Catch up
Capital
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Roiled markets are primed, with investors considering all scenarios. “We have completed our very successful attack on three nuclear sites in Iran … A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” US President Donald Trump posted, calling for peace.
Any closure or threat to the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world’s oil flows, would send prices sharply higher. Some analysts warn crude could spike toward US$130 per barrel, depending on Iran’s next move.
“That fundamentally changes the landscape for equity sectors, currencies, and credit,” Nigel Green, CEO of financial advisory giant deVere Group, said in an email. At the same time, there is likely to be “increased investor appetite” for oil and gas producers, while utility companies, with stable earnings profiles and pricing power, may also draw inflows in this higher-volatility environment, he said.
Private equity players are considering the possibility of bankrolling a merger between two Australian energy giants, the AFR’s Chanticleer reported. EnergyAustralia and Alinta Energy were cited given they‘ve both been open to deals in recent years, with past talks that have reportedly happened between the companies failing to find a worthwhile transaction.
 Projects
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A pilot project to convert a whole neighbourhood from gas to electricity has just completed its first stage. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency subsidised upfront costs, while Endeavour Energy is monitoring how best to manage energy loads. It's hoped the project will become a blueprint for making the most of community energy resources nationwide. (ABC)
Federal ministers are at odds over an NT gas pipeline decision, according to a brief released under FOI laws, about APA Group’s (ASX: APA) plan to build a pipeline to connect a fracking operation in the Beetaloo gas basin with the existing Amadeus pipeline. (The Guardian)
Policy
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A Politico analysis identified almost 800 clean electricity generation projects, mostly in Republican areas, that could lose subsidies as the US Senate debates changes to the House megabill.
Joining a growing list of European economies, Ireland ended coal generation with the closure of Moneypoint Power Stations in County Clare, which has been repurposed as a backup oil-fired plant until 2029. Onshore and offshore wind will increasingly become Moneypoint’s focus, with the existing deep water port and other infrastructure to underpin what will become one of Ireland’s largest renewable energy hubs. (Irish Examiner) (ClareFM)
Regulation
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The Australian Energy Regulator approved capital expenditure of $45.7 million for ElectraNet to undertake Stage 1a early works at its Mid North South Australia Renewable Energy Zone. The project cost will add an estimated $0.56 per annum to residential electricity bills in South Australia.
Technology
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Already living the future, in a purpose-built sustainable estate on Victoria’s Bass Coast every home is powered without gas, using rooftop solar and passive solar design principles, and achieves an average 8-star NatHERS energy rating, which is well above the national average. (Yahoo)
While Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Amazon herald Small Modular Reactors as the solution to everything from AI’s energy hunger to coal’s decline, the nuclear vendors themselves won’t promise atomic power will be cheaper than renewables, writes nuclear veteran Arnie Gundersen. (Climate & Capital Media)
Climate
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The energy transition has become a key cornerstone underlying the EU's climate strategy, the European Green Deal, which requires developing a power system largely based on variable renewable electricity (VRE). Untapped geographic potentials of VRE remain large in Europe, according to research published in Advances in Applied Energy, which also assessed intercountry risk of concurrent renewable energy droughts.
People
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Partner at Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Chief Commercial Officer at Stiesdal Offshore Mark Hannibal was appointed chair of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC).
“Wind energy delivers clean and secure energy and is critical to avoiding a climate catastrophe. It is an honour to support GWEC on its mission, and to advocate for the wind industry on the global stage. I would also like to congratulate my predecessor Jonathan Cole for his excellent leadership through the previous two years.” — CWEC Chair Mark Hannibal
Research
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Emissions from LNG supply could be cut by more than 60% using today’s technologies, the International Energy Agency said, as it delivered new analysis on greenhouse gas emissions from across the global LNG supply chain.
The analysis covers 350 upstream assets in 22 countries including Australia, finding they emit roughly 350 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. The Agency said while LNG results in about 25% less emissions than coal, comparing it only to coal – the most carbon-intensive fuel – sets the bar too low, especially given the opportunities already available for improving the emissions performance of LNG supply. It called out Australia’s “strong geographic and regulatory advantages” for integrating carbon capture and storage with LNG production.
Industrial threats to Aboriginal rock art and other heritage sites will be in focus when the World Archaeological Congress meets in Australia for the first time, with the final green light for the Woodside Energy (ASX: WDS) North West Shelf extension still pending. Hosted by Flinders and Charles Darwin Universities, the week-long conference brings thousands of delegates from more than 70 countries to Darwin for academic sessions and scientific tours. (AAP)
Random
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What we know about Iran’s nuclear program. (ABC) (AFR)
