Post-COP30: Why distributed solar is becoming the world’s fastest-scaling power technology
Post-COP30 analysis has centred on the contentious debate over fossil-fuel phase-out wording. Yet the most significant development for the solar sector was not part of the negotiating text at all.
Household solar electricity generation in the Australian national accounts
The Australian electricity industry has transformed over the past two decades, driven by the rise of household solar and other renewable energy sources. Since 2010, supported by government incentives and improving technology, rooftop solar installations have surged.
Oversized batteries are blowing out Cheaper Home Batteries budget
The federal government’s $2.3 billion Cheaper Home Batteries Program is subsidising unnecessarily large energy storage systems and blowing out in cost.
Misleading chart overstates clean energy challenge
Primary energy – which refers to the raw energy in fuels and natural resources – is often used to show how much energy we use but as a measure it is misleading and makes the clean energy switch seem much harder than it actually is.
How mandatory climate reporting is raising the bar for corporate leadership
Around the world, businesses are entering a new era of accountability. The shift toward mandatory climate-related financial disclosures is transforming how organisations understand and govern key drivers of financial performance.
Coalition’s net zero retreat: Policies on line
In 2021, Australia’s Coalition government pledged to reach net zero by 2050. Four years later, the Coalition have reversed course. After successive election losses, the Liberal and National parties have settled on a new climate strategy: give up on net zero and keep coal plants running longer.
How Pacific nations plan to go from spending up to 25% of GDP on fossil fuels to running on 100% renewables
Picture dusk falling somewhere in the Solomon Islands. A fisher’s skiff glides home using a whisper-quiet electric outboard motor. In the Cook Islands, a big battery steadies the island grid. In Papua New Guinea’s highlands, solar kits bring electric light to homes for the first time.
Three hours of free power sounds great – but it could raise other costs and hamstring rooftop solar
It was the news that rippled around the nation – and then the world: at least three hours of free grid-supplied electricity for Australian households, every day.
Why resilience won’t future-proof Australia’s supply chains
The last five years have placed unprecedented strain on global supply chains. Geopolitical tensions, trade wars, natural disasters and the global pandemic have revealed vulnerabilities across industries.
What the AFR Summit missed about data centres and the grid
The AFR Energy and Climate Summit focused on demand and AI’s impact on the grid, but the real question is being overlooked: how do we connect data centres without repeating past mistakes in the energy transition?
