Victoria’s coal-fired power plants are nation’s most unreliable
New data shows Victoria’s ageing coal-fired plants are responsible for the highest number of breakdowns in the National Energy Market (NEM). The Australia Institute’s (TAI) Gas & Coal Watch confirms that Victorian coal power is responsible for around 13 per cent of the NEM’s gas and coal capacity. However, it makes up 32 per cent […]
Elon Musk: New EV charging software could help electric car owners charge cheaply
Tesla head Elon Musk says new EV charging software could help electric car owners charge their cars at the cheapest rate. According to a Musk tweet, Tesla vehicles could refer to time of use electricity rates at their location. Using built-in software, they could then charge themselves automatically when the rate was cheapest. As a result, […]
UK becomes first G7 economy to legislate net zero carbon by 2050
The British Parliament will legislate a target of UK zero net carbon emissions by 2050. It is the first nation among G7 economies to do so. The announcement by Prime Minister Theresa May follows independent advice contained in a report from the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). However, with the Conservative PM May now due […]
Australia’s potential rooftop solar output could exceed grid demand: expert analysis
The potential rooftop solar energy output of Australia is greater than the amount of electricity we consume through the national grid each year. The revelation comes in a new report released this week from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Property Council of Australia. The report’s analysis looked at rooftop space available for solar […]
Competitors charge up for Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2019
The countdown to this year’s World Solar Challenge has officially begun. A record number of Australian teams have signed up to compete in the ‘world’s most exciting solar car event’. The biennial Bridgestone World Solar Challenge begins October 13. South Australia’s Trade Minister, David Ridgeway, confirmed 53 entries from 24 countries have entered the race. The solar […]
New feed-in tariffs to boost UK solar industry after May drop off
New feed-in tariffs (FiTs) will boost the United Kingdom’s solar industry following a government turnaround on the controversial subsidies. The Conservative UK government scrapped the nation’s previous FiT scheme in April this year, leading to a rapid downturn in new solar installations. As a result new installations fell by 94 per cent within a month. […]
Australia’s first electric police car signals new era for Victoria’s Highway Patrol
Victoria Police have purchased the nation’s first electric police car for use on highway patrols. The Tesla Model X will join the department’s Road Policing Command to reduce impact on the environment as well as helping police integrate new technology. The use of electric vehicles (EV) could signal a new era in Australian road policing […]
Overdue federal report shows rising greenhouse gas emissions put Paris climate target in jeopardy
The overdue quarterly update of Australia’s greenhouse gases shows rising emissions will make it hard to meet our Paris Agreement obligations. Released five days after its due date, the Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reveals a 0.7 per cent overall increase in carbon emissions over the previous year. Government data shows emissions […]
Nation’s top solar university commits to 100% renewable energy
The nation’s top solar university research hub, the University of New South Wales (UNSW), in Sydney, has announced it will switch to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2020. Underpinning the goal is a 15-year power-purchase-agreement with the Sunraysia solar farm in western NSW. The PPA is a tripartite arrangement with project developer Maoneng and […]
Car giants Jaguar Land Rover and BMW team up to develop new electric vehicles
UK car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover has partnered with German-based BMW to develop new electric vehicles and technology. The companies say they will reduce cost by sharing research and production planning for a new breed of EVs. The BBC reports they will also share the costs of buying car components. Several EV manufacturers now share […]
