Michael Barnard

Contributor

Michael Barnard is a climate futurist, company director, advisor, and author. He publishes regularly in multiple outlets on innovation, business, technology and policy.

Commentary

How solar and big batteries are shaping a new global gas market reality – and what it means for Australia
Gas power’s business model is disappearing. Solar has cut into daytime operation. Batteries are starting to take the rest. And that’s bad news for Australian LNG.
Michael Barnard

Dec 3, 2025

10
Commentary

Australia’s comfortable advantage in geothermal heating and cooling
The energy transition is not only about wind turbines and solar panels. It is also about using the most stable, abundant and local energy source available: Geothermal.
Michael Barnard

Nov 7, 2025

3
Commentary

Port Augusta’s new solar tower power project: Clever engineering, but is it a decade too late?
A new attempt to build solar power towers near Port Augusta looks like clever engineering. But given the success of PV and batteries, is it already too late?
Michael Barnard

Oct 15, 2025

8
Commentary

When Asia says no to LNG: The shrinking markets that could leave Australian cargoes stranded
The risk of stranded assets grows with every gigawatt of wind and solar installed in Asia.
Michael Barnard

Sep 25, 2025

8
Commentary

Unthinkable a decade ago, mass timber is one of Australia’s biggest opportunities to slash emissions
Mass timber is a proven path to decarbonise construction while speeding delivery and supporting regional manufacturing – and Australia has the ingredients to lead.
Michael Barnard

Sep 8, 2025

6
Commentary

Why electrification must be at the heart of Australia’s building plan
The policy decisions taken in the next decade will determine whether the Australia’s building sector is still clinging to gas or fully part of the clean energy future.
Michael Barnard

Aug 27, 2025

2
Commentary

Small metals, big stakes: Inside Australia’s smelter reset
When a government puts public money into century-old smelters, it is not nostalgia. It is a bet that processing capacity in friendly jurisdictions matters as much as mines.
Michael Barnard

Aug 11, 2025

3
Commentary

“Price is Wrong:” PC advice has good intentions, but risky outcomes for renewables
The Productivity Commission assumes removing subsidies will bring private capital into renewables despite continuing profit uncertainties. A new book makes clear this scenario is unlikely.
Michael Barnard

Aug 5, 2025

4
Commentary

Major project cancellation exposes fatal flaws in Australia’s hydrogen export strategy
The hydrogen export dream has faded, but Australia’s real hydrogen opportunity, practically and economically sound, remains within reach.
Michael Barnard

Jul 16, 2025

3
Commentary

Australia’s steel future is green, but it won’t be delivered by hydrogen
Australia does have a credible zero-carbon steel opportunity, and rests on three different processes. But it does not revolve around hydrogen.
Michael Barnard

Jun 30, 2025

16
Commentary

The hidden climate and energy costs of Woodside’s LNG extension
By extending Woodside’s NWS facility another 45 years, Australia is underwriting an emissions future rivalled only by the entire transport system.
Michael Barnard

Jun 16, 2025

6
Commentary

The end of Australia’s iron ore boom, and the rise of green steel
Shifting just 20% of Australia’s iron ore exports to green steel products could potentially increase annual export revenues by tens of billions of dollars.
Michael Barnard

Jun 2, 2025

17