This Month
NSW offshore wind blown off course amid global uncertainty
A global renewables developer recently targeted by the Trump administration has delayed its Australian offshore wind plans.
Cost of Victoria’s renewables grid plan understated by at least $16b
The state government has not been upfront about the $20 billion it will likely cost to build its new renewables grid, experts say.
May
North West Shelf green light signals warming to gas
It’s welcome acknowledgment gas will play a key role in the important net zero energy transformation that is proving longer, harder and more costly than first thought.
Sydney data centre ban ‘risks driving investment offshore’
The decision to prohibit new data centres at Macquarie Park is the latest flashpoint as governments and regulators try to manage the sector’s runaway growth.
Nuclear fantasy gone but renewables reality remains
Labor was able to bury the Coalition’s plans for a nuclear energy future. But now the high costs of Australia’s energy challenge are coming back into focus.
Regulator signs off on 10pc jump in electricity bills as costs rise
The Australian Energy Regulator said that almost every part of the transmission network was becoming more expensive as it allowed prices to rise this year.
Grid operators eye new rules for power-hungry data centres
The energy market operator has requested the changes as a surge in artificial intelligence processing creates concerns about the stability of the network.
AGL-backed smart energy platform buys Beige to fuel growth
UK tech platform Kaluza, which manages energy supply and billing, has bought Melbourne-based Beige Technologies to broaden its commercial offering.
Consumers face higher prices in Bass Strait electricity stand-off
A dispute over the future of the only electricity cable linking Victoria and Tasmania could spill over into consumer energy bills.
How Xi Jinping sparked China’s electricity revolution
Beijing’s aggressive pursuit of energy self-sufficiency could give it the upper hand in the trade war with the US.
Victoria proposes multibillion-dollar renewables build
The Victorian opposition says the Allan government’s plan to build seven new renewables energy zones is expensive and short on detail.
Gas companies ask for seat at the subsidy table
The industry lobby says a major review of the electricity market should be considering government support for new gas power generation.
The ‘energy warlords’ saving thousands on their power bills
Sydney management consultant Calvin Yeoh says he has shaved thousands of dollars off his energy bills by fully electrifying his home.
NSW grants vast solar, wind build three times its biggest coal plant
Ten renewables projects announced on Thursday will produce three times as much energy as the state’s biggest coal-fired power station.
Alcoa CEO pushes for nuclear and gas, says batteries can’t save smelters
Alcoa chief Bill Oplinger has distanced himself from Rio Tinto’s suggestion that aluminium smelters could run on a mix of renewables and batteries in the future.
April
Why Spain’s unprecedented power collapse could happen again
The massive outage this week raises concerns about the resilience of infrastructure in Europe and implications for moves away from fossil fuels.
The five seconds that plunged Spain into darkness
A key point of concern is the role that renewable power played in the outage with Spain a leader in rolling out wind and solar generation.
Rio warns of ‘material uncertainty’ over Bell Bay smelter’s future
Despite six years of negotiations, the mining giant and Hydro Tasmania have not reached a deal over power supply for the aluminum operation beyond December.
‘Stop’: Home battery sales crater as buyers wait on rebate
Installers say home battery sales have tanked since Labor unveiled its subsidy package, creating short-term cash flow and planning difficulties for firms.
Mystery blackout forces Spain, Portugal to cope with life off the grid
An unprecedented and massive blackout hit both nations overnight, cutting off everything from metro trains to ATMs for 50 million people.