Clean energy industry: transmission loss figures damaging renewable generators

AEMO

Decreasing electricity transmission loss figures are harming the viability of the clean energy industry. That’s the warning from Australia’s Clean Energy Council. Chief executive Kane Thornton was commenting on the 2019-2020 marginal loss factors (MLF) from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). MLF figures are the percentage of electricity that AEMO predicts will be lost […]

Australia’s top 10 Carbon Emitters: Coal-fired electricity companies head the list

Coal-based energy companies top list of highest emitters.

Coal-dependent energy companies AGL, EnergyAustralia and Origin Energy head the latest list of Australia’s carbon emitters. Australia’s three biggest energy companies rely on coal-fired power generation in Victoria and NSW. These coal-based energy companies rank one, two and four respectively in the national emitters Top 10 compiled by the Clean Energy Regulator (CER). Electricity generation is […]

Energy storage systems big enough to supply the national grid

A Tesla rechargeable battery.

In order to stay reliable, the national grid needs large energy storage systems that use ‘consistent’ sources of energy. Both wind turbines and solar power are great for consumers, and the environment. But because of their intermittent nature, they need to be backed up by battery storage. And although we think of batteries as those […]

IKEA introduces electric truck delivery fleet

IKEA - Wind and solar power

More and more Australian businesses are taking matters into their own hands when it comes to electric vehicles, and IKEA is the latest company to announce it will use electric trucks for all home deliveries by 2025. Currently there are only 5,000 private electric cars among 25 million Australians. However IKEA says the change to […]

Business Renewables Centre: connecting Australian business with renewable energy suppliers

Corporate solar PPA

Australian businesses can now connect with renewable energy suppliers through the Business Renewables Centre – Australia, a platform that helps businesses adopt wind and solar energy. Renewable energy is a hot topic for businesses, and the BRC-A’s goal is to replace the current electricity-purchasing model. While supported by ARENA and some state governments, the Business Renewables […]

Climate Change driven extreme heat threatens health of South Australians

Ageing coal-fired plants in Victoria are least reliable in national grid.

Extreme heat events will threaten the health of residents in south-eastern South Australia, including the major metro area of Adelaide, unless urgent action is taken to combat climate change. That’s the verdict of a new report predicting a rapid increase in the number of days over 35°C in South Australia. The ‘Heatwatch’ report by The Australia […]

Energy demand: How AEMO keeps us cool in summer heatwaves

AEMO

Australia is a place of extreme weather – from blazing hot summers to bitterly cold winters. But despite hot weather hitting every state in the nation this summer, the power grid still needs to keep supply and energy demand in balance. That’s where the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) comes into the picture. AEMO is […]

Federal Energy Minister: ‘no stance’ on new coal fired Hunter Valley power stations

Coalition hedges bets on two proposed coal plants for NSW.

Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor says that the Coalition has “no stance” on the two proposed Hunter Valley power plants that would be fired by coal. The Guardian reported this week that an overseas investment firm had teamed with a small Australian company to develop two 1,000 MW “Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Plants” close […]

Utilities install solar and batteries instead of new grid in remote WA

Renewable energy boom drives upturn in utilities construction.

Key utilities in Western Australia are substituting solar battery technology for ageing power infrastructure in remote farming areas. This utility solar battery use is a turnaround for big utilities’ traditional non-renewable energy sources. State-owned utility Horizon Power is replacing 54 kilometres of ageing power lines and poles with microgrid solar storage systems at 14 farms […]