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Origin Energy inks deal with South Korean consortium to install 4MWh battery at its 414MW Mt Stuart open cycle gas power plant, to use for emergency starts and to support the growing amount of renewables in Queensland's north.

A total of 77% of the state is either in drought or drought affected, while 23% is experiencing intense drought

The entire state of NSW is now impacted by drought, official figures show.

A drier-than-expected June and July has left many farmers with failing crops, a short supply of water and diminishing livestock feed.

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Global solar tracker pioneer expands business to high-growth markets with impressive results.

Protean Energy Ltd (ASX:POW), an energy company focused on the commercialisation of vanadium battery energy storage systems, today provided an update on the leading edge V-KOR vanadium battery technology

Richard Di Natale joins Labor in calling for money to be handed back

The awarding of $444m in taxpayers’ money by the prime minister to the small Great Barrier Reef Foundation without consultation “stinks” and the money should be handed back, the Greens have demanded.

The party leader, Richard Di Natale, joined Labor in demanding the return of the huge sum given to the private foundation – which had just six full-time staff – and called for the whole process to be put to tender.

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A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Musk says he has had enough of short sellers and "short term thinking" and wants to take Tesla private. The stock surges, short sellers gasp.

Two animals died and 14 people were injured after hailstones reported to be the size of baseballs hit a zoo in Colorado.

California state regulator ARB issued a proposal on Tuesday designed to prevent potential Trump administration rollbacks in federal vehicle efficiency standards from negatively impacting the state’s climate goals.

The Ontario government’s proposed legislation to rescind the law underlying the province’s ETS and GHG reduction targets could have serious legal, economic, and environmental ramifications, lawmakers from the opposition NDP party said on Tuesday.

The bird was one of five heron species that day, including the normally shy bittern

Looking like a snake with wings, the purple heron (Ardea purpurea) was surprisingly well hidden, perched in the dense foliage near the top of a tree. I was watching this scarce visitor to southern Britain from the hide at Noah’s Lake, on the Avalon Marshes, Somerset.

For me, this serpentine bird was a very welcome sight, as it was only the second I had ever seen in the UK, and the first in Somerset – having been on a fruitless wild goose chase after one a decade ago.

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Australia's distinctive native plants give our honey a distinctive stamp. Welcome to melissopalynology: the study of pollen. Kale Sniderman, Senior Research Fellow, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne Kia Matley, PhD student, University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The last month has seen deadly wildfires, monsoon rains and droughts hit several countries.

Subsidies similar to those for offshore wind could help meet emissions targets and boost exports, experts say

Britain should offer developers of mini nuclear plants subsidies similar to those made available to the offshore wind industry, an independent review commissioned by the government has recommended.

Britain needs to invest in new power-generating capacity to replace ageing coal and nuclear plants that are due to close in the 2020s, and is seeking low-carbon options to help meet its emission reduction targets.

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European carbon prices slipped below €17.50 on Tuesday as a weaker auction raised doubts that recent bullish momentum would sustain a renewed push towards a new seven-year high above €18.

Bar Council say planned new UK watchdog lacks teeth, as it will not be able to take the government to court

A new watchdog supposed to safeguard the UK’s environment after Brexit will lack the legal “teeth” necessary to hold the government to account, the country’s top lawyers have said.

Under current proposals, the body to be charged with overseeing the UK’s environmental protections would not be able to take the government to court, a key power under the current legislation which comes from the EU.

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Victoria demands 3-year time frame for emissions reviews for NEG, ACT lines up with a similar proposal.

EU utilities Uniper and CEZ remain behind their historical power hedging rates, their respective quarterly financial results showed on Tuesday, a potentially bullish indicator for EUAs as the companies may need to up their carbon buying over the rest of the year.

Anna Marsden tells ABC’s 7.30 the foundation is ‘uniquely placed’ to deliver government objectives

The head of the foundation given a $444m grant to protect the Great Barrier Reef said it is uniquely placed to fundraise and deliver environmental projects, in response to criticism from Labor about the grant.

Anna Marsden, the managing director of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, conceded the grant came as a “complete surprise” when first proposed by Malcolm Turnbull and the environment minister, Josh Frydenberg, but rejected Labor claims about the foundation’s fundraising record and plans for the money.

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More than 20 businesses and industry groups on Tuesday called on Australian state governments to back the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) at Friday’s crucial meeting, urging the administrations to treat the issue of the scheme’s emissions target separately.