Grant King’s new attack on renewables – and the carbon price – was expected by most in the industry. It underlines the fear that Australia’s utilities are not ready to evolve, unless there is strong political leadership. Sadly, there is not much chance of that.
Origin Energy is still unhappy about the CCA ruling on the renewable energy target, and the issue of cost. In the meantime, its earnings suffer from falling demand – the result of intense competition and the impact of solar PV – while its full-year profits will be hit further by the impact of hot weather in January, when everyone switched on the air-con.
Origin Energy’s surplus of renewable energy certificates now extends to 2015/16, so it’s in no hurry to sign PPAs. Plus, Grant King on energy demand, gas and coal export parity, and its portfolio of clean energy projects.
Origin Energy ends R&D on Sliver solar technology, but says profits from Australian PV business rebounds despite fall in installations.
As predicted, Origin Energy is using the reduced electricity demand forecasts for a new assault on the renewable energy target, and green energy schemes in Australia are now under attack at both utility scale and on the rooftop. But is the scale of the RET actually up for review?
Origin Energy considers writing off its $134m investment in Sliver PV technology, after closing US-based Transform Solar plant.
2012 will be a critical year for cleantech in Australia. Costs for many technologies are falling rapidly, but critical decisions will be made about renewable energy targets and support mechanisms. Here, the heads of Pacific Hydro, GE, Infigen Energy, Better Place, Origin, First Solar, Carnegie Wave, the Grattan Insitute, the CEC and the SEAA share their predictions.
Origin Energy slams grants-based schemes, saying they are a boon to lawyers and consultants, but not for emerging technologies.
Origin’s wind energy analysis based on hot air
Origin Energy’s Grant King used data from a single hot day to question the capabilities of wind energy. A closer look tells a different story.