Environment ministry sends eight green firms to Australia's energy transition market

South Korea's environment ministry said Sunday it will send a delegation of eight green-technology companies to Melbourne this week to help them win business in Australia's renewable energy buildout.

The market development mission runs from Oct. 26 to 31, joined by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, the Korea Environmental Industry Association and Posco International. It is tied to All Energy Australia 2026, the largest clean energy exhibition in the southern hemisphere, where a Korean pavilion will operate at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Oct. 28 and 29.

The companies cover energy efficiency (Ninewatt, Airrane, World Energy, Enforce and Turbowin), hydrogen production and refueling (Lightbridge), recycled battery materials (ABR) and AI-based energy management (Cloud&). A ninth company, Wonkwang S&T, is attending the exhibition independently.

Australia aims to draw 82 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and Victoria, where the delegation is based, is targeting a 95 percent renewable share by 2035. Those goals are opening demand across energy storage, demand management, factory and building energy optimization, equipment efficiency and the reduction of power losses, the ministry said.

Kim Jiyoung, the ministry's international cooperation director, said Australia's renewable expansion and energy transition could open new overseas opportunities for Korean green companies. "We will actively introduce Korean green technologies that match local market demand and support cooperation with local institutions and companies so that this leads to exports and new business for our companies," she said.

On Oct. 29 the ministry, the Korean Embassy's Melbourne branch office, the industry association, Posco International and the Victorian state government will hold a Korea-Victoria energy forum. Lightbridge, World Energy, Turbowin and ABR will present hydrogen, energy efficiency and resource-circulation technologies at the event, which is also meant to share market trends in Victoria.