Feed aggregator

Exclusive: Cross-party group recommends policies such as mortgage penalty for landlords of energy-inefficient homes

The UK will need to embrace innovative, community-based solutions to environmental and energy problems if it is to have any hope of meeting looming net-zero deadlines, a cross-party group of MPs and peers has recommended.

A report by the all-party group on a green new deal argues for a combination of robust, top-down policies on green issues including localised power generation, food and transport schemes. Recommendations include a mortgage penalty for landlords who let energy-inefficient homes, and also real community decision-making, notably on power schemes.

Continue reading...

New community battery unveiled in a suburb where almost half of all homes have rooftop solar – and a new round of funding announced.

The post New neighbourhood battery for another suburban solar hot spot appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Do wind and solar projects affect frequency in the main grid? And how to they compare to other technologies? A deep dive into an essential grid service.

The post The NEMs frequency behaviour – how is it going with all this new wind and solar? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Hearing into Labor’s changes to the scheme told a 75% reduction in methane was possible using commercially competitive existing technology

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Methane emissions from the oil and gas industry are “incredibly cheap” to cut and companies could improve their financial position by embracing existing technology to stop carbon leaks, an inquiry into the Albanese government’s climate policy has heard.

A hearing into proposed changes to the safeguard mechanism – a Coalition policy applied to industrial emissions that Labor plans to revamp – was told the International Energy Agency (IEA) had estimated a 75% reduction in methane was possible using commercially competitive existing technology, such as capturing the methane and using it to generate electricity.

Continue reading...

EnergyAustralia slumps to billion dollar loss because its unreliable coal plants couldn't generate enough to cover its contracts. Maybe storage is a better idea.

The post EnergyAustralia turns to storage as unreliable coal sends it to billion-dollar loss appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Only about £4.5bn of £6.6bn allocated for making buildings more energy efficient has been spent, analysis finds

A third of the funding pledged by the UK government for insulation and installing heat pumps has not yet been spent, analysis has shown, despite the continuing energy bills and cost of living crises.

About £2.1bn remains unspent of the £6.6bn that was supposed to be used between 2020 and 2025 on making buildings more energy efficient and decarbonising heat. The funding is part of the £9.2bn that was promised for such spending in the Conservative general election manifesto of 2019.

Continue reading...

As global heating cuts snow cover, study reveals how many events, organisations and athletes have high-carbon backers

Winter sports are being sponsored by high-carbon companies despite their pollution helping to melt the snow the sports require to exist, according to a new report.

The report found that more than 100 events, organisations and athletes were sponsored by fossil fuel companies, carmakers and airlines. The sponsorships were like “winter sport nailing the lid on its own coffin”, said one Olympic champion.

Continue reading...

The spot price for NZUs have continued to sink in recent weeks in one of the biggest corrections in the market’s history, despite the quarterly auction being less than a month away.

Takeover of collapsed company revives hopes for the construction of a £3.8bn ‘gigafactory’ in northern England

The Australia-based company Recharge Industries will take over collapsed battery maker Britishvolt after finalising a deal with administrators late on Sunday in the UK.

The agreement revives hopes for the construction of a £3.8bn (A$6.7bn) “gigafactory” in northern England, the backbone of a plan to modernise the British automotive industry and supply the next generation of UK-built electric vehicles.

Continue reading...

New rules will see embedded network prices capped and low income earners able to access government rebates and bill help.

The post NSW considers ban on new embedded networks in suite of rule reforms appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Australian thermal energy storage hopeful hits key milestone on track to using its silicon alloy bricks to replace fossil fuels in industrial processes.

The post 1414 hits molten silicon milestone on path to supplying green industrial heat appeared first on RenewEconomy.

India will need state governments to ramp up their actions to accelerate the transition to renewables at the regional level to give the world’s third-largest GHG emitter a better chance to meet its NDC goals, a joint report from two climate policy think-tanks urged on Monday.

An Australian industry body has recommended vintage limits be placed on Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) being used for compliance purposes under the Safeguard Mechanism, but not until after the initial review period.

Neara’s Jack Curtis on the new software that reveals how networks have double the capacity to host renewables and storage.

The post Energy Insiders Podcast: Game changer for networks and renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

China has seen coal power projects accelerate dramatically last year with new permits reaching the highest level since 2015, adding to the worries over the country's ability to realise its climate goals, a report has found.

Fund backed by billionaire green energy supporter closes first tranche of new raising to bankroll long duration battery storage and help kick coal out of Australia's grid.

The post Cannon-Brookes backed fund to deliver “coal plant-worth” of big batteries appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Ending the stalemate over how best to fix Australia's grid congestion problems not been easy. Here's how the alternative could work.

The post Locational marginal pricing is finally dead. Time to get smart about grid congestion appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW declares the fifth and so far final renewable energy zone, with the latest to focus on offshore wind, storage and green hydrogen.

The post NSW declares fifth renewable energy zone, with offshore wind and storage focus appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Construction of new 252MW wind farm in Queensland to start soon after connection deal signed with transmission company.

The post Transmission company signs connection deal for 252MW wind project in new REZ appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The first comprehensive population assessment of the raptor affectionately known as The Red reveals a species in trouble. Australia’s rarest bird of prey needs our help. Christopher MacColl, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland James Watson, Professor, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.