energy

Champions of fossil-fuel generation have long complained that job losses have been one of the biggest detriments to the decommissioning of coal-fired power plants, and that renewable energy sources do nothing to help replace those jobs. Not so, according to a panel of experts at the recent Australian Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition held at … Continue reading Renewable jobs market underplayed →

In an Australian first of its kind, Yarra Valley Water has constructed a waste to energy facility linked to a sewage treatment plant. The purpose built facility provides an environmentally friendly disposal solution for commercial organic waste. The facility will divert 33,000 tonnes of commercial food waste from landfill each year. The waste is delivered by … Continue reading New waste-to-energy plant for Victoria →

South Korea’s JB Asset Management has put in its bid alongside private equity firm Newlake Alliance for the Arrium Australia assets which include the Whyalla steelworks, according to a report by the AFR. The report mentioned that the Korean consortium is also proposing a 200 megawatt gas-fired power plant be built as part of the proposal which would not … Continue reading JB Asset Management $5.3b backing of Newlake’s Arrium bid →

Australian chief scientist Alan Finkel will today profess his support for a clean energy target, which he believes will have the lowest impact on power prices compared to other schemes. According to Finkel, doing nothing about climate change will end up being the most expensive option. He will be recommending that the operators of all large … Continue reading Alan Finkel warns over lack of action on climate →

Australia’s biggest manufacturer, steel giant BlueScope, has controversially backed a clean energy target for the energy sector. It is unreasonable to favour the provision of affordable and reliable energy over reducing carbon emissions, according to BlueScope chief executive Paul O’Malley. Therefore, he has called for politicians to get behind a clean energy target as a … Continue reading Australia’s biggest manufacturer backs clean energy target →

AGL has announced plans to invest $295 million to develop a 210mW gas-fired power station alongside the company’s Torrens Island plant, near Adelaide. Construction of the Barker Inlet power station is scheduled to begin later this year, with full operation expected to be underway in early 2019. “Our decision to move ahead with this development reflects … Continue reading AGL announces development of $295m gas-fired power station →

The development of a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility off Victoria has been suggested as a means to address rising energy costs. The Andrews government is allegedly in talks with energy provider AGL to build the LNG import terminal close to Melbourne, potentially in Western Port. The facility would supply to the east-coast … Continue reading Plans for offshore LNG facility to address energy crisis →

In light of rising energy prices, questionable security and ever-changing policies, some manufacturers are turning to renewables to ensure reliable production, writes Stephanie Stefanovic. As energy prices continue to soar, manufacturers are increasingly being pushed out of Australia. The Federal government seems to believe reducing wholesale gas prices is the answer, with Prime Minister Malcolm … Continue reading Renewables light the way to success in manufacturing →

Telstra has reportedly seen its power costs increase by $100 million in the past year, with a senior executive calling on Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos for urgent action to address Australia’s energy crisis. This follows a recent decision by the Federal Court to increase NSW electricity prices by $3 billion over the next few years, on … Continue reading Telstra’s power costs up $100m; company calls for price correction →

The Turnbull Government, through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), has taken the next step in the development of a solar thermal plant at Port Augusta in South Australia. ARENA has requested information from prospective industry participants on the costs and benefits of Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST). This information will help ARENA and the Clean Energy … Continue reading Next step taken in solar thermal development →

The Federal Court has handed down a decision that will increase electricity prices for NSW customers by around $3 billion. According to environment and energy minister Josh Frydenberg, this reaffirms the Turnbull Government’s position of wanting to abolish the Limited Merits Review (LMR) process to stop network businesses gaming the system. The Australian Energy Regulator … Continue reading Electricity prices to increase $3b for NSW consumers →

With the right technology, homeowners and businesses with solar and battery storage systems have the potential to play a vital role in stabilising a grid with high renewable generation, according to Luke Osborne, chief operations officer for Reposit Power. By integrating innovative software with solar battery systems, Reposit Power helps customers who invest in these … Continue reading Solar battery storage ‘vital for energy market’ →

A University of Adelaide (UoA) researcher is proposing Australia use a “climate sharing system” to help solve the current power crisis. The architect of the system, Professor Mike Young, is Professor of Environmental and Water Policy with UoA’s Centre for Global Food and Resources. He played a leading role in creating Australia’s water sharing system, … Continue reading Climate sharing system could end Australia’s power crisis →

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will be conducting a three year pilot in South Australia and Victoria to temporarily free up energy supply during extreme weather and unplanned outages. The pilot demand response initiative will aim to trial 100 megawatts of demand response capacity by this December, with the potential for demand response to … Continue reading ARENA conducting energy security tests →

Victorian Manufacturing Awards 2017 was presented in the Crown Palladium and rewarded the best Manufacturers in small, medium and large businesses. The theme for the event was centred around Australia’s drive towards growing advanced manufacturing – a concept that is gaining traction among many Australian manufacturers, especially the SMEs. The opening keynote address by Jake … Continue reading Advanced manufacturing to be a focus: Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards 2017 →

Esso Australia has announced the completion of its Longford Gas Conditioning Plant, which processes gas from the Kipper Tuna Turrum development. This marks the conclusion of the $5.5 billion Kipper Tuna Turrum project. Located in Longford, Victoria, the Kipper Tuna Turrum gas fields and conditioning plant will process 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to … Continue reading Esso completes new gas conditioning plant →

From July this year, there will be a significant increase in wholesale electricity prices for NSW. This has sparked fears that the cost of doing business in the state will be so high that manufacturers will be forced out. While NSW wholesale electricity prices were stable for a number of years, prices have increased by … Continue reading Rising wholesale electricity prices will threaten NSW businesses →

South Australia has reached its renewable energy target of 50 per cent almost eight years ahead of schedule. The state has already surpassed its target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2025, reaching 53 per cent from 2016-2017. In 2014, this figure was 36 per cent. “I am pleased that South Australia is leading … Continue reading SA reaches 50 per cent renewable energy target 8 years early →

Kingspan Insulation has announced the opening of its insulation manufacturing facility at Somerton in Melbourne. The $40 million factory is the first Green Star-rated manufacturing facility in Australia, aiming to support production entirely through renewable energy. With the opening of the Melbourne plant, Kingspan will not only be able to supply products to Australia, but it … Continue reading Australia’s first Green Star-rated factory opens in Victoria →

A $1 billion solar farm and battery storage project is soon to be built in South Australia’s Riverland region. The system will include 3.4 million solar panels and 1.1 million batteries, making it the biggest of its kind, according to battery storage developer Lyon Group. Construction is due to begin in the next few months, … Continue reading SA to house world’s biggest solar farm and battery storage project →