Renew Magazine

Fact-based and human-interest stories about building climate and energy resilience in your home and community. All the latest in sustainable issues and technology, as well as useful how-tos for reducing your footprint and contributing to a more resilient future.

Renew Magazine

Editorial

Quarterly round-up

PRODUCTS

Monster wind turbines • Turbines just keep getting bigger, meaning fewer turbines for a given generation capacity. We look at China’s latest effort.

Big, big battery! • We are seeing a continual stream of big batteries in Australia, and not all of them are on the NEM. We look at one in WA that is currently the biggest in the country.

Sand battery goes big • You don’t need chemical batteries to store a lot of energy. We look at a battery that stores heat directly—and a lot of it!

Aussie wind going giga too! • There are some monster wind projects happening around the world, but Australia is ramping up renewable generation as well. We look at a huge new wind farm that sets some records.

Driving the grid • A pioneering Brisbane couple shows how vehicle-to-grid technology could reshape the future of energy independence, writes Oliver Lees.

Taking a bite out of Australia’s urchin problem • Jane Hone reports on a hidden threat to the Great Southern Reef and the surprising role our culinary behaviours could play in its rescue.

Students lead conversations to reduce vehicle idling • A new school-based education intervention, spearheaded by researchers at Deakin University, is designed to reduce vehicle idling and empower students as environmental change agents.

Navigating the future of renewable projects • We hear from RE-Alliance Policy and Research Director, Bridget Ryan, about the organisation’s latest resource: “Refurbishment, Repowering or Retirement: What happens when renewables approach end of life?”

Net-zero ambitions • In the same week the Federal Government released the National Climate Risk Assessment, the National Adaptation Plan and its 2035 emissions target, Renew CEO Helen Oakey sat down with Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson. Their conversation traces the Fremantle MP’s rise into politics, before turning to his views on Australia’s path to net zero.

Waste-to-energy: the future of waste management, or just plain greenwashing? • Communities are pushing back against waste-to-energy projects as questions emerge over health, emissions and social license. Janina Waldmann reports.

Recruiting for renewables • As Australia’s renewable energy sector—and its power output—grows, so do the job opportunities, reports Gus Goswell.

The road to apartment electrification • Apartment residents are overcoming regulatory hurdles and taking practical steps to embrace renewable energy in their apartments and buildings, writes Jane Hone.

EV charging in apartments • Renew member Mark Tranter shares his experiences of and insights into apartment retrofitting for EVs, including what body corporates need to know and how residents can start the journey.

Masterminding Eden: modelling a self-sustaining city • Daniel Simons looks at how a bold project is drawing on tech and collaborative practices to re-imagine our cities.

The home battery revolution • Everything you need to know to get on board.

Your guide to Australia’s new home battery rebate • Founder of Kean Energy Avinesh Naidu on navigating the Federal Government’s Cheaper Home Batteries Program.

Battery rebate in action: homeowner case studies • Gus Goswell gets to know two homeowners who have recently taken up the Federal Government’s battery rebate.

Batteries get serious–an energy storage buyers guide • Do you have solar but want blackout backup? Perhaps you just...