10 May 2024
CLIMATE POLITICS
Anthony Albanese faces internal revolt from inner-city Labor MPs over gas strategy (The Guardian): Anthony Albanese is facing an internal revolt with Labor backbenchers pushing back against the government’s support for new gas production. Five inner-city MPs have criticised the government’s gas strategy, arguing it will overshadow progress on clean energy.
Government backs gas beyond 2050 (Business News): The federal government has formalised its view of gas as an energy transition fuel, committing to new projects as a means of maintaining reliable and affordable supply beyond 2050. The nation’s long awaited Future Gas Strategy was released by Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King this morning, committing Australia’s energy future to gas guided by six key principles laid out by the plan.
Labor’s strategy is to reduce emissions from gas – but not if that means doing anything to cut its use (The Guardian): The bottom line of the “future gas strategy” isn’t what it might mean for the government’s political fortunes, despite what Labor pollsters and political commentators might argue. It’s this: the gas industry, one of Australia’s biggest greenhouse gas polluters, is getting what it wants. What it wants, in simple terms, is government approval to make multibillion-dollar investments in new gas reservoirs that will lead to billions of tonnes of emissions.
Labor caves in to fossil fuel cartel as it locks in gas beyond 2050 amid deepening climate crisis (Renew Economy): Three years ago, when the federal Coalition government flew in the face of climate science and horrified the renewables industry with Scott Morrison’s plan for a “gas-led recovery” for post-Covid Australia, the then shadow minister for environment denounced the policy as a fraud. “It’s a slogan, it’s not a policy. It’s simply a fraud,” Chris Bowen said. As federal energy minister in December 2022, Bowen doubled down on this view.
NSW predicted to miss legislated emissions targets (Renew Economy): NSW is predicted to fall short of meeting the emissions-reductions targets the state government legislated six months ago. Official figures show the state is on track for a 44 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared with the in-law target of 50 per cent.
State's $500m injection to boost industrial, clean energy projects (Business News): The state government has set aside half a billion dollars to fast-track clean energy and major industrial projects around the state and set aside some $36 million to expedite approvals as part of today’s state budget. Thirteen strategic industrial areas across the state will benefit from the $500 million Strategic Industries Fund, which plans to deliver common-user and other enabling infrastructure with the aim of making WA a global clean energy powerhouse.
Gillard to chair new multi-billion dollar energy fund targeting wind, solar and batteries (Renew Economy): Former prime minister Julie Gillard – whose term featured the creation of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the now defunct carbon price – has been named as chair of a new multi-billion green energy fund. Gillard will take the helm of the Energy Transition Fund that will be launched by HMC Capital in coming months, and which will seek up to $2 billion from institutional and wholesale investors to build a massive 15 gigawatt portfolio of wind, solar and battery projects, along with bio-fuels and other emerging technologies.
CARBON MARKETS
Record-breaking increase in CO2 levels in world’s atmosphere (The Guardian): The largest ever recorded leap in the amount of carbon dioxide laden in the world’s atmosphere has just occurred, according to researchers who monitor the relentless accumulation of the primary gas that is heating the planet. The global average concentration of carbon dioxide in March this year was 4.7 parts per million (or ppm) higher than it it was in March last year, which is a record-breaking increase in CO2 levels over a 12-month period.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Methane emissions: Australian cattle industry suggests shift from net zero target to ‘climate neutral’ approach (The Guardian): Cattle Australia is lobbying the red meat sector to ditch its net zero target in favour of a “climate neutral” goal that would require far more modest reductions in methane emissions. The $75bn red meat industry, led by Meat and Livestock Australia, announced a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2030 seven years ago, in an attempt to maintain its social licence and drive investments in emissions reduction technology.
GREEN PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES
Mobile hydrogen generator launched in Vic (Energy Magazine): The new mobile power generator combines solar and renewable hydrogen to provide reliable zero-emissions, off-grid energy. Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources, Lily D’Ambrosio, launched the H2PowerBox – a renewably powered, trailer-mounted power system equipped with technology to provide disaster relief and support remote communities independently of traditional water sources, as an alternative to mobile diesel generators.
ARENA awards $6.2M funding to SA Power Networks project (Energy Magazine): The utility’s Energy Masters project aims to install consumer energy resources (CER) and smart appliances in 500 South Australian households. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), on behalf of the Federal Government, said it will provide $6.2 million to SA Power Networks’ Energy Masters project.
Contract awarded for Nhill renewable facility construction (Energy Magazine): Construction of the GWMWater-owned solar farm is expected to commence in May 2024. GWMWater has awarded a contract to Next Generation Electrical for the works. The facility is GWMWater’s first venture into large scale energy generation with direct connection into the local electricity grid.
Barcaldine Power Station to add hydrogen generation in $75-million expansion (ABC News): An outback Queensland power station will become the second in the state to introduce hydrogen power to fuel its electricity generation. The Barcaldine Power Station in central-west Queensland has received $75 million from the state government to transition to renewable energy.
Gravity storage pioneer to build two batteries next to Australia’s biggest solar farm (Renew Economy): The US-based Energy Vault, which has made headlines across the world with its so-called gravity storage technology, has been awarded contracts to build two big batteries at the site of Australia’s biggest solar farm. The deal was announced jointly by Energy Vault and Acen Renewables, which is building the New England solar farm in NSW, which will be sized at 720 MW when the 320 MW second stage is finished and added to the already complete 400 MW first stage.
Neoen gets final approval for contested NSW wind farm, with conditions (Renew Economy): French renewable energy developer Neoen has won approval from the NSW Independent Planning Commission for a 192 MW, $373 million wind farm in the New England region that had met strong opposition from members of the local community. The Thunderbolt wind farm, the first stage of a major proposed renewable energy hub that may also include a solar farm and a big battery, is located east of Tamworth, and about 30 kms south-west of Uralla, and is one of a number of renewable and storage projects that has met opposition in the region.
Horizon Power’s smart solar program expands to Broome (Energy Magazine): The technology is designed to help thousands of customers access rooftop solar and energy bill savings. Horizon Power said the state-of-the-art technology is increasing access to renewable energy in towns in regional Western Australia, while improving the safety and stability of the state’s electricity network.
Horizon to front $166m Woodside grid connection cost (Business News): A plan to deliver transmission infrastructure connecting Woodside’s Pluto LNG plant and Maitland solar farm to the state’s North West Interconnected System will cost $166.3 million. An Infrastructure WA report into the business case for the Maitland and Burrup infrastructure project, prepared by Horizon Power, has unveiled the cost – to be initially borne by the utility and paid back by Woodside and other potential users of the network over 25 years.
W.A. to spend big on new transmission to connect more wind and solar (Renew Economy): Western Australia will rewire the state for new energy-intensive projects and reboot the critical minerals industry to retain the crown as “the engine room of the economy”. The 2024/25 budget released on Thursday allocated $324 million to transmission infrastructure for the state’s main electricity grid, which is separate to the so-called national electricity market, to connect more renewable energy.
OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST
Renewable energy passes 30% of world’s electricity supply (The Guardian): Renewable energy accounted for more than 30% of the world’s electricity for the first time last year following a rapid rise in wind and solar power, according to new figures. A report on the global power system has found that the world may be on the brink of driving down fossil fuel generation, even as overall demand for electricity continues to rise.