In Port Augusta, South Australia, the Solar Methanol 1 (SM1) project has obtained planning consent to establish a solar thermal-powered plant to produce green methanol. This initiative, led by Australian company Vast in collaboration with Mabanaft from Germany, aims to produce 7,500 tons of green methanol annually. The project's key focus is on decarbonizing the shipping industry by using Vast's concentrated solar thermal power technology. It also involves the integration of a Leilac calcination plant to capture CO2, an electrolysis plant for hydrogen production, and a methanol plant. Funding of approximately AUD $19.48 million has been secured from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, with additional financial support from German partners through the HyGATE project to develop the hydrogen supply chain. With the planning consent granted, the project is progressing towards a final investment decision. The CEO of Vast highlighted the significance of SM1 in producing low-cost green fuels for global maritime decarbonization. Similarly, the CEOs of Calix and Mabanaft expressed optimism about the project's potential in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries and expanding to larger-scale projects in the future. The collaborative efforts and innovative technologies involved in the SM1 project indicate a step forward in Australia's green fuels industry and offer promising solutions for global sustainability.