13 September 2024

CLIMATE POLITICS

New legislation on corporate emissions reporting has made it through parliament. Will it lead to real action on climate change? (Renew Economy): Legislation that has just passed the Australian Parliament will significantly increase and standardise reporting for Australia’s largest companies on their greenhouse gas emissions and the risks and opportunities they face from climate change. Unsurprisingly, given the politically contested importance of climate change in Australia, responses to the legislation have been divergent.

Australia unveils new national hydrogen strategy with green H2 target of 15 million tonnes a year | Hydrogen Insight: The Australian government has today published a new national hydrogen strategy with the aim to position Australia as a “global hydrogen leader”.? The document — announced by climate and energy minister Chris Bowen at the Asia-Pacific Hydrogen Summit in Brisbane — contains a new green hydrogen production target, alongside four new objectives supported?by 34 "actions".

WA Gov boosting local energy efficiency (Energy Magazine): The Western Australian Government is investing $500,000 in a sustainability and climate action initiative that aims to help households and small businesses improve their energy efficiency and save money on energy bills. ?Switch Your Thinking is a joint sustainability initiative of the City of Armadale, City of Gosnells, and the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale. ?As part of the new investment, the program will deliver expanded energy efficiency education and resources in local government areas across the state, with 41 local governments having registered interest in the expanded program.?

Like running Hazelwood for 106 years: Labor says Dutton’s nuke plan will be akin to a carbon bomb (Renew Economy): Emissions from coal and gas could grow by 1.7 billion tonnes by 2050 if their use is extended another 15 years, under the Coalition’s nuclear power plans, an analysis from the federal government has found. The government evaluated data from the 2024 Integrated System Plan by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which provides a road map for Australia’s energy transition for the national energy market.

Labor’s stalled environmental agenda under pressure from left and right (The Guardian): Anthony Albanese is rejecting demands from the Greens and some Senate crossbenchers to subject development projects to climate-impact assessments and remove forestry’s effective exemption from environmental protection law, as the government negotiates on stalled legislation with parties to the left and right. The environment minister,?Tanya Plibersek, is in talks with the Greens, crossbenchers and the Coalition over legislation to establish an environment protection authority.

Steggall and teals demand 75pc emissions cut target by 2035 (The Australian): Zali Steggall has led the teal MPs’ call for a 2035 target of 75 per cent to be set by February, declaring Australia “must go from being a laggard to a leader in climate action”.

New program boosting WA network reliability (Energy Magazine): Western Power is collaborating with local communities to find alternative solutions to improve regional power reliability in areas of the network that contain long feeders. Western Power Executive Manager of Asset Management, Gair Landsborough, said the new $88 million Regional Connect Program aimed to improve power reliability in regional areas that experience frequent power outages on the long feeder lines.

CARBON MARKETS

Australian carbon farming outfit expands offerings (Carbon Pulse): An Australian carbon farming group has launched a new offering to help landholders measure their carbon footprint and generate carbon credits.

Methane leaks from coal mines need more regulation -report (Carbon Pulse): Methane leaks from Queensland’s many coal mines are not being adequately addressed by the government or Australia’s beefed up Safeguard Mechanism, driving emissions up that should be falling, according to a report from an environmental law firm.

‘Bugged by reality’: Fortescue to avoid purchasing carbon offsets unless required by law (Sky News): Australian businesses are shifting away from purchasing voluntary offsets. Iron ore giant Fortescue is the latest to conjure doubt over their effectiveness in reducing emissions, putting them in unison with companies such as BHP, Woolworths and Telstra.

Methane emissions are at new highs. It could put us on a dangerous climate path (The Conversation): The goal of the 2021 Global Methane Pledge is bold: cut methane emissions by 30% by the end of the decade. This is to buy us vital time to work on cutting carbon dioxide emissions. Over 150 nations have now signed up to the pledge – representing more than half of the world’s emissions of an extremely potent but short-lived greenhouse gas. To put the pledge into action, many leaders announced policies to cut methane. However, the latest research shows global methane emissions are still rising rapidly. Atmospheric concentrations are now growing faster than at any other time since global record-keeping began about 40 years ago.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

AGL, nation’s biggest carbon emitter, awarded stellar ESG rating (Financial Review): AGL Energy – the country’s biggest carbon emitter – has won a stellar environmental, social and governance rating from a powerful institutional investor adviser two years after it was ripped apart partly because of its performance on climate change. The high score from CGI Glass Lewis comes despite AGL – which operates the Bayswater and Loy Yang A coal power stations in NSW and Victoria – remaining on the watch list of environmental groups such as Climate Action 100+ over its carbon emissions.

Big oil faces a rising number of climate-focused lawsuits, report finds (The Guardian): Big oil is facing a soaring number of climate-focused lawsuits, a new analysis has found. It’s a sign that more communities are demanding accountability for the industry’s contributions to the climate crisis. For the report, published on Thursday, Oil Change International and the climate research organization Zero Carbon Analytics pulled data from a Columbia University database, focusing on cases in which the world’s 25 largest fossil fuel producers were named as defendants.

Telstra signs up to buy half the output from big Riverina solar farm, sheep not included (Renew Economy): Australian telecoms giant Telstra has signed a deal to buy 50 per cent of the electricity generated by the Glenellen solar farm, a 260MW project currently under construction in the New South Wales Riverina Region. The deal with the solar farm’s owner, Global Power Generation, marks Telstra’s seventh power purchase agreement (PPA) and brings the total value of Australian renewables projects it supports to more than $1.4 billion, the telco said on Tuesday.

GREEN PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES

Carbon on Country funding launched (NSW Government): The NSW Government is investing $2.5 million to support Aboriginal organisations in NSW in establishing and managing carbon projects on their land. The Carbon on Country initiative will support Indigenous communities in restoring Country and participating in the carbon market, fostering a sustainable future for both people and the planet.

Iberdrola starts Queensland Broadsound solar farm and battery system build (PV Magazine): Spain-headquartered Iberdrola Australia has started construction of its Broadsound 376dc MW solar farm, and 180 MW / 360 MWh 2-hour battery energy storage system (BESS) located in Clarke Creek, 160 kilometres northwest from Rockhampton and 223 kilometres south of Mackay in Queensland. First announced in 2022, the project is located on a former 3,600 hectare cattle station and is in the vicinity of Australian renewable energy developer Squadron Energy’s Clarke Creek Stage One 450 MW wind farm.

“Significant milestone:” Power flow testing begins at big Forrest-backed wind farm (Renew Economy): Andrew Forrest-backed Squadron Energy has energised the main substation at its 450MW Clarke Creek Wind Farm in Queensland, marking the latest milestone for what will be one of Australia’s biggest wind farms – for a time, at least. Located 150km north-west of Rockhampton, the Clarke Creek Wind Farm is currently under construction, with around one-quarter of its 100 4.5MW turbines installed in June. It is expected that the wind farm will be fully operational sometime in 2025.

Australian battery recycler inks deal with Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD Auto (PV Magazine): Perth-headquartered advanced materials technology company Lithium Australia has signed an exclusive agreement with China-headquartered BYD Auto Industry Company to provide battery recycling services. BYD Auto is a subsidiary of major Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD Company, which sold three million EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) in 2023 and since 2022, holds 14% of the Australian EV market.

ReNu steps up Tasmanian green hydrogen strategy with solar offtake deal (PV Magazine): Queensland-based independent power producer ReNu Energy announced it has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for 100% of the output from a 9.95 MW solar farm to be built by Climate Capital at Wesley Vale in northern Tasmania. The ‘fit-for-purpose’ solar farm is to be established adjacent to the site of a proposed green hydrogen production, storage and refuelling station being developed at Wesley Vale by ReNu subsidiary Countrywide Hydrogen.

Milestone for Port Hedland solar project (Energy Magazine): APA Group has finished the installation of all solar panels at the Port Hedland Solar Farm and Battery project – which, once completed, will help power BHP’s port operations. The scope of the project includes the construction of the 45MWAC Port Hedland Solar Photovoltaic (PV) generation facility and a 35MW/36.7MWh battery energy storage system, which will supply renewable energy for large mining customers in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. These new facilities will accompany the existing Port Hedland Power Station, owned and operated by APA.

Allegro to ramp up flow battery capacity after closing $17.5 million funding round (PV Magazine): Newcastle-based battery storage startup Allegro Energy has announced completion of a $17.5 million (USD 11.66 million) Series A funding round led by United States-based venture capitalist The Grantham Foundation and Australian energy major Origin Energy. Allegro co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Nann said the funding round, which also included Australian investors Melt Ventures and Impact Ventures, and US group Lightbank, presents the company with strategic and growth capital.

Powerlink to oversee Qld REZs (Energy Magazine): Powerlink will plan, deliver and operate Queensland’s renewable energy zones (REZ), which is expected to see the strategic connection of approximately 22GW of new grid-scale renewable energy across the state. ?As the newly appointed Delivery Body, Powerlink will work with landholders and local government help regional communities reap the rewards of renewable energy investment, while supporting jobs, lifestyle and environment in the 12 potential REZs across Queensland.

Hills of Gold wind farm wins state development consent – and fight to reinstate turbines (Renew Economy): The Hills of Gold wind farm proposed for near Nundle in the New England region of New South Wales, has once again been cleared for development by state planning authorities, this time as a 62 turbine project totaling 372MW and with a 100MW battery. The hotly contested project has been the centre of a bitter dispute between supporters and opponents that has dragged on for years, sparking a “Not in Nundle campaign and featuring in a recent ABC 4 Corners investigation into wind planning issues.

Talga teams with Aurubis on recycled graphite battery anode project (PV Magazine): Perth-based battery graphene anode producer Talga announced it has signed a development agreement with Aurubis, a global supplier of non-ferrous metals and one of the world’s largest copper recyclers, to develop a commercial recycled graphite anode product. Talga, which currently sources its graphene and graphite in the north of Sweden where it produces coated anode products, said it aims to deliver a battery-ready anode material that is based entirely on recycled material.

Huge solar farm and battery project to go ahead after securing federal green tick (Renew Economy): The federal government has signed off on the 600 megawatt (MW) Birriwa solar farm less than a month after it joined the queue for environmental assessment, giving developer Acen Australia a clear run to start construction. Acen Australia will build the solar farm alongside a battery energy storage system (BESS) of up to 600?MW, with two hours of storage capacity, about 20km southeast of Dunedoo in New South Wales (NSW).

OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST

Share of renewables hits record high on Australia’s main grid, sends coal to new low (Renew Economy): Australia’s main grid has set a new renewables record, with the maximum instantaneous share of mostly solar and wind on the National Electricity Market hitting an all-time high of 73 per cent on Monday, and pushing the share of coal to a new low. The “modest yet significant” new record was marked by Geoff Eldridge at GPE NEMLog and on LinkedIn on Monday, as a sign that the annual shift towards a milestone could break through the 75 per cent barrier as early as in the next few months.

With a million home batteries, we could build far fewer power lines. We just need the right?incentives (The Conversation): It’s no secret Australia has abundant and cheap renewable energy, especially wind and solar power. But yes, there are times when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. We need energy storage to get us through those still nights and dreary days. The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)?reports?investment in storage capacity continues to increase, filling gaps left by retiring coal-fired power stations. But it warns sufficient storage is needed to ensure electricity supply is reliable throughout the transition.

Renewables record tumbles but may be close to pause (AFR): Renewable energy reached a fresh record in its share of total electricity production this week, highlighting the progress still being made in Australia’s troubled energy transition but also exposing the challenges of eliminating carbon-polluting coal power. The share of electricity generated by renewables reached an all-time high of 72.2 per cent in the half-hour leading up to midday on Monday, marginally bettering the previous high set in October last year.

Global market comparison study ranks Australia 10th in race to renewables (PV Magazine): A study by United Kingdom-headquartered research company Compare the Market has forecast Australia’s renewable energy generation per capita ranks it tenth in the world for its net zero emissions target by 2050 and a projected 4.79 TWh of renewable generation per million people by 2028. A renewables race index scores Australia 8.03, behind joint leaders Finland and Sweden with 9.61 and Norway, Austria, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand (8.69), Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands falling between a rank of 9.35 to 8.29 respectively.

The massive new projects propelling South Australia towards 100 per cent net renewables (Renew Economy): The season of renewable records has begun early in Australia, sending average coal power down below 50 per cent for the first time, establishing new records for wind output, and sending demand to new lows across the main grid. The state at the forefront of the country’s energy transition is, without a shadow of a doubt, South Australia. It kicked out coal in 2016, and is steadily reducing its dependence on gas.

'Indoor solar power' could replace disposable batteries and charger cables with photovoltaic strips (ABC News): Tech start-up in Wagga Wagga plans to be the first Australian company to produce a new type of solar cell at scale that can generate enough electricity indoors to replace disposable batteries. Perovskite cells have long been touted as the future of solar but researchers have struggled to make them durable and stable enough for commercial uses.

Solar and battery microgrid saves Lord Howe Island $1.5m in diesel fuel costs in two years (Renew Economy): A solar and battery-based microgrid installed on the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island on the coast of Australia in the Tasman Sea delivered more than $1.5 million in diesel fuel cost savings in its first two years of operation, a new report has revealed. Commissioned in April 2021, the Hybrid Renewable Energy Project (HREP) was installed to provide a sustainable supply of electricity for the 400 residents and up to 400 tourists on Lord Howe Island, slashing its reliance on costly and polluting diesel fuel generation.