Greg Hunt this week toured innovative battery storage products, hailing the work of an agency he wants to de-fund, and announcing the sort of grants he wants to close. So when will the Coalition get serious about climate, clean energy and a vision for the future?
Greg Hunt wants Australia to lead world in battery storage, as it has in rooftop solar. Politicians and utilities now recognise that combination of solar and storage can cut emissions, and save money for consumers.
Solar continues to defy its doubters, with capacity being built cheaper and fast than anyone predicted. Solar capacity is now expected to rise 10-fold to 3.4 million megawatts by 2040, with more than 100 million off-grid households to access solar in developing countries by 2020.
Major utility says Australia could be world leader in uptake of solar-powered electric vehicles. Using the high penetration of rooftop solar, it recommends a series of initiatives to increase volumes and drive down prices. Brown coal generators are also in its sights.
WA energy minister instructs utility to close down 380MW of excess fossil fuel capacity, and hails the role of rooftop solar and battery storage in being able to reform a market weighed down by massive fossil fuel subsidies.
Buffett-owned MidAmerican Energy Co plans to develop a 2GW, $3.6 billion wind farm in Iowa, marking the biggest economic development project in the state’s history and taking its total wind power share to more than 40%.
Tasmanian senate inquiry hears state’s use of diesel power during its electricity crisis would cost Hydro Tas $22m a month, emit 256,000 tonnes of carbon pollution over 4 months, and turn the energy market on its head.
Australia’s clean energy history is a litany of mistakes, dashed hopes and failed plans. One potential success is the CEFC, but it needs to be less cautious.
After ten years of turbulence in climate and energy policy Australia is entering a crucial 18-month period.
Dear Malcolm, you must try harder. Your efforts on behalf of the community really are not good enough. Not by a long shot.
Poll of residents in Malcolm Turnbull’s Sydney seat of Wentworth finds strong support for renewables, despite the electorate having Australia’s second-lowest rate of rooftop solar uptake.
Peabody biggest and most dramatic of coal company failures, as new report finds that even “clean coal” has no role in a world aiming for less than 2C temperature rises.
ARENA grants ANU project $2.9m to install solar and battery storage at 40 homes on Tasmania’s Bruny Island, and use Australian-made software to trade electricity with the grid when needed during peaks.
Hitting the 50% renewables target is projected to add less than a dollar to the monthly electric bill of the average New Yorker.
Report suggests California regulators and the gas company are purposely scaring the community and legislature into putting the leaking storage facility back online.
