Simon Nicholas, Author at Renew Economy

Simon Nicholas

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Commentary

Dropping the ball on green hydrogen means counting on gas for iron and steel – and that’s a major risk
The SA government’s decision to disband its hydrogen body means the state’s iron and steelmaking will likely run on gas for longer. This is bad news.
Simon Nicholas

May 8, 2025

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Renewables

Iron ore giants’ green steel collaboration leaves carbon capture even further behind
Rio Tinto, BHP and BlueScope collaboration on making iron ore suitable for processes that don’t use coal, it’s becoming even clearer carbon capture and storage will not play a meaningful role in steel decarbonisation.
Simon Nicholas

Feb 13, 2024

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Markets

“Hard-to-abate” must not become code for delaying steel decarbonisation
Many steel company decarbonisation efforts offer little more than tinkering with existing coal-based technology, and are giving lip service to net zero emissions.
Simon Nicholas

Jan 24, 2023

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Smart Energy

German steel giant tech breakthrough to steer industry away from coal
ThyssenKrupp gives green light to plan to replace blast furnaces with low-carbon technology at Germany’s largest steelmaking plant.
Simon Nicholas

Sep 28, 2022

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Coal

Green steel technology is good news for emissions, bad news for Australia’s coal exports
As BHP seeks to open a new metallurgical and thermal coal mine, the long-term outlook for Australian coal exports is looking increasingly clouded.
Simon Nicholas

Aug 15, 2022

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Coal

Bylong Coal has lost its legal battle, and coal demand is losing the war
In the years KECPO has spent exploring legal avenues to mine coal in Bylong, South Korean energy policy has left the project behind.
Simon Nicholas

Feb 17, 2022

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Coal

China is backing more than half of world’s remaining coal power pipelines
China is looking isolated as the last enabler of global coal-fired power projects.
Simon Nicholas

Jul 26, 2021

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Other Good Stuff

NSW accepts thermal coal is set for major decline, now it needs to act
A moratorium on new thermal coal mining capacity is needed to avoid chaotic employment impacts.
Simon Nicholas

Jun 13, 2021

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Coal

Solar power is making huge inroads across Africa, but coal is creating headaches
May was a big month for solar power announcements in Africa – led by a 4GW solar proposal in Algeria – but coal projects are causing headaches.
Simon Nicholas

Jun 21, 2020

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Coal

Covid-19 is giving the thermal coal sector a look at its long-term future
Australian thermal coal prices are now at their lowest level since 2016. This week the price for high energy Newcastle thermal coal dropped to US$50.60 a tonne, down around 25% already since January.
Simon Nicholas

May 5, 2020

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Coal

Despite Bylong rejection, NSW still at risk of oversupply from new coal mines
Coal mine refusal is another red flag for KEPCO’s overseas coal projects.
Simon Nicholas

Sep 24, 2019

1
Coal

Australia’s biggest customers are abandoning coal-fired power projects
Australian government forecasts declining revenue from thermal coal, something they will need to come to terms with.
Simon Nicholas

Apr 3, 2019

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