Capital

​

Green iron pioneer Element Zero welcomed the Federal Court’s dismissal of the “distraction” of Fortescue’s (ASX: FMG) legal action against the company and its co-founders Michael Masterman, Dr Bart Kolodziejczyk and Dr Bjorn Winther-Jensen. “We can now focus all of our deep and capable technical resources on rapidly advancing our iron ore-to-iron technology and developing our manufacturing sites in the Pilbara heartland of Port Hedland and in the US,” Masterman said in a statement.

A landmark deal to extend Queensland’s coal industry was struck during a recent trade mission to India and Japan, with major new investment into Broadlea, Carborough Downs and Ironbark mines, Premier David Crisafulli said. BHP’s (ASX: BHP) Saraji East coal mine also looks set with officials recommending approval in an assessment report. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleiji has also announced the expansion of the Centurion mine, 40km north of Moranbah, into the 2050s. Separately, Yancoal plans to extend the life of the Yarrabee coal mine until 2070.

The Commonwealth Bank has started offering electricity hedging contracts to its business customers who need to manage the financial risks caused by wild swings in power prices. Head of institutional banking Sinead Taylor said increasing price volatility was becoming a financial risk for organisations, driving CBA to launch the electricity derivatives business about two weeks ago. (AFR)

Projects

​

ENGIE Australia started construction of the 200MW Pelican Point Battery in Adelaide, adjacent to a 489MW gas power station that has had one of its units recently converted to an open cycle turbine for faster start and ramp up. The battery will be built on land originally set aside for a third gas turbine.

Small groups of anti-renewables campaigners, some from interstate, are delaying key clean energy projects in NSW by flooding planning approval applications, the AFR reported. Under NSW laws, major developments can be pushed back by more than six months if their planning applications receive more than 50 unique objections, which triggers a referral to the state’s Independent Planning Commission.

AusNet reached the milestone of connecting 10GW of renewable energy to the National Electricity Market. CEO David Smales said the achievement cemented AusNet’s role as a critical enabler of Australia’s clean energy transition “It shows what’s possible when communities, industry and governments unite with purpose,” he said. “From a 54MW wind farm at Salt Creek to the towering turbines of the 1.3GW Golden Plains Wind Farm, the largest in the southern hemisphere, AusNet’s 46 renewable connection projects have helped drive one of the most profound energy transformations in the country’s history.”

Energy infrastructure company and owner of the Northern Gas Pipeline Jemena released its Northern Territory Gas Strategy, which mapped out plans to upgrade existing infrastructure to transport Beetaloo gas to the east coast gas market from as soon as 2026. Early stage Beetaloo gas could supply up to 10% of demand in this way, while phase two would involve building a new 370km pipeline to connect with the 28,000 sq/km Beetaloo Basin.

Policy

​

Australia needs to ramp up progress to get to 82% renewables by 2030, green bank boss Ian Learmonth warned. “In the NEM alone, Australia needs to install an estimated 29GW of large-scale renewable generation by 2030,” he told the CEDA event. “That’s about 6.3GW a year, 520MW per month — a decent wind farm every month.” (AAP)

Demand for household solar batteries means consumers could drain the $2.3 billion rebate fund within a year, Origin Energy (ASX: ORG) said, calling for a top up. Energy Minister Chris Bowen says households have invested in 136,000 batteries since the launch of the nationwide rebate in July.

New Zealand joined the international Minerals Security Partnership — almost three-and-a-half years after Australia - to attract investment. NZ’s first Critical Minerals List, released in January, identified 37 minerals vital to the economy and susceptible to supply chain risks that are in high demand globally for use in clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing.

Technology

​

Expressions of Interest opened for Kalgoorlie's Vanadium Battery Energy Storage System (VBESS) in an industrial region plagued by blackouts. The project will involve the installation of a 50-megawatt/500 megawatt-hour vanadium flow battery capable of discharging for up to 10 hours, made in WA using locally sourced and processed vanadium. Backed by $150 million in state government funding, the VBESS will be the largest of its kind in Australia, with Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX: AVL) the frontrunner.

Climate

​

Australian emissions fell by 2.2% in the year to June 2025, driven by increasing levels of renewables, according to the latest Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Electricity sector emissions decreased 3.3% over the year to June 2025 while emissions intensity was 0.55 tonnes CO2-e/MWh, a record low for any June quarter.

How stories of personal experience cut through climate fatigue in ways that global negotiations can’t. (The Conversation)

People

​

Jackie Brown of GE Vernova was elected to the Clean Energy Council board and Angela Catt (Tilt Renewables) and Dennis Freedman (Aquila Clean Energy) were re-elected.

Former Chair of the New Zealand Securities Commission Jane Diplock was appointed Chair of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Supervisory Board. Bola Adeeko continues as Vice Chair and two new members, Chairman of SynTao Green Finance Peiyuan Guo and Switzerland-based Sue Longley, joined the board.

Random

​

What do climate activists and Environment Minister Murray Watt have in common? (The Guardian)