NewsBite

Ben Potter

September

Clean Energy - the bumpy transition

This special report looks at how Australia is tracking to meet net zero goals, and the new technology that can help us get there.

Anthony Woodyard, general manager of Armstrong Floorings, at its Braeside plant, which has 300 kilowatts of rooftop solar panels and is considering adding another 500kW.

This man’s $168k annual saving gives hope for net zero

Household rooftop solar has taken off, but small and medium firms have barely started. The huge reduction in the cost of solar panels and batteries may change that.

August

The power system remains under pressure despite trimmed forecasts for demand.

Pressure on power grid eases as EV uptake falters

The Australian Energy Market Operator also cited softer economic growth and the bigger size of rooftop solar systems for the cut in forecast demand from the grid.

Anthony Garnaut, CEO Zen Energy (right) and Ross Garnaut, director and investor in Zen Energy, at a former coal mine site at Nattai,  next to Lake Burragorang, where the company plans to build a pumped hydro plant. 
Photo: Nick Moir

Garnaut-backed Zen Energy sinks to $35m loss as volatile prices bite

Zen Energy, backed by Ross Garnaut, suffered volatile early-winter electricity prices and a near-$100 million loss on hedging contracts.

Viva CEO Scott Wyatt at an On the Run petrol station convenience store in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne. Photo: Louis Trerise.

Viva CEO Scott Wyatt rolling out EV chargers at his own pace

Mr Wyatt said Viva’s charger rollout matches the faltering uptake of electric vehicles, which works in the petrol station group’s favour.

Advertisement
Evie Networks’ EV charging station at Seven Hills, Sydney.

Evie Networks puts foot down on EV chargers

The company isn’t letting concerns about grid capacity constraints or a slowdown in EV sales derail plans to have almost 1100 chargers at 372 sites next year.

Ampol chief executive Matt Halliday with electric vehicle chargers at the company’s petrol and EV charging station in Alexandria, Sydney.  Photo Louie Douvis .

Power grid foils Ampol’s big EV charger plans

One of the country’s largest petrol retailers says it has become more difficult to connect to the power grid, at the same time as sales of EVs are sluggish.

  • Updated
The post-2030 review of the National Electricity Market will be crucial to ensure reliability in a wind and solar power-dominated grid.

Productivity Commission set to lead power market reforms

Paying generators not only for the power they produce but also their ability to plug supply gaps will be critical to ensure grid reliability as coal plants shut down.

The Miles government has pledged to build $26 billion of new clean energy.

Queensland’s CS Energy splashes on $1.3b wind farm

The state-owned company has agreed to buy the 285-megawatt Lotus Creek Wind Farm from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.

Solar panels.

Origin’s virtual power plant now as big as a coal power station

The company has claimed bragging rights over rival AGL for the largest virtual power plant in Australia – and perhaps the world.

AGL Energy CEO Damien Nicks at the Torrens Island battery, which chipped in $28m to AGL’s operating profit in its first nine months of operations. Photo: Roy Van Der Vegt

How AGL’s big battery bet on Firm Power will pay off

The surge is caused by huge expansions in manufacturing capacity, plunging battery cell prices and an urgent need for on-demand power.

Schneider Electric’s head of energy transition and sustainability, Lisa Zembrodt.  Photo by Justin McManus.

Early winter freeze, wind drought challenge climate targets

The Albanese government’s 2030 target for a 43 per cent reduction in national carbon emissions got off to a bad start in 2023 and hopes for a fall in the year to June have been jeopardised by coal’s surge.

Silva Capital founder and co-managing director Raphael Wood (foreground) with (L to R)  investment director Max Butler, co-managing director Brad Mytton and investment director Roger Cameron in Centennial Park, Sydney. Silva Capital is launching a high integrity carbon fund. Photo: Kate Geraghty

BHP, Rio and Qantas back $250m carbon fund to beef up emission offsets

The fund is being run by Silva Capital, itself a joint venture of agriculture-focused private capital investor ROC Capital and C6 Investment Management.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen ta the opening of SunDrive’s manufacturing plant in Kurnell. November 1, 2023. Photo: Rhett Wyman / SMH

Cannon-Brookes, Turnbull-backed solar maker cuts staff, replaces CEO

SunDrive, which also counts Blackbird as an investor, is restructuring its business at the same time as it courts global partners to expand its operations.

Woodside Energy’s Browse project is off the coast of Broome. It has already scrapped plans for an onshore LNG processing facility.

Woodside’s $30b Browse LNG project faces EPA knockback threat

The recommendation is not final and could be reversed after further negotiations, but a final rejection would be a blow to Labor’s long-term gas strategy.

  • Updated
Advertisement

June

Tom Villiers, general manager – delivery at Tilt Renewables, at the company’s Rye Park wind farm which is nearing full commissioning.   Photo: Martin Ollman 4th June 2024

How an energy ‘boot camp’ rescued this mega wind farm

Rye Park was running into trouble. Its backer – and key customer – needed its power but owner Tilt couldn’t get it to the grid. Enter AEMO.

Can investors de-risk the energy transition? It depends who you ask

Energy companies and big investors are pivoting to projects that can skirt the transition roadblocks, cut carbon and make money for shareholders.

Niny Borges: “I always apply myself, and I think that’s been my motto in life. Every opportunity is just work harder, and people recognise it, I guess.”

Meet the Timorese lawyer chasing Australian wind licences for Norway

A former refugee carried out of East Timor on her mother’s back has returned to Australia as country head of Norwegian energy giant Equinor to chase offshore wind licences.

May

David Atkin is chief executive of the Principles for Responsible Investment, a UN-backed lobby for socially responsible investing.

‘Every country is worried about what’s happening in the US’

ESG champion David Atkin runs a global organisation with 5300 signatories that manage a total of $US121 trillion – about half of global funds under management.

Neoen owns the Victorian Big Battery outside Geelong in Victoria.

Brookfield lands Origin Plan B with $10b Neoen bid

The French utility’s pipeline makes it the largest owner of renewable energy in Australia, six months after Origin dismissed the Canadian investment group.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/ben-potter-j7gdk