July
No wind or sun? Try using compressed air and molten salts
“You want as many cards up your sleeve as you can,” says Hydro Tasmania chief executive Ian Brooksbank of emerging renewable generation technologies.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Origin Energy ups battery investments with $450m Eraring project
The second power storage system to be installed at the NSW Central Coast site will have more than double the duration of the first one.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Fortescue’s pivot shakes faith in Labor’s Hydrogen Headstart strategy
Power prices would need to drop steeply and electrolyser costs more than halve to produce hydrogen at anywhere near a competitive level, the industry has warned.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Akaysha signs $650m debt deal for giant NSW battery
The system to be built near Wellington will be one of the largest in the world. The BlackRock-owned group has also struck a supply deal with EnergyAustralia.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Snowy Hydro pushes gas power ambitions with major storage deal
The 25-year contract will underpin the expansion of the Iona project, and underscores expectations the fuel will remain part of the energy mix past 2050.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
HMC Capital chooses battery storage for first climate investment
David Di Pilla’s asset manager will pay up to $50 million for a controlling stake in StorEnergy, which is headed by a former Spark Infrastructure executive.
- Kylar Loussikian
June
Three big challenges for Australia’s net-zero transition
Addressing the missing middle, allaying community concerns and more government cooperation will all be critical to the future of the net-zero transition, according to energy experts.
- Ronald Mizen
The big equity problem in household EV charging
Gavin Dufty, executive manager of policy and research at the St Vincent de Paul Society, says the current electricity tariff system is not fit-for-purpose when it comes to EV charging.
- Ronald Mizen
- Exclusive
- Mergers & acquisitions
Renewables investing ‘not for everyone’, says Brookfield-target Neoen
Neoen global boss Xavier Barbaro says the capital intensity of the renewables industry is impacting investor appetite.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Rio Tinto punts on British start-up to plug renewables gap
The mining giant joined a $575 million investment round for Highview Power, which says its storage technology can firm renewable power.
- Hans van Leeuwen
May
Brookfield lands Origin Plan B with $10b Neoen bid
The French utility’s pipeline makes it the largest owner of renewable energy in Australia, six months after Origin dismissed the Canadian investment group.
- Ben Potter
Risk of summer blackouts in NSW, Victoria rises
Power users face an increased risk of summer shortages in NSW and Victoria due to delays in transmission lines and renewable projects, and large users may need to switch off plants to avoid blackouts.
- Ben Potter
Critics say Aussies can’t make cheap solar panels. This start-up says they’re wrong
The brains behind SunDrive say Australia has the material, the best resources, and even national security reasons, for keeping solar panel expertise here.
- Ben Potter
Can Australia become a green energy superpower? Five charts that say yes
The Albanese government is taking a big punt on its signature Future Made in Australia policy, betting $24.3 billion over 10 years in Tuesday’s budget – these charts show why.
- Ronald Mizen
The game changer on battery-making is still to come
The founder of Australia’s only lithium-ion battery-maker says a $523 million budget boost will help underwrite a boom in critical minerals.
- Ben Potter
The $13.6 trillion question: how do we pay for the green transition?
The private sector will have to provide about 70 per cent of climate finance globally, and the heat is building on governments to deliver policies that do that.
- Attracta Mooney
April
New gas supplies ‘needed’ says Bowen as Gippsland wind takes off
Energy Minister Chris Bowen believes Australia has no option but to seek new supplies of gas even as he green-lights six potential offshore Gippsland wind projects.
- Jacob Greber
Kean questions need for Eraring bailout
It will be the “NSW government”, not the renewables sector, that faces the music if sluggish wind, solar and transmission rollout leads to blackouts.
- Updated
- Jacob Greber
Solar pioneer raises $51m to make the sun shine after dark
A big oil player has pumped millions into an Australian solar upstart that uses giant mirrors, special PV cells and water dams to extend its operating hours.
- Peter Ker
Booming AI demand threatens electricity supply
Regulators are scrambling to factor the explosive growth of data centres into demand projections as one network warns of a 250 per cent surge in power needs.
- Ben Potter
