulate the team on setting a new benchmark for sustainable airport development in Australia.”

Newcastle Airport CEO Linc Horton said sustainability had been embedded in the project from the very beginning.

“We were undertaking a major capital expansion and that gave us permission to fundamentally rethink how we design assets, source energy, finance projects and plan for long-term operations,” Horton said. “We see sustainability as integral to running a better airport for our region, with our sustainability strategy extending well beyond the terminal itself.

“We’ve achieved net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions six years ahead of target, transitioned to 100% renewable electricity and our solar installations now generate between 20 and 30% of the airport’s electricity demand.

“We also secured a sustainability-linked finance facility with Commonwealth Bank, directly linking financing performance to sustainability outcomes. That demonstrates sustainability is core to how we run the business.”

Newcastle Airport terminal expansion. Image: Supplied

The Terminal Expansion forms part of Newcastle Airport’s broader sustainability strategy and has received national recognition for its sustainable outcomes, including:

Winner — 2025 National Airport Industry Awards — Sustainability & Infrastructure
Winner — 2025 Hunter Business Awards — Excellence in Sustainability
Finalist — 2025 Australian Aviation Awards — Sustainability Initiative of the Year
Finalist — 2025 Business NSW Awards — Excellence in Sustainability

“This certification recognises Newcastle Airport’s commitment to delivering infrastructure that supports both economic growth and environmental responsibility, while setting a new benchmark for sustainable airport development in Australia,” said Newcastle Airport Chair Samantha Martin-Williams.

“Being the first airport terminal building in Australia to achieve a 5 Star Green Star certification under the new rating tool is a remarkable achievement and reflects the ambition of our airport, our partners and our region.

“At a time when Australia is focused on delivering a Future Made in Australia, Newcastle Airport is helping position the Hunter at the forefront of that future, supporting industry growth, enabling new opportunities and demonstrating what sustainable regional infrastructure can achieve.”

Since the international terminal was completed last year, Newcastle Airport has grown its international and domestic network, increasing passenger capacity, operational capability and global connectivity for the Hunter region.

For more information on the Newcastle Airport 2036 Vision, visit the website. For more information on the Green Star Building rating system, visit GBCA.

Top image caption: Jetstar aeroplane at Newcastle Airport. Image: Supplied.

Klippon Connect terminal blocks with Weidmüller SNAP IN technology

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

To be cost-effective, installation work in control cabinet construction must be carried out speedily, and preferably automated. At the same time, the connections should be permanently reliable, safe and easy to maintain.

The new Klippon Connect terminal blocks with Weidmüller’s SNAP IN technology meet all these requirements, and are easy to use. Stripped fine-stranded conductors just need to be inserted into the connection point, and the connection point snaps shut with a clearly audible click — the conductor is now permanently contacted. To release the connection, users simply need to press the green pusher.

The planning phase is crucial for the success and cost-effectiveness of the entire panel-building process, and requires the intelligent interplay of digital product data and interconnected engineering tools. Efficient, easy wiring is key to installation. Weidmüller’s products stand out in this respect with their intuitive handling and clear design. All terminal functions can be distinguished from each other instantly.

Klippon Connect products feature standardised test points which make automated testing and checking processes possible. In this way, maintenance and testing tasks can be carried out much more safely and quickly.

For more information, click here.

Counting down to Singapore International Water Week 2026

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Now in its 11th year, Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2026 will bring together thought leaders, experts and practitioners from governments, cities, utilities and industry from 15–18 June 2026 at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.

The biennial event plans to address some of the world’s most pressing urban water and climate-associated challenges.

Utilities and cities are facing mounting pressure on aging urban water systems, higher energy costs, increasing water demand, unsustainable water extraction practices, and more frequent and extreme flooding in urban areas. Caused by rapid urbanisation and economic growth, these effects are further exacerbated by climate impacts from extreme weather patterns and rising sea levels, and growing demand from water-intensive industries such as data centres.

SIWW2026 will therefore focus on the key themes of municipal water solutions, coastal and flood resilience, and industrial water solutions. More than 80 sessions — ranging from high-level panels, roundtables, summits, workshops, forums and partner events — will be held over four days covering a wide spectrum of topics and issues related to these themes, with 2000 global leaders and experts expected in attendance, along with 25,000 trade visitors who are expected to visit the Water Expo.

SIWW2026 at a glance: key program highlights

Guest of honour Gan Kim Yong, Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry, will deliver the opening address at SIWW2026 on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. This will be followed by the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2026 Award Ceremony, where the 2026 Laureate Professor Joan Bray Rose will receive the prize medallion and certificate from Mr Gan (read more about Rose’s work here).

The Ministerial Plenary will be held on the same morning after the opening, where Grace Fu, Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, will join other invited foreign water and environment ministers to share their perspectives on how countries can work together to advance the water and climate agenda.

Other program highlights at SIWW2026 include:

Thought leadership
High-level platforms such as the SIWW Keynotes, Titans of Industry, Coastal and Flood Resilience Leaders Summit, and the Water Leaders Summit will bring together global government, city, utility and industry leaders to exchange insights on latest trends, solutions and case studies across various thematic areas.
Solutions and technology
The Water Convention, TechXchange and the Industrial Water Solutions Forum will provide water experts, technology providers, scale-ups, utilities and industrial users with platforms to share urban water management, for municipal and industrial users.
Business and networking
The Water Expo, organised in cooperation with IFAT, will serve as a pre-eminent marketplace for the global water, coastal and flood community to converge and find opportunities in business. Featuring more than 20 pavilions and close to 500 international exhibitors, the expo — alongside networking functions and partner events — will bring together industry players, utilities and governments to foster collaboration and partnerships.

Leaders from utilities, cities and industry at SIWW2026

More than 55 utilities around the world will be participating in SIWW2026, with at least 40 represented at C-level. These senior executives will attend the Utilities CEO Roundtable, while technical experts will be speaking in other sessions and workshops during the week.

The utilities will be joined by close to 30 cities worldwide. City officials from these cities will be participating in the City Leaders Roundtable, as well as the Leaders Summit.

Senior leaders from international organisations and associations, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Asian Development Bank, World Bank Group, C40 Cities, International Water Association, International Desalination and Reuse Association will also be in attendance.

They are joined by global executives and experts from the water industry, including engineering consultants, technology providers, system integrators, contractors and OEMs.

For more information on SIWW2026, visit the event website or access the full program.

Image caption: Singapore skyline at night. Credit: iStock.com/leungchopan

AMS announces 2026 Beamex User Group meeting

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Following a two-year break, AMS Instrumentation & Calibration has announced the 2026 Beamex User Group event will be held on the Sunshine Coast at Marcoola Beach, Queensland, 17–18 November 2026. The event returns after a high level of support expressed by the Beamex customer base in Australia.

The meeting will be held over two days and is free to attend. With a number of recent and pending product releases, the User Group will allow attendees to familiarise themselves with the latest Beamex product range and discuss strategies to improve management of their calibration workloads. AMS said it was excited to have this opportunity to work with customers to build upon their existing Beamex user experience.

The program is being finalised and a number of speciality presenters from Beamex will assist in running the program. Other presenters will include Mike Farkas from AMS with further guest speakers to be confirmed in the near future.

Specialty presenters include:

Mike Farkas, Calibration/Flow Product Manager, AMS-IC
Antti Koivisto, Senior Vice President of Sales, Beamex OY
Antti Mäkynen, Product Manager, Beamex OY
Roberto Guaranha, Regional Sales Director, Beamex OY
Jari Kiili, Area Sales Manager, Beamex OY

The deadline for registrations is 16 October 2026.

What: 2026 Beamex User Group
When: 17–18 November 2026
Where: Ramada Marcoola Beach
923 David Low Way, Marcoola Beach, Qld, 4564
Beach Front Ball Room.

Businesses use AI to manage sustainability reporting

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Australian businesses are accelerating their adoption of automation to stay competitive, but research from Schneider Electric shows many still face significant barriers to realising the full potential of AI.

Findings are based on the company’s 2026 Energy Tech Pulse survey, which surveyed 500 Australian decision-makers across multiple industries to understand how economic, energy and technology trends are shaping investment priorities. The results show strong momentum for automation and AI, but also highlight financial, technical and capability gaps slowing progress in critical sectors.

According to the survey, Australian businesses are embracing automation as a core strategy for competitiveness, with 67% of leaders calling it essential for success. Yet progress is uneven: while half of Australian businesses expect AI investments to pay off within three years, many face roadblocks — from upfront costs and cybersecurity concerns, to limited technical skills and uncertainty about integrating new systems — revealing a gap between strategic intent and operational readiness.

“These insights demonstrate that Australian businesses clearly see the value of automation and AI in driving efficiency and competitive advantage,” said Farokh Ghadially, Vice President IT and Data Centres, Schneider Electric.

“However, cost pressures and capability gaps are slowing the pace of progress. The challenge now is to make digital tools more accessible and scalable, so that organisations of every size can capture the full benefits of automation.”

AI transforming energy and sustainability management

Despite these challenges, the survey revealed that AI adoption is advancing fastest in areas where efficiency, energy management and sustainability intersect. Smart building control has emerged as the leading application, with 38% of respondents identifying it as a top priority, followed by sustainability reporting (29%) and energy forecasting (24%), highlighting strong links between automation, efficiency and decarbonisation.

Looking ahead, business intent is strong: over the next three years, four in 10 leaders plan to implement smart building solutions and battery energy storage, while a third intend to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure, signalling a broader shift towards digital and electrified systems designed to improve efficiency and operational resilience.

“As technology continues to evolve, automation will be the foundation of a more resilient and sustainable economy,” Ghadially said. “With the first round of sustainability compliance reports to be released this year under Australia’s Sustainability Reporting Standards, businesses are entering a new era of accountability that goes far beyond compliance.

“To prepare, organisations will need accurate, auditable data and digital systems capable of turning complex sustainability metrics into actionable insights. As an energy technology partner, we see every day that the businesses who succeed are those that combine innovation with capability, and who use AI to strengthen data integrity, improve transparency and turn digital ambition into measurable impact,” Ghadially said.

The full survey results can be accessed on the Schneider Electric website.

Image credit: iStock.com/MF3d

Victorian wind farm project to power 1.2 million homes

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

The Victorian Government has taken a step towards providing what it states is the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.

Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has signed off on the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Warracknabeal Energy Park — marking a milestone in the state approvals process. Once complete, the 219-turbine wind farm is planned to deliver more than 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy — enough to power up to 1.2 million homes.

The government said the project would become the highest-producing wind facility in Victoria and generate around 12.5% of the state’s future energy needs. It is expected to create almost 950 jobs during construction, with ongoing local jobs once operational.

“This project would be a massive boost to Victoria’s renewable energy capacity — powering more than one million homes with cheaper, cleaner energy,” said Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio.

The project will also contribute to Victoria’s renewable energy targets of 65% by 2030 and 95% by 2035.

The Warracknabeal Energy Park has gone through Victoria’s EES process, including technical studies, community consultation and a public inquiry. Further approvals are still required before a final decision is made, including Commonwealth approval under national environmental laws.

“This is a major step towards delivering the biggest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, right here in Victoria,” Kilkenny said.

Image credit: iStock.com/clintscholz

IFS Zero agentic emissions operating system

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

IFS, a provider of industrial AI software, has launched IFS Zero, an agentic emissions operating system designed for asset-intensive industries.

The system provides a single, unified calculation platform that enables organisations to measure, disclose and optimise their carbon emissions across Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 categories.

Purpose-built for carbon emissions management and created through consultation with customers in asset-intensive industries, IFS Zero works together with the company’s broader Sustainability Management module for corporate sustainability reporting.

The operating system provides granular, real-time emissions intelligence using agentic AI across the entire data lifecycle — mapping sources, validating data, flagging anomalies and producing audit-ready outputs — so sustainability teams can spend less time on administration and more time driving decarbonisation.

It can provide an audit-ready baseline in weeks, saving hours of operational time annually, and provide a 30% reduction in data collection effort.

IFS Zero launches alongside IFS Cloud 26R1, which provides targeted enhancements across Enterprise Resource Planning, Service Management, Enterprise Asset Management and Aviation Maintenance — adding control and traceability.

SA retirement village reduces energy costs using solar system

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Rising electricity costs have reduced the financial security of the residents of Woodbridge Retirement Village in South Australia.

The community centre — which houses a heated pool and spa — saw power bills more than double since 2021, from $21,000 to an estimated $45,000 this year.

The retirement village’s board has recently acted to reduce costs, installing a SolaX AELIO 100 kWh all-in-one solar battery system projected to eliminate 100% of the community centre’s electricity costs. The board said this will free up funds that will flow directly back into resident services.

“Rising electricity costs are a major concern for our residents, the majority of whom are on an age pension or part pension,” said Woodbridge’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Thorne. “The increasing cost in electricity was putting upward pressure on residents’ maintenance fees.”

The SolaX AELIO system features a five-layer closed-loop fire suppression system, individual battery module monitoring and a fully self-contained cabinet design — purpose-built to meet the safety demands of environments where vulnerable people live.

Image caption: SolaX installation by Freedom Solar Solutions. Image: Supplied.

The decision to invest in a battery energy storage system was driven by a single goal: to protect the village’s nearly 300 residents from the volatility of the electricity market.

Thorne said the SolaX AELIO system gives residents real-time visibility over performance through the SolaX Cloud platform, tracking energy generation, storage and usage from their own devices.

“The portal gives us improved control and visibility over the energy usage at the community centre, and residents are able to access the SolaX Cloud to see how the system is operating and what money they’re able to save themselves,” Thorne said.

Joey Zhang, General Manager of SolaX Power Australia, said the Woodbridge project shows a growing challenge facing aged care and retirement village operators — and residents — across the country.

“Energy costs don’t discriminate, but they hit hardest for people on fixed incomes. Retirement villages running 24/7 facilities have been absorbing these increases quietly for years. What Woodbridge has done is take back control, with the savings going straight back into the services that matter to residents,” Zhang said.

For Freedom Solar Solutions, the installer behind the project, safety was the deciding factor in selecting the system for a residential environment.

“In our conversations with the team at Woodbridge, the biggest concern was protecting residents. It had to be something robust, reliable and, most importantly, safe. The AELIO stood out straight away,” said Damien Smith, Commercial Sales Manager at Freedom Solar Solutions.

Thorne explained that with the system now live, Woodbridge’s board expects to redirect its electricity budget towards essential resident services — and to shield residents from future energy price increases entirely, while reducing reliance on the electricity grid.

“By investing in solar energy storage, we’re helping our residents live their best, independent lives,” Thorne said.

Top image caption: SolaX AELIO 100 kWh all-in-one system onsite at Woodbridge Retirement Village. Image: Supplied.

Battery-free sensors close to reality

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

With lithium-ion battery waste in Australia projected to exceed 100,000 tonnes by 2036, and hundreds of millions of household batteries discarded each year — many used in low-power indoor sensors and data loggers — there is an urgent need for cleaner power solutions.

An NSSN Grand Challenge Fund project has demonstrated a viable pathway to producing a battery-free, sustainable alternative.

Led by Macquarie University researchers, the project achieved a breakthrough in a key manufacturing step for perovskite photovoltaic (PV) cells which can be designed to generate power from ambient light.

The team found a way to manufacture these PV cells faster and more energy-efficiently using microwaves. They also worked out how to scale the process for real manufacturing, where material is produced continuously on a moving roll.

“If this technology can be scaled, it unlocks sensing applications that simply aren’t viable today, such as sensors embedded in concrete, environmental monitors in remote infrastructure, long-term medical devices, and agricultural sensing under greenhouse lighting, all operating continuously without maintenance,” said Dr Binesh Veettil, Project Lead and Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering at Macquarie University.

The breakthrough uses a microwave-based process to reduce perovskite PV cell annealing from around 30 minutes to about 30 seconds while cutting energy use, enabling fast, scalable manufacturing and supporting future low-cost, self-powered indoor sensor applications.

The project also provides the opportunity for more flexible production where perovskite PV cells could one day be printed and integrated into materials like packaging, buildings and clothing rather than just manufactured for traditional panels.

“The real barrier has always been the cost and complexity of battery replacement, but once each sensor is self-powered, dense networks with tens of thousands of sensors become practical,” Veettil said. “With indoor-light-optimised perovskite cells, which are highly efficient in low light and can be printed directly into devices, we can move to truly ‘install-and-forget’ sensors with no need for separate panels or additional engineering to integrate them.”

A major focus of the project was adapting the process for high-speed production, essential for low-cost, large-scale deployment.

Veettil said the project’s main challenges were scaling the process to continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing, where material is produced on a moving surface like printing, and achieving uniform heating over a large area.

The team overcame two key challenges: managing the naturally uneven distribution of microwave fields to ensure uniform heating, and delivering sufficient energy within the few seconds the material spends in the system.

“One of the key challenges was that microwaves naturally produce uneven heating, so we had to engineer a system that spreads energy more evenly and works reliably across a moving surface rather than just small lab samples,” Veettil said. “We addressed this by using continuously varying frequencies and a specially designed cavity to reduce hot and cold spots, allowing us to achieve consistent results.

“The key outcome was showing that microwave annealing can be made robust enough for continuous, industrial-scale manufacturing rather than remaining a lab-based technique.”

The project was conducted in partnership with co-investigator Dr Robert Patterson from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at UNSW.

“In energy-constrained applications from sensing and portable devices to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), every watt of on-board generation is a game changer,” Patterson said. “Self-powered sensors remove some key energy storage barriers and make dense, large-scale sensor networks more viable.

“Even partial adoption of portable generation for devices like sensors would greatly extend battery lifetime, diverting millions of batteries from landfill each year.”

The industry partner in the project was Halocell Energy Ltd, one of the few companies globally manufacturing flexible perovskite cells at commercial scale.

Halocell Energy’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr David Pham, said the project has demonstrated the feasibility of microwave-based processing for perovskite solar cells, supporting its ambition to develop low-cost, high-throughput manufacturing for indoor photovoltaic applications.

“This project has demonstrated a clear pathway toward commercial deployment, with microwave-based processing showing strong potential for integration into high throughput manufacturing,” Pham said. “The collaboration with Macquarie University has been highly productive, and we look forward to progressing this technology through scale-up and pilot testing.”

Looking ahead, the next steps in the project include extended production trials, lifetime testing and scaling the technology for commercial deployment. Early applications, such as electronic shelf labels, could reach market in three to five years. The project has also established a dedicated microwave annealing facility at Macquarie University, enabling new areas of research extending beyond perovskite materials to other thin-film semiconductors, 2D materials and oxide electronics.

“Microwave processing isn’t limited to perovskites: it can be applied to a wide range of advanced materials where rapid, selective heating is needed, and it provides industry with a capability that is difficult to find elsewhere in Australia,” Veettil said.

Image caption: Abstract porous perovskite material structure macro shot. Credit: iStock.com/corrigan201

How do we prepare for a hotter, more populated, Sydney?

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

There are two things that seem inevitable about Sydney’s future; the population will grow, and the city will get hotter. And both outcomes are intrinsically linked.

Recent data suggests greater Sydney’s population is projected to increase by 1.4 million people, reaching 6.3 million in 2041. This is a 13% increase in a decade, with New South Wales also becoming home to 9.4 million.

Despite the growth, Sydney will still be on the lower end of population density for major cities across the world; well below cities like London, New York, Toronto and Berlin. Regardless, density concerns prevail. As we build out homes to accommodate more people, the fear is that new subdivisions and neighbourhoods will foster a concrete jungle. This is something we have to avoid.

In parallel, we have to balance a higher population with a warmer city. Researchers from the University of British Columbia found Sydney’s summer season had increased in length by 49 days since 1990. Sydney’s rate of warming was more than double that of most other cities analysed, including Tokyo, Paris, Reykjavík and St Petersburg.

In Western Sydney, where the city’s heat islands are concentrated, particularly in new developments, unshaded concrete can reach 60°C, and asphalt can hit 75°C. Concrete has a high thermal mass, meaning it can retain heat for long periods of time and continue to radiate it well into the evening.

From heat-absorbing materials, like concrete, to fewer trees for shade and greenery, this creates a heat island effect, where cities have a higher temperature than surrounding rural areas. As we rush to build new neighbourhoods to accommodate more people quickly, we need to actively avoid creating more heat islands than we currently already have.

New subdivisions and neighbourhoods need to be designed around green spaces, prioritising community connection, accessible public spaces, and shaded outdoor areas to lessen the impact of extreme heat.

This is particularly important for new housing development projects in Sydney, such as the recently announced Bays West, which has promised to deliver 8500 well-located homes in the underutilised port facility.

What the project will look like is not yet known. But designers need to build for a Sydney of the future. Yes, that includes a higher population, but it also means a hotter city. New neighbourhoods like Bays West must put shade and liveability at the centre of the design process to create comfortable environments where people want to live and play, sheltered from the oppressive Aussie summer heat.

Luckily there are tools that take the guesswork out of city planning. You no longer need to plant trees or add shading elements and then hope they’ll offer the right amount of shade. Technology can simulate building volumes and outdoor environments and show the direct impact of shading strategies on lowering the temperature of the area.

Thermal comfort maps and heat maps can be created for a specific date and time so architects and urban planners can see how the outdoor environment will handle extreme temperatures. These maps can also show exactly when outdoor spaces like public parks and squares will be hottest/coldest, because there’s no point in spending the time and money to create outdoor spaces if they become too hot for people to enjoy.

Forma Site Design Microclimate at Circular Quay. Image: Supplied. [Click on image for a larger view.]

As Sydney enters this phase of rapid growth, there is the potential that Bays West will be the first of many similar housing developments announced in the next few months and years. And it’s welcome because, simply put, we need many, many more homes. But it’s important we take the time to build with the Australian lifestyle at the centre, by embodying community, greenery and access to the outdoors.

These days, this kind of analysis doesn’t even add extra time or hassle to the planning phase. But it does help make these new neighbourhoods a significantly more enjoyable — and cooler — place for people to call home.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Brian Bornstein

Flux Marine Redefines Marine Propulsion Through Electrification

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

As efforts to combat climate change intensify, electrification has become a focal point, particularly in automotives. The evolution of electrification technology for boating is also making significant strides, though less visible outside of the marine industry.

It is with no less importance that companies are prioritising a shift to more sustainable options here, given that recreational boating contributes to an approximate 150 million gallons of pollution to water, plus destruction to habitats and marine life from noise and sewage pollution. Recognising these challenges, one “Ocean State” startup aims to be a leader in transforming the industry.

Flux Marine develops 100% electric outboards for marine propulsion. Beyond the sustainability impact, the electric outboards allow for a more enjoyable experience for recreational boaters. A single charge allows for a full day of boating without having to worry about the hassle of taking on additional fuel, while the motor operates quietly giving boaters a tranquil ride. With the equivalent acceleration power of 150HP, the motor propels available boat packages from Highfield and Scout to 30 mph and offers a range of 30 miles at 25 mph, plus the ability to travel nearly 100 miles at lower speeds.

The team has clearly designed a system with no compromise in performance. The development of the system requires expertise in a myriad of areas including mechanical, electrical, and powertrain engineering. Mathworks’ MATLAB and Simulink are used throughout their development processes to bring all the components together. Below, members of the Flux team highlight some of their key project uses:

Jonathan Lord, co-founder and CTO, oversees the design and performance of the full system. He says, “We knew it was critical to use industry standard technology, the frontier technology, to build the best product possible. Using Simulink, we are building a digital twin of the powertrain system which allows us to expedite the iteration process. We can catch problems and unforeseen abnormalities of the system within the digital realm before taking it to the physical environment. Testing is key to a safe and reliable system and critical for a hardware company to mitigate expensive mistakes and downstream impacts.”
Desirae Minnett, powertrain engineer, works on key projects such as the thermal management system. She shares, “MATLAB is key in my day to day. It’s a big productivity enabler. It allows me to put together careful scripts for data analysis and curve fitting, looking at key statistics to ensure that all the tests that are run are analysed in a standardised way, so that way we’re following rigorous scientific method. The intuitive design allows us to deal with very large amounts of data easily, drawing solid conclusions, and empower us to make decisions.”
Michael Zahradnik, lead controls engineer, is working on solving the problems of integrating the full system together including the battery management system, motor controller, onboard charger, DC fast charging controller, and more. He explains, “We use Simulink to develop the control algorithms and test in a simulation environment. Simulink being platform agnostic, allows us to generate the control algorithms that can be ported to multiple pieces of hardware which helps speed up development. It’s really changed the way controls engineering have been able to develop code in a rapid development manner. With marine safety being paramount, Simulink also enables us to test edge cases our systems will see in the real world, allowing us to minimise safety risks without sacrificing performance.”

In under a decade, the group of young entrepreneurs successfully transitioned from an idea in university to a commercial venture with multiple product offerings and partnerships in play. Next time you’re out on the water, take a good look around, because you might not even hear the next wave of marine propulsion speeding by.

Image credit: iStock.com/Nicola Colombo

Australian industry won't hit net zero if organisations hoard their data

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

For most of us, checking our phones each morning is routine. Will we need sunscreen or an umbrella? The apps giving us that answer rely on a system where 193 countries standardise and share measurements from ocean buoys, balloon radiosondes and orbital satellites, all feeding into the World Weather Watch. No single country could build an accurate forecast alone. Shared, standardised data turns fragmented local readings into reliable global predictions.

Industrial operations face an almost identical challenge. Individual mines, refineries and manufacturing plants generate vast quantities of data from equipment sensors, process controls and asset trackers, but that data typically stays onsite. An energy anomaly at one site could inform optimisation at another, but nobody can see it.

This matters now more than ever for Australian industry. The reformed Safeguard Mechanism requires roughly 215 facilities emitting more than 100,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent per year to reduce their baselines by 4.9% annually through to 2030. In the first year of the reformed scheme, covered emissions fell by 2.7 million tonnes. But the government’s own emissions projections show the path from Australia’s 2030 target of 43% below 2005 levels to its 2035 target of 62–70% will demand faster, deeper cuts across industry.

Some of Australia’s largest operators are already demonstrating what connected data can deliver. BHP, which reported a 32% reduction in operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2024 against its 2020 baseline, connects sensor data from drilling equipment, conveyor systems and processing plants into models that predict equipment failures, reduce unplanned downtime and cut fuel use. BHP’s operational emissions dropped to 9.2 MtCO₂-e, achieved through onsite abatement rather than carbon credit purchases.

Australia’s electricity grid faces the same coordination problem at a national scale. AEMO’s draft 2026 Integrated System Plan projects that total generation and storage capacity in the National Electricity Market needs to triple from 92 GW today to 297 GW by 2050. Managing that system, where rooftop solar on 1400 homes a day joins grid-scale wind farms, utility batteries and aging coal plants across five states, is fundamentally a data-sharing problem. AEMO’s 2025 Transition Plan for System Security identifies eight transition points linked to coal plant retirements where real-time coordination between generators, storage operators and network businesses will determine whether the lights stay on. The technology to connect those assets exists. The barrier is getting separate organisations to share operational data quickly enough for the system to respond.

These examples are encouraging but they remain exceptions. The World Economic Forum estimates that existing digital technologies could enable industries to cut emissions by up to 20%. Schneider Electric, whose industrial software customers span mining, energy and manufacturing operations in over 100 countries, reports that digitally connected operations across its customer base have saved more than 734 million tonnes of CO₂ since 2018.

Most of Australia’s safeguard-covered facilities are nowhere near that potential. The Clean Energy Regulator’s data from the scheme’s second year shows that 140 facilities exceeded their baselines by a combined 13.4 million tonnes, and the majority of compliance so far has relied on purchasing carbon credits rather than onsite abatement. When two-thirds of emission reductions under the scheme come from offsets rather than operational changes, the data infrastructure gap is part of the explanation.

Closing that gap requires more than buying software. Three things need to line up: reliable, standardised data flows between organisations, clear rules for how operational decisions get made from that data, and governance frameworks that give operators, vendors and grid managers enough trust to act on shared information. Many operators still treat process data as proprietary. Interoperability standards for industrial control systems remain fragmented. And the skills to interpret connected data at scale are in short supply across Australian industry.

Weather forecasting became reliable only after decades of institutional cooperation, common standards, agreed data formats and trusted exchange protocols. Industrial data sharing in Australia is at a much earlier stage. But the Safeguard Mechanism is tightening every year, and the facilities that cannot see their own emissions in real time will not find the reductions the scheme demands. BHP’s results show what connected operational data can deliver at site level. AEMO’s transition planning shows how urgently the same principle needs to scale across the grid. The question for the rest of Australian industry is whether it starts building that infrastructure now, or scrambles to buy offsets when baselines tighten further in 2027.

Image credit: iStock.com/metamorworks

Manufacturers could be missing out on govt energy funding

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Australian manufacturers could be missing out on millions of dollars in available government energy funding — said energy advisory firm DETA Consulting — not because the programs don’t exist, but because most businesses haven’t done the groundwork to access them.

The energy advisory firm said the pattern is consistent across manufacturing: funding rounds open, businesses scramble to respond, and most aren’t ready in time.

Managing Director Jonathan Pooch said the manufacturers securing grants aren’t necessarily running more sophisticated projects — they’re simply better prepared.

“Government energy-funding programs can open and close in weeks,” Pooch said. “If you haven’t already mapped your energy baseline, identified your projects and understood your eligibility, you’re not applying. Someone else is.”

Australian manufacturers are now paying nearly 50% more for gas than they were in 2019, according to a 2025 report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis — yet many are not adequately positioned to access the government support designed to help them respond.

“Every manufacturer wants a grant,” Pooch said. “But when a round opens, you typically have a short window. You need a current energy audit, a costed project, and baseline data already in place. Most manufacturers have none of that ready to go.”

Pooch said the preparation required to be funding-ready is the same preparation that makes energy projects financially viable in the first place.

“It’s imperative to understand where energy is actually being used across a site, identify which projects stack up now versus those that need different conditions to work, and to have a staged plan that allows fast execution when the timing is right,” he said. “The manufacturers that keep missing funding windows aren’t unlucky. They’re unready.

“And the fix isn’t complicated — it’s groundwork that most organisations simply haven’t prioritised.”

DETA’s work with Alsco, an industrial laundry operator, illustrates what a structured approach can deliver.

Rather than chasing one-off projects, the work focused on building a pipeline of opportunities, including:

heat recovery systems
baseline efficiency improvements
electrification and alternative fuel initiatives across multiple sites.

And then executing them as economic and operational conditions aligned.

Alsco Energy and Utilities Manager Haris Murtaza said the approach had helped support significant emissions reductions while also improving long-term planning capability.

“We have reduced emissions by 31% in Australia and 60% in New Zealand relative to production,” Murtaza said. “The staged approach has also helped us secure more than $1.5 million in government grants and identify over $500,000 in energy cost savings.”

Pooch said the $1.5m in grants was the result of being consistently ready, not opportunistic applications.

“When a funding round opened that matched a project they’d already scoped and costed, they could move immediately,” he said. “That’s the difference.”

Becoming funding-ready doesn’t require a large upfront investment, Pooch said, but it does require the right sequencing:

Conduct a current energy audit to establish a baseline and understand where consumption actually sits across the site.
Identify and cost a pipeline of projects, not just a single initiative.
Understand funding eligibility before rounds open, not after.
Stage projects so they can be executed quickly when conditions — cost, technology or policy — align.
Track trigger points such as equipment reaching end of life, energy price movements, or new program announcements.

“Energy is an area where most manufacturers have more control than they realise,” Pooch said. “The funding is there. The projects make sense. What’s missing for most businesses is simply the preparation to act when the window opens.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Juan_Gomez

From Vision to Impact: How Epson is turning environmental ambition into measurable action

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

As the global sustainability agenda accelerates, the challenge facing multinational organisations is no longer defining ambition, it is delivering measurable, system-wide change. For Epson that ambition is clearly articulated in its Environmental Vision 2050, “to become carbon negative and underground resource free, while enriching communities and operating within the planet’s ecological limits”. What distinguishes Epson’s approach is how this long-term vision is being translated into tangible outcomes both globally and across Australia and New Zealand.

A global blueprint for operating within planetary boundaries

At the heart of Epson’s strategy is a recognition that economic activity must align with finite planetary resources. Their Environmental Vision 2050 sets a dual objective: eliminate net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and decouple growth from the extraction of virgin underground resources.

Decarbonisation in practice

Epson’s decarbonisation roadmap is grounded in a clear hierarchy: reduce energy demand, transition to renewable energy and remove residual emissions.

A major milestone has already been achieved. As of December 2023, Epson transitioned to 100% renewable electricity across all global sites, covering approximately 876 GWh of annual consumption. This shift alone reduced emissions by around 400,000 tonnes annually — a substantial step toward its carbon negative target.

This transition also required region-specific solutions including:

Long-term renewable energy agreements in Japan
Geothermal and hydroelectric power adoption in the Philippines
Biomass energy integration in Indonesia

Beyond its own operations, Epson is working to influence emissions across its value chain, particularly Scope 3 emissions, by engaging suppliers and redesigning products to consume less energy during use.

Designing out emissions

Product innovation is central to Epson’s strategy. Technologies such as heat-free printing eliminate the need for heat in the ink ejection and overall printing process, significantly lowering energy consumption during operation.

Meanwhile, high-capacity ink tank systems reduce consumables and waste, extending product life cycles and minimising environmental impact for customers.

Epson also quantifies these downstream benefits as part of its “environmental contribution”, a metric that captures how its products help reduce emissions beyond its own footprint.

Closing the resource loop

In parallel with decarbonisation, Epson is rethinking material use through a circular economy lens. Its goal of becoming underground resource free by 2050 is underpinned by the three aforementioned priorities of reducing resource inputs, eliminating waste and maximising the use of sustainable materials.

Epson’s circular innovation in action

Dry Fibre Technology enables the recycling of paper and textiles into new materials such as packaging, insulation and cushioning without the need for water-intensive processes.
Metal recycling initiatives transform used silicon wafers and manufacturing waste into reusable metal powders for applications in electronics and automotive components.

These innovations contribute to Epson’s target of achieving a 100% sustainable resource rate incorporating renewable, recycled and less-depletable materials.

Strengthening nature stewardship

Looking ahead, Epson is expanding its environmental focus beyond carbon and materials to include nature-related impacts. From 2025, the company has aligned with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) integrating biodiversity, water use and ecosystem health into its risk management and reporting frameworks.

By identifying priority areas such as chemical use, water dependency and resource circulation Epson is establishing measurable targets to reduce pressure on natural systems while exploring opportunities for ecosystem restoration.

Localising impact in Australia and New Zealand

While global frameworks set direction, implementation at the regional level is critical. In Australia and New Zealand Epson’s sustainability strategy reflects both alignment with global goals and responsiveness to local conditions.

Understanding the emissions challenge

As above Epson A/NZ’s FY24 data reveals that the majority (99.99%) of its emissions fall within Scope 3*, underscoring the importance of value chain engagement. These emissions are largely embedded in purchased goods, logistics and product use highlighting where the greatest opportunities for impact lie.

To address this, Epson A/NZ has started engaging with key local suppliers, including logistics partners, to identify opportunities to reduce emissions and manage climate-related risks.

Rethinking logistics

A practical example of emissions reduction in action is Epson Australia’s partnership with DP World. Since March 2025 inbound freight arriving at Port Botany has been shifted from road to rail for transport to their Yennora warehouse.

This modal shift reduces emissions associated with freight movement and demonstrates how operational decisions can directly influence Scope 3 outcomes.

Epson, Yusen and DP World at Yennora distribution centre.

Reducing operational footprint

Epson A/NZ has also made significant strides in reducing its direct environmental impact during their last fiscal year including:

A 60% reduction in office footprint following the relocation of its Sydney headquarters resulting in a 25% decrease in electricity consumption across its Australia and New Zealand operations
A 29% reduction in waste at Sydney facilities, driven by improved recycling and material reuse practices at its head office warehouse facilities**
An increased commitment to circularity via their long-standing partnership with Planet Ark through the Cartridge 4 Planet Ark recycling program, where all collected Epson consumables are diverted from landfill (zero waste to landfill). To date, Epson have recycled over 7 million units through this program

These initiatives also reflect the company’s broader commitment to operational efficiency and resource optimisation.

Supporting local manufacturing transformation

Epson’s partnership with the Australian Fashion Council (AFC) is a great example that highlights the role of technology in reshaping local industries. By advancing on-demand textile printing Epson and the AFC aim to improve local manufacturing, further innovation and develop digital transformation.

Epson in attendance at and supporting the recent AFC R.M.Williams National Manufacturing Strategy for Australian Fashion and Textiles 2026–2036 launch at Parliament House in Canberra.

To that end Epson are also working closely with the AFC on a feasibility study for a ‘smart factory’ and shared manufacturing hubs. These initiatives are similar to those they have already developed and implemented with The Social Outfit and Citizen Wolf where Epson’s direct-to-fabric/direct-to-garment/film digital printing technologies play a part in the overall production workflow.

Epson is particularly motivated in helping accelerate the adoption of advanced digital technologies that improve resource efficiency, reduce material waste, unlock new opportunities and create the jobs of the future. Epson’s collaboration with the AFC also aims to reduce water and chemical use compared to traditional dyeing processes, minimise waste associated with overproduction and cut emissions linked to offshore manufacturing and transport.

From vision to systemic change

Epson’s approach demonstrates that achieving sustainability at scale requires more than incremental improvements. It demands systemic transformation across energy, materials, products and partnerships.

Globally, the company has made measurable progress in renewable energy adoption and circular innovation.

Locally, in Australia and New Zealand, it is translating these principles into targeted actions that address regional emissions profiles and operational realities.

The result is a cohesive strategy that connects long-term vision with near-term impact, positioning Epson as a case study in how global sustainability commitments can be effectively operationalised.

As the window for climate and environmental action narrows, this ability to bridge ambition and execution will define the leaders of the next decade.

Epson’s journey suggests that with the right combination of technology, collaboration and accountability, it is possible to operate within planetary boundaries while continuing to deliver economic and social value.

More reporting, more accountability

Epson Australia recently released its second, annual Sustainability Impact Report. To see highlights, details, a summary of and to download the report in full go to: https://www.epson.com.au/Impact-Report/

_{*Due to zero market-based Scope 2 emissions, achieved through the purchase of 100% renewable electricity.

**Waste data is currently only collected at our HO and Yennora warehouse, which produces the majority of waste (estimated >95%) across Australia and New Zealand.}

Top image credit: Epson Precision (Philippines), Inc.

The McCrometer FPI Mag for use in municipal and industrial markets

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Water scarcity, increasing populations, and climate change are shifting the global perception of the value of water to be seen not just as a commodity, but as an invaluable resource to be protected. Over the coming years, there will need to be sweeping systematic change making water measurement and management increasingly critical to preserving our water resources. To further complicate this, many of the existing water treatment and distribution systems currently in place desperately require upgraded technology, and cannot shut down or stop service to the communities they serve. The resulting inaccurately metered systems or unmetered lines lead to costly water loss.

Industries and applications

McCrometer’s FPI Mag services the municipal and industrial markets across a wide range of applications. Raw water intake, water well production, water treatment plants, filtration systems, pump stations, and water distribution are some of the many areas in which the FPI has great success. Focus and success of the FPI Mag has been in more difficult applications across the water distribution network and is now in use globally in the fight to reduce leakage in the municipal water networks.

Challenges

A major challenge involved with flow meter measurement is installing new equipment into existing infrastructure. In cases where the system may not be shut down given the critical nature of its operation, the ability to install measurement equipment while running is mandatory. Even if the process may be interrupted for the purposes of connecting new equipment, space restrictions or access to piping may be impractical to utilise full bore technology. The sheer size of the pipe may even result in budget concerns if additional manpower or equipment is required to move heavier piping structures.

Solution

McCrometer’s FPI Mag meter employs a unique and innovative configuration whereby the coils and electrodes are assembled in a tube that inserts into a pipe perpendicular to the full profile of the flow stream. As an insertion type mag meter, the FPI Mag offers significant benefits in that it may be installed without shutting down the process and can be installed in locations that are not practical for full-bore meters. The insertion design removes the need to cut and flange large pipes, allows retrofitting through existing flow meters, and does not require isolated pipe to achieve its superior performance. The multi-electrode design of the meter captures readings across the full profile of the flow providing accuracy equal to that of full-bore magnetic flow meters.

The FPI Mag is available for either single direction or bidirectional flow measurement across nominal line sizes of 4″ to 138″. With an operational range of 14–140° F (-10 - 60° C) up to a pressure of 250 pounds per square inch (PSI), the insertion-style meter may be used across a wide range of applications. With no moving parts and a single-piece design, the innovative flow meter is low maintenance and generally immune to clogging by sand, grit, or other debris. The sensors’ electrodes, available in stainless steel and Hastelloy, are embedded in a heavy-duty 316 stainless-steel sensor body for maximum structural integrity and coated with an NSF certified 3M™ fusion -bonded epoxy guaranteed for the life of the meter.

McCrometer’s FPI Mag is paired with our preprogrammed converter offering alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power options. Dual 4–20mA outputs that are galvanically isolated and fully programmable for zero and full scale are standard for this meter. Additional output options include HART, Modbus, and Smart Output™ for compatibility with Sensus and Itron systems. The converter offers an 8-line graphical display and 6-key touch pad that allows for in-field programming and may be remote mounted if required.

The FPI Mag meter package is manufactured under a quality management system certified to ISO 9001. The meter is CE compliant and certified by MET for use in Class I, Division 2 hazardous locations.

The accuracy for a calibrated FPI Mag meter is as follows:

± 0.5% for velocity 1ft/s (0.3m/s) to 32ft/s (9.8m/s)
± 1.0% for velocity 0.3ft/s (0.1m/s) to 1ft/s (0.3m/s)

The FPI Mag’s accuracy claims were tested by an independent third party, Utah State Water Research Laboratory, proving that the Full Profile Insertion meter meets the accuracy claims. Please see Lit No. 30121-37, “The Study of the FPI Accuracy”, for additional details of this testing.

The FPI Mag for Flow Data Acquisition

The FPI Mag provides critical flow monitoring data when used across multiple metering points throughout water, wastewater, or industrial flow systems. These multiple data inputs, combined with other technology as part of a larger operation, assist users in making informed decisions about daily processes.

Mag meters, and in particular insertion-style mag meters, are designed in a way that allows for multi-use benefits. The high accuracy, flexible installation, and minimal straight-run requirements create the opportunity to use the insertion-mag meter as more than just a flow measurement device. In older or unreliable systems mag meters can be utilised as leak detection devices, measuring at different points throughout the piping system to navigate weaknesses and potential liabilities. When installed in acquisition and deployment applications, the flow meter is a verification tool collecting data to provide proof that what is being paid for is actually flowing through the pipe.

Ultimately, the flow meter is a management tool when implemented as one part of a whole system. The FPI Mag, being engineered for that explicit purpose, solved what other mag meters couldn’t accomplish; its multi-electrode design allows it to be more versatile across industries, where users need data the most.

Conclusion

Protecting and preserving our water resources is vital to maintaining healthy ecosystems and sustaining our current luxuries. With an increased attention to water in recent years, minimising water loss has become a major focus for improving efficiencies across our distribution networks.

McCrometer’s FPI Mag provides accurate measurement at both low flow rates, where accuracy is difficult to achieve, and high flows where inaccuracy results in lost revenue. When technology that offers ease of installation, flexibility across applications, reliability in performance, and top tier accuracy is presented, plant and distribution network operators are selecting the FPI Mag as their meter of choice.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Philip Thurston

Epson renews fashion partnership

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Epson has announced the continuation of its partnership with the FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2026 (FFP), a program that discovers and supports next-generation fashion designers. Beginning in 2022, the partnership is now in its fifth year.

Under its long-term corporate vision ‘ENGINEERED FUTURE 2035’, Epson aims to drive technological advances, engineer the optimal future and deliver value to society. Through this partnership, the company will provide its technologies and expertise to the next generation of creators, supporting their creativity and challenges in manufacturing and design and contributing to the realisation of this vision.

Since 2021, Epson has continuously provided technical support for the creation of collections presented at Paris Haute Couture Week by YUIMA NAKAZATO, the fashion brand led by Yuima Nakazato, the initiator of FFP.

Through this co-creation, the company has advanced its inkjet technology and leveraged digital textile printing to expand freedom of expression while reducing environmental impact and exploring new possibilities in sustainable fashion.

As part of the FFP, Epson plans to provide lectures and organise tours of its Solution Centres, providing participants with opportunities to deepen their understanding of its printing technology and gain hands-on experience.

In addition, the company will support the production of participants’ works by drawing on the technologies and expertise it has developed through its co-creation activities and business operations.

The FASHION FRONTIER PROGRAM 2026 schedule

Application period closes on 31 May 2026
Primary selection: Late July 2026
Secondary selection: Mid-September 2026
Incubation period: August–November 2026 (only for those who were selected)
Final selection and awards ceremony (winner announcement): December 2026

Top image caption: Providing technical support for FFP 2025 finalists at Epson’s Fujimi Plant. Images: Supplied.

Renewable energy to power 4 million Aussie homes by 2030

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

The Australian Government is backing 19 new renewable energy projects that will supply enough electricity for four million Australian households by 2030.

Supported through Tender 7 of the federal government’s flagship Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), the projects will deliver 7.8 GW of renewable generation and a further 7.9 GWh in battery storage through hybrid projects.

Across 19 projects, the wind farms, solar installations and battery developments will be built in NSW, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia to service the National Electricity Market (NEM). The projects are set to unlock an estimated $17 billion in private investment and create an estimated 19,000 construction jobs.

More than $257 million worth of Australian steel will be used, supporting Australian workers and Australian industry.

Also, nearly $1.2 billion in social licence commitments are planned to deliver shared benefits across local communities and provide employment pathways, ranger programs, mental health support programs, and capacity building to increase the participation of First Nations communities in the renewable energy transition.

“This is not just about megawatts. It is about jobs on the ground, investment in local communities, and making sure communities share in the benefits of the renewable energy transition,” said Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen. “Cheaper, cleaner, more reliable renewable energy. That’s what we promised, that’s what we are delivering.”

Building on the high quality of Tender 7 bids in the NEM and the broader success of the CIS to date, Tender 9 will open to bids from Monday, 25 May 2026.

Tender 9 will target 5 GW of renewable generation and will be open to all NEM jurisdictions except NSW, where proponents can participate in the re-started NSW Roadmap generation tenders. It will include a dedicated capacity allocation for projects that commit to 5% or higher equity and/or revenue-sharing agreements with First Nations communities.

This follows a recent boost to Western Australia’s energy system, with 1.9 GW of renewable generation and 482 MW of battery storage as part of 10 new projects set to be built across regional WA.

“At a time when we’re all feeling the pinch from volatile fossil fuel markets, these investments are more important than ever, and, as demonstrated by the quality and volume of bids, the market is responding to the stability the CIS offers,” said Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Josh Wilson.

“Coming off the back of the two best quarters for renewable energy, and as we see coal and gas generation in decline, these 19 projects will help drive even more investment in cleaner, cheaper energy across the NEM.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Avee-Jay

Urban farming network provides sustainable food to CBD

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

Greenspace is transforming how hotels and businesses approach food, sustainability and ESG with the launch of a sustainable commercial urban macrofarm in Brisbane.

The company has delivered a commercial integration of its centralised macrofarm in the Amora Hotel Brisbane, embedding food production directly into the hotel environment. The expansion for Greenspace follows successful macrofarm networks in both Sydney and Melbourne.

Greenspace’s urban farming model is designed to bring food production right next door to where it is consumed. Macrofarms are designed to transform underutilised urban spaces into optimised hydroponic farms which grow diverse produce year-round in indoor environments.

The ready-to-harvest produce is then distributed locally to smaller microfarms (hydroponic cabinets) that are located within hotels, workplaces, restaurants and retail environments, where it remains living and until harvested based on demand.

The microfarm redefines how organisations approach food, sustainability and ESG. It enables hotels like the Amora Hotel Brisbane to grow, maintain and harvest living produce like micro greens, herbs, lettuces and Australian natives onsite. It delivers living produce directly in the dining room, where chefs can harvest ingredients on demand in front of their diners, often moments before being served.

“We’re moving beyond sustainability as a concept and into something you can see, touch and taste,” said Peter Fox, founder and CEO of Greenspace.

“We’re shifting from a framework where buildings simply consume resources, to one where they actively produce them as well. It’s a model that makes both commercial and environmental sense for some of our customers like Amora, Sofitel, the Greenbank SC and W hotel.

“By embedding networked food production into a community, we’re reducing supply chain reliance and food miles, while improving nutrition, consistency and quality for that urban environment.”

John Bristowe, General Manager at Amora Hotel Brisbane, said the Greenspace Urban farm is reshaping how the hotel approaches both sustainability and food operations.

“Sustainability is an important part of our hotel’s ongoing journey, and working alongside Greenspace allows us to further embrace ideas that are practical, purposeful and aligned with the future of hospitality. This collaboration is a wonderful example of how businesses can work together to create something meaningful for guests, visitors and the wider Brisbane community.”

Greenspace’s measurable impact includes:

Hyper-local supply
Produce grown and harvested onsite, reducing food miles and transport emissions
Resource efficiency
Uses up to 95% less water than traditional farming methods
Higher yield
Produces at least four times more produce within the same footprint
Year-round reliability
Indoor farming enables consistent supply regardless of weather conditions
Low waste model
Living produce harvested on demand reduces spoilage and packaging waste
Chemical-free growing
No sprays or chemical pesticides used

The Brisbane expansion builds on Greenspace’s Sydney CBD macrofarm launched in 2021, which also includes a dedicated edible flower farm, followed by a second macrofarm in Melbourne’s Southbank.

Greenspace’s microfarm network is now embedded within hotels, workplaces and event venues across the country, including Hyatt Regency Sydney, Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park, Park Hyatt Melbourne, Langham Melbourne and Swissotel Sydney.

Image caption: Peter Fox, founder and CEO of Greenspace in the macrofarm. Image: Supplied.

Recycled Content Verification tool by GECA and Rebuilt

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

GECA and Rebuilt have created a new Recycled Content Verification (RCV) tool designed to support transparent circular procurement through trusted, third-party verified data.

Powered by Rebuilt’s platform and independently verified by GECA, the RCV tool provides an accessible pathway for organisations to substantiate recycled content claims with traceable evidence.

The tool enables businesses to upload recycled material evidence and documentation; ensure that evidence is fit for purpose, and change it if not; receive independent third-party verification; obtain verified breakdowns of recycled content percentages; correctly distinguish between pre-consumer and post-consumer content; and support procurement and reporting requirements with credible data.

The tool has been designed to reduce the cost, complexity and accessibility barriers that have historically limited recycled content verification.

The RCV tool also aligns with: ISO 14021 principles; the National Traceability Framework for Recycled Content; NSW recycled content reporting requirements; and broader circular procurement objectives.

Waste CO2 turned into useful industrial chemicals

Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 +1000

University of Queensland researchers have developed a new method to produce industrial chemicals commonly used in agriculture, textiles and pharmaceuticals with only carbon dioxide (CO₂), water and electricity.

The electrochemical generator provides high-emissions industries with a safer and more environmentally friendly pathway to convert waste CO₂ into useful products, while reducing the need for fossil-fuel-based chemical manufacturing.

Designed by Professor Xiwang Zhang, Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa and PhD student Rizal Evans from UQ’s School of Chemical Engineering, the generator is powered by electricity and requires only water and captured carbon dioxide to create formate, the base compound for formic acid.

A formic acid generator designed by UQ researchers. Image credit: The University of Queensland

“With basic ingredients and the push of a button, we are able to deliver chemicals that are hugely important for a number of industries,” Zhang said. “It demonstrates that carbon dioxide can be reused, rather than treated solely as a waste product.

“There are industries that need formic acid, and others that have large amounts of CO₂ they want to manage.

“This technology creates an opportunity to connect those two challenges.”

Formic acid is commonly used in agriculture, leather tanning, rubber manufacturing and other industrial processes. Australia currently imports almost all of its formic acid, leaving local industry vulnerable to external supply disruptions.

Tebyetekerwa said the generator had been designed to be modular, allowing it to be scaled up or down depending on industry needs.

“Instead of transporting and storing large volumes of formic acid, the idea is that it could be produced where it is needed,” Tebyetekerwa said. “That has implications for safety, supply security and emissions, particularly for industries that already produce CO₂ as part of their operations.”

Evans said potential applications ranged from agriculture and livestock production to resource and energy sectors.

“We have already had a resource company enquire about using it to produce formic acid as an antifreeze for its pipes,” Evans said. “The technology is still in the testing phase, and not quite ready yet for commercial use.”

The researchers said field trials with industry partners would be required to assess how the generator performs under real-world conditions and how it could be adapted to different industrial settings.

The research is supported by the Australian Research Council (ARC) through its Centre of Excellence for Green Electrochemical Transformation of Carbon Dioxide (GETCO₂).

Top image caption: PhD student Rizal Evans, Professor Xiwang Zhang and Dr Mike Tebyetekerwa. Image credit: The University of Queensland