Zen Energy, backed by Ross Garnaut, has attracted a major Taiwanese investor, HD Renewable Energy Co, in a $43 million equity deal. This investment will enable Zen Energy to advance its battery storage projects in Australia, including the Templers battery and the Solar River solar-battery project in South Australia. Additionally, it paves the way for the company to expand into the North Asian electricity markets. The CEO of Zen Energy, Anthony Garnaut, emphasizes the importance of moving quickly in the energy storage sector, with plans to increase storage capacity, develop a green hydrogen division, and explore battery projects in Japan. The partnership with HDRE also opens up opportunities for Zen Energy to collaborate on energy storage and green hydrogen initiatives. Garnaut sees battery storage as a cost-effective insurance option compared to traditional hedging contracts, with batteries offering flexibility to benefit from negative prices and provide ancillary services. The company is also exploring the potential of green hydrogen for decarbonizing industrial processes in East Asia and Northern Europe. Zen Energy has signed agreements with Mitsubishi and Taiwanese firms like TSMC and Foxcon to explore green hydrogen projects and renewable energy sales. The company is also eyeing data centers as a key market for electricity supply, aligning its storage program with the growing electricity demand in Australia. Overall, Zen Energy's strategic partnerships and investments position it for significant growth in the energy storage and green hydrogen markets.