The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced a $17.2 million funding initiative for Mars Petcare to establish a renewable energy plant in their Wodonga manufacturing facility. This project will feature concentrated solar thermal technology, marking an Australian first in its deployment. By utilizing concentrated solar thermal as a heat source, the initiative aims to assist industries in reducing their emissions. The project at Mars Petcare's facility will showcase a shift to 100% renewable power through a combination of solar, thermal energy technologies, and hydrogen. Darren Miller, the CEO of ARENA, expressed excitement about partnering with Mars Petcare to highlight the potential of concentrated solar thermal for Australian businesses. This move is crucial as industries account for a significant portion of Australia's total emissions. The project is also set to serve as a blueprint for other industrial facilities seeking to generate renewable heat onsite, especially where land constraints limit photovoltaic use. The Wodonga Concentrating Solar Thermal & Thermal Energy Storage Project, with a total investment of $39.3 million, will be a groundbreaking endeavor in Australia. The initiative will see the deployment of parabolic trough concentrated solar thermal technology for industrial processes, making it a significant global deployment in solar heat utilization. Mars Petcare will utilize this technology to decarbonize its Wodonga facility, providing steam-based manufacturing on a large scale. The project's use of a steam thermal energy storage system ensures continuous process heating, even in the absence of sunlight. Additionally, the project's reliance on water as a heat transfer fluid and storage medium eliminates the need for thermal oil systems commonly used in similar plants. This collaborative effort between Mars Petcare, ARENA, and the Australian government highlights the commitment to innovative renewable energy solutions in industrial settings. The project not only contributes to sustainability goals but also sets a precedent for future endeavors in the renewable energy sector.