University of Waikato ecologist Professor David Hamilton has been awarded a $920,000 Marsden Grant to study toxin production found in blue-green algae in lakes. [ + ]

A $130,000 grant from assistance program Commercialisation Australia will help one of Australia’s largest tyre recyclers, Queensland-based Chip Tyre, to refine a process that turns rubber crumbs recycled from old car tyres into explosives for use under wet conditions. [ + ]

A University of Canterbury lecturer in New Zealand is researching the possibility of producing fuel from air and electricity. The technology removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produces methanol, a liquid fuel similar to petrol. [ + ]

Global Reporting Initiative’s Focal Point Australia has released research demonstrating how public sector sustainability reporting can increase public accountability and improve operational efficiency while reducing the reporting burden. [ + ]

Research from carbon analytics firm RepuTex indicates that growth of wind capacity in the Australian National Electricity Market (NEM) is expected to outstrip growth in electricity demand by more than 2.5 times over the next seven years. [ + ]

Increasing the use of water recycling in food production and manufacturing is among new research being undertaken by the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence. [ + ]

Recycling keeps paper, plastics and even jeans out of landfills. Could recycling rare-earth magnets do the same? Perhaps, if the recycling process can be improved. [ + ]

Emerson Network Power has released guidelines for organisations to consider when deciding to retrofit or replace a data centre in the quest for greater efficiency. [ + ]

Two chemists from the University of Waikato have come up with an innovative method for treating bore water on Waikato farms. Along the way, they may have hit on a low-cost solution for developing countries, where many people have limited access to clean and affordable water. [ + ]

The Australian Water Association has released a new position paper on water efficiency. [ + ]

As energy represents approximately a third of the operating costs for water plants, the water industry is faced with quite a dilemma. Australia faces yet another challenge: that of drought-proofing one of the driest countries in the world. The recent Schneider PlantStruxure NOW! 2012 User Conference included discussion on water and wastewater trends and the impact on Australian industry. [ + ]

Compressed air solutions specialist Sullair Australia has secured a landmark contract to provide 23 compressor packages - including ancillary equipment - for Australian coal seam gas producer QGC. The contract forms an integral part of QGC’s Queensland Curtis Liquefied Natural Gas (QCLNG) Project. [ + ]

Kyocera Solar recently supplied 348 kW of solar modules that now cover the roof of the Townsville RSL Stadium in North Queensland. The photovoltaic installation is now the largest in North Queensland and will supply the equivalent of two-thirds of the stadium’s energy requirements by utilising the clean, renewable energy of the sun. [ + ]

The past decade of sustainability, monitoring, research and innovation in Australia’s on-site water treatment industry was summed up recently by CQUniversity Senior Research Fellow Ted Gardner. [ + ]

Rising energy prices are foremost in people’s thoughts these days and although most are aware  that investing in energy efficiency ‘pays back’, split incentives can be a barrier to investment. Environmental upgrade agreements (EUAs) are a new finance mechanism that promises to overcome this barrier. [ + ]