Feed aggregator

New reforms will streamline the connection and market operations of Australia's rapidly growing fleet of big battery projects.

The post Big batteries given more freedom on the grid to store solar for evening demand peaks appeared first on RenewEconomy.

US-based electrolyser outfit extends reach into Australia with contract to collaborate on a gigawatt-scale green hydrogen and ammonia facility.

The post Plug Power signs up to massive 3GW green ammonia project in Top End appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Scientists point to loopholes in new legislation that have been closed under European Union regulations

New rules intended to reduce the use of antibiotics in farming in the UK have been criticised as too lax and weaker than their equivalent under EU laws.

The updated regulations come into force on Friday. They ban the routine use of antibiotics on farm animals, and specifically their use to “compensate for poor hygiene, inadequate animal husbandry, or poor farm management practices”.

Continue reading...

Carbon pricing schemes, such as taxes and cap-and-trade systems, are significantly reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, a new meta-study has found, though the results vary widely depending on the policy's design and implementation.

The federal government and the Greens have agreed to pass legislation on New Vehicle Efficiency Standards (NVES) and oil and gas tax changes in exchange for the government dropping an amendment that would allow oil and gas projects be exempt from federal environmental assessments.

California regulator ARB at a meeting on Thursday dismissed the state’s Environmental Justice Advisory Committee (EJAC) recommendations to establish no-trade zones, as well as eliminate offsets and free allowances in cap-and-trade rulemaking amendments. 

Malaysia has put a firm date on getting more carbon capture and storage (CCS) legislation into parliament, progressing the practice and giving more investment certainty to an increasingly long line of international oil companies willing to partner with state oiler Petronas to store millions of tonnes of CO2 in offshore spaces.

Cambodia's environment ministry has teamed up with a Korean non-profit to launch an APAC-focused initiative, in a bid to encourage collaboration on emissions rights across the region.

Are wombats the accidental heroes of the Australian bush? After the Black Summer bushfires, we set up 56 cameras to capture animal activity in areas with and without wombat burrows to find out. Grant Linley, PhD Candidate in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Dale Nimmo, Professor in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Tanya Plibersek ordered investigation after judge accused law firm of ‘subtle coaching’ of Tiwi Island traditional owners during legal challenge

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

The Environmental Defenders Office did not breach the conditions of its $8.2m in federal funding, according to a government review of the legal firm’s conduct.

The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, requested the review after a federal court judgment in January made sharp criticisms of the EDO’s conduct in a legal matter against Santos.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Exclusive: Study shows Penguin Island population in freefall, sources say, amid pressure from tourism, boat traffic and warming seas

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

A once-thriving population of little penguins on a tourist island off Perth’s coast has plummeted to no more than 120 birds, with plans to build a container port in nearby foraging grounds further threatening the survival of the colony.

The latest population study on Penguin Island – 600 metres offshore and 50km south of Perth city – has revealed that penguin numbers have crashed by two-thirds in the past five years, sources say.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup

Continue reading...

Tasmania government commits another $8m to the green hydrogen refuelling project being developed in the state by Countrywide Hydrogen.

The post Green hydrogen heavy transport project gets new funding boost in Tasmania appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Will the controversial HESC project overcome the significant hurdles facing hydrogen exports? The facts aren’t painting an optimistic picture.

The post Is Australia’s brown coal hydrogen export project destined to fail? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

California Carbon Allowance (CCA) prices have reversed their pre-auction slide after the ARB delayed the Q2 sale due to technical difficulties, while Washington Carbon Allowances (WCAs) falter through meagre activity.

For decades, Australia has sold uranium – but said no to nuclear reactors. That’s set to change, whether in nuclear submarines or even in plans for power plants. Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

The Alberta Technology and Emission Reduction (TIER) programme on Tuesday published a second round of updated benchmarks this year, tightening allowable emissions levels and raising compliance obligations through to 2030 across multiple sectors.

One of the world's biggest zinc mines says gas power is too expensive and too volatile, and is adding wind power to its solar farm to cut costs and stabilise prices.

The post Giant Queensland zinc mine plans behind the meter wind farm to slash crippling gas power costs appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Shortfalls in the biodiversity net gain (BNG) policy are slated to undermine its long-term effectiveness, with uncertainty about the scheme's ability to meet demand and governance gaps among the main concerns, the UK's independent public spending watchdog has said.

A voluntary carbon market management firm and a Brazilian investment company will collaborate to bolster opportunities for offset projects in Brazil.

The majority of 25 surveyed developments around New Zealand lacked healthy, ecologically meaningful vegetation. Applying biodiversity targets for medium-density housing could turn this around. Yolanda van Heezik, Professor of Ecology, University of Otago Christopher K. Woolley, Post-doctoral Researcher in Ecology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jacqueline Theis, PhD Candidate (Ecology), University of Otago Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.