Today
- 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
This Month
Trump’s new energy secretary linked to Beetaloo Basin gas project
Chris Wright’s Liberty Energy is behind the fracking fleet used for extraction from developing fields in the Northern Territory.
- Updated
- Matthew Cranston
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
October
Luring investment in Aussie hydrogen a tough task: King
Resources Minister Madeleine King says drawing Japanese investment in Australian hydrogen projects was difficult because of existing global subsidies.
- Updated
- Jessica Sier
Batteries, solar and maximising the grid pushed to save 2030 target
The Albanese government will need further measures to boost the uptake of renewable energy, or miss its 2030 target, climate tsar Matt Kean has warned.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Phillip Coorey
NSW to introduce 2034 target for long storage
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe says the legislated goal will show investors the government has a long-term commitment to storage.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Phillip Coorey
Energy, manufacturers urge Bowen to rethink on gas
A call to include gas in the Capacity Investment Scheme has exposed divisions between the industry and Chris Bowen
- Phillip Coorey and Angela Macdonald-Smith
Senegal oil powers record quarter for Woodside
News of the rapid ramp-up of the new oil project came as the International Energy Agency warned about locking in fossil fuel use.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Relief rally for APA on gas pipeline decision
Energy-intensive manufacturers say the ruling still leaves them worried about supply shortages in the southern states.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Cashed-up NSW coal power owner jilted by banks
Sev.en Global’s Delta has requested an urgent change to the rules for the electricity market after being unable to extend a bank guarantee because of its coal links.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Power prices surge as renewables output flatlines
A drop in output from solar farms and another increase in coal power output in the third quarter add evidence of the road bumps in the energy transition.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
September
Dutton’s nuclear policy put to the test
Several of the fundamental arguments made by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to underpin the Coalition’s nuclear policy do not convince independent energy experts.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Cannon-Brookes’ Grok fails to back AGL board on exec pay
The decision by Mike Cannon-Brookes’ private company to abstain on the remuneration vote signals tensions over emissions reduction plans are unresolved.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Coalition nuclear policy relies on coal for longer than experts expect
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has conceded that the Coalition’s nuclear policy relies on an extended use of coal power and a sharply increased role for gas power.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Phillip Coorey
- Exclusive
- Carbon challenge
Shell says ‘dysfunctional’ rules putting energy transition at risk
The London-listed group’s local chairwoman, Cecile Wake, says high hurdles for its gas projects are now emerging in its big renewable generation portfolio.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Analysis
- Nuclear energy
Nuclear debate stalls as detail goes missing in action
The information vacuum includes the costings behind the Coalition’s nuclear vision and a realistic assessment from Labor about the problems in the way of 2030 climate targets.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
WA opens narrow window for onshore gas exports
The Cook government’s revised policy may not be enough to achieve the aims of encouraging more gas exploration and development, some commentators say.
- Tom Rabe, Angela Macdonald-Smith and Brad Thompson
Australia and Germany in $660m hydrogen funding initiative
Chris Bowen has rejected commentary about the death of hydrogen industry, claiming production could reach a million tonnes a year in five years.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and James Hall
Renewables record tumbles but may be close to pause
Renewables’ share of generation hit a fresh record on Monday, but with coal plants having to run at minimum levels it may be near a temporary limit.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Origin reworks coal power stalwart for final years
The giant Eraring coal generator faces a dynamic last few years to cope with the influx of renewables as the baseload site reinvents itself.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith