ACT backs six renewable energy projects, including panel recycling and hydrogen

Six new local renewable energy projects in Australia’s Capital Territory will receive a portion of a new $1.2 million funding boost designed to support renewable energy innovation.

The latest round of the ACT government’s Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) Grants were announced this week by the ACT’s minister for water, energy, and emissions reduction, Shane Rattenbury.

“The ACT is a leader in climate action, with a strong renewable energy sector,” said Rattenbury.

“Round 3 of the Renewable Energy Innovation Fund Grants will help 6 local businesses deliver their clean energy vision for the future whilst further strengthening the renewables industry in the ACT.”

The six recipients of this year’s REIF Grants include PV Lab Australia, Spark3D, Hydrogen Renewable Energy Australia, Zeppelin Bend, FLEX-G, and Aqacia, each of whom will receive a portion of the $1.2 million in funding.

Among the projects to receive funding is PV Lab Australia’s Reduce and Reuse project aimed at keeping solar panels out of landfills by reducing the number of panels that are thrown away and finding ways to reuse them instead.

PV Lab Australia’s study will look at why panels deteriorate in humid climates, look for ways to fix these issues, and explore options for refurbishing and assessing the usability of used panels.

Another project, this time by Hydrogen Renewable Energy Australia (HYREA), is designed around the company’s technology that enables on-site and on-demand production of hydrogen, reducing the need for transportation and storage.

“This year’s grants will support projects integral to addressing the climate crisis by supporting on-demand hydrogen production, increasing the efficiency of solar panels, and enhancing the ACT’s network of grid-connected batteries,” Rattenbury said.

“The ACT is a renewable energy innovation hub, with world-leading capabilities. This early-stage investment will assist in addressing climate change by growing the renewable energy sector and employing many Canberrans in the process.

“The REIF grants have been immensely successful in their first 2 rounds. The approximately $3.1 million of funding awarded since 2017 has helped 14 companies kickstart their renewable vision in the ACT.”