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This week, unusually widespread thunderstorms are expected to bring rain, hail and intense winds to swathes of southern Australia. Here’s why – and what threat they can pose. Andrew Brown, Research Fellow in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne Andrew Dowdy, Principal Research Scientist in Extreme Weather, The University of Melbourne Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Some of Sydney's most popular swimming spots including Coogee and Gordons Bay beaches will remain closed after thousands of mysterious balls washed ashore. Preliminary test results identified the dark spheres as 'tar balls' – which are formed when oil comes into contact with debris and water, usually as a result of oil spills or seepage. Addressing reporters on Thursday, Randwick council mayor Dylan Parker said the beaches will stay closed while further investigations are carried out by government agencies. Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches had also closed 'out of precaution', Waverley council said in a statement on Thursday

• Mysterious tar balls washing ashore force closure of seven beaches in Sydney including Bondi

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Supermarket will buy almost two-thirds of the energy generated by the new £450m Cleve Hill solar park in Kent

Tesco has struck a deal to buy enough solar power to run 144 of its large supermarkets, buying almost two-thirds of the entire electricity output from the Cleve Hill solar park in Kent.

The £450m solar park is being built on farmland near Faversham by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, a London-based firm that invests in renewable and low-carbon energy in the US, UK and Australia.

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United Utilities failed to report 100 million litres of illegal discharges, analysis of its data shows.

Pioneering and highly regarded instant solar quote comparison service, which started life out of a walk-in robe, has been snapped up by Big Three gentailer Origin Energy.

The post Origin snaps up pioneering Solar Quotes business, exits rooftop PV installation appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The world's biggest isolated grid - in Western Australia - is experiencing growing number of periods of "potential" 100 per cent renewables. How is it handling it?

The post How the world’s biggest isolated grid is dealing with the growing “potential” of 100 pct wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Clint Hare on Australia's most sustainable housing development, which has been building all-electric, super energy efficient homes on Victoria's Bass Coast for the past decade – with huge success.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Look ma, no gas! appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California’s carbon market watchdog targets an early-2025 publication of its 2024 annual report in tandem with expected conversations in the state legislature regarding extension of the WCI cap-and-trade programme, committee members discussed Wednesday.

Report finds keeping troubled Callide B coal plant open beyond 2028 could cost taxpayers up to $420 million a year.

The post Queensland opposition’s coal keeper plan could cost taxpayers $420 million a year appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Forest Alliance of NSW report says current regulations are a ‘licence to kill’ endangered species in four state forests where logging is scheduled

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Forest campaigners are demanding an immediate moratorium on logging in endangered greater glider habitat in New South Wales after their surveys detected more than triple the number of gliders than what was recorded by the state-owned forestry agency.

The Forest Alliance of NSW said current regulations are a “licence to kill” the species, whose populations have already plummeted in the aftermath of the black summer bushfires.

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New Zealand is likely to be severely short on NZUs after 2030 unless emissions start to rapidly decline, a forestry expert told a panel discussion Wednesday.

A group of conservation organisations have filed a suit against the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), asking a federal court to halt efforts by the nation's largest public utility to replace a retiring coal installation with a natural gas-fired power plant.

It’s not surprising that consumers would like to install PV, batteries, efficient appliances and smart management, as well as upgrading their homes’ thermal efficiency, to defend against the madness of energy markets.

The post Solar bonus tariff triggers big debate about madness of energy markets. But it’s energy efficiency that counts appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Wind farm targeted by National Party MP Barnaby Joyce and his wife has removed two turbines and relocated another 21, and offers what is described as the largest community enhancement fund in the country.

The post Giant wind farm behind Barnaby “poo tickets” outburst changes layout, trims turbine numbers appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The voluntary carbon market (VCM) will continue attracting adjacent government regulations related to credit transparency and trading behaviour without fully regulating the market, offset experts said during a Wednesday webinar.

A Canadian advisory firm intends to roll out its tech solution that monetises EV credits earned through the country’s nascent Clean Fuels Regulations (CFR) to US jurisdictions with existing and planned electrification programmes.

The US Supreme Court issued a decision on Wednesday denying the applications of Republican states, power companies, and industry groups to stay federal laws restricting CO2 emissions from power plants.

River restoration can increase storage of CO2 but it is not yet a viable option for generation carbon credits due to significant uncertainties around measuring and maintaining carbon levels in dynamic river ecosystems, a new study has warned.

A solar farm in Florida has been devastated by tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton, with a narrow path carved right through the middle.

The post Tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton carve corridor of destruction through Florida solar farm appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Landmark review says urgent action needed to conserve resources and save ecosystems that supply fresh water

More than half the world’s food production will be at risk of failure within the next 25 years as a rapidly accelerating water crisis grips the planet, unless urgent action is taken to conserve water resources and end the destruction of the ecosystems on which our fresh water depends, experts have warned in a landmark review.

Half the world’s population already faces water scarcity, and that number is set to rise as the climate crisis worsens, according to a report from the Global Commission on the Economics of Water published on Thursday.

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