Australia's development of missile technology

 In January, and again at the end of March this year, Australia's Government announced it intended to allocate $1 billion for the development of new long-range hypersonic cruise missiles. 

Boosting Australia’s maritime security for decades to come ⚓️🚢. Pleased to be back in #Henderson today to announce $1 billion to develop advanced guided weapons for #AusNavy. These new capabilities will provide a strong, credible deterrent in our region. pic.twitter.com/mb8Lb9PnCb

— Linda Reynolds (@lindareynoldswa) January 25, 2021

Australia to develop a guided missiles manufacturing and export industry as part of billion-dollar defence manufacturing plan. https://t.co/ODoLB1yiRV #auspol

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021

Australian researchers at the University of Queensland developed two essential technologies for hypersonic cruise missiles: 

• In July 2002, the hypersonic scramjet engine that will propel these missiles, and
• In December 2009, high-temperature materials to enable sustained hypersonic flight without the outer casings of these missiles melting. 

Dec 24, 2009: "New materials for hypersonic and supersonic hot stuff*
> University of Queensland researchers are testing new materials to withstand the extreme heat experienced by hypersonic vehicles in flight so they can fly for substantially longer." https://t.co/OG4CgXsVzu

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) December 25, 2019

Then, following the failure of a missile test flight in September 2013, Australian development of the technology was abandoned. 

Sep 2013. "University of Queensland researchers mothball a hypersonic scramjet project after a rocket prematurely plunged into the sea off Norway during a failed test." https://t.co/diiUz85viq

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) February 10, 2021

Other missile manufacturers and exporters have since occupied the market that the Australian defence industries ignored. 

University of Queensland researchers may have contributed to this absence of interest; The first patent application for hypersonic scramjet engine was filed in 2006 - by a U.S. defence contractor.

"A single-stage hypersonic vehicle is comprised of a low-speed and a high-speed propulsion system."
Patent Application US11/633,836
2006-12-05 Application filed by Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne Inc.
Did the University of Queensland forget about intellectual property rights?

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 5, 2021

August 2015. "Scientists took away valuable lessons from the latest trial of the joint Australia-US Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation (HIFiRE) Program conducted recently at the Andøya Rocket Range in Norway." https://t.co/SnA1sEsm9t #Aus #Research

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021

April 2018. "Lockheed Martin gets $1b hypersonic missile contract from US Air Force" https://t.co/sArXMap8V2 #Aus #Research

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021

October 2019. "One of China's new DF-17 hypersonic glider missiles as seen during the live broadcast of the parade during China's National Day celebrations, marking 70 years of Communist rule." https://t.co/UqjoxoHrZt #Aus #Research

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021

October 2020. "Russia successfully tests new hypersonic Tsirkon missile. ... The first Avangard hypersonic missiles were put into service in December last year." https://t.co/yBDNqmK5Va #Aus #Research

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021

January 2021. "United States DARPA’s Operational Fires Ground-Launched Hypersonics Program Enters New Phase.
Next steps will include full-scale flight testing." https://t.co/U0y3Jkc95c #Aus #Research

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021

"Scientists at the University’s Centre for Hypersonics have been conducting research into all aspects of hypersonic flight for more than 20 years." https://t.co/Vxl5qHF2Vc #Aus #Research

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 4, 2021

Community Batteries

"A community battery is a relatively new concept in Australia. It is a shared battery solution located in a local neighbourhood and allows customers and the wider community to share in the multiple benefits that batteries can provide." (See Ausgrid "Community Batteries")

Margaret River trials unique community battery

Labor’s Community Battery policy will reduce power bills and emissions for hundreds of thousands of Australians.

Good climate policy is good economic policy. pic.twitter.com/XiMV0OfldV

— Chris Bowen (@Bowenchris) April 1, 2021

Being able to aggregate data at a "community level" will be very helpful.
Consider this data at the level of a single dwelling:
5kW peak demand, 24 kWh / day total.
Now: 5 kW generation and grid capacity needed, mostly unused.
Storage: Only 1 kW of capacity needed.

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 2, 2021

Under ideal conditions, only 1 kW of generating capacity and grid capacity is needed to provide the total of 24 kWh per day used by the above single dwelling. The "community battery" provides the peak demand of 5 kW from time to time during each day as appliances switch on and off.

The battery can be an alternative infrastructure item, potentially replacing 4 kW of generating capacity and grid capacity for the single dweliing in this example.

Even if there is no rooftop solar PV systems in some communities, the ability to charge a community battery overnight - when generation and grid capacity is otherwise idle - can help to lower peak capacity needed the following day.
Policy to raise grid investment to be reviewed?

— Askgerbil Now (@Askgerbil) April 2, 2021