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Six bright startups to feature at renewables showcase

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14 Nov, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

Following a record number of applications, Innovation Bay and ARENA have selected six startups to present at the 2024 ARENA Renewables Startup Showcase, which is returning for a fifth year on Thursday, 21 November in Sydney.

Applications were open to all early-stage and scaleup companies innovating in the renewables, climate tech and cleantech sectors. An experienced panel of judges that included impact VC partners, cleantech investors, and energy and climate change specialists managed to narrow down more than 85 applications to the final selection of six.

“Once again, we’re inspired by the exceptional talent and vibrant innovation emerging across Australia’s renewables, climate tech and cleantech sectors,” said Phaedon Stough, CEO and co-founder of Innovation Bay, an Australian membership community for technology founders and investors.

“This year’s record-breaking number of applicants and surge in pitching startups underscore the incredible momentum within this space. We’re thrilled to bring together these leading startups and investors to help drive growth and impact across the sector.”

The judges evaluated factors such as market size and business opportunity, team suitability and strength, competitive advantage, investment attractiveness at the current stage, and potential for substantial industry impact — as well as alignment with the showcase’s theme, ‘Solar and Beyond’.

The six successful startups are listed below.

Endua

Endua is a Brisbane-based deep tech startup that develops next-gen hydrogen technologies for onsite hydrogen production in energy storage, power and mobility. Focused on localised hydrogen generation, Endua reduces costs and environmental impact by eliminating long-distance transport and storage. The startup is backed by CSIRO, Ampol Australia and Main Sequence, and benefits from strong technical expertise, market access and early-stage funding. CEO and founder Paul Sernia brings over 20 years’ experience in energy and manufacturing, previously co-founding Tritium, a global EV charging company. He has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and degrees in Computer Systems Engineering and Computer Science.

Hadean Energy

Hadean Energy, a Melbourne-based CSIRO spin-out, is advancing green hydrogen and e-fuels with its tubular Solid Oxide Electrolyser (tSOE), which is claimed to operate up to 30% more efficiently than traditional electrolysers. Hadean’s solution supports decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors like steelmaking and ammonia production, and enables low-cost syngas for shipping and aviation. Backed by CSIRO and RFC Ambrian, Hadean is rapidly commercialising, securing grants and preparing for a megawatt-scale demonstration in Australia.

Halocell

Halocell Energy is an Australian solar innovator focused on manufacturing next-generation perovskite solar cells. With a pilot facility in NSW’s Riverina district, the startup aims to target the indoor IoT market before expanding to space and drone applications. Collaborating with academic partners (QUT, UNSW, UQ) and industry leaders (Tindo Solar, Gilmour Space), Halocell was founded in 2020 by CEO Paul Moonie, who has over 20 years’ experience in solar technology.

Kwetta

Founded in 2021 in Napier, New Zealand, Kwetta is focused on transforming ultrafast EV charging by eliminating grid constraints. Its Prime Grid Gateway project addresses capacity, voltage and power quality issues without costly upgrades or batteries, enabling customers to deploy rapidly and access more power at grid-constrained sites. At the 2024 Renewables Startup Showcase, Aidan Clarke, Kwetta’s Brisbane-based Product Manager, will share Kwetta’s vision for scalable EV infrastructure, leveraging his expertise from Tritium and intelliHR.

Reswitch

Reswitch was founded to bridge a notable gap in the renewable energy sector: ensuring that the economic benefits of clean energy projects reach the communities that host them. The Reswitch platform enables energy infrastructure developers, including renewable energy zone coordinators, to deliver tangible benefits such as free or reduced power bills to nearby residents at any project phase — without requiring recipients to switch energy providers. By digitising and streamlining best practices in benefit-sharing, Reswitch fosters early community ties, enhances local support, and helps projects gain and maintain social licence more effectively.

Solstice AI

Solstice AI delivers AI solutions for energy utilities, traders and solar asset owners to boost profits and manage risks amid rising solar variability. The startup’s Solstice SkyScan product uses AI with overhead imagery to locate all solar generation in a region. Solstice SkyFlow applies AI to satellite images, predicting cloud movement — the main factor in solar output — to forecast generation at specific sites or across regions. Since 2022, Solstice AI has completed projects for utilities and energy providers in Australia, Germany and Spain.

In addition to the featured startups, the 2024 ARENA Renewables Startup Showcase will include a gala dinner and plenty of networking opportunities. Guests will also have the opportunity to learn from experts on the future of emerging technologies in the renewable energy sector.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller will take to the stage alongside investors Alexandra Clunies-Ross, Partner at Artesian (Alternative Investments), Katerina Kimmorley, Head of Commercial & Investments at Boundless Earth and Commissioner at the NSW Net Zero Emissions Commission, and Angela Karl, Managing Director and Head of Energy Transition at HMC Capital, for a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Capital Brief Startups and VC correspondent Bronwen Clune.

Miller said the work that startups are doing in the renewable energy and climate change sector will be of critical importance if Australia is going to achieve its goal of net zero emissions.

“The ARENA Renewables Startup Showcase has become the premier event to ensure these visionary founders are connected with the right investors so that innovation in this sector continues to thrive,” he said.

“It’s exciting to again partner with Innovation Bay to present the Showcase and introduce the next generation of renewable technology to the world.”

For information on how to register for the event, click here.

Image credit: iStock.com/ronniechua

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Urban 'placemaking' focus for $85m recreation centre

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27 Jun, 2025

Sydney developer Billbergia Group has announced the Rhodes Recreation Centre — an $85 million, 9200 m2 multi-purpose community hub in Sydney’s Inner West.

Located at 6 Gauthorpe St and designed by architectural firm SJB, the recreation centre is in a three-level podium building beneath two high-rise residential towers — the 48-level Peake and 43-level Oasis. Together, they form stage two of the developer’s Rhodes Central Masterplan — a $3 billion, three-stage town centre project.

The Rhodes Recreation Centre was delivered under a $97 million Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) between the developer and City of Canada Bay Council. It will be handed over to council next month and is set to open later this year. Once complete, the masterplan will have delivered 25,000 m2 of dedicated public amenity, including retail, community facilities and open space.

With the NSW Government’s housing reforms set to address the housing shortage, the recreation centre will reflect the importance of ‘placemaking’ — a collaborative approach to designing and managing public spaces that enhances community wellbeing and fosters connections between people and their environment — in planning new urban communities.

It also presents a pathway for public and private sectors to collaborate and create social infrastructure while increasing housing supply in fast-growing suburbs.

The recreation centre is set to add vibrancy and pedestrian activity to the local streetscape, providing a diverse range of facilities that enhance the livability of the evolving suburb. These community amenities include two full-sized indoor sports courts, a gymnastics centre, a 70-place childcare centre, a community lounge, allied health services, and bookable spaces for local groups and events. It also provides a gym with cardio equipment, weights, group fitness rooms, a creche and an outdoor terrace, alongside a range of sustainability features.

Facilities at the Rhodes Recreation Centre. Images supplied.

“Rhodes Recreation Centre is the community heart of our high-density TOD development, bringing to life Billbergia’s vision for a future-focused, livable urban environment that prioritises amenity, not just density,” said Saul Moran, Development Director – Planning and Design at Billbergia.

The amenities within the two residential towers include a swimming pool, spa, sauna, children’s play area, library and theatre rooms. Pedestrian connections and through-site links provide access to Rhodes railway station and the Homebush Bay waterfront.

“The Rhodes Recreation Centre stands as a benchmark in successful public–private collaboration. Through a VPA with Canada Bay Council, we’ve created a pathway to unlock additional housing supply while delivering significant, lasting community infrastructure. It’s a clear demonstration of how thoughtful public and private partnerships can shape vibrant, livable neighbourhoods,” Moran said.

Located adjacent to Rhodes railway station, stage one of Billbergia’s Rhodes Central Masterplan was completed in 2021 and included the 13,000 m2 Rhodes Central Shopping Centre, with convenience retail, a Woolworths supermarket, medical facilities and the Bamboo Lane dining precinct.

Other previous projects include the 1.2 ha Phoenix Park in Rhodes, the $63 million Bennelong Bridge, the popular Baylink Shuttle service, the 3500 m2 Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library, and the Wentworth Point Pop-Up Town Square.

Billbergia’s ongoing focus on placemaking and social infrastructure also includes the $8.4 million delivery of a library at its mixed-tenure development, Arncliffe Central, in Sydney’s south. There is the potential for 75% of Arncliffe Central’s dwellings to be dedicated to social, affordable and essential worker rental housing, along with 3400 m2 allocated to childcare, convenience retail and cafes, and a 4000 m2 park with play space for both residents and the broader community.

Top image caption: The Rhodes Recreation Centre location with two planned residential towers, Peake and Oasis. Image supplied.

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