Yesterday
CSIRO doubles down on nuclear power as too costly, slow
The science agency’s latest report on future energy needs comes just ahead of the long-awaited costings for Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy policy.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
This Month
The Pilbara plots its path from diesel to clean, green mining
Port Hedland is bang in the middle of the country’s industrial engine. There are ambitious plans to decarbonise with miles of transmission and new generation.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
APA plots path from gas to become a Pilbara solar and batteries giant
The company, which opened its latest electricity project in Port Hedland on Tuesday, expects to tick off on more investments in the region within a year.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Household hardship mounts as energy prices increase
More households are entering hardship programs to try to keep with their energy bills, even as government rebates take the edge off sharp price rises in the past year.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
November
- Exclusive
- Energy transition
‘Nothing’s off the table’: Expert panel to overhaul electricity market
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has tapped former AGL Energy executive Tim Nelson and three other industry specialists to review the National Energy Market.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Generators scramble after NSW’s near miss on blackouts
More than 2000 megawatts of coal power capacity is due back online within 10 days, as generators scramble to avoid a repeat of Wednesday’s close shave on the NSW power grid.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Energy transition
Electrification and renewables could slice 20pc off energy bills: AEMC
The agency that writes the rules governing the electricity and gas markets estimates big savings for families if they move away from petrol cars and gas.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
NSW grid scrapes through power crisis, bigger test ahead
NSW was set to narrowly avoid blackouts on Wednesday only due to emergency measures, a situation that has unnerved industry and consumers.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Generator sales jump as summer blackout fears persist
“I reckon I’ll be using it tonight,” said one owner. Despite the concern, the energy market operator said the immediate chance of a power failure had subsided.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Blackout risk lingers in NSW as coal outages hit
The tight electricity supply in the state follows an unusually large number of unexpected outages at coal power units.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Carbon challenge
Labor failing gas industry on lawfare, approvals: O’Neill
Meg O’Neill said the Albanese government’s lack of progress on streamlining gas approval processes and reining in “lawfare” risks imperilling energy security.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
- Exclusive
- Energy transition
The country’s biggest aluminium smelter says green target unreachable
Rio Tinto-backed Tomago, which uses more power than any other industrial operation in Australia, says renewable energy is too expensive and in short supply.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Energy bill fears grow as transmission costs blow out
Billions of dollars of cost blowouts in transmission announced so far this year have fuelled worries about rising electricity bills for households and business.
- Updated
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Portal helps manage demand to douse power bill shock
Energy demand influencer Flow Power helps businesses capitalise on low-cost renewables, making it a leader in the Challenger Business to Business category.
- Sylvia Ramsey
October
Experts doubt nuclear rollout will be ready to replace coal
The Australian Energy Regulator says the nation’s coal-fired powers stations are too decrepit to keep running until nuclear power can be operational.
- Phillip Coorey and Tom Rabe
- Exclusive
- Nuclear energy
CSIRO might revise nuclear power cost claims
The CSIRO says it is prepared to reconsider its estimate that nuclear power would cost up to twice as much as that generated by firmed renewables
- Phillip Coorey
Batteries, solar and maximising the grid pushed to save 2030 target
The Albanese government will need further measures to boost the uptake of renewable energy, or miss its 2030 target, climate tsar Matt Kean has warned.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith and Phillip Coorey
Huge cost cuts needed in solar for hydrogen to work: ARENA
The cost of solar power needs to fall by about two-thirds for green hydrogen to work in Australia, says ARENA CEO Darren Miller.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Offshore wind ambitions in disarray as key players walk
Moves by Origin Energy and Norway’s Equinor have exposed big doubts about offshore wind developing anywhere in NSW, given high costs that are only modestly lower than for large nuclear plants.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
Santos reveals 20pc cost blowout at Alaska oil project
News of the $800 million cost overrun at the Pikka field came as the energy company also reported the successful start-up of its flagship carbon capture venture.
- Angela Macdonald-Smith
