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Energy transition

Yesterday

Genex Power’s Kidston pumped hydro project in North Queensland.

‘Big water battery’ wins backing in NSW storage tender

The success of a $1.8 billion project near Mudgee in a NSW underwriting tender for clean energy comes amid mounting evidence that pumped hydro can be difficult and costly.

This Month

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill in Sydney on Tuesday.

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.

Those savings could double to up to $3000 with batteries to store daytime solar energy for nighttime use and efficiency upgrades.

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.

APA Group chief executive Adam Watson.

APA eyes $2b gas grid expansion to avoid ‘disastrous’ LNG imports

The five-year plan will allow a 24 per cent increase in the gas piped south from Queensland and comes as the company posts a slump in bottom-line earnings.

The pumped hydro project is planned at Lake Borumba south of Gympie in Queensland.

Qld may shrink $18.4b hydro project to save venture

The Crisafulli government is considering scaling down the Borumba storage project after a blowout in costs in latest setback to Queensland’s energy transition.

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Synergy plans to close its Collie Power station in 2027 with Muja following two years later.

WA’s coal cliff: Industry warns of looming power shortfall

Western Australia’s transition away from coal will require substantial upgrades to its energy infrastructure, but industry says the state is fast running out of time.

Pacific Green’ Limestone Coast North battery project is due online in early 2027.
Supplied 21 February 2025

Pacific Green flags more battery sales after $460m Palisade deal

The US-based vendor regards its role as rapidly developing large-scale batteries to support the energy transition before selling them to infrastructure funds.

Geelong Port CEO Brett Winter says Australia’s entire offshore wind program is at risk if the Gippsland initiative is not successful.

Labor stand-off threatens $100b offshore wind rollout

At the heart of the dispute is where to develop the port facilities that would support the assembly and servicing of a field of huge turbines off the Gippsland coast.

Santos chief executive Kevin Gallagher. Santos and Woodside broke off merger talks in February.

Santos CEO urges government action to clear path for Narrabri gas

The plea comes after energy ministers tasked department officials to advise on how to tackle the escalating gas supply crisis in the south-eastern states.

An LNG tanker docked in Louisiana.

Revival of US LNG project complicates Woodside’s Louisiana purchase

The first gas venture granted an export licence by the Trump administration had a supply deal with the ASX-listed giant – which now has its own nearby project.

Part of the EnergyConnect transmission line being built between South Australia and NSW.

Key transmission project’s $1.5b blowout points to bill shock pain

Energy users are concerned they will have to pay for the rising cost of the EnergyConnect development, a crucial link between renewable generation and the grid.

US president Donald Trump cannot hope to maintain America’s energy supremacy while also bringing Russia in from the cold

Peace in Ukraine would crush energy prices

President Donald Trump cannot hope to maintain America’s energy supremacy while also bringing Russia in from the cold.

Alinta Energy’s Loy Yang B coal plant in Victoria could become more valuable as other plants shut, analysts syggest.

Growing Alinta considered ripe for M&A

The electricity and gas supplier that has attracted interest from KKR now has 1.1 million customers on the east coast and posted a surge in profits last year.

Origin Energy CEO Frank Calabria.

Origin CEO calls for focus on ‘critical’ energy security

Frank Calabria’s comments came as Origin posted a small beat in first-half earnings but downgraded expected full-year profits from fast-growing Octopus Energy in the UK.

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.

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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.

Shemara Wikramanayake, chief executive officer of Macquarie Group Ltd.

Banks must hold firm on net zero

Macquarie’s decision to exit the Net Zero Banking Alliance risks its bottom line and leaves its carefully built reputation as a green bank in tatters.

AGL Energy chief executive Damian Nicks at the company’s SA batteries project. The battery, and another in NSW, added $17 million to the company’s bottom line in the first half of the financial year.

AGL prepares a big battery bet to capitalise on energy volatility

The electricity and gas utility says returns are rising on storage projects as it prepares to tick off an estimated $1.5 billion spending plan over 18 months.

FIRB exemptions for new wind and solar farms are also taking longer.

FIRB go-slow on China approvals hindering capital flows

Closer scrutiny of Chinese investment in Australia’s energy transition is also slowing the development of new wind and solar farms, lawyers say.

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas, Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell and Beach Energy CEO Brett Woods at the Moomba CCS opening on January 31.

Australia is throwing away a $600b carbon capture opportunity

Australia is rapidly losing ground in carbon capture and storage, putting at risk the net zero emissions by 2050 and forfeiting a $600 billion opportunity.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/energy-transition-1ni0