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New data shows wholesale electricity prices in one state fell by nearly 40% over the 2023-24 financial year, prompting calls for the new government to stick with the renewables plan.

The post Audit shows renewables driving down wholesale power prices in state where targets to be scrapped appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The West Australian Labor government has awarded its third round of funding for carbon farming and land restoration, with A$3.2 million ($2.03 mln) cash going to eight projects that will invest in fauna conservation, soil carbon, and reforestation.

South Australia smashes demand record but prices remain negative because wind and solar supplied nearly all its power needs, as main grid also hits new peaks in heatwave.

The post Wind and solar smash output records as grid demand hits new highs in midst of heatwave appeared first on RenewEconomy.

IEEFA's Amandine Denis-Ryan explains why new gas supplies are not needed in the long term, and why we urgently need a nationwide plan for electrification.

The post SwitchedOn Podcast: Pathway to electrification being blocked by fossil gas appeared first on RenewEconomy.

DT Infrastructure has been awarded the contract to deliver the Goulburn River solar farm by Lightsource bp.

The post DT Infrastructure to deliver Goulburn River solar farm for Lightsource bp appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The Victorian state government has published a draft guide for renewable energy project developers, proposing that each project must ensure there will be ‘no net loss’ to species of concern.

Nuclear is far from a reality in Australia. In the interim, Dutton’s plan would prop up coal and gas John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Report by EV Council expects popularity to double by 2026 due to influx of cheaper electric vehicle models and increased number of charging stations

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Electric vehicle sales have reached new heights in Australia, representing almost one in every 10 vehicles bought in 2024, with popularity expected to almost double over the next two years.

The latest annual state of EVs report, released by the Electric Vehicle Council, noted a 150% increase in sales compared with 2022, to the current sales share of 9.5% of new light vehicle sales – with about 110,000 estimated to have been sold in 2024.

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The Campaspe Shire Council is opposing the 500 MW Cooba solar farm, standing alongside its residents.

The post Victoria council to oppose solar and battery project amid worries about heat islands, views and farm impacts appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW company spun out of University of Newcastle tapped by US oil giant to collaborate on a real-world trial of its "clean steam" industrial heat technology.

The post Green steam: US oil giant taps Australian thermal storage start-up for “real-world” trial appeared first on RenewEconomy.

After 22 failed energy policies, the Coalition is being guided by a roadmap to higher bills and higher emissions

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On the front cover of Frontier Economics’ costings of the Coalition’s nuclear policy is a stock photo entitled fork in road, implying that we’re at some kind of juncture where we must decide between a nuclear or renewables path.

In 1969 John Gorton’s Liberal government chose the nuclear path with the construction of the Jervis Bay nuclear power plant project. As Gorton later said, “We were interested in this thing because it could provide electricity to everybody and it could, if you decided later on, it could make an atomic bomb.”

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Widespread heatwaves leave residents sweltering across South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales

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Temperatures across South Australia soared past 40C before 10am on Monday as widespread heatwave conditions hit Adelaide and Melbourne and had parts of New South Wales bracing to endure their hottest December day on record.

Jonathan How, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said Adelaide had already reached its forecast maximum of 38C by 10am, after only dropping to 29.8 degrees overnight.

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Peter Dutton's nuclear plan is being painted as a declaration of war against household energy systems, with rooftop solar having to be switched off on a near daily basis.

The post Solar switch off: Dutton’s nuclear plan amounts to declaration of war against household energy systems appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Renewables arm of global oil major weighs in on Australia's nuclear debate after kicking off construction on two latest "firmed renewables" projects.

The post Global oil giant starts work on huge Australian solar and battery projects, takes swipe at nuclear appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Tesla says Dutton's nuclear plan would result in "severe" curtailment of household rooftop PV, and argues there is little room for any "baseload" on Australia's main grids.

The post Tesla says Dutton’s nuclear plan will result in “severe” curtailment of household rooftop solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

At least 37 people appear to have been butchered and likely eaten in a Bronze Age massacre in Somerset.

Beak sizes increase, and body sizes decrease - but why? How we are slowly unravelling the mystery behind changing body shapes in Australian birds. Sara Ryding, Postdoctoral research fellow, Deakin University Alexandra McQueen, PhD Candidate in Behavioural Ecology, Monash University Matthew Symonds, Associate professor in Evolutionary Ecology, Deakin University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Ministers should be bold and radical in taking measures to boost demand in a key sector of the green transition

The resignation of the high-profile CEO of Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, was the latest sign of the ongoing crisis afflicting some of the world’s most famous carmakers, as they negotiate the historic transition to electric vehicles. Last month, Stellantis – the maker of Fiat, Vauxhall, Jeep and Peugeot cars – announced the closure of its Vauxhall van factory in Luton, in part blaming the impact of electric vehicles sales targets mandated by Westminster. Ford has announced it intends to cut 4,000 jobs across Europe, including 800 in Britain, citing sluggish growth in EV sales as a contributory factor.

For Labour, and for a sector crucial to the green transition, this is a crucial moment. The government has restored a 2030 cutoff point – kicked back to 2035 by Rishi Sunak – after which the sale of pure internal combustion engines will be banned. But car manufacturers are lobbying for a watering down of the terms of the zero‑emissions vehicles mandate (ZEV), which requires manufacturers to sell a rising proportion of EVs between now and then. Meanwhile, on the right, Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK seek to caricature the country’s net zero obligations as a virtue-signalling threat to prosperity and growth.

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Despite a clever comms strategy, there are significant credibility issues around the assumptions on which the cost estimates are based

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The Coalition has moved a considerable way on climate and energy since Scott Morrisson brought a lump of coal into the parliament and told us not to be afraid. On Friday, the Coalition finally released the long-awaited details of the nuclear plan it will take to the election and, once again, asks us not to be afraid – of the price tag, the higher climate pollution and a range of other variables.

However, despite a clever comms strategy, there are significant credibility issues around the assumptions on which the cost estimates are based, and there are other critical issues that have been left unanswered. Australians have a right to consider all the issues they are being asked to vote on, with facts rather than political rhetoric. These issues can be broadly listed under three headings: the economics, the environment and the law.

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Nicki Hutley is an independent economist and councillor with the Climate Council

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I’ve seen full bags tied to low-hanging branches and kids’ play equipment. It’s all deeply weird

This is about dog shit.

Dog shit and antisocial behaviour.

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