Capital
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Chasing energy transition minerals, Fortescue (ASX: FMG) announced it would buy the remaining 64% of Alta Copper (TSX: ATCU) it doesn’t already own, through a Canadian Plan of Arrangement. Fortescue said it was well-placed to advance Alta’s Cañariaco Copper Project in Peru. The transaction is targeted to close in the March quarter of 2026.
An offshore gas well owned by billionaire Kerry Stokes’ Seven Group Holdings (ASX: SGH) has been leaking methane into the ocean off the Victorian coast for more than two years, The Age reported. Regulator NOPSEMA has given Seven until March 31 to assess its gas well barrier conditions and stop the leak. It must then reinstate continuous monitoring of the integrity of both gas wells in the Longtom field and submit technical studies.
Eastern States Energy, a Queensland gas company backed by billionaires Ryan Stokes, Afterpay co-founder Anthony Eisen and Caledonia’s Mark Nelson plans to float on the ASX by the end of 2026. It owns a series of licences for southeast Queensland’s Taroom Trough area. (The Aus)
 Projects
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The Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) released an interactive investment map of over 800 renewable energy and net-zero research projects backed by federal support including the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), and the Regional Hydrogen Hubs Program. Developed in partnership with RenewMap, the tool consolidates information about the energy transformation and also includes contextual data on transmission lines, renewable energy zones and fossil fuel-fired power plants.
Southerly Ten, the developer of Gippsland offshore wind proposal, Star of the South, has made some forward steps, lodging its Environmental Impact Statement for approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. It has also purchased 120 hectares of farmland on Gippsland’s coast near Reeves Beach, where underground cables will come to shore. Victorian offshore wind has had a tough time recently, with three proponents walking away, and in September the auction for state government procurement was postponed.
Policy
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Remote First Nations communities face extreme heat and frequent disconnections from electricity when pre-paid credit runs out, but targeted policies could prevent life-threatening outages. A Priority Services Register would improve targeted support for prepayment and other vulnerable customers and a requirement for better reporting by energy retailers and performance-based monitoring could reduce disconnection events. State and territory governments are urged to remove mandated prepayment arrangements and provide prepayment customers with the same consumer protections and choice of energy services as non-prepayment meter customers. (The Policymaker)
CSIRO released a report on R&D priorities in response to the fast-moving critical minerals agenda. Among the recommendations for the next 2-7 years: Targeted pilot projects to support the most commercially viable downstream processing industries; co-investment or voucher schemes to improve industry access to existing common-user piloting facilities and laboratories; and supporting the production of high-value materials by subsidising facilities and equipment to validate product purity, which is critical to compete in premium markets.
The Queensland Government has launched a Supercharger Solar for Renters scheme, offering rebates of up to $3,500 to eligible landlords who install rooftop PV systems on their rental properties. (Renew Economy)
Technology
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Virescent Ventures is the Australian partner in an A$50 million institutional funding round for Melbourne-based IND Technology and its 24/7 Early Fault Detection systems. “Grid reliability and resilience are among the most critical challenges and opportunities for the energy transition. Ageing infrastructure, hotter and drier summers, and rising bushfire risk all mean utilities need smarter tools to detect faults before they become costly outages or catastrophic fires events,” Managing Partner of Virescent Ventures Kristin Vaughan said.
Climate
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A systems stewardship guide from the Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) will help investors manage climate risks. According to the new research, collaboration remains the dominant lever as 90% of investors are in alliances such as Climate Action 100+ and policy advocacy is increasingly common as company lobbying evolves. Initiatives such as the Investor Mining and Tailings Safety Initiative (IMTSI) and the Steel Purchaser Framework show the potential for collective action to shift industry systems. Asset owners are urged to engage with asset managers on goals and embed systems stewardship in investment mandates, while regulators should modernise guidance on collective action, fiduciary duty, competition law, and long-term investment performance evaluation.
Research
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Australian thermal coal exports face multiple downside risks that are mounting as renewable energy overtakes coal-fired energy generation globally, IEEFA Australia’s Lead Research Analyst, Coal Industry, Anne-Louise Knight said in a research note, citing data from Ember. Yet Australia has a significant pipeline of thermal coal projects seeking approval for an additional 1.8 billion tonnes between 2025 and 2050 even as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan phase out coal-fired power.
Random
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The intersection between renewable energy and cryptocurrency is apparently a hot topic as Solargy positions itself to be the next big thing. Buyer beware.