Vast Renewables has deepened its relationship with its partner and potential offtake customer for its concentrated solar thermal powered (CSP) green methanol plant Solar Methanol 1 (SM1) being constructed at Port Pirie in South Australia. Vast has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with global energy company Mabanaft to advance the Port Augusta green methanol…
Advanced composites manufacturer Quickstep has secured new orders and collaborations with drone customers, spurring a major expansion of its Drone Aerostructures and Payloads business. The company said it had received a follow-on order for 20 Volanti aircraft from drone company Carbonix following its delivery of an order for 40 Volanti’s worth $1.35 million in June.…
Thermal energy storage company 1414 Degrees has launched a three-year R&D project on a new methane pyrolysis technology, signing a partnership agreement with the companies and institutions involved. The technology team includes experts from University of Adelaide (UofA), oil and gas company Woodside, Vulcan Steel, and RMIT University, and is supported by a $2.5 million…
By Bruce Mountain, Victoria University CSIRO’s latest annual GenCost update, released last month, was billed as Australia’s “most comprehensive electricity generation cost report”. GenCost has proven to be highly controversial. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton previously levelled robust criticism at the report, specifically the high costs attributed to building nuclear power in Australia, and called for…
Sponsored Australia has a rich history of industry and manufacturing thanks to an abundance of natural resources, economic prosperity, high levels of education and geographic isolation which necessitated local production of goods. But the recent decades have shone the spotlight on the challenges to the industry from reliance on global supply chains. Net zero targets…
The first of four MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) will soon arrive in Australia, following certification in the United States. According to a statement from Defence on Thursday, AUS 1 completed the first leg of its ‘ferrying flight’ on February 16 followed by final testing, fit-out and certification by the US Navy at…
Water treatment chemicals business SNF Australia has shared news of a completed $18 million upgrade to its factory at Lara, Victoria, which the company says lifts it a step up the value chain. In an interview with the Geelong Manufacturing Council – which SNF Australia is a member of – CEO Phil McColl said the…
Silicon based quantum computer chip developer Diraq has announced the development of a record control accuracy of 99.9 percent for a quantum bit (qubit) manufactured utilising industry standard silicon wafers. The chip was manufactured by the Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre in Belgium, a leading digital technologies R&D centre. Diraq also announced that GlobalFoundries, one of the…
Nanosatellite IoT communications company Myriota has announced a $1.5 million investment from the Australian Space Agency’s Moon to Mars Initiative Demonstrator Mission Grants. The funding will support the development of a compact, low-cost satellite communications payload providing resilient, flexible and scalable radio communications in off-world environments. The announcement was made at the launch by South…
