AECOM appoints grid specialist
AECOM has appointed Mark Lampard to the newly created role of grid modernisation leader for Australia and New Zealand. A 12-year veteran of the infrastructure consulting firm will oversee one of the firm’s Sustainable Legacies strategy for the energy transition.
AECOM already provides technical advisory services to renewable energy projects, continuous improvement and other consulting services to transmission and distribution networks, and major grid infrastructure projects including the Renewable Energy Zone at Central West Orana and interconnector projects in Victoria.
The grid modernisation group will not expand immediately, but may add new engineers over time with specific skillsets such as engineers with underground cabling experience.
The firm’s other energy transition pillars are microgrids, future fuels including hydrogen, and electrified transport.
ARENA rolls out community batteries
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency will fund $120 million of community-scale batteries across the country.
Round 1 of the Community Scale Battery program is now open for applicants for community batteries between 50 kW and 5 MW in size that will connect to the electricity distribution network. ARENA has split the tender into two streams; one for distributed network service providers, and a second for other organisations.
Community batteries can help stabilise power grids and drive down electricity prices because they can store excess solar energy for later use at times of peak demand or short-term power price spikes. They can assist households who are unable to install rooftop solar installations or batteries because they are tenants or they live in apartment buildings.
Funding for the program comes from a $200 million federal government budget allocation last October for 400 new community batteries to be installed nationwide. The remaining $80 million will be allocated towards funding a second round of the program, ARENA said.
The agency will hold two information sessions on the Community Funding Batteries Program in April.
Mirvac completes ultra green home
Mirva has completed its largest-ever Green Star Home to date at its Waverley Park community in Mulgrave, Victoria. The fully-electric, 7.8-star NatHERS rated home requires 48 per cent less energy to maintain indoor thermal comfort and is powered using a 10 kW rooftop solar system with a 13.5 kWh Tesla Powerwall 2 battery.
Other sustainable features include thermally broken double-glazed windows, open tread timber stairs which maximise cross-ventilation and natural light and a heat recovery ventilation system which will provide filtered fresh air to the living areas and bedrooms. The home also features an electric heat pump hot water system and efficient appliances with minimum four-star energy and water ratings.
The home’s water needs are met with two 2000-litre water tanks and a red water diverter, which redirects unused water from taps into the toilets. The garden is equipped with two Biofilta food cubes with wicking beds which will allow the inhabitants to easily grow their own herbs, fruit and vegetables.
The sustainable home is being placed up for auction on 15 April 2023, and after it is sold Mirvac will donate $100,000 of the sale proceeds to six primary schools to run the Resilience Project School Program.
New soil carbon research program
AgriProve, a soil carbon project developer, will undertake a three-year research program alongside its partners RMIT and the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment.
The research will help build an evidence base to underpin future soil carbon projects, allowing the researchers to optimise sampling to detect statistically significant changes in soil organic carbon. Key factors to be studied include sample area size and segmentation.
The additional data will improve measurement, transparency and objectivity for future soil carbon projects, according to AgriProve.
New South Wales Government unveils full ministry
Newly elected New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has announced a 22-strong cabinet ministry following after the Labor party’s 25 March election victory.
As anticipated, Paul Scully has been named Minister for Planning and Public Spaces. Rose Jackson, an upper house member, has been named Minister for Water, Housing and several other social affairs portfolios that include Homelessness and Mental Health. They join the seven “skeleton” cabinet ministers which include Treasurer Daniel Mookhey, Minister for Transport (which includes cities and infrastructure) Jo Haylen and Penny Sharpe as Minister for Energy, Climate Change, Environment and Heritage.
The Minns government won 45 of the 93 seats in the state’s Legislative Assembly (lower house), two seats short of a majority. Labor will govern in minority with the assistance of three crossbench MPs who will guarantee the passage of supply bills through parliament.
New hires at Hip v Hype
Integrated property developer and sustainability consultancy Hip v Hype has launched a shared ownership model, naming three of its executives as shareholders in the business.
Head of operations and finance Sara van der Meer, head of better cities and regions Gavin Ashley and head of better buildings David Mahony have a combined 30 years’ experience across sustainability, climate strategy and the built environment.
The shared ownership model is about motivating Hip v Hype staff to innovate rather than focus on process-driven improvement, according to the company’s founder Liam Wallis.
Hip v Hype is an ethical, environmentally and socially sustainable property developer, sustainability consultancy and shared office provider. It builds boutique-scale sustainable apartments and townhouses.