Energy

Despite our vast natural resources, Australia now has some of the highest electricity prices in the world and the road to “renewables” seems bumpier than ever. The Gannawarra Shire Council meeting last week, saw a motion to oppose the VNI West electricity transmission project planned to pass through the municipality, approved. (April fools image)

Construction of a new solar farm and battery at Nhill is now complete and has successfully connected to the electricity grid – supplying cheap renewable energy to power operations at Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water (GWMWater).

Following a thorough assessment led by the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, the proposed Moonlight Range Wind Farm 40 kilometres north west of Rockhampton, will not proceed. The project included plans for up to 88 wind turbines, a battery energy storage system, and related infrastructure covering 1,269 hectares in total, including 434 hectares of vegetation that would need to be cleared. 

The community will be able to have its say at a public meeting on the Pottinger Wind Farm, a State significant development application (SSD-59235464) by Someva Renewables and AGL Energy to develop a 1,300 megawatt (MW) wind farm comprising 247 wind turbines, a 500 MW battery energy storage system and associated infrastructure.

VicGrid, the government body responsible for planning and developing the state's renewable energy zones, has released the Draft 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan for community and industry feedback ... It sets out how much more wind and solar energy Victoria is expected to need over the next 15 years and identifies the most suitable locations for new renewable energy and transmission projects.

Member for Mallee, Dr. Anne Webster, says the Victorian Labor government has sharpened its sights on Marnoo, Navarre, Beulah, Warracknabeal, Normanville and Quambatook to bear the brunt of the VNI West transmission line, wind turbine and solar panel burden of their energy targets.

Something’s shifted. You can feel it in the air — and no, I’m not talking about carbon dioxide, the superfood of plants. I’m talking about the political climate, the social mood, the economic headwinds, and, most importantly, the dawning realisation across much of the Western world that Net Zero isn’t the pathway to the promised land — it’s a mirage.

The Coalition before the election planned to keep its nuclear power policy if it lost, but the huge election defeat may now put this intention under scrutiny. This comes as just days before the election, a nuclear expert reconfirmed that a nuclear station in the Latrobe Valley would cost $10 billion, and highlighted China's new status as the world's largest user of domestic nuclear energy.

Star of the South is confident of lodging the environmental approval applications this year for its proposed windfarm offshore from Gippsland. This follows the state government releasing the latest guidelines to implement the offshore wind projects.

Ten renewable energy projects have been given the green light to connect to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), through agreements that will deliver enough power to supply more than half of NSW homes. The NSW Government has awarded groundbreaking ‘access rights’ to renewable energy companies ...

The Hon. Stephen Patterson, Shadow Minister for Energy and Net Zero (SA). The cost of keeping the lights on continues to rise under the Malinauskas Labor Government, with two reports released today confirming significant increases in the cost of wholesale electricity. Reports from the AER and the AEMO show wholesale electricity prices in South Australia in the first quarter of this year have reached $98 per MWh, a 17 per cent increase from Q1 2024.

Monash University scientists are urging caution around recent claims of breakthroughs in green nitrate fertiliser production, warning there is more work to do before the concept is market-ready. Research by the Monash School of Chemistry has reviewed 50 published studies claiming to have produced green nitrate fertilisers, and found none that successfully resulted in a sustainably-produced alternative to existing products.

Charles Sturt University has reinforced its commitment to environmental sustainability by signing a three-year contract with Snowy Energy to supply 100 per cent renewable electricity to the University’s six main campuses across New South Wales.

Ten candidates for the seats of Mallee and Farrer respond to questions on a range of key issues including cost of living, national energy security and affordability, housing, water buyback and human rights violations of the Government's Covid-19 response.

Four wind, solar and battery projects have been granted the right to connect to new power lines in the South West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). The projects are Origin Energy’s Yanco Delta wind farm, Spark Renewables Dinawan Energy Hub, Someva’s Pottinger Energy Park and BayWA’s Bullawah Wind Farm.

Denmark Community Windfarm is among 11 Australia-wide community renewables projects recognised in the inaugural Climate Council Choice Awards. The DCW, along with Victoria’s Hepburn Community Wind Farm, shares the honour of being one of two in the Trailblazing Towns category of the awards.

The Minns Labor Government and NSW Farmers have teamed up to launch a new guidebook that will help empower landowners and community members to better navigate and understand the transition to renewable energy.