Latest
- Exclusive
- Energy transition
The country’s biggest aluminium smelter says green target unreachable
Rio Tinto-backed Tomago, which uses more power than any other industrial operation in Australia, says renewable energy is too expensive and in short supply.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Dollars over barrels: Santos’ pledge to investors
A new dividend policy – which is underpinned by softer guidance for output – comes amid pressure on the oil and gas producer to lift investor returns.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think
Analysts have for decades severely overestimated energy demand and underestimated the speed of technological advances.
- Opinion
- Energy transition
Why the world’s biggest climate conference is a cynical scam
The COP process is now worse than superfluous: it has become a cynical exercise in moral blackmail against the West.
- Ambrose Evans-Pritchard
- Opinion
- Electric vehicles
America got the world driving. Now it’s going home
The US car industry is turning inwards again for the first time in a century. Detroit got the world on the road. BYD will inherit the earth.
- David Fickling
Yesterday
- Analysis
- Energy transition
No-shows and early exits make climate talks a sideshow
The world leaders who skipped Baku last week are all in Brazil now. While COPs are always fraught and fractious, this one feels at risk of sliding into irrelevance.
- Updated
- Hans van Leeuwen
QIC bets on Aussie climate tech companies, backs $200m VC
Queensland’s sovereign fund has joined Westpac and Clean Energy Finance Corporation in backing Virescent Venture’s second climate-focused fund.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
This Month
Coal miners halt climate fund donations citing lack of projects
Australia’s cashed-up coal miners have put the brakes on contributions to an industry decarbonisation fund and the decision will be reviewed “periodically”.
- Peter Ker
NSW idle in pragmatic shift on coal: Glencore CEO
Gary Nagle says the state, where Glencore is struggling to extend the life of a coal mine, has fallen behind the rest of the world in failing to adopt a more “neutral” position on the fossil fuel.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Santos’ own director queried use of ‘clean’ definition: ACCR
Then-director Peter Hearl’s querying of the company’s use of the word “clean” exemplifies how readers of its climate report have been misled, Federal Court hears.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Forrest makes ‘dollars and cents’ appeal to climate sceptic Trump
The US president-elect has already reached out to the Fortescue boss, who has switched from environmental rhetoric to the language of economic rationalism.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Oil and gas are ‘a gift of God’: COP29 leader
The Azerbaijan president’s opening speech was a striking start to the climate summit, already marred by uncertainty and absenteeism.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Turbines quieter than a fridge: The NSW rules to fix renewables delays
The new guidelines should cut approval times for large new wind farms in NSW that had blown out to almost a decade.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Carbon trading deal struck despite likely US exit from Paris accord
Carbon trading could help raise some of the cash developing countries need to adapt to the effects of climate change, and enable big polluters to cut emissions.
- Kenza Bryan, Attracta Mooney and Aime Williams
Nuclear ban holds Australia back from data centre opportunity
Craig Scroggie says without a ‘logical conversation’ on nuclear, Australia may miss an opportunity to grab an outsized chunk of the booming data centre industry.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Trump win could be good news for Australian energy transition
Investment bankers hope an expected pullback in Inflation Reduction Act support for green investments under the new Trump administration could help Australia.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Rebound in wind, solar projects revives slim hope for 2030 targets
More commitments were made to new wind and solar farms in the September quarter than in the whole of 2023, according to Clean Energy Council data.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Why no one is turning up to this year’s climate summit
COP29 is meant to land a $US1 trillion deal to fund poor nations’ fight against climate change. But political and business leaders are a widespread no-show.
- Hans van Leeuwen
Taiwan investor to open borders for Garnaut’s Zen Energy
The funding deal with HD Renewable Energy Co will enable Zen to progress battery projects in South Australia that will add needed storage to its portfolio.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Energy bill fears grow as transmission costs blow out
Billions of dollars of cost blowouts in transmission announced so far this year have fuelled worries about rising electricity bills for households and business.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Woodside acting on Scarborough gas emissions
The oil and gas producer has made investments to reduce emissions at the Scarborough project, and is examining bigger ones, including carbon capture.
- Updated
- Mark Wembridge and Angela Macdonald-Smith
Pressure on other countries to lead on climate after Trump win
Experts say Trump’s election means countries will need to engage with US businesses and states to ensure the energy transition continues.
- Hannah Wootton
Innovations that go above and beyond to meet customer needs
Endeavour Energy, the winner of the Established Business to Consumer category, has found customer expectations keep changing, requiring an innovative response.
- Christopher Niesche
Portal helps manage demand to douse power bill shock
Energy demand influencer Flow Power helps businesses capitalise on low-cost renewables, making it a leader in the Challenger Business to Business category.
- Sylvia Ramsey
Nuclear a ‘rent-seeking parasite’ that will push up power prices: Kean
The former NSW treasurer said the alternative energy source was “old outdated technology” and the industry just wanted a taxpayer-funded handout.
- Hannah Wootton