This Month
Coalition to water down vehicle efficiency scheme
Peter Dutton says a Coalition government would not enforce penalties for a scheme designed to encourage the take-up of electric vehicles.
Tariff war compounds fear over transmission cost blowouts
Evidence is clear that big energy projects are already costing more and more, and the breakdown of global trade will worsen it. But there is a silver lining.
Qld scraps renewables goal, backs coal, vows to hit net zero anyway
Queensland has confirmed it will scrap legislated climate targets and burn coal plants for longer in a policy shift to focus on affordability and reliability over environmental sustainability.
‘No hope’: Shock coal plant extensions to drag on 2030 climate targets
The Crisafulli government’s plans to wind back the state’s climate goals are likely to put Australia’s Paris targets further out of reach.
Battery policy makes ‘economic sense for everyone’
Labor’s pledge to subsidise new home batteries is expected to charge take-up, help households save on their energy bills, and reduce the time it takes to pay them off.
New LNG terminal would need major dredging, rival warns
Royal Vopak has released a technical review by maritime experts DNV containing warnings about the environmental impact of the proposed facility.
Gas giants to face export levy if they don’t supply domestic reserve
Nationals leader David Littleproud says a Dutton government will levy a charge on gas headed for the Asian spot market if the exporter is not sending enough to the domestic market.
Chinese $800m-plus solar deal collapses after FIRB delays
Lightsource bp is now seeking an alternative buyer for five Australian solar farms after ending a deal to sell to Beijing Energy International.
March
Victorian energy shortage fears drive $400m investment in gas venture
Buyer interest and higher prices provide confidence in what is the largest new project in the south-east, said Amplitude Energy chief executive Jane Norman.
Victoria’s gas switch to cost households $5.8b: report
The Allan government’s plan to force people to replace broken down appliances with electric ones could cost more than first thought, according to new research.
How a Trump energy darling got it so wrong
A disastrous IPO, disputes with major clients and disappointing inaugural results have burnt investors and raised doubts about Venture Global’s ability to deliver.
Time to take politics out of the energy debate
Spreading misinformation about the impacts of offshore wind takes advantage of, and feeds into, legitimate community concerns and apprehensions.
Forrest allegedly chased coal plant buy to ‘influence’ key US senator
Internal documents suggest Fortescue considered a $200 million deal based on its relationship with a US politician, whose IRA support was crucial to it passing.
Victorians warned to expect energy shortages and higher prices
Victorians face a catastrophic risk of energy shortfalls and more than doubling of prices over the next 10 years, according to modelling released by Infrastructure Victoria.
Victoria warned about risky funding to revive wind farm plans
The Allan government is being warned not to use a contracts-for-difference funding model to revive its plans for the struggling Gippsland offshore wind farm zone.
Victoria’s offshore wind plans in chaos after Bowen’s rejection
The Victorian opposition warns the state’s $100 billion offshore wind rollout is in chaos after federal Labor rejected the country’s second-most advanced project in Gippsland.
February
ACCC picks fight with gas exporters over domestic supplies
Competition cop Gina Cass-Gottlieb says Queensland gas exporters plan to use increasing amounts of domestic gas to meet commitments to foreign buyers.
Woodside laments NW Shelf future under minority government ‘nightmare’
Meg O’Neill said consumers would suffer if the Greens and teals demand the North West Shelf gas venture closes in 2030 as a condition for supporting a minority Labor government.
Qld urged to flip giant power line project to save money
The state-owned company in charge of delivering an enormous transmission line in Queensland has asked the government to approve a change in direction for a project blasted by APA Group as economically “horrendous”.
Repurpose electricity bill rebate to subsidise rooftop solar instead
Rather than temporary solutions, we can do something more permanent that can take energy costs almost entirely out of the picture.