Feed aggregator

Battery storage and other technologies are likely to take on all the system services once delivered by fossil fuel generators. Stephen Sproul from Hitachi ABB explains how.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Can batteries rule the grid? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Nearly 80% of all new coal-fired capacity commissioned in 2020 was in China, propping up the nation’s fossil fuel industry despite the promise to become carbon neutral in four decades, according to a report released Wednesday.

Antarctic bergs travelling north spark changes in ocean circulations and affect composition of our atmosphere

How does an ice age start? We know that changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun alter the amount of solar energy reaching our planet, but it has long been a mystery as to how this triggers such a dramatic change in the climate. A study shows that Antarctic icebergs may be responsible for tipping the balance.

Aidan Starr, from Cardiff University, and his team analysed sediments recovered by the International Ocean Discovery Program from the ocean floor south of South Africa. Within those sediments were tiny fragments of rock dropped by melting Antarctic icebergs. By studying the chemistry of the tiny deep-sea fossils found throughout the sediment core, the scientists were able to show that when climate conditions enabled icebergs to travel this far north they made the North Atlantic fresher and the Southern Ocean saltier.

Continue reading...

There are serious delays in tackling “critical” issues like air quality and wildlife loss, MPs say.

Australian invented hydrogen-to-heat catalyst gets a boost, with its inventors signing major MoU with Philippine government to deliver decarbonisation plan.

The post Australian invented ‘catalyst’ may be key to creating a global hydrogen economy appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Dasgupta Review up-ends economic assumptions about biodiversity loss, which is increasingly becoming a mainstream financial concern.

The post Gross domestic product is destroying nature, says landmark UK government report appeared first on RenewEconomy.

In trial dubbed "project symphony", Western Australia commits $35 million to its first major virtual power plant.

The post Western Australia to splash $35m on virtual power plant pilot appeared first on RenewEconomy.

It could cost a fraction of projected $200 million to transition federal government fleet, electric vehicle and energy consultancy firm Evenergi says.

The post Electrifying federal government fleet could be done at fraction of new cost estimates appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A bird problem-solving experiment has revealed how traffic noise impairs the animals' abilities.

Signs of first generation from Genex's new solar farm in NSW, as it parts ways with lead contractor for Kidston solar farm in Queensland.

The post Signs of life at new NSW solar farm, with first generation entering the grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Pioneering in the match of trackers and ultra-high power modules, Trina Solar offers the new-generation of Vanguard trackers compatible with 660W, 600W and 550W modules, leading to increased power gain, reduced LCOE and optimized system value.

The post Compatible up to 660W modules, TrinaTracker Vanguard Series Receive IEC Certification appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Oakey Coal Action Alliance, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, wins long-running legal case

Activists have had a victory in the high court, which has upheld an appeal to have the expansion of the New Acland coalmine in Queensland’s Darling Downs reassessed by the state’s land court.

The Oakey Coal Action Alliance, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, won its long-running legal case in a judgment handed down on Wednesday.

Continue reading...

High Court supports community group appeal against thermal coal mine expansion, saying previous decisions had been affected by "apprehended bias", including media coverage.

The post “Apprehended bias:” Community group wins High Court appeal against Queensland coal mine appeared first on RenewEconomy.

As ecologists, we've seen first hand how Australia's nature laws have permitted environmental degradation and destruction to the point of extinction. Don Driscoll, Professor in Terrestrial Ecology, Deakin University April Reside, Researcher, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland Brendan Wintle, Professor in Conservation Ecology, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne Euan Ritchie, Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Deakin University Martine Maron, ARC Future Fellow and Professor of Environmental Management, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

It's going to be a year of net zero talk. 2050 is a long time away, but net zero begins with the grid, and it must happen very soon.

The post Australia’s path to zero emissions starts with the power grid appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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

African wild dog pups are a dim black and look ancient, like old bronze, like the Capitoline Wolf

The African painted dog – also known as a wild dog or painted wolf – has ears that look as though they have been stitched together by a mad old toymaker. They are huge, bristly black disks – stretched upwards slightly and delicately pinned so that they form shallow bowls. At their bases are tufts of white bristles, for luck.

As a child in South Africa, I was forced more than once to watch – on a large pull-down projector screen in the school hall while it rained outside – Paljas, a uniquely, skin-crawlingly kitsch film set in a dusty railroad town that is visited by a travelling circus.

Continue reading...

AEMO told not to ignore the emerging role of 'prosumers', as it tries to get ahead of the technical challenges of the energy market transition.

The post ‘Don’t forget consumers’: AEMO told as it tries to meet engineering challenges appeared first on RenewEconomy.

What quantity of emissions would building new gas pipelines in Australia enable? A new report answers that question (It's a lot).

The post Chart of the day: The climate harm of Australia’s proposed gas pipelines appeared first on RenewEconomy.

EUAs jumped more than €2 to near-record levels above €35 on Tuesday, as reports of bullish fund managers and a strong auction pushed carbon to a technical breakout.