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Energy security

Today

Some major wind farms moved into construction last year.

$9b rebound in renewables projects keeps 2030 in sight

The December quarter extended a rebound in commitments to new clean energy projects, but the pace has to be maintained for another six years to meet 2030 targets.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith

Yesterday

Adam Bandt says he has “Dutton-proofed” the capacity investment scheme.

‘Dutton-proofed’: Greens-Labor agree to keep gas out of energy scheme

Liberals say the deal for the capacity investment scheme that underwrites new clean power projects is a preview of how an ALP minority government would run.

  • Updated
  • Phillip Coorey

This Month

Beach Energy’s Waitsia gas project in Western Australia is running late.

Beach CEO doubles down on gas strategy amid heightening Vic crisis

Brett Woods has said several parties are interested in joining Beach for power generation after the company disappointed the market with its dividend and outlook.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
LNG tankers.

How Australia’s gas boom turned into a nightmare

Our nation exports gas – but now we’re paying the price as a result of a huge and entirely predictable bipartisan policy failure.

  • Richard Holden

January

Australia hit a milestone in the December quarter with coal power supplying less than half the National Electricity Market for the first time.

Coal drops below 50pc for first time as solar powers to record

Renewables supplied a record 46 per cent of the National Electricity Market in the December quarter when a milestone was reached with coal power.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
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Woodside’s Louisiana LNG site.

Why Trump’s ‘drill, baby, drill’ mantra won’t work in Australia

The US president’s rationale that cheaper gas will power a manufacturing renaissance and reduce household bills can’t be applied to fix the energy woes here.

  • Tony Wood
Donald Trump views Europe’s chronic trade surplus with the United States as clear evidence of unfair competition, and will not back down on proposed tariffs.

Here are Europe’s three big fears in a Trumpian world

If it fails to adapt, the European Commission may end up looking like the Los Angeles fire department – scrambling after the damage has already been done.

  • Kenneth Rogoff
Chris Wright at a confirmation hearing last week. The incoming US energy secretary’s Liberty Energy is a big backer of Tamboran Resources.

Gas hopeful Tamboran pitches Trump on $8b outback data centre plan

The ASX-listed LNG developer is backed by incoming US energy secretary Chris Wright, and wants to power defence-focused digital infrastructure in the Northern Territory.

  • Matthew Cranston
An LNG cargo ship in Taichung, Taiwan. Taiwan’s CPC Corporation is a big investor in the Dorado field.

Santos puts massive West Australian oil and gas project on ice

The decision to stall the $3.2 billion Dorado development pushed the share price of smaller venture partner Carnarvon Petroleum down by as much as 27 per cent.

  • Updated
  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
Drilling at the Golden Beach gas project off the Victorian coast.

Vic gas squeeze opens up $1b storage opportunity

A gas storage project off Victoria’s coast has grown by 50 per cent amid a flood of demand from customers looking to stave off the risk of winter shortages.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
Tankers will arrive on Australian shores in 2026.

Time’s up? LNG imports destined for Australia next year

After years of warnings, importing gas looks to be the only way left to head off an energy shortfall in Victoria, a move likened to “importing sand to the Sahara”.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
An impression of a Westinghouse small modular reactor.

Costs, delays threaten ‘new era’ for nuclear power: IEA

Small modular reactors have the potential to be a “game-changer” but only if expenses can be slashed, the International Energy Agency says.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
Industrial action by tug workers could disrupt LNG exports from Gladstone over the next two weeks.

Gladstone industrial action threatens LNG exports

Any disruption to shipments from the Queensland port could temporarily boost gas supplies for the domestic market just as the ACCC is warning of potential shortages in the southern states.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the Capacity Investment Scheme will help Australia achieve its 2030 climate targets.

Green power scheme’s flaws emerge after making crucial progress

Action is needed to turbocharge the build-out of clean generation, but the shortcomings in Labor’s game plan mean 2030 climate targets remain in doubt.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
Squadron Energy has almost finished building an LNG import terminal in Port Kembla in NSW.

Gas price warning as winter shortages loom for Victoria

ACCC’s warnings that consumers face higher prices as the southern states start to rely on imports have been rejected by the country’s leading LNG importer.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
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Households with rooftop solar are partly insulated from the changes in the electricity market.

Power price surge adds to ‘headwinds’ for energy bills

Average wholesale electricity prices doubled in the December quarter, with NSW suffering the biggest jump amid a run of hot weather and coal unit outages.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
Laura Caspari, Managing Director of renewables at Engie

Engie woos data centres to set up near wind and solar farms

The French utility giant has ambitious plans to help meet Australia’s clean energy targets, but its executives say we need to think outside the box to get there.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith

December 2024

The Yallourn coal station in Victoria. Coal and gas plants dominate the market when solar is offline.

Energy grid’s power imbalance could blow out bills, AER warns

In a review to be released on Friday, the energy regulator also said the government should consider the need to diversify ownership as it underwrote projects.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
BHP suspended its WA nickel operations earlier this year after heavy losses, helping cut demand for gas in the state.

Nickel shutdowns ease WA’s gas shortage fears

While gas for Western Australia’s domestic users is adequate for the next few years, a shortfall may emerge in 2028, the market operator says.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith
EnergyAustralia executive, operations and projects, Sue Elliott, at the Mount Piper power station near Lithgow in NSW last Thursday.

EnergyAustralia’s fight for future of NSW coal plant

The large Mount Piper generator may be needed by the market for another 15 years, but in a vastly different role that will require policy support.

  • Angela Macdonald-Smith

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/energy-security-hxb