Capital
|
Singapore’s Sembcorp (SGX: U96) said discussions to acquire Alinta Energy from Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Enterprises are “still ongoing” after speculation of a deal as soon as this week. If completed, Alinta would give Sembcorp a major retail and generation foothold in Australia, immediate scale in a market that is retiring coal plants and accelerating the renewables build‑out, and a heavy decarbonisation challenge, given Loy Yang B’s footprint and Australia’s climate-related compliance requirements. (Capital Brief) (Bloomberg) (Ts2)
WA-based Frontier Energy (ASX: FHE) went on a trading halt to complete a $10 million capital raising, and signalled a debt raising in 2026. Stage One of Frontier’s Waroona Renewable Energy Project, comprising a 120MW solar farm with 81.5MW battery storage, is “locked and loaded” with revenue certainty secured, all connections and approvals in place, and a rising power price and growing supply gap, CEO Adam Kiley told an investor webinar.
 Projects
|
The Queensland government allocated consultancy Coreo more than $1.5 million to work with coal producers in the Bowen Basin to study how to recover minerals such as rare earths and vanadium from mine waste. Coreo CEO Ashleigh Morris said the funding strengthened the Bowen Basin Circularity program. “By focusing on critical minerals in coal tailings, and the potential to extract them alongside other valuable components, we are targeting full value from the full volume of tailings,” she said. “This advances whole-of-system resource recovery and positions Queensland to lead in circular resource innovation.”
Policy
|
With WA getting out of coal-fired electricity generation faster than any other state, supported by new laws, the State Development Bill 2025 has been described by lawyersGilbert+Tobin as a “net positive” for WA’s energy transition and broader investment agenda.
Labor’s tax cuts, not another round of energy rebates, are the best way to provide cost-of-living relief, Treasurer Jim Chalmers told reporters after Cabinet made the “difficult” call ahead of next week's budget update. Initially funded for just one year, the bill relief distributed via energy retailers was extended as cost-of-living pressures remained acute. “There have been three rounds of electricity bill rebates, and there won't be a fourth,” he said, confirming the measure would end on December 31. (The Australian) (Sky News) (ABC) (Capital Brief)
Regulation
|
Financial ties between oil and gas companies, educational and cultural institutions are igniting concern, with Australian students learning about ocean acidification with no mention of fossil fuels and researching carbon capture using museum classroom materials adorned with company branding, AAP reported, citing a Comms Declare investigation. The charity’s report calls for national standards to prevent fossil fuel companies from influencing climate or environmental education, aligning with emerging international guidelines such as the UK’s restrictions on environmentally harmful sponsorships.
Climate
|
Greenpeace Australia Pacific warned the federal government against subsidising gas for industrial users, saying it should instead be supporting heavy industry to decarbonise. Greenpeace said the intervention would be at odds with Australia’s commitment to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, including under the Glasgow Climate Pact and the Belém Declaration on the transition away from fossil fuels inked in Brazil less than three weeks ago.
Rio Tinto said it would spend between $US1 billion and $US2 billion on decarbonisation projects in the nine years to 2030, down from the original budget of $US7.5 billion. Meanwhile BHP’s decided to slash decarbonisation spending from $US4 billion to just $US500 million. The cuts have been criticised by Australian Conservation Foundation climate policy advisor Annika Reynolds as a “disappointing, regressive decision”. (AFR)
People
|
Ecologist Gavin Thomas joined biodiversity and heritage consultancy Niche as Ecology Practice Leader for bird and bat studies, to assist wind developers with project impact.
Dr Ian Oppermann has been appointed as a Commissioner at the ACCC while Anna Brakey has been reappointed for a 5-year term.
HSBC has elevated Samantha Iyer to head of sustainable finance and transition for Australia and New Zealand.
Research
|
Senior Lecturer Rohan Best, Department of Economics, Macquarie University, says the federal government is subsidising unnecessarily large home batteries with “massive” uptake rates. At this pace, the budget allocation of $2.3 billion might run out in 2026, rather than 2030 as originally planned, and if extended could blow out to around $10 billion. (The Conversation)
Japan's Kanazawa University has begun long-term outdoor testing of perovskite solar cells in collaboration with Toshiba. The project will involve installing tandem perovskite solar cells equipped with lead-stabilization technology onto modules for outdoor evaluation at the university's Kakuma campus. (PV Magazine)
Random
|
“Barnaby Joyce’s decision to join One Nation is disappointing,” Nationals Leader David Littleproud said in a statement. “Barnaby has chosen to turn his back on The Nationals and on his electorate and instead join a party of protest, which is never able to achieve anything other than headlines.”
