Hey Reader, in today's edition: Hard work just beginning on planning reforms Downward pressure on reliability standard Warning from Australia's climate tsar Deal brokered for more sustainable development More than five years after a landmark review found Australia’s environmental laws were broken, and an aborted attempt at changes during the Albanese government’s first term, parliament has agreed to a package of environment protection law reforms. But the hard work has just begun, with new...
2 days ago • 10 min read
Hey Reader, in today's edition: Planning reforms get heated Wholesale retail contracts explained Energy rebates for Christmas ‘Make-or-break’ moment for faster project approvals Australia’s top climate and biodiversity researchers issued an open letter to break ranks with bosses at the Group of Eight (Go8) most elite Australian universities for backing the business and mining lobby’s position on changes to environment protection law. “This week is critical, make-or-break for environmental law...
3 days ago • 8 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy's weekly data newsletter. This week we explore the "Goldilocks" challenge of gas as the government considers a new reservation policy. Make a reservation The east coast gas market is hurtling towards a policy intervention deemed unthinkable even during the worst of the supply crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — reservation for domestic customers. Tentative interventions by former and current governments sought to cajole Queensland’s...
4 days ago • 6 min read
Hey Reader, in today's edition: Renewables opportunities for COP31 Countering net zero misinformation Build your own social licence Can COP31 land an electrification goal? Brazil’s experience in attempting to secure a new “bolt on” to Dubai goals holds lessons for Australia’s incoming mantle as head of the COP31 negotiations, especially any attempt Australia may make to propose a new end-use electrification goal – say of 35% by 2035, Smart Energy Council’s Thom Woodroofe and John Grimes...
5 days ago • 8 min read
Hey Reader, in today's edition: Call to prioritise efficiency 'Progress' on industrial energy savings No plans to transition off gas exports Cracking the energy efficiency code In an interview with The Energy ahead of a keynote at the Energy Efficiency Council summit this week, Secretary General of Efficient Buildings Europe and Director of the Renovate Europe Campaign Adrian Joyce says relying on mass adoption of home batteries and too much roof-top solar is “irrational” at best and wasteful...
6 days ago • 7 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy Week, your chance to catch up on this week's most important energy news. Prefer to listen? Get The Energy Week on your favourite podcast platform. THE ENERGY WEEK • EPISODE 10 A COPitulation 05:22 MORE INFO This week's top energy news This week saw a COPitulation and a call from bankers to stay the course on net zero. Climate Energy Minister Chris Bowen would be designated President of Negotiations, with Australian officials handling the year of negotiations...
8 days ago • 4 min read
Hey Reader, in today's edition: Fixing VPP blockers Ian Learmonth on transition challenges and opportunities COPitulation leaves scope for policywonks VPP roadblocks explained A bigger uptake of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) would mean less investment in large‑scale infrastructure, fewer network constraints and more resilience across the grid. In an ideal world, VPPs would lower the cost of the energy transition for all Australians. And yet they remain a niche offering. In The Energy’s latest...
9 days ago • 9 min read
Hey Reader, in today's edition: Pros and cons of a consumer duty Bankers get behind net zero Browse not so grouse ‘Seismic’ energy reform gains momentum Australia's energy policymakers are edging closer to applying a consumer duty to energy providers as Australia’s boom in home batteries and other consumer energy resources helps build the case for more adaptive consumer protections. The federal energy department has consultants investigating the idea, which already has support from the...
10 days ago • 8 min read
Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy's weekly data newsletter. This week we explore the shift in the International Energy Agency's projections for clean energy technology. 'Expectations v. reality' Publication of the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook is a keenly awaited event. The document (officially not a forecast) is a bible for the energy industry, though it is often accused of leaning too heavily on its origins in the oil crisis of 1974. One particular complaint is that its...
11 days ago • 5 min read