‘Bitter reality’ revealed in global renewables report
REN21 today published its Renewables 2021 Global Status Report, finding the share of fossil fuels in the global energy mix remains virtually unchanged from a decade ago, even as renewables are installed at record pace.
ARENA launches $43 million program for industrial abatement studies as concern around mandate change grows
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) today announced the launch of its $43 million program aimed at identifying how to reduce emissions in industry. The program’s launch comes amid concern about proposed changes to ARENA’s funding mandate as the Commonwealth Government seeks to expand definitions to include funding for controversial technologies and fossil fuel projects.
Victorian developers commit $5.8 million in first sale of Australian company’s modular hydrogen production units
Sydney-headquartered Patriot Hydrogen has secured the first sale of its modular hydrogen production ‘P2H’ units. It is set to deliver Port Anthony Renewables Limited two of the modules by the end of the year.
Australian financiers invest $141 million in concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in Spain
Australian financial group Macquarie Asset Management on Monday announced a €90 million (AU$141.5 million) debt investment in a portfolio of concentrated solar power (CSP) plants in southern Spain.
‘Agrivoltaics can certainly be a viable and meaningful alternative to large-scale solar’
US expert in environmental and energy policy Alexis Pascaris spoke with pv magazine about opportunities and barriers associated with agrivoltaics. Agrivoltaics are a very practical and advantageous alternative to large-scale solar, specifically in places where there are land-use constraints or needs for rural economic development, she explains. Differences in costs related to ground-mounted solar can typically be attributed to the raised racking systems or additional fencing, but these upfront investments in specialised hardware are eventually recovered as agrivoltaic systems produce dual-revenue streams.
Photovoltaics and geothermal heat pumps for domestic hot water heating
According to a new study from LUT University, domestic water heating costs may be reduced by combining rooftop PV with geothermal heat pumps. Scientists developed a control method to minimise these costs by taking advantage of cheap spot market electricity and maximised PV power generation, as well as considering heat demand, PV generation forecasts, and heat pump efficiency.
Thrashing out public and industry submissions to the AEMC rule change
Have you heard about the proposed “solar tax”? Haha! But seriously, there’s more to it than meets the eye. A multitude of perspectives and considerations are brought to light in the submissions made to the AEMC. We take a shallow dive … and recommend total immersion.
A DNSP perspective on the contentious AEMC rule change and the spectre of a ‘solar tax’
There’s nothing simple about the Australian electricity system in transition. The constantly shifting landscape requires continuous regulatory adjustment to old coal-fired settings. That, too is fraught. One network services provider gives their perspective on the rule change currently under consideration.
Morrison blowing in the wind, sheltering in hydrogen ambitions at the G7 Summit in Cornwall
Alliances with Germany and Japan to develop and commercialise emissions-reducing technologies would be a coup for Australia, if there were any concerted efforts at home to reduce emissions in line with international initiatives, and transition Australian industries to be competitive in a carbon-pricing world.
Tracking the transition: the ‘forgotten’ emissions undoing the work of Australia’s renewable energy boom
Climate and energy specialists at the Australian National University have published a working paper on the data that will create a set of indicators to quantify the progress of Australia’s energy system transition. Initial findings show that despite renewables-driven strides in electricity supply, reductions in emissions have come from elsewhere, and the transport, industry and buildings sectors are dragging the country backwards.
