Brisbane startup at cutting edge of energy transition technology

Published Thursday, 02 May, 2019 at 05:25 PM

Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development and Minister for the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Kate Jones

Innovation Minister Kate Jones has congratulated Brisbane startup Planet Ark Power after the business was recognised as a global leader in energy transition at a ceremony in Germany recently.

Planet Ark won the ‘Intelligent Grids, Platforms and Cyber Security’ category at the Startup Energy Transition Awards as part of the fifth Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue – a ceremony run by the Germany Energy Agency and the World Energy Council.

“We’re committed to supporting our innovators and entrepreneurs not only to grow their businesses but to tackle some of the biggest issues affecting Queenslanders,” Ms Jones said.

“It’s crucial that we harness the talent of our best and brightest to combat climate change.

“It’s great to see a Brisbane company at the forefront of this technology.”

Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said the Palaszczuk Government was driving the development of the renewable energy sector, both for jobs and to achieve Labor’s 50 per cent renewable energy target for 2030.

“Queensland has a $5 billion pipeline of large scale renewable energy projects operating, underway or committed, and the latest ABS statistics an extra 1800 jobs have been created in the renewable energy sector.

“Behind-the-meter solutions like Planet Ark’s will help Queenslanders continue our energy transition to affordable renewables, reducing our emissions and helping to tackle climate change.”

Planet Ark Power’s energy transition work is based on using new technology like artificial intelligence to overcome barriers faced by Australians trying to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy – like voltage disruption problems in some solar systems.

PlanetArk Power executive director Richard Romanowski said the $16,000 the organisation won in Germany would go towards research and development of their business.

“This is a milestone for Planet Ark Power,” he said.

“To be recognised as pioneers and have the global energy transition community validate our solution at the SET Awards inspires us to continue innovating and contributing to this dialogue.”

ENDS

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