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TagEnergy starts work on the first of 122 turbines for the first 756MW of the massive Golden Plains wind farm, and is laying foundations for its big battery.

The post First turbine goes up at Australia’s largest wind farm, foundations laid for big battery appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Offsets are meant to restore land elsewhere to make up for lost habitat. Developers can make payments to the state to cover the costs of this work, but a new study finds there’s usually a shortfall. Jonathan Rhodes, Professor of Ecology, The University of Queensland Shantala Brisbane, PhD Candidate, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Almost 200 bird species found to build nests with human litter, including cigarette butts, plastic bags and fishing nets

Birds build nests with rubbish like cigarette butts, plastic bags and fishing nets, scientists say, raising fears for the safety of their chicks.

Research shows 176 bird species have been found to build nests with human litter, including items that hurt them and their offspring.

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The pace of change in some of the world's biggest grids is accelerating, but in Australia the transition is facing problems for governments and agencies.

The post Wind and solar eat fossil fuels in Europe and US, but it’s a slow burn in Australia appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Woodside Energy Group has doubled the amount of international credits it surrendered in the last financial year, according to a new report by the Clean Energy Regulator, as Australian companies saw mixed progress in meeting their climate and clean energy targets.

Regulator reports higher voluntary surrender of LGCs as proof that companies are really buying renewable electricity. But others say the numbers still don't add up.

The post Corporates make “tangible” switch to renewables, but some still play market games appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Backed by the likes of Bill Gates and Andrew Forrest, approved iron air battery is one of two set to replace retiring coal power plants.

The post Billionaire-backed 100-hour iron-air battery gets go ahead to help replace coal appeared first on RenewEconomy.

There’s more than one factor at work as our warming planet kicks into overdrive.

The post The world just broke a stunning slew of heat records. Why right now? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Humans must kill animals in many cases, but they can still modify their behaviours to improve the welfare of animals while they are alive. Benjamin Allen, Wildlife ecologist, University of Southern Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Siemens woes deepen with another big blade failure. At least two Australian wind farm projects are considering models from the same series.

The post Wind turbine maker’s woes multiply as massive blade breaks off in Brazil appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scientists are concerned about the environmental impact if commercial deep sea mining begins.

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

An Australian bank has made an equity investment in a local carbon and natural capital investor as part of a successful A$220 million ($147 mln) Series A capital raising, it announced Monday.

A Belarusian group, through former South African President Jacob Zuma, has donated 2 million questionable carbon credits towards Zimbabwe’s nascent emissions trading efforts.

Malawi has ordered a review of all carbon projects in the country, making it the latest African nation to seek more control and possibly a greater share of voluntary credit sale revenues.

Carbon trading scheme for aviation fuel proposed to help Australia meet 70 per cent emissions cuts by 2035.

The post Jet fuels emissions scheme proposed as part of bigger climate target for 2035 appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Earth draws parallels between human impact on climate and volcanic eruptions that ripped through planet’s crust 250 million years ago

The “terror factor” generated by the new BBC series Earth – which re-creates a climate change event that wiped out most species 250 million years ago – could help “spur us on to do something” about the environment crisis, according to its presenter, Chris Packham.

Using the latest scientific discoveries and visual effects, the BBC’s “biography of Earth” shows the parallels between a deadly change in the atmosphere caused by a series of cataclysmic supervolcano eruptions millions of years ago and mankind’s fossil fuel emissions, which Packham explains are “destabilising … with terrifying rapidity” Earth’s protective layer of gases.

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Scheme aims to raise standard of insulation in 19m of the UK’s leakiest homes

Labour has said that job opportunities for almost 4 million workers would be created under its plan to bring 19m of the UK’s leakiest homes up to an acceptable standard of insulation.

While it has previously said that the plan would reduce annual household energy bills by up to £500, the party has set out details of what it said would be a major expansion of the retrofitting workforce.

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Many hoped the economic recovery from COVID would steer global development towards a greener footing. But CO₂ emissions from China, the world’s biggest emitter, are worse than before the pandemic. David Stern, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Khalid Ahmed, Visiting Fellow, Australian National University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Group thanks woman who threw confetti at former chancellor’s wedding but urges people to focus on ‘out of control’ global heating

Just Stop Oil has applauded a woman who threw orange confetti at the wedding of the ex-chancellor George Osborne but denied that it, as a campaign group, was responsible.

The protest took place as Osborne and his bride Thea Rogers left a church in the village of Bruton, Somerset on Saturday.

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