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The Energy

The Energy is dedicated to covering the business of energy and in particular the people, capital, projects and emerging technology behind the energy transition.

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What price fairness?

Hey Reader, in today's edition: Higher fixed network charges put up for debate Missing tradies, specialists and IT experts Meters explained Fixed charges redux A pricing proposal killed off more than a decade ago has been put back on the table as policymakers consider how best to recover network costs in a consumer-led future. Energy Consumers Australia has suggested higher fixed network charges levied across all consumers. It argues such a move would improve equity, ensuring network costs...

Hey Reader, in today's edition: Getting off diesel Environmental law reform explained TagEnergy grows portfolio Diesel addiction threatens 2030 target Australia will fail to reach its 2030 emissions reduction target, let alone deeper cuts by 2035, if heavy industries don’t reduce their diesel use, scientists warn. A report released at Parliament House by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences & Engineering (ATSE) and mining giant Fortescue (ASX: FMG) takes a look – fuel by fuel – at...

Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy's weekly data newsletter. This week we explore the impact the energy wars are having on consumer perceptions of clean energy. Australian support for clean energy Two new consumer polls on attitudes towards renewable energy provide some of the data behind the wedge politics seen in parliament this week. Debate on Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce’s private members bill to repeal climate laws on Monday quickly moved onto renewable energy targets and Nationals MP...

Hey Reader, in today's edition: Preparing for a fully renewable system Measuring public support for the transition 2035 target looms Record investment in the NEM The annual State of the energy market report shows more than 5GW of new solar, wind, battery and gas capacity entered the National Electricity Market (NEM) in 2024 - the largest annual new entry of capacity since the NEM began in 1998. On 6 November 2024, renewable sources supplied 75.6% of total generation during the half-hour...

Hey Reader, in today's edition: Key player bows out of offshore wind More pressure on net zero Super for energy welcomed Bowen still hopeful on offshore wind Adding offshore wind to the energy mix is “going to be a bit slower and harder than we hoped”, Energy Minister Chris Bowen conceded, as a key player bowed out. Bowen released a draft guideline to help developers, researchers and scientists apply for Research and Demonstration licences in declared offshore zones, in a move designed to...

Hey Reader, in today's edition: A stable transition starts with workers More visibility on coal closures Battery boom trumps AEMO forecasts Reliability at home and at scale Energy workers - and their families - need certainty and the energy transition needs skilled workers. That’s the clarion call from a union of more than 60,000 electricians, apprentices and electrical workers as the National Electricity Market (NEM) faces reliability issues and as consensus on national licensing and...

Hey Reader, in today's edition: ESOO warns of schedule imperative New rule flagged for RRO Extension for AGL's Torrens Island B Reliability rests on on-time delivery: AEMO The 10-year outlook from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), out today, warns timely development is needed for a reliable post-coal electricity system, with consumption tipped to boom amid business electrification, a greater industrial load and the rapid expansion of data centres. Officials forecast a pick up in...

Hey Reader, welcome to The Energy's weekly data newsletter. This week we explore the growing competition in batteries coming from the smaller end of the market. Competition in VPPs Last week Australia’s competition regulator celebrated the rise of small energy retailers exerting competitive pressure on the “big three” integrated power companies in the market for virtual power plants (VPPs) or small batteries “under orchestration”. Australian Competition and Consumer Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb...

Hey Reader, in today's edition: Productivity week Setting a floor for 2035 Transgrid updates forecasts Productivity needs to be plugged in For many energy players, it’s all about green and red tape as the three-day Economic Reform Roundtable kicks off in Canberra. Whether it’s a ‘no’ or a ‘yes’ on an environmental approval, just get it done more efficiently to lower the cost of the entire electricity system and change the record on productivity, they say. But it’s also about tax policy. On...

Hey Reader, in today's edition: Energy ministers agree on new investment mechanism Self-determination to de-risk projects Victoria tweaks transmission plan Setting the next phase Energy Ministers have agreed to high-level principles for the detailed design of a new investment mechanism to support continued investment in the National Electricity Market when the Capacity Investment Scheme ends in 2027. The next phase of work will focus on the institutional governance, a legal framework, and...