Companies are using battery-powered cranes as they move away from diesel

Topic: Renewable Energy

Wednesday, 10 June 2026, at 4:50 am

A company called Hamilton Marino powers three cranes with one battery in Melbourne.

In short:

High fuel prices are making companies switch to renewable energy, like batteries for equipment or electric vehicles.

A bank called NAB says more companies are taking loans to buy green equipment, almost double from last year.

What's next?

A group called the Grattan Institute says some companies might struggle to switch to renewable energy due to a lack of support services.

The war in Iran and oil supply issues are making companies move away from diesel to renewable energy, according to bank data.

High fuel prices are making companies look for alternative energy sources to save money.

An expert named Tim Buckley says companies are learning how to use renewable energy quickly, partly because of the war in Iran.

You can check petrol and diesel prices near you, updated all the time.

One of the big banks says it has seen more companies taking loans to invest in renewable energy.

NAB says it has seen almost double the number of companies taking loans for green equipment compared to last year.

NAB has a program that offers cheaper loans for green equipment, working with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.

Most of the loans from this program are for electric vehicles, which help companies avoid high fuel prices and supply issues.

The Green Building Council says the construction industry is starting to move away from diesel.

Using battery-powered cranes reduces costs.

A company called Hamilton Marino used to use diesel for its cranes but now uses batteries, which is much cheaper.

The company can run three cranes with one battery unit in a day.

The company saves money by using battery-powered cranes, according to its project director, Chris Madden.

The company uses electricity from the network to charge its battery, which then powers its cranes and tools.

The battery will be paid off in two years, and then the company will only pay for the electricity from the network.

The company will save money in the long run by not paying for diesel fuel.

The cost of doing business has been reduced.

Tim Buckley thinks the price of diesel and oil will stay high.

Many companies are trying to reduce costs because fuel prices are high.

Buckley believes fuel prices will stay high for a long time.

Batteries are changing the global energy landscape.

The Green Building Council says the construction industry is starting to use renewable energy.

The council's CEO, Davina Rooney, says leading projects are showing that lower-emissions construction is possible and practical.

Davina Rooney says the construction industry is finding ways to reduce emissions.

The growth of batteries means energy can be stored and used when needed, reducing peak electricity costs.

This has had a big impact on the electricity grid, according to Tim Buckley.

Buckley says batteries are now setting the price of electricity about 30% of the time.

Fossil fuels are under threat, and Australia is at the center of this change.

The Australian Energy Regulator recently announced lower electricity prices, which will help small businesses.

Four years ago, gas was the main factor in setting electricity prices.

When fuel prices go up, electricity prices also go up.

Business costs go down after switching to renewable energy.

A paint company called Colormaker Industries is now using renewable energy, with solar panels and electric vehicles.

The company's owner, David Stuart, says he never thought he would be using renewable energy, but it has worked out well.

David Stuart switched to renewable energy to save money.

The company's energy bills have gone from $2,000 a month to negative, and they are also powering five electric vehicles.

The company is saving money by using solar panels and electric vehicles.

Support services are a hurdle for businesses switching to renewable energy.

Analysts say many businesses may struggle to switch to renewable energy due to a lack of professional support services.

The Grattan Institute says the problem is that businesses lack the support services that households have for installing and running renewable energy systems.

The Grattan Institute's energy director, Alison Reeve, says this lack of support will be a barrier to faster electrification for some businesses.

Business owners are busy and may not have the time to learn about renewable energy, which can be a barrier.

Wednesday, 10 June 2026, at 4:50 am

Wednesday, 10 June 2026, at 8:17 am

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