Latest
Trump’s green energy snub pushes global coal demand to record
The International Energy Agency also warned of signs of financial stress among some Australian thermal coal producers, squeezed between soft prices and rising costs.
Nuclear, offshore wind still more costly by 2050: CSIRO
Relying on solar power and onshore wind for new generation should provide the lowest-cost mix of technologies for 2030 and 2050, the science agency has found.
New Karoon boss says ‘no scenario’ where need for oil and gas ends
Carri Lockhart has given up most of her board seats to lead the Brazil-focused, ASX-listed oil producer and is confident in a long future for fossil fuels.
Loy Yang B coal set for long future after $6.5b Alinta sale
Singapore’s Sembcorp has given every indication the brown coal plant will run for many years, even as it fast-tracks Alinta’s renewables’ growth.
Coal-fired power until 2049 as energy grid costs rise to $128b
Coal power is now expected to linger in the National Electricity Market until 2049 in the latest blueprint for the power grid.
This Month
Rio and BHP slash billions from green projects, sparking outrage
The big miners will now spend as little as $2.2 billion, rather than $17.3 billion, on decarbonisation projects this decade.
Chevron, Gorgon partners give green light for $3b gas investment
The project will involve the development of two new offshore gas fields, the first major investment in the Gorgon LNG venture for more than four years.
Renewables go-slow shatters hopes for lower power prices
Households are likely to face higher power bills over the next 10 years because the pace of the clean energy build-out is too slow.
APA revs up gas power ambitions with $1b commitment
A new Queensland venture with a state-owned generator could be a model for the pipeline owner’s further investments in gas-based electricity, its CEO says.
AEMO warns of NSW blackouts if Eraring closes in 2027
Huge spinning machines needed to keep the state’s power grid stable when Eraring closes won’t arrive until after the generator’s 2027 shutdown date.
November
Snowy Hydro inks deals to drive renewables expansion
Contracts to buy wind power and battery capacity should move two major projects in South Australia and Victoria closer to construction.
CBA breaks into electricity hedging to ease transition pain point
Increasingly volatile wholesale power prices are driving appetite among the bank’s clients for tools to manage pricing risk through the clean energy move.
Lynas blames WA’s ‘unpredictable’ clean power for production downgrade
The Gina Rinehart-backed miner says blackouts caused by a shift away from diesel generators has curbed output of its rare earths.
EnergyAustralia plots $5b-plus transformation of ageing Yallourn plant
The country’s third-largest electricity and gas retailer wants the site of the coal power station, set to close in 2028, to become a new renewables precinct.
Looming east coast gas reserve could cut prices by 20pc
Labor is targeting a domestic reservation system that would ensure enough extra gas to bring down prices but not so much that producers rein in output.
ConocoPhillips strikes gas in closely watched Victoria drilling
The “encouraging” find, which could be the largest in Australia for several years, was reported by the US company and junior partner 3D Energi.
SunCable signs deal with traditional owners for giant solar farm
The 70-year “multi-million-dollar” agreement will allow for the construction of a 12,000-hectare solar farm on Powell Creek Station in the remote Northern Territory.
Data centre ambitions no obstacle to net zero: CDC CEO
Greg Boorer said unused capacity in Australia’s power system represented an opportunity to create an export industry that could dwarf the mining sector.
Waratah battery problem a ‘bump in the road’: GIP’s Stewart
Rob Stewart, managing partner of GIP Australia, part of the BlackRock group, plays down the impact of a transformer failure on the energy storage project.
Waratah super battery ‘failure’ reveals cracks in $1b contract award
Akaysha Energy won the right to develop the massive NSW storage project despite not having delivered a similar asset, a key criterion of the government auction.
$900m NSW solar-storage venture breaks renewables project drought
Octopus’ commitment to build the Blind Creek project east of Canberra is the first final investment decision in large-scale renewables since the June quarter.
Net zero tensions erupt on eve of Liberals’ party room showdown
A raft of Liberals are threatening to quit the frontbench if the term net zero is dumped, but broader tensions threaten to linger beyond policy resolution.
You know who believes in climate change? The sharemarket
Clean energy stocks and those that benefit from the rise in climate-fuelled disasters have absolutely trounced the S&P over the past five years.
‘Catastrophic’ failure delays massive $1b Waratah super battery
The BlackRock-owned development is the largest storage project in the world and a key part of the transition away from coal power.
The Nationals want to dump net zero. Why that’s harder than it looks
Critics of Australia’s emissions target say it is an expensive handbrake on the country’s prosperity. But abandoning it would not be cost free either.