Rule change aiming to delay coal retirement of “limited” impact
An attempt by the Morrison Government to extend the closure requirement notification for electricity generators from 3.5 years to five years will likely have “limited” impact, says industry observers. Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor announced the move today, requesting that the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) enact the rule change.
Mineral Resources set to double Mount Marion Lithium capacity in response to ‘extraordinary lithium demand’
Mineral Resources Limited along with its joint venture partners is set to double the spodumene output of its Mount Marion Lithium mine over the course of 2022 in response to enormous lithium price due to electric vehicle demand.
Australian battery storage market passed 1GWh in 2021
Australian deployment of battery storage remained steady in 2021, according to market research firm SunWiz, bringing cumulative installations to 1,089MWh.
Australia’s first university set to match 100% of its energy with renewables
The University of Sydney, Australia’s oldest, has signed a contract with Snowy Hydro and its subsidiary Red Energy to match “100%” of its energy consumption with renewables, in particular solar.
Greens make $6.1 billion electric vehicle pitch ahead of election
The Greens have announced a $6.1 billion plan to boost the uptake of electric vehicles and reestablish auto manufacturing in its previous hub, South Australia.
Hertz to add ‘significant number’ of EVs to Australian rental fleet
Hertz, one of Australia and indeed the world’s biggest car rental companies, has announced it will be adding up to 65,000 new electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet. While the percentage of those bound for Australia is still being negotiated, it adds to the rapid growth of our EV market – albeit from a low baseline.
Solar the energy workhorse in latest gloomy IPCC verdict
Photovoltaics can wipe out 4.25 billion tonnes of carbon emissions every year this decade, according to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Even so, the actions announced so far remain way short of what is needed, with capital flows to fossil fuels still greater than the cash directed toward combating climate change.
Rare earth refinery to be built in WA as country vies to become serious China alternative for EV supplies
Western Australian miner Iluka Resources will build Australia’s first integrated rare earths refinery to supply electric vehicle and renewable energy industries. The project has been enabled by a $1.25 billion loan from the Commonwealth government and is part of a broader push within Australia to establish ourselves as a serious alternative to China for the supply of processed critical minerals.
Victorian solar farm reaches financial close thanks to superfund
The 7.5MW Cosgrove solar farm in central Victoria has reached financial close and will begin construction as soon as next month after its owners, Bison Energy, reached an agreement with an undisclosed Australian superannuation fund.
800MWh battery and hydrogen hub could provide a ‘just transition’ to WA coal town
The Western Australian Government has announced $1 million in funding for the first phase of a feasibility study into a 600-800MWh battery and green hydrogen industrial hub in the coal town of Collie. The state government has promised the town, which has been powering Western Australia with its two coal mines since the 1880s, a ‘just transition.’ Sunshot Energy, chaired by eminent energy economist Ross Garnaut, is undertaking the study which could deliver a ‘just transition’ to Collie and green ammonia and urea to the agricultural and industrial sectors.
