Latest
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
Gas ‘reality dawning’ for Victorian government, says exploration firm
Lakes Blue Energy chief operating officer Tim O’Brien has welcomed the Allan government’s public softening of its stance on gas.
- Gus McCubbing
Shell well flare in Qld fires up east coast gas hopes
An apparent success by Shell in the little-known Taroom Trough in Queensland has industry insiders excited about a potential large new source of gas.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
AGL, nation’s biggest carbon emitter, awarded stellar ESG rating
Influential proxy advisor CGI Glass Lewis says the Mike Cannon-Brookes-backed company is being transparent about its efforts to pivot to clean power.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
This Month
How to win over communities to renewables
The UK is considering incentives, such as cheaper power prices, to encourage communities to back renewables. Could it work here?
- Mark Ludlow
Warning on the growing solar panel scrap heap
The industry is nearing a tipping point as the nation grapples with unprecedented levels of waste.
- Nina Hendy
- Explainer
- Energy transition
How much water does nuclear really need?
The Coalition’s plan for atomic energy has raised concerns about the amount of water that reactors will use in a hotter and drier Australia.
- Christopher Niesche
Soil carbon capture surges as AI drives down costs
Artificial intelligence can reduce barriers to implementing soil carbon projects as ag tech creates new opportunities.
- Agnes King
This man’s $168k annual saving gives hope for net zero
Household rooftop solar has taken off, but small and medium firms have barely started. The huge reduction in the cost of solar panels and batteries may change that.
- Ben Potter
How this battery system can help the energy transition
The electricity grid is long on solar power and short on storage. This first of a kind battery service could be the solution.
- Sian Powell
Homeowners rush to buy batteries to avoid ‘sun tax’
Electricity companies are starting to charge homeowners for excess solar energy. Some owners are taking their power back.
- Nina Hendy
Seven ways to retrofit your home and slash energy bills
This homeowner cut her electricity bills to zero by upgrading a 1970s house to modern energy-efficient standards.
- Richard Pullin
Out of thin air: Solving the energy storage dilemma
Two first-of-a-kind technologies in Australia are firming up as options to crack the tough nut of energy storage that lasts much longer than batteries.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Activists seek to stir investor revolt at Woodside
Market Forces is urging shareholders to demand a board revamp at the oil and gas producer, citing a huge increase in emissions from its US LNG export plans.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
August
Power market ‘beginning to fail’, energy users say
Manufacturers say forecasts for slower EV uptake are a short-term reprieve and that the regular use of voluntary usage cutbacks shows the market isn’t working.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
South32 warns WA carbon emissions limits ‘way above’ reasonable
South32 has warned that the carbon emissions limits proposed by the WA government would far exceed those demanded by the federal government.
- Peter Ker
Pressure on power grid eases as EV uptake falters
The Australian Energy Market Operator also cited softer economic growth and the bigger size of rooftop solar systems for the cut in forecast demand from the grid.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Ben Potter
APA Group says customers to pay if pipeline regulated
The gas operator’s chief executive Adam Watson says a decision to subject a key Queensland pipeline to full price regulation will hit customers with higher bills.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Opinion
- Energy transition
How to keep Future Made in Australia out of the pork barrel
Industry policies rightly have a bad name. The government needs to tighten the wording of its FMIA bill if it wants to prevent abuse.
- Alison Reeve and Tony Wood
Snowy Hydro’s Kurri Kurri generator to run on diesel for months
The new 660-megawatt power station will begin operating in December but only switch to gas early next year, with green hydrogen now a long-term option.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Updated
- Earnings season
Woodside investor relief as payouts to remain ‘strong’
Analysts are expected to lift Woodside’s forecast yield after it clung to an 80 per cent payout ratio for shareholder returns.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Electricity
Garnaut-backed Zen Energy sinks to $35m loss as volatile prices bite
Zen Energy, backed by Ross Garnaut, suffered volatile early-winter electricity prices and a near-$100 million loss on hedging contracts.
- Ben Potter
Collapsed Queensland batteries maker draws early buyer interest
The descent of Redflow into administration follows similar collapses earlier this year of Tritium and Redback Technologies, which have both since been sold.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Viva CEO Scott Wyatt rolling out EV chargers at his own pace
Mr Wyatt said Viva’s charger rollout matches the faltering uptake of electric vehicles, which works in the petrol station group’s favour.
- Ben Potter
