 Projects
|
Australian Solar Enterprises submitted a proposed 400MW solar farm and a 2,000MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to federal government review, having made its way through local council approval in 2023. The project, at a 283ha site in the Tarong Queensland Renewable Energy Zone, Queensland, does not anticipate any threatened species will be affected by the proposed development.
Policy
|
Energy Minister Chris Bowen pushed back against suggestions the Labor government’s proposed gas reservation scheme risks chilling the investment appetite necessary to avert gas shortages. AGL Energy chief executive Damien Nicks is among those calling for clarity around questions such as whether proposed 15% to 25% requirements would apply to total output, uncontracted volumes or future production. (The Australian)
Victoria’s Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee will today hold its second day of hearings in its inquiry about how the state can best harmonise electric vehicles with electricity supply and demand. Thursday’s hearing included evidence from bodies including the Monash Energy Institute, RMIT University and the Australian Electric Vehicle Association; today’s hearing, which will be broadcast live online from 10am, will canvass opinions from a range of local councils including Port Phillip, Knox, City of Greater Bendigo, and more.
Regulation
|
The AEMC is publishing an updated high-level work program in which it will focus on areas including delivering improved consumer outcomes and enabling better consumer energy resources (CER) integration; clarifying the future roles of gas in the net zero transition; getting markets design right for secure and reliable changing energy systems; and updating network regulation to support improved consumer outcomes.
The WA government is soliciting feedback on a public comment draft of its Electricity Industry (Alternative Electricity Services) Regulations 2025, with a particular focus on extending protections to electricity customers by prescribing embedded networks and on-site power supply (OPS) services under the framework. Consultation is open until February 27.
A busy year of AEMC regulatory activity saw 25 rule changes across electricity, retail and gas sectors and a further 29 under consideration, Allens has noted in a research note wrapping up energy industry regulatory reform during 2025 and its implications for this year. Among the key issues to watch this year, the firm said, are finalisation of the implementation roadmap for the Market Settings Review; clarity around the role and regulation of gas as the transition progresses; potential stronger penalties for manipulation across markets; and the best approach to manage the surge in demand from new data centres.
Technology
|
The expansion of artificial intelligence into operational systems is accelerating quickly, according to Deloitte’s new State of AI in the Enterprise report, for which the company surveyed 3,235 director and C-suite respondents across 24 countries and 6 industries including energy, resources and industrials. Physical AI systems, which perceive the real world and drive physical actions through machines or control systems, are already in at least limited use within 58% of companies but 80% expect to be using them within two years. Asia Pacific companies are global leaders in its deployment, but persisting issues like data privacy, legal and regulatory compliance, governance capabilities and oversight continue to concern risk-minded executives.
Climate
|
President Donald Trump has rescinded a landmark determination that greenhouse gases pose a threat to human health and welfare. The 2009 'endangerment' determination served as the legal foundation for a variety of climate rules, including federal climate standards for cars and trucks, regulations that were also overturned. Environmental groups have already vowed to fight the changes in court. (Bloomberg) (WashPo) (Politico)
The federal government should actively promote adoption of environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives within Australian businesses, CPA Australia has argued in a pre-Budget submission in which it said many businesses, especially SMEs, struggle to understand their reporting requirements around Group 3 climate statements. Professionals should be upskilled in climate-related disclosures and assurance, the professional body said while calling for greater clarity around the contribution that Australia’s business community is expected to make towards the national greenhouse gas emissions target.
China’s CO2 emissions have now been falling for 21 months, a new analysis has shown in noting that the “flat or falling” trend began in March 2024 and has now lasted almost two years. Emissions fell year-on-year in nearly all major sectors last year – including building materials (7%), transport (3%), and power (1.5%) – even as coal generation was cut by 1.9% as new projects boosted solar power output by 43%, (with up to 240GW more expected to be added this year), wind by 14% and nuclear by 8%. BESS capacity grew by 75GW, well ahead of the increase in peak demand of 55GW. (CarbonBrief)
Research
|
Protections against disconnecting the gas and electricity services of non-paying consumers could be strengthened in Australia without destabilising markets, RMIT University researchers have argued in publishing the results of a joint collaboration with peers in Spain, Ireland and France that highlighted a range of European safeguards that could help ensure continuous supply by supporting, rather than punishing, consumers. Some 23,000 Australian households had their electricity cut in 2023-24 for non-payment.
Exploding worldwide demand for batteries will require the creation of new battery technologies capable of providing higher power and energy density, a University of Sharjah research team has argued in a new study arguing that by 2031 battery manufacturing capacity “must expand dramatically”, to nearly 6,700GWh, to meet demand that includes a hundred-fold increase in demand for battery lithium. (Scimex)
People
|
Energy infrastructure company Jemena has restructured its Jemena Networks business, bringing in new leadership for the company’s Victorian electricity distribution network and NSW gas distribution network. The new appointees include Shaun Reardon - executive general manager, Electricity Networks and Nerise Cook - executive general manager, Gas Networks.
