The Zero Planet

Seagrass returns to Balmoral waters Marine restoration project reaches new milestone in quest to bring ocean species back to Sydney Harbour.

Sydney's Balmoral Beach was the setting for an underwater ecosystem recovery last month with the planting of endangered Seagrass shoots beneath recently installed Environmentally Friendly Moorings. www.thezeroplanet.com/sea-grass-is...

Where solar meets design These commercial projects are blending renewable energy generation with architectural design.

Rooftop solar is evolving. From Nike’s Ravenhall Swoosh to Sydney Fish Market’s modular canopy, solar is becoming a design asset - integrated, impactful, and generating clean energy. www.thezeroplanet.com/where-solar-...

#SolarDesign #SustainableArchitecture #NetZero

The NZ startup at fusion’s frontier Global race heats up for the ‘holy grail’ of clean energy as fusion startups break boundaries and prepare for industrial scaling.

The global race for fusion energy is heating up. New Zealand startup OpenStar Technologies recently unveiled its fully commissioned fusion prototype, 'Junior', marking a bold step in the pursuit of near-limitless clean power. www.thezeroplanet.com/the-nz-start...

#FusionEnergy #CleanTech

Oceanic oPod takes top honours Blue Carbon, creator of the ocean-restoring oPod system, is earning recognition as Australia’s budding blue-tech sector gathers pace.

As the blue-tech sector gains momentum, a Brisbane startup is gaining recognition in the space. Blue Carbon secured both the main prize and the People’s Choice award at this year’s KPMG Nature Positive Challenge in a first for the competition. www.thezeroplanet.com/oceanic-opod...

Greener steel on the horizon Cleaning up the steelmaking process with low-value biochar is in the sights of this NSW startup.

Steel making is said to account for around 8% of global CO₂ emissions, so cleaning it up matters. Aussie startup BioCarbon has secured funding to move from pilot to industrial production of GreenChar - a biomass-based product aimed at decarbonising the sector. www.thezeroplanet.com/greener-stee...

New climate champion takes root Something important is happening quietly beneath our feet as underground networks store vast quantities of carbon.

Underground fungal networks have been revealed as powerful yet overlooked allies in the fight against climate change. 2026 Tyler Prize winner Prof Dr Toby Kiers has shed light on these hidden networks, which are capable of storing vast amounts of carbon. www.thezeroplanet.com/new-climate-...

Old tyres pave the road ahead Moreton Bay transforms thousands of old tyres into sustainable asphalt in a trial project to reduce carbon emissions and waste.

Queensland’s City of Moreton Bay has converted thousands of end-of-life tyres into a more sustainable form of asphalt for use on roads. The project sought to address the growing environmental challenge of managing waste tyres. www.thezeroplanet.com/old-tyres-pa...

Sowing the seeds of change From solar-powered production and collaboration on methane to AI-driven waste recovery, we take a look at three new projects addressing agricultural sustainability.

Agriculture is central to Australia’s economy and identity, but it also carries a significant climate footprint. But the story isn’t all about challenge. Increasingly, it’s one of innovation. Here are three recent examples. www.thezeroplanet.com/sowing-the-s...

Hobart trials world-first electric ferry Large battery-powered passenger vessel begins real-world testing in Tasmania, in the next step for low-emission shipping.

The River Derwent has become a testing ground for the future of maritime transport as Incat Tasmania puts its 130-metre ferry through its paces. The electric vessel, known as Hull 096, is designed to carry more than 2,100 passengers powered entirely by battery. www.thezeroplanet.com/hobart-trial...

New frontiers for AI data centres The machines that power the digital world may one day be suspended in space, buried underground, or even sitting beneath the ocean.

Data centres are essential to our digital lives. They're also becoming a growing flashpoint in the clean energy transition. Not surprisingly, the industry is experimenting with ways to ease these pressures. Here's a snapshot of what's taking shape. www.thezeroplanet.com/new-frontier...

A second life for solar An Australian pilot aims to recover valuable materials from discarded solar panels instead of dumping them in landfill.

As solar booms in Australia, the race is on to develop better ways of recycling solar panels, with the government set to invest $24.7 million in a pilot program.
www.thezeroplanet.com/a-second-lif...

Rewriting the future of megafires Blending ancient methods with smart technologies offers fresh hope in the battle to navigate tomorrow's bushfires.

As bushfires once again reshape Australia’s landscape, our two-part series explores the latest frontline firefighting tools, and the ancient knowledge regaining traction and strengthening resilience. www.thezeroplanet.com/battling-the...
www.thezeroplanet.com/rewriting-th...

2025: a hive of innovation From seaweed buttons to bee hotels, Australian innovators are tackling some of the planet's biggest challenges. We take a look at some of the year’s highlights.

There was no shortage of planet-saving ambition this year, with Australian innovators making waves around the world. Join us as we look back on some of our favourite stories. www.thezeroplanet.com/2025-a-hive-...

Cool roof, fresh water The University of Sydney has developed a paint-like coating that could keep buildings cooler and produce water from the air.

With global temperatures rising, cities are facing more intense heat and pressure on water supplies. Sydney researchers have been testing a prototype roof coating that they hope can address both issues. www.thezeroplanet.com/cool-roof-fr...

Free power for Aussie homes As the net zero political debate grabbed headlines earlier this month, Australia's federal government unveiled a plan to offer households three hours of free power.

Recently announced government plans to make better use of abundant rooftop solar could see Australian households accessing at least three hours of free power in the middle of the day from the middle of next year. www.thezeroplanet.com/free-power-f...

Pocket forests sprout up nationwide Tiny native forests based on a 1970s planting method developed by a Japanese botanist are taking root across the country.

The NSW town of Orange recently became the first to plant a community pocket forest in an aged-care setting. The initiative reflects a broader movement across Australia and the world to rewild overlooked urban pockets in community spaces. www.thezeroplanet.com/pocket-fores...

Regions rally behind clean energy Poll results show that backing for renewables holds strong at 62% in spite of online trolling and misinformation campaigns.

Most regional Australians back the nation’s shift to renewable energy, yet underestimate the level of support within their community, new research has found. www.thezeroplanet.com/regions-rall...

Boost for bovine burp buster Number 8 Bio has raised funds to help take its methane-cutting capsules from the lab to the paddock.

A Sydney startup has secured $11 million to accelerate the release of its fermentation-based livestock capsules. The Series A funding will go towards large-scale trials, gaining regulatory approval, and preparing for a planned 2026 commercial rollout. www.thezeroplanet.com/boost-for-bo...

Vehicle-to-grid trial hits home Australian V2G rollout transforms electric cars into "batteries on wheels" powering homes and stabilising the grid.

Australia’s first residential vehicle-to-grid (V2G) installation has been switched on, signalling a new milestone in the energy transition. www.thezeroplanet.com/vehicle-to-g...

Earthshot winners shine in Rio Projects from Brazil to Bangladesh awarded £1 million each for pioneering solutions to restore nature, cut pollution and protect communities.

The 2025 Earthshot Prize awards ceremony was held in Rio this week. We take a look at the five winners, selected from nearly 2,500 nominations across 72 countries, and their pioneering solutions to restore nature, cut pollution and protect communities. www.thezeroplanet.com/earthshot-wi...

Seaweed plastic scales up WA startup Uluu has unveiled the next step in its scale-up plans in the wake of a multimillion-dollar funding round.

Seaweed plastic is scaling up in Australia with Perth-based Uluu unveiling the next step in its commercialisation plans following a multimillion-dollar funding round. www.thezeroplanet.com/seaweed-plas...

Electric trucks take the long road The path to zero-emission road freight has gained traction with a successful long-distance delivery.

Australian road freight has taken its first decisive step toward electrification, chalking up a long-distance delivery and new partnerships. www.thezeroplanet.com/electric-tru...

Spreading the sunshine Rooftop solar may be booming, but millions of Australians are being left in the shade. New delivery models aim to change that.

Despite strong uptake, rooftop solar remains unevenly distributed, concentrated mostly in detached suburban and regional homes. New delivery models aim to open up solar savings to Aussie renters and apartment dwellers. www.thezeroplanet.com/spreading-th...

Fresh start for sushi staple As single-use plastic bans come into force, Aussie designers unveil a compostable alternative to the mini soy-sauce fish dropper.

As single-use plastic bans come into force, Aussie designers have unveiled a compostable alternative to the mini soy-sauce fish dropper. www.thezeroplanet.com/fresh-start-...

Closing the climate skills gap We explore solutions from a range of industries pushing to fill skill gaps across Australia’s emerging net-zero sectors.

For Australia to meet its climate goals, a well-equipped workforce is essential. Yet skill gaps remain a major challenge across multiple sectors. We explore solutions from a range of industries pushing to fill these gaps. www.thezeroplanet.com/closing-the-...

Crossroads for climate skills Climate change is rewriting the job description for Australia's future workforce. We explore these changes and what’s standing in their way.

Net zero will demand a major overhaul of our talent pool, industry experts say, as the race to slash carbon emissions reshapes jobs, education, and the skills powering the future. www.thezeroplanet.com/crossroads-f...

Pollution plumes float into view A new visualisation tool helps urban communities identify the industrial sources of air pollution in their neighbourhood.

A new tool that helps urban communities identify sources of industrial air pollution in their neighbourhood has been launched by Climate TRACE. The tool tracks fine particulate matter using atmospheric modelling and satellite data. www.thezeroplanet.com/pollution-pl...

Nobel win for chemistry trio A university researcher in Australia shares the chemistry Nobel Prize for pioneering new materials that could solve environmental challenges.

University of Melbourne's Richard Robson has been named one of three recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in creating metal-organic frameworks which can capture carbon dioxide, remove toxic pollutants and harvest water from desert air. www.thezeroplanet.com/nobel-win-fo...

Yes, will be an interesting one to to watch 👀

SwarmBots take the field Self-driving farm bots designed to reduce the use of fuel and chemicals have attracted $30 million in funding.

Self-driving bots designed to make farming smarter, cleaner and cheaper have attracted $30 million in funding. These SwarmBots are lightweight and self-driving and can reduce farmers' use of fuel and chemicals.
www.thezeroplanet.com/swarmbots-ta...