Capital
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Chevron CEO (NYSE: CVX) Mike Wirth is overhauling the oil giant’s “nice” corporate culture, getting tougher not just on his employees but also any rivals or politicians standing in his way. (WSJ)
 Projects
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Marinus Link has been granted full environmental approval under the EPBC Act after four years of detailed assessments. Construction of Marinus Link is expected to begin in 2026 after the three owners - the federal, Tasmanian and Victorian governments - agreed last week there was a sound financial and economic case for proceeding with the Stage 1 750MW capacity cable. The project covers the construction, operation and decommissioning of a 1,500MW subsea and underground electricity and fibre optics interconnector and related infrastructure between Tasmania and Victoria. The project will be delivered in two 750MW stages, with this approval covering both, Minister for the Environment Murray Watt said.
But ACEN’s 100-turbine wind farm on Robbins Island in the Bass Strait remains in limbo. Former Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek stalled on a decision before the federal election, and Watt extended the timeline further, mulling scientific analysis about the migration route of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot. “We expect an approval decision to be made by the end of this month,” Watt told reporters.
Asked about federal investment in CopperString in Far North Queensland, Watt said the PM was a “massive supporter” and the federal government was continuing to work with the Queensland government on that and a number of other projects.
“We recognise that CopperString has the potential to really open up the North West Minerals Province in North West Queensland, again, creating jobs and allowing access to the kind of critical minerals that we need for the clean energy transition.”
Murray Watt
Environment Minister
French energy giant Engie (EPA: ENGI) will go ahead with existing wind, solar and battery projects in the United States despite the rollback of subsidies. But there was a 9.4% fall in first-half earnings to 5.1 billion euros on lower energy prices for Europe's largest gas network operator. (Reuters)
"Our clients and counterparties in the US have adapted to the new market reality, notably by adding contractual clauses that better share residual risks, which will allow us to proceed with these three projects with confidence.”
Catherine MacGregor
Engie CEO
Policy
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The Productivity Commission recommended a significant expansion of the Safeguard Mechanism, the delivery of overdue planning law reforms and a new emissions reduction incentive for heavy vehicles in its interim report to Treasurer Jim Chalmers on investing in cheaper, cleaner energy.
The Commission said environmental laws should be amended to require the minister to consider the needs of the energy transition when deciding whether to approve an energy project. It also called for nationally consistent incentives for lowest-cost clean energy, irrespective of generation technology or jurisdiction. Feedback on the report is due September 15.
“With the right policy settings, we can limit the costs of decarbonising and speed up our approvals to unlock the opportunities of lower cost, more abundant clean energy. We can also boost our resilience to the effects of climate change and minimise their human and economic costs.”
Barry Sterland
Productivity Commissioner
The Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is taking a look at the need for greater consumer protections after unprecedented uptake of home batteries just one month after the launch of the $2.3 billion federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program, which offered discounts of 30% and can be stacked with other subsidies in some states and territories.
“As more Australian households switch to battery and solar plans, it’s important that the deals on offer are fair, accurate and easy to understand. The ACCC will be watching carefully and actively monitoring consumer complaints."
Anna Brakey
ACCC Commissioner
Some 19,592 solar batteries were installed in the month of July, providing a total nominal capacity of 344.1 MWh. The average nominal battery size installed has been 18.2 kWh, the Clean Energy Regulator said, tallying applications that have claimed or had small-scale technology certificates approved so far.
“It’s essential that safety is at the forefront – our inspection program is now underway on new solar batteries that have claimed the discount under the scheme.
"We’ll publish inspection findings later this month once enough inspections have been completed to identify trends, and draft findings have been confirmed through due processes. Inspection findings will be shared with state and territory electrical and safety regulators who are responsible for ensuring compliance with relevant standards and regulations within their jurisdictions.”
Carl Binning
CER Executive GM of the Scheme Operations Division
Households with rooftop solar and a home battery have electricity bills on average 40% less than customers whose electricity comes entirely from the grid, while residential customers connected to a virtual power plant paid about 63% less than the median household, according to the ACCC’s latest Inquiry into the National Electricity Market report.
Why the US is letting China win on energy innovation. (The Conversation)
Regulation
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Consumer advocacy group the Network of Illawarra Consumers wants the Australian Energy Market Commission to revisit Locational Marginal Pricing (LMP). A 2020 proposal by the AEMC on LMP was rejected by energy ministers, but NICE says LMP would reduce wholesale electricity costs, increase investment in storage and deliver more efficient utilisation of transmission assets.
The US Bureau of Land Management implemented four rules that create more leeway for oil and gas companies wanting to drill on public lands, as required by the spending bill passed in July. (Inside Climate News)
Climate
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The Vatican plans to turn a 430-hectare field north of Rome into a 100-million-euro solar farm to meet the Holy See’s electricity needs and turn Vatican City into the world’s first carbon-neutral state. Italy, for its part, can use the field in its climate accounting for reaching European Union clean energy targets. (AP)
People
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Tom Geiser joined industrial decarb experts Good Heat as Chief Energy Markets Officer.
Research
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The UK’s first mine water heat Living Laboratory is looking at old coal mines as a clean heat source. As part of a data release, researchers on the Mining Remediation Authority project shared footage as well as information on water movement and structural features that help to determine how much heat is available.
"It’s like opening a time capsule, but instead of coal what we’re now extracting is knowledge and possibly clean heat for generations.”
Dr Fiona Todd
Geoscientist and project lead
Random
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New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Luxon told the National Party faithful at the annual conference that the nation must not say no to every development opportunity. (RNZ)
“Take a look at Australia. If they shut down their mining industry or their energy industry tomorrow, as Labour and the Greens want to do here, I guarantee you would see fewer Kiwis moving across the ditch.”
Chris Luxon
NZ Prime Minister
