Green Energy: Construction kicks off at 100MW Capital Battery in ACT

Construction has kicked off at the Capital Battery after French renewables and battery storage developer Neoen doubled its size from 50 MW to 100 MW/ 200 MWh in response to the emerging market for battery services.

Located in the ACT, the project is set to modernise the territory’s grid through its ability to deliver multiple services.

In a statement this morning Neoen said the battery will officially start operating in the first half of 2023.

The Capital Battery now takes Neoen’s Australian storage portfolio to 576 MW in operation or under construction, cementing the company’s leadership in large-scale battery storage

Neoen also owns and operates the recently completed 300 MW / 450 MWh Victorian Big Battery in Geelong, and the 150 MW / 193.5 MWh Hornsdale Power Reserve in South Australia.

The project takes the French developer one step closer to its goal of having at least one large-scale battery operating in each state of Australia’s National Electricity Market.

Zeotech to help farmers deliver carbon transactions

Emerging mineral processing tech company Zeotech (ASX:ZEO) has entered into a subscription agreement with environment farm management tech start-up, Regen Digital Pty Ltd.

Zeotech will invest $140,000 for a 4% post money interest in Regen, through a fully subscribed $500,000 seed capital round.

Regen plans to then provide members of Regen Farmers Mutual with a platform to enter and manage environmental and green provenance contract.

Zeotech said this investment represents a 28% share of total seed funding to support the establishment of Regen’s Software as a Service (SaaS) platform.

The platform will establish the value of a farmer’s environmental assets with an Environmental Farm Assessment (EFA), will be used to create a ‘digital twin’ of a farm, and in collaboration with Regen Farmers Mutual, assist farmers to understand and deliver transactions in carbon, diversity, and other emerging markets.

The early-stage investment establishes a symbiotic partnership with Zeotech’s agronomic objectives, aimed at developing agri-products that improve nutrient management and offer farmers access to carbon markets.

ZEO says this investment ethos is one that supports an emerging cooperative, Regen Farmer’s Mutual, by promoting Australia’s farming community to better engage in Environmental Goods & Services (EGS) markets.

“This highlights Zeotech’s ongoing commitment to agricultural markets and follows recent initiatives where the company is committed to a comprehensive agronomic research program in collaboration with Griffith University,” it said in a statement this morning.

The aim of the dual-stream program is to develop Zeotech products for agricultural nutrient management, offering access to carbon markets through carbon sequestration.

Senex signs new gas sales agreement with Shell Energy

Yesterday Senex Energy (ASX:SXY) announced it had entered into a domestic gas sales agreement with Shell Energy Australia for the supply of 8 petajoules of natural gas over four years.

Under the four-year agreement starting in 2022, Senex will supply around 8 PJ of natural gas at the Wallumbilla Hub at a fixed price in line with current market levels.

Managing Director and CEO Ian Davies said Senex was committed to supplying reliable, affordable and sustainable natural gas for Australian businesses.

“We are proud to continue supporting the economy and jobs in local communities, and helping Australia transition to a lower carbon future,” Mr Davies said.

On the same day, Senex also revealed it had entered into a binding scheme implementation agreement with POSCO International (PIC), whereby PIC will acquire 100% of Senex’s shares for a cash offer piece of $4.60 per share.

The Senex board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote in favour of the scheme

SXY chairman Trevor Bourne said: “The offer reflects an attractive value for Senex and the opportunity for our shareholders to realise a certain cash price for their shares.”

Hexagon advances PFS study ahead of December release

Hexagon Energy Materials (ASX:HEX) is advancing its pre-feasibility study (PFS) on the NT (Pedirka) H2 Project located in Australia’s Northern Territory, which utilises gasification and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

The company’s plan is to increase its renewable energy inputs and lower its carbon emissions as it transitions from blue to green liquid hydrogen production, on a commercial basis, over time.

Hexagon says completion of the PFS remains earmarked for December however the drilling program has been delayed and is pending approval from the Mine Management Plan (MMP) by the Northern Territory government.

A definitive feasibility study (DFS), based on PFS results, will begin in early 2022