The federal government has announced Australia’s biggest ever round of investment in renewables, approving 19 projects across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia mostly due to be operational by 2028. The projects backed under the government’s Capacity Investment Scheme also will make history, with South Australia becoming the first large-scale electrical grid in…
CSIRO has found a ‘lack of economic advantage’ in investing in nuclear power over renewables, according to its GenCost 2024-25 draft report released for consultation. The report took into consideration suggestions raised since its last report that nuclear had a longer operational life, a higher capacity factor and shorter time to delivery than previously estimated.…
Western Australian businesses can join the wind energy manufacturing supply chain with the help of a new co-investment programme which could cover up to 50% of eligible project costs. The Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program is a co-investment and advice programme co-created by the WA Government and the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre with $8 million…
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen has confirmed the possibility that power from a recently declared wind farm precinct offshore from Victoria could power Alcoa’s Portland Aluminium smelter. Bowen has made a preliminary decision on Alinta Energy and Parkwind’s Spinifex Offshore Wind Farm in the Southern Ocean Offshore Wind Zone, making them…
The federal government has been deluged with massive offers to build solar projects in the first round of its Capacity Investment Scheme with six new big battery projects getting the green light. Two big batteries will be built in South Australia and two in Victoria with the largest in the former coal power stronghold of…
Shipbuilder Austal has been awarded a contract to design and construct a wind-powered, aluminium cargo trimaran for Vela Transport of Bayonne, France. The purchase price for the vessel cannot be disclosed for commercial reasons, however it is in the range of $40–$45 million, according to the company. The first-of-class, 66.8 metre high-value cargo vessel, based…
South Australia is set to be 100 percent net renewable power by 2027 – a remarkable world first based only on solar PV and wind. Giles Parkinson explains the milestone’s importance. When the federal and state governments were deciding on a location to announce a funding deal that will underwrite South Australia’s final leap to…
South Australia has secured federal funding to back solar PV and wind projects and become 100 percent renewably powered before 2030. This would be a historic development, as so far only hydro power based jurisdictions have been able to achieve 100 percent renewable power. The state signed a final Renewable Energy Transformation Agreement to ensure…
The use of local components and wider economic benefits to the community will be key considerations in Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s selection of companies to construct Australia’s new offshore wind farms. Bowen made the commitment talking at BlueScope Steel’s Port Kembla plant after announcing the declaration of an offshore wind production zone…
By Andrew Blakers, Australian National University As Australia’s rapid renewable energy rollout continues, so too does debate over land use. Nationals Leader David Littleproud, for example, claimed regional areas had reached “saturation point” and cannot cope with more wind and solar farms and transmission lines. So how much land is needed to fully decarbonise energy…
