Global battery storage companies prepare to fight proposed Australian standards that could effectively ban battery storage from homes and garages, and put major dent into Australia’s claims of being first mass-market for the technology.
Coal-reliant NSW faces rolling blackouts as accusations fly in South Australia
Coal-dependent NSW faces rolling blackouts on Friday as temperatures soar to 45C, after similar problems in renewable-rich South Australia. But the biggest problem is that we get dumb politics, and a dumb grid because of it.
Hazelwood to close as energy transition gathers pace in Australia
With no economic option to clean it up, and no buyer, the French owner of Victoria’s Hazelwood coal power plant has confirmed it will close in March 2017. Engie also looking to sell Loy Yang B coal plant, and WA Kwinana gas station, as it transitions to low-carbon generation.
AGL taps government investment funds to help it meet RET obligations
AGL Energy taps two govt-owned funds for new renewables investment vehicle it will use to defray costs of developing new projects.
Solar households miss out as big generators profit from price hikes
Australia’s biggest utilities are passing on the surging cost of the country’s predominantly coal-fired grid to consumers at the start of the new financial year, but it seems pretty clear that many solar households are missing out.
Victoria aims for 40% renewables by 2025, to add 5,400MW wind and solar
Victorian govt to use reverse auctions to reach 40% renewable energy by 2025, underlining the policy divide between Labor and conservative governments. The target will require 5,400MW of new wind and solar capacity to be built in less than a decade.
West Australia flags end of centralised energy network
Western Australia finds itself at the cutting edge of energy market reform, and its main grid operator is imagining a future totally different from the past – where many towns and cities look after all or most of their energy needs with renewable-based microgrids.
Coal generation hits 3-year high in Australia following carbon price repeal
A two-year high in black coal output helped deliver a continued rise in emissions on Australia’s NEM, and pushed coal to 75.6% in the generation mix.
Australia’s big fail on climate and energy policies
Australia is going backwards in climate and energy policies and is being accused of deliberately throttling the renewable energy industry, and of gilding the lily on its Direct Action achievements. Meanwhile, pressure mounts for global climate targets to be even more ambitious.
10 things we learned … about Abbott’s contempt for climate
In the Orwellian world of the Abbott government, coal is good, wind is bad; a cut in renewables is not a cut but an increase; and spending 1/4 of its carbon budget on just 15% of its target is not so much a failure as a resounding success and a blueprint for the world to follow.
