Sustainability

Whyalla can be upgraded to green steel and why we need to keep steel production in Australia

Daniel Rossetto, Adjunct, Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources, University of Adelaide Financial challenges at the Whyalla steelworks in South Australia have reignited debate about the nation’s steel industry and its future. Australians should have access to quality steel at competitive prices. The domestic steel production industry employs tens of thousands of people. The state and federal governments have stepped in, however, announcing a A$1.9 billion support package for Whyalla, together with a new $1 billion green iron investment fund. Half of the new fund will be allocated to Whyalla to support its transition to green steel production. That’s a large amount of money for a privately owned business. So, are the new packages going to be money well spent? To answer that question, let’s examine the priorities. A national priority Steel is an industry in which securing sovereign production capability is crucial. Sovereign capability means ensuring an industry can survive external shocks such as interruptions to shipping routes or disputes with other countries in the supply chain. Steel is a vital input for defence industries such as ship and submarine building. What could be said of a country’s autonomy – or its sovereign capability – if it relies on others for the steel needed for its defence? Whyalla is one of the two largest steelworks in Australia, the other being BlueScope’s Port Kembla plant. At least at first glance, the green iron investment fund seems to deal with the sovereign capability criterion well enough. Whyalla appears an ideal candidate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic, and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas visit Whyalla Steelworks in Whyalla last week. Isabella Ward/AAP However, the public subsidy is large. The subsidised plant’s ability to operate in an economically competitive manner needs to be examined. Further, while the Whyalla plant began its life as a supplier to an adjacent shipbuilding operation, […]

Hycel research partnership to deliver fuel cells to the aviation industry

Deakin University’s Hycel and AMSL Aero are pleased to announce a research partnership that will help to deliver higher-performing hydrogen fuel cells for aviation applications. This industry-research partnership exemplifies Deakin’s pivotal role in supporting industry innovations that deliver a more sustainable world. Hycel Director Professor Tiffany Walsh said: ‘Hycel’s role is to support industry to develop, test, scale and adopt hydrogen technologies to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. We do this by providing specialist hydrogen infrastructure, equipment, expertise and research insights that are currently unavailable to Australian industry.’ Hycel Technology Hub, at Deakin’s Warrnambool campus in southwest Victoria, is equipped with high pressure, high flow hydrogen labs, the only hydrogen fuel cell testing equipment of its kind in Australia, and has provision for industry co-location. AMSL Aero is the first industry partner to access commercial testing of fuel cells at Hycel, following the facility’s official opening in October 2024. AMSL Aero’s Senior Project Engineer Simon Coburn said: ‘AMSL Aero’s partnership with Hycel will help to verify fuel cell performance and durability for remote and regional flight applications, which is a key step in the development of Vertiia, Australia’s first passenger-capable, emission-free, long-range hydrogen-powered vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. “Our partnership leverages hydrogen expertise from AMSL’s international fuel cell partner, and combined with AMSL and Hycel personnel, develops cross sector hydrogen expertise for Australia.’ AMSL Aero is a home-grown Australian aerospace company with a clear mission to manufacture an aircraft that will save lives as an air ambulance and emergency response vehicle and quietly revolutionise passenger and cargo transit in remote and regional areas. Vertiia is powered by hydrogen and provides fast, emissions-free air transport. It takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter and uses less energy per seat than a high-speed train. Hycel is Deakin University’s hydrogen hub with […]

The Global Impact of U.S. Trade Tariffs: Aluminium and Steel

Daniel Kohut, Vice President, Industry Strategy, Blue Yonder As of February 11th, the Trump administration announced worldwide tariffs of 25 percent on aluminium and steel imports, which form a major part of Australia’s economy. The Trump administration’s proposed increase in tariffs on imports in other areas—ranging from 60% to 100% for China, for example—is sending shockwaves through industries worldwide, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. With China serving as a global manufacturing hub, companies are grappling with rising costs, supply chain reconfigurations, and market volatility. Industry leaders from manufacturing, automotive, industrials, high tech, and life sciences share their perspectives on the implications of these tariffs and the strategies companies must adopt to mitigate risks. Blue Yonder’s industry leaders across manufacturing, automotive, industrials, high tech, and life sciences share their perspectives on the implications of these tariffs and the strategies companies must adopt to mitigate risks. In most cases the economic impacts are likely to be severe, and advanced technologies and business operational changes such as risk and scenario modelling and inventory planning will become critical to ensure business continuity. APAC manufacturing: Navigating Supply Chain Shifts Manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region, many deeply integrated with China, will experience cost increases as tariffs take effect. To offset these challenges, businesses may relocate production to Vietnam, Thailand, or Malaysia. However, shifting supply chains can strain existing infrastructure and labour markets, while also increasing logistical costs. Companies will require enhanced visibility into sourcing, inventory, and compliance, with cloud-based supply chain platforms and advanced risk modelling emerging as critical tools for managing disruptions. Automotive: Balancing Cost Pressures and Supply Chain Adaptability The global automotive industry faces rising production costs due to increased tariffs on imported components. Automakers may respond by reshoring production closer to domestic markets, boosting local manufacturing jobs but also raising labour costs. In […]

NT gas industry welcomes crackdown on activist lawfare

The NT gas industry says the Territory Government’s moves to clamp down on lawfare will boost investment and energy security. Australian Energy Producers NT Director David Slama welcomed the Petroleum, Planning and Water Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, set to be introduced in Parliament this week, as an important step in stopping activist groups from vexatiously using the legal system to delay critical gas projects in the Territory. “We commend the Territory Government for moving decisively to stamp out activist lawfare putting at risk economic and energy security for Territorians,” Mr Slama said. “At a time when Australians are facing cost-of-living pressures, the Territory Government has recognised the need to remove barriers to new gas supply so Territorians continue to have reliable and affordable energy. “It is not in the public interest for activist lawyers to damage the Territory’s attractiveness as a place to do business and to invest, undermining our economic and energy security.” Mr Slama said activists exploiting the Merits Review process had deterred much-needed investment in the Territory. “A long list of vexatious cases has exposed the extreme tactics of activists who are more interested in delaying projects than genuinely representing the interests of Territory communities,” he said. “Removing the Merits Review process is a significant step towards streamlining approval processes to enable new gas supply to be brought online sooner. “We need to expedite project delivery and improve environmental outcomes.”

Australian businesses can learn about circularity from Europe’s new product eco-design rules

Ross Thompson, Greenbox In the face of climate change, governments and businesses are either pushing or being inevitably pulled to reset their strategies, practices and systems from linear to circular. Legislation and regulations, along with certifications, are a key lever for this mega trend. Mandatory climate-related financial disclosure for big business in Australia and other jurisdictions are just the start of changing times. Keeping household and business products and materials in use is one part of the circular picture, and countries at the forefront of circularity are creating regulatory frameworks that design waste and pollution out of the system. Europe is at the leading edge of this seismic shift. The region provides an indication of what Australian companies might expect ahead and indeed will soon be impacted by when exporting. Let’s consider some notable features and implications of Europe’s new product eco-design rules, which came into force in July 2024: Sustainable products becoming the rule, not the exception The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulations (ESPR) are a framework for setting ecodesign requirements on specific product groups (almost all physical products) – implemented gradually over time based on prioritisation. Priority products range from steel and textiles to tyres, detergents and ICT products and other electronics. These rules will be developed based on scientific evidence, economic analysis and stakeholder consultation. The aim is to improve circularity, energy performance and other sustainability aspects of products placed on the EU market. This regulation brings in rules for a broader range of products and more expansive rules as appropriate. Towards a circular economy, it’s about better durability, reusability, upgradability, reparability, recycling, resource efficiency, carbon footprint and information transparency. Scanning products for sustainability, stop destroying unsold products, and ‘Green Public Procurement’ Novel measures in the ESPR are a ‘Digital Product Passport’, rules to address the destruction […]

Tech Council welcomes Federal Government’s review of Australia’s R&D system

The Tech Council of Australia (TCA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s strategic review of research and development (R&D) in Australia, which will examine how it can bolster productivity and economic growth. Minister for Industry and Science the Hon Ed Husic MP has announced that Tech Council Board Chair Robyn Denholm will Chair an independent panel that will deliver recommendations to strengthen Australia’s R&D system. Tech Council CEO Damian Kassabgi said the review was an opportunity for Australia to better harness the economic and productivity benefits of R&D. “A strategic approach to R&D will increase competition, attract investment and contribute to a more productive and resilient economy,” he said. “The decline in productivity is one of Australia’s biggest economic challenges. To continue enjoying our standard of living, which is among the highest in the world, Australia needs to focus on improving productivity growth. “Lifting investment in R&D can help us turn this around. To maximise the economic and productivity gains, we need a strong R&D system that encourages innovation and supports companies to transform world-class research into commercial success. “While other countries are consistently increasing their investment in technology, Australia isn’t keeping up and our spending on tech investment is actually forecast to fall if we don’t act,” Mr Kassabgi said. Research released by the Tech Council in November showed that lifting investment in R&D and tech adoption could contribute up to $167 billion in GDP by 2035 in productivity gains. Ms Denholm said she was honoured to be appointed Chair of the review. “On behalf of the Tech Council of Australia (TCA), I commend the Government for initiating this independent review to enhance Australia’s R&D framework,” Ms Denholm said. “A robust and forward-looking R&D ecosystem is vital to driving innovation, fostering economic growth, and establishing Australia as a global […]

Sense and Landis+Gyr partner for flexible energy transition in Australia and New Zealand

Sense, a leader in embedded intelligence that transforms the relationship between people, homes and the grid, and Landis+Gyr, a leading global provider of integrated energy management solutions have announced an Asia Pacific regional partnership. The partnership will initially focus on the fast developing Australian and New Zealand markets to support the energy transition to consumer energy resources (CER) systems. Landis+Gyr will extend Sense’s software into the company’s Grid Edge ready smart meters in Australia and New Zealand, leveraging Landis+Gyr’s proven and leading-edge deployments in North America with Sense to provide unprecedented, real-time analytics by utilising high resolution waveform sensing capabilities for utilities and consumers to manage energy more proactively. “The future of the grid is flexible, decarbonised, integrated, and powered by machine learning. With Australia leading the world in the uptake of rooftop solar and more than 80 per cent of New Zealand’s electricity generated by renewables, our partnership with Sense positions Landis+Gyr well to support distribution networks, retailers, metering services providers, and consumers to unlock more benefits from the future flexible grid with real-time insights,” explains David Maclean, Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific, Landis+Gyr. With Sense’s machine learning software integrated in Landis+Gyr’s Grid Edge ready smart meters, utilities will have improved visibility on the grid to identify fault conditions, predict peak demand and provide proactive safety alerts that ultimately support the growth and integration of consumer energy resources – areas where utilities need most visibility in the energy transition. For consumers, this will deliver real-time information through the identification of different household devices while integrating with other smart devices such as solar, batteries and EVs, enabling them to monitor, control, and track their energy usage.

Climate smarts:The role of Australian companies in addressing climate change through technology

by Ross Thompson CEO, Greenbox Manufacturers across the Asia Pacific region – from Singapore to Sydney, Adelaide to Auckland – are central to decarbonisation. If Australia and its business ecosystem doesn’t ride the opportunity winds to its 2050 net zero target, don’t expect too much wealth and health to flow through the Australian economy in the years ahead. Current events and latest polls tell us that Federal and State Policies have taken too long to implement. Meanwhile, a majority in our households and the workplace are thinking ‘just get on with it.’ As the presidential election approaches in the US, should the Democratic Party keep its control, it is likely that significant investment into cleantech will continue off the back of President Biden’s administration signing into law the largest clean energy investments in America’s history. Add to this that the globally agreed target limit of 1.5C to avoid damaging climate change impacts was recently breached across an entire year for the first time, according to the European Union’s climate service, and it seems clear we need to take action – and soon. How we create and use technology is the biggest lever to manage climate change. The International Energy Agency estimates that 35% of the emissions cuts needed to meet 2050 climate goals will have to come from technologies not yet available. The window will close as governments and firms jostle for gamechanger tech in this great clean energy economy. Given the enormity of the task at hand to decarbonise Australia, there will always be pressing trade-offs as Australia looks to leverage its abundance of gas reserves as the transitional fuel towards its 2050 net zero targets (latest policy, backing gas until ‘2050 and beyond’). Aussie smarts should and must supply the inexorable demand created by the global transition to […]

Bioplastics-Innovation-Hub-1-credit-CSIRO AUS MN

CSIRO and Murdoch University launch Bioplastics Innovation Hub to end plastic waste

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, and Murdoch University have launched The Bioplastics Innovation Hub, an $8 million collaboration that will work with industry partners to develop a new generation of 100 per cent compostable plastic. The Bioplastics Innovation Hub aims to revolutionise plastic packaging by developing biologically derived plastic that can break down in compost, land, or water. Dr Andy Whiteley, CSIRO Research Program Director, said the Hub aims to bring together experts in microbiology, molecular genetics, synthetic biology, biochemical engineering, advanced manufacturing and circular economy by translating advancements in bioplastics research to real-world applications. “Our primary focus is the development of 100 per cent compostable, bio-derived packaging for use as sprays, films, bottles, caps and wrappers which are engineered to fully break down in compost, land and in aquatic environments,” said Dr Whiteley. With global concerns over plastic pollution and fossil fuel depletion driving an increased demand for compostable bioplastics, the Hub will equip the plastics industry with the tools and expertise required to manufacture materials and continue to drive a plastic waste green economy. The first key focus area will be a co-investment with WA-based biotechnology company Ecopha Biotech Pty Ltd, to develop a new process for water bottle production using compostable bioplastics derived from waste products from the food industry. Murdoch University Deputy Vice Chancellor Research & Innovation Professor Peter Eastwood said managing the growing plastic waste crisis required innovative technological solutions, including bioplastics. “Together with CSIRO, Murdoch University will fast-track the production of novel compostable bioplastic and introduce a green plastic to the market which will significantly minimise the requirement for non-sustainable plastic production,” Professor Eastwood said. “We also aim to assist industry in establishing an advanced biomanufacturing sector, to commercialise compostable bioplastics that meet the manufacturing […]

Air-Met Scientific buys DustCanary

Air-Met Scientific, a leading provider of environmental monitoring solutions, is pleased to announce the acquisition of DustCanary, a prominent UK company specialising in advanced dust monitoring technology. This strategic acquisition represents a significant step in the company\’s ongoing expansion within the environmental industry. Enhancing Environmental Product Portfolio in Australia The acquisition of DustCanary is a pivotal move for Air-Met Scientific, enhancing its product offerings in the realm of real-time dust monitoring. DustCanary is renowned for its innovative technologies, including the DustCanary Trend 420, a personal dust monitor designed to protect workers from hazardous dust exposure including respirable dust by providing immediate feedback and alerts. This product is particularly effective in industrial settings such as construction, mining, and manufacturing, where air quality and worker safety are critical concerns. Commitment to Workplace Safety and Environmental Health “Acquiring DustCanary underscores our commitment to advancing workplace safety and environmental health through innovative monitoring solutions,” said Simon Meers, Managing Director of Air-Met Scientific. “The addition of the DustCanary brand complements our existing portfolio and enhances our ability to provide comprehensive, reliable, and effective solutions for dust monitoring and control.” Founded in 1984, Air-Met Scientific is a leading supplier of occupational health, safety and environmental monitoring solutions specialising in air quality, gas detection, and dust monitoring. With offices conveniently located in major cities across Australia and a commitment to innovation, Air-Met Scientific provides industry-leading products and services designed to enhance worker and environmental safety and compliance.

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