The Elephant
A resource for journalists, politicians, policy makers, activists and citizens interested in climate change and the environmental emergency
The ElephantA resource for journalists, politicians, policy makers, activists and citizens interested in climate change and the environmental emergency
Visit: reneweconomy.com.au
We need to talk about gas emissions, and the climate methane bomb
2024-05-10 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyPoliticians seeking to lock gas into Australia’s future to 2050 need to understand that leaked gas emissions are likely 100 times worse than carbon dioxide emissions.
Batteries the biggest player again as renewable records smashed in California, reach 156 pct of load
2024-04-22 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyBatteries become biggest supplier in California’s evening peak for fourth time in a week, as renewables smash records with 156 pct of demand.
In the belly of the solar duck: First big battery responds as rooftop PV changes shape of grid
2024-04-08 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyWestern Australia hosts the world’s biggest standalone grid and features the biggest solar duck, thanks to growth of rooftop PV. Batteries to the rescue, then, as thermal plants go quack.
If we properly priced death caused by carbon emissions, we might get to net zero a lot quicker
2024-03-27 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyAdding a price on mortality caused by carbon emissions might help change consumption patterns for items such as red meat and 4WDs. Smoking laws provide a template.
Wind turbines have negligible impact on house prices, new study finds
2024-03-20 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyWhether wind farms affect house prices is a live issue for anti wind farm campaigners in Australia, but new research out of the US shows it’s nothing to worry about.
Home battery capacity equals that of pumped hydro in Germany
2024-03-16 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyThe capacity of household batteries in Germany has reached 6 GW, about equal to the country’s pumped hydro capacity.
Super cheap transmission upgrades could double capacity and open floodgates for renewables
2024-03-14 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyGrid enhancing technologies are promising to decongest networks and bring in huge amounts of renewables. Can they work in Australia?
Australia’s biggest smelter to launch massive wind and solar tender, says nuclear too costly
2024-03-13 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyThe biggest single energy consumer in Australia, the Tomago smelter, is about to launch a massive tender for wind and solar. It says nuclear is too expensive.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Wind Power | Nuclear Power | Renewable Energy | Australia
How can nuclear fit into a renewable grid where base load can’t compete?
2024-03-05 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyCoalition’s push for nuclear is fundamentally flawed, not just for nuclear, but for any high capital cost base load generator.
Tagged under: Electricity Grid | Australia | Nuclear Power
Biggest offshore wind farm in world scraps green hydrogen proposal
2024-03-03 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyDevelopers had been exploring hydrogen and grid sales in tandem, but decided on the latter after winning a grid connection.
Tagged under: Electricity Grid | Wind Power
Wind and solar projects gathering pace, despite Coalition campaign
2024-03-03 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyDespite all the doom and gloom, the wind and solar currently under construction makes it certain we will be over 50% renewable by mid 2026 at the latest and probably by late 2025.
Tagged under: Wind Power | Solar Energy | Renewable Energy | Australia
Australia to seek 10 GW of wind and solar this year in biggest ever tenders
2024-03-01 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyAustralia will seek 10 gigawatts of new wind and solar capacity this year, along with 3 GW of dispatchable capacity, as it races to meet its ambitious renewables target.
Tagged under: Wind Power
The network of conservative think-tanks out to kill the switch to renewables
2024-02-28 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyAustralia’s renewable energy plans are being targeted by coordinated campaigns from conservative “think tanks”, as the Coalition embraces nuclear and rails against large scale ren…
Tagged under: Nuclear Power | Renewable Energy
Andrew Forrest attacks Coalition’s nuclear “bulldust” and betraying the bush
2024-02-26 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyAndrew Forrest says Coalition needs to stop the “bull dust” about nuclear energy being the “fairy godmother” to the energy transition.
Tagged under: Nuclear Power
Australian researchers make water battery breakthrough
2024-02-21 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyResearchers at RMIT University find a way to replace the electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries with water, an innovation that could remove the fire risk entirely.
Tagged under: Lithium
Floating solar plans upsized in push to squeeze them between giant offshore wind turbines
2024-02-15 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyGroup of 16 EU organisations partner to scale up floating offshore solar technology to 150MW so it can be more easily installed within existing and new offshore wind farms.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Wind Power
World must spend $A18 trillion in renewables and grids by 2030 to meet climate targets
2024-02-13 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyWorld must spend at least $A18 trillion on renewables and the grid to meet climate targets, and most can come from scrapping fossil fuel plans.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Electricity Grid
Used solar panels could supply Australia’s next resource boom: study
2024-02-07 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyUNSW study finds that effective solar module recycling practices could eliminate the need to mine for materials to make new PV. Instead, we would “mine from waste.”
Tagged under: Solar Energy
Redflow flags next-gen flow battery as it targets bigger scale storage projects
2024-01-30 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyRedflow has a bigger, better “next generation” zinc bromide flow battery in the works it says will be competitive with all technologies on the market, including lithium.
Tagged under: Lithium
Cost of UK’s flagship nuclear project blows out to more than $A92 billion
2024-01-28 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyCost of UK’s flagship nuclear project blows out again, this time to a potential $A92 billion. Is the Australian Coalition still pushing this technology?
Tagged under: Nuclear Power
Households could boost solar output with two-sided panels, a tilt, and a light colour roof
2024-01-22 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyUsing two-sided or bifacial solar modules could lift the output from rooftop solar systems by more than 22 per cent. But they need a light coloured roof.
Tagged under: Solar Energy
Rooftop solar has key benefits, and one critical weakness, over large-scale solar farms
2024-01-15 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyFirst ever life-cycle analysis comparing big and small solar systems finds rooftop PV better for the environment than even the largest, most efficient, solar farm. But there’s a catch.
Tagged under: Solar Energy
Farmers says climate change is biggest threat, renewables the best solution
2023-12-12 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economySeven out of 10 farmers interviewed had already invested in emissions reduction efforts, by installing solar panels and batteries, electrifying farm equipment or planting trees.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy | Farming | Trees
Ted O’Brien’s nuclear love-in at COP28 gets a brutal reality check
2023-12-11 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyRelease of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report provides a sobering reality check for an industry on life-support and a contrast to Ted O’Brien’s silliness at COP28 climate conferen…
Tagged under: COP28 | Nuclear Power
Planning approval given for Australia’s biggest battery to soak up solar and replace coal
2023-12-09 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyPlanning approval given for 2,000 MWh battery in Collie that could double in size and will be used to soak up solar and shift it to the evening peaks, replacing coal.
Tagged under: Solar Energy
Coalition’s nuclear SMR poster boy cancels flagship project due to soaring costs
2023-11-09 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyUpdated: NuScale, the US company pushing nuclear SMRs and championed by the Australian Coalition, has its flagship project cancelled by customers due to soaring costs.
Tagged under: Nuclear Power
Vanadium flow batteries stake a claim for round the clock storage for renewables
2023-10-29 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyLargest vanadium flow battery in south hemisphere is going through its commissioning process at Port Pirie, with big hopes for the future of round-the-clock storage.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy
South Australia takes another bold leap into deep green energy future
2023-10-24 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economySouth Australia is leading the world on the integration of wind and solar. Now, it’s about to take an even bolder leap into a deep green energy future through its hydrogen jobs plan.
Tagged under: Wind Power
Solar behind big price falls as grid demand and coal power pushed to record lows
2023-10-22 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyThe growth in renewables over the past year has had a major impact on Australia’s main electricity grid, with wholesale prices tumbling from their 2022 peaks, and grid demand and coal output …
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Electricity | Electricity Grid | Renewable Energy
New design could make lower cost, more efficient lithium-sulphur batteries a reality
2023-10-16 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyMonash researchers say they have solved a problem in the development of lithium sulphur batteries, which are touted to be half the cost of rival lithium chemistries.
Tagged under: Lithium
Solar, batteries and microgrids essential for disaster-prone communities, study finds
2023-09-13 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyLosing power after a disaster is devastating for communities, a new report suggests this can be mitigated by distributed and renewable energy resources.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy
Massive solar and battery deal promises to cut commercial energy costs in half
2023-09-07 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyA $500 million deal will install 50MW of solar and 300MWh of battery storage across ESR Australia’s commercial property portfolio by 2033.
Tagged under: Solar Energy
Genex eyes trebling of revenue, says new battery already “sopping up” negative prices
2023-09-04 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyGenex says its revenue will increase threefold over next three years, with its growing storage portfolio and the “tremendous opportunity” of volatile grid pricing.
Tagged under: Electricity Grid
“Business will kill your children:” Was Andrew Forrest’s climate speech really that “loopy”?
2023-09-03 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyAndrew Forrest has been described as “loopy” and weird for his striking speech that warns “humanity is at risk” and that “business will kill your children.” Just…
Tagged under: Children | Women and Children
Li-ion pioneer makes breakthrough in cheaper, safer “zinc-air” batteries
2023-08-29 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyPerth-based researcher who helped pioneer now ubiquitous lithium-ion battery technology is heralding a breakthrough in zinc-air chemistry.
Tagged under: Lithium
Grid operator plans €16 billion link from offshore wind parks to industry hub
2023-08-28 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyGerman grid operator unveils plans to underground power lines to bring electricity from wind turbines in the North Sea to consumers in the power-hungry west.
Tagged under: Wind Power | Electricity | Electricity Grid
Stop renewables and wait for nuclear: Nationals stunning rejection of science and industry
2023-08-14 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyNationals push to stop rollout of renewables highlights weakness of 2050 net zero targets. In their minds, everything can be delayed, even if science and industry say no.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Nuclear Power | Net Zero
Wind and solar eat fossil fuels in Europe and US, but it’s a slow burn in Australia
2023-07-10 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyThe pace of change in some of the world’s biggest grids is accelerating, but in Australia the transition is facing problems for governments and agencies.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Fossil Fuels | Electricity Grid | Wind Power
South Australia hopes to be “hydrogen superpower” with 118GW of wind and solar
2023-06-29 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economySouth Australia sets sights on becoming hydrogen superpower, with more than 110GW of wind and solar, nearly 40 times its current capacity.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Hydrogen | Wind Power
Bowen kicks off capacity scheme with doubling of NSW battery tender to replace coal
2023-06-28 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyLabor begins roll-out of Capacity Investment Scheme, more than doubling size of auction in NSW to fill a gap created by planned coal plant closures.
Battery storage takes another giant leap over fossil fuels in heart of coal country
2023-06-22 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyNew deals for four hour batteries takes the technology make the next giant leap over the fossil fuel generators they will replace.
Tagged under: Fossil Fuels
Neoen and Tesla to build giant four-hour battery in landmark deal to squash solar duck
2023-06-19 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyNeoen is to build a massive four-hour battery in Western Australia in landmark and highly profitable contract designed to flatten solar duck in world’s biggest isolated grid.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Electricity Grid | Tesla
Problems at two CCS “success stories” cast fresh doubt on the technology
2023-06-15 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyProblems at two long-running Norwegian carbon capture and storage projects are highlighting worrying challenges for the future, report finds.
Big batteries storm the fossil fuel citadels, and spell the end for coal and gas
2023-06-15 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyBig batteries were first built next to wind and solar farms. Now they are found within massive coal and gas compounds, eating the fossil fuel industry from the inside out.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Wind Power
Queensland budgets $19bn for shift to renewables, in huge push away from coal
2023-06-13 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economy“The most significant investment ever:” Queensland government allocates $19 billion over four years to ensure the state meets its renewable energy targets.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy
“Truly momentous:” Solar is changing everything, and Australia must seize the occasion
2023-06-13 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyTreasurer Jim Chalmers should introduce a solar module production tax credit so Australia can secure its position in global solar production supply chain.
Tagged under: Solar Energy
Spain on track to pass 50 pct renewable energy generation in 2023
2023-06-08 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economySpain expected to surpass 50% average renewables mark on its grid this year, beating neighbouring EU powerhouses to the milestone.
Tagged under: Spain | Renewable Energy | Electricity Grid
Electric water heaters could do work of 2 million home batteries – and save billions
2023-06-04 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyNew study finds “smart” electric water heaters can store as much energy as more than 2 million batteries and save households billions a year on energy bills.
Four charts on the unstoppable growth of solar – our best hope against climate change
2023-05-12 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyTo supply everyone with enough electricity to live a good life, we’ll need about 200 billion megawatt-hours per year. Assuming solar does the heavy lifting, is it possible?
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Climate Change | Electricity
Green hydrogen versus direct renewables – best and worst ways to use wind and solar
2023-05-08 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyThe there are good ways to use wind and solar and bad ways. And much of it comes down to where green hydrogen is applied.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy | Hydrogen | Wind Power
“About time:” Net Zero Authority to guide just transition from fossils to renewables
2023-05-05 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyFederal Labor announces new national body armed with $400m budget to support emissions-intensive sectors, their workers and communities to transition to clean industry.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Net Zero
Eight hour big battery trumps pumped hydro in NSW long duration storage tender
2023-05-01 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyFirst big battery with eight hours storage beats pumped hydro projects to win Australia’s first long duration storage tender.
Australian renewables pioneer PacHydro rebrands, sees big demand for wind and solar
2023-04-26 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyPacific Hydro rebrands in bid to reposition as Australia’s leading renewables-only generator – and unveils plans including a new retail arm.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy | Wind Power
G7 pushes for an extra terawatt of solar, but falls short on coal phaseout and gas
2023-04-17 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyG7 agree to a big increase in offshore wind and solar capacity, but fall short of coal and gas phaseouts as Japan holds out for fossil fuels.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Fossil Fuels | Japan | Wind Power
Rethinking Paris: France braces for 4°C warming in “turning point” strategy
2023-04-06 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyParis plans to use 2024 Olympics as a showcase for urban climate adaptation, including proposals to deal with 4°C of warming.
Tagged under: France
Load shifting and energy spills: Secrets to smarter grid dominated by wind and solar
2023-04-04 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyMajor new report points to role smart management of energy and demand in the rapid shift to renewables, particularly while storage plays catch-up.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy | Wind Power | Electricity Grid
China on track to triple its terawatt-scale wind and solar target
2023-04-04 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyGoldman Sachs report forecasts combined capacity from China solar and wind will far outstrip the government’s current 2030 target of 1.2TWh.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Wind Power
Solar panels can take the heat a lot better when paired with crops
2023-04-04 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyStudy finds solar panels built above crop plants can reduce surface temperatures on the panel by up to 10°C compared to traditional mounting methods.
Tagged under: Solar Energy
Another big battery wanted to help replace Australia’s biggest coal generator
2023-03-14 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyNSW is launching a new tender – likely for a big battery – focused on the “firming” gap created by the planned retirement of Australia’s biggest coal generator.
Tagged under: Batteries | Coal
Sodium-ion battery gets world-first certification, in new boost for cheaper storage
2023-03-09 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyChina storage company becomes world’s first to get certification of international safety standards of its sodium ion battery.
Tagged under: Batteries | China
China now has enough wind and solar to power every home
2023-02-17 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyChina installed 125GW of new wind and solar capacity in 2022, and now generates enough wind and solar to meet demands of every home, but not industry.
Tagged under: China | Solar Energy | Wind Power
French nuclear giant EDF buys massive Australian floating offshore wind project
2023-02-15 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyFrench nuclear energy giant EDF buys massive floating offshore wind project in Australia that it plans to build in stages.
Tagged under: Nuclear Power | Wind Power | France
Wind and solar output set landmark new milestone in Australia’s rapidly changing grid
2023-02-12 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyRenewables output breaks above 20GW in Australia’s main grid for first time, while output of wind and solar jumps 900MW to new record.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy | Electricity Grid | Wind Power
Solar’s stunning journey from lab curiosity to global juggernaut wiping out fossil fuels
2023-02-10 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyLeading solar researcher predicts technology will “wipe fossil fuels” out of the global economy, and help deliver a resilient, reliable and extremely cheap energy grid.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Predictions | Fossil Fuels | Electricity Grid
Clean energy investment tops $US1 trillion, sits neck and neck with fossil fuels
2023-01-30 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyBloomberg New energy Finance says investment in low carbon energy has hit a new high – and for the first time reached parity with capital invested in fossil fuels.
Tagged under: Fossil Fuels | Finance
Big solar smashes Australian generation record, crunches coal, to close out 2022
2023-01-10 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyUtility-scale solar generation notches up biggest month ever in Australia in December of 2022 and helps send NSW black coal output to new low.
Tagged under: Solar Energy | Coal
First Nations Clean Energy Network: How renewables can avoid the mistakes of the past
2022-11-30 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyTwo new guides aim to help renewables projects avoid the mistakes of the fossil fuel past and get the best outcomes for First Nations communities.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy
Fast transition to renewables will save the world $18 trillion, says Oxford study
2022-09-13 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyNew study says rapid switch to renewables and storage will save the the world at least $US12 trillion ($A18 trillion) if reached by 2050.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy
France’s troubled nuclear fleet a bigger problem for Europe than Russia gas
2022-08-05 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyMore than half of France’s nuclear fleet are offline, its power prices are through the roof, and it faces a long-term supply problem.
Tagged under: Nuclear Power | France | Russia
New coal and gas projects will erase Albo’s climate gains several times over
2022-07-26 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyAustralia’s massive pipeline for new coal and gas projects will cause more emissions than avoided by Labor’s climate policies. This is very bad.
Tagged under: Coal
Labor won’t act urgently on climate unless it’s forced to
2022-07-16 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyLabor should be aiming at emissions cuts of 70 to 80% by 2030. There is no shortage of feasible, detailed and immediately beneficial policies to do this. But they won’t.
US energy secretary says switch to wind and solar “could be greatest peace plan of all”
2022-07-12 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economy“No country has ever been held hostage to access to the sun.” US energy secretary says switch to renewables could be world’s best peace plan.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy | Wind Power
Rio Tinto: “technology-led” climate policies not enough to keep global warming within safe levels
2022-02-25 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyRio Tinto says “society-led” rather than “technology-led” approach needed to keep global warming within safer levels. That means a high carbon price.
South Australia sets smashing new renewables record in final days of 2021
2022-01-11 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economySouth Australia’s wind and solar supplied an average of just over 100% of local demand every day for a record stretch of almost one week in December.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Solar Energy | Wind Power
The fossil fuel industry’s CCS offsets scheme is aggressively absurd
2021-10-03 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyThe fossil fuel industry has won a fight to enable the granting of offset certificates to carbon capture projects. It’s so much worse than it sounds.
Sun Cable: World’s biggest solar and battery project expands again, gets Indonesia approval
2021-09-23 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economySun Cable expands to a solar project of up to 20GW and up to 42GWh of battery storage, as it gains approval from Indonesia for a sub-sea cable.
Tagged under: Batteries | Solar Energy | Indonesia
Big Battery Storage Map of Australia
2021-05-10 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyThis Big Battery Storage Map of Australia includes all big battery projects of 10MW or 10MWh and above. “Operating” includes those projects currently working; “Construction” means those…
Morrison’s infuriating climate pledge: We’ll only cheat if we need to
2020-11-24 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyAustralia’s next big emissions projections are due soon. Renewables will do the heavy lifting, but how will the gap to Paris be filled?
Tagged under: Renewable Energy
New Zealand passes historic zero carbon bill with near unanimous bipartisan support
2019-11-08 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyNew Zealand passes landmark legislation enshrining its zero-carbon target into law with bipartisan support, although concerns linger about plans to tackle agricultural emissions.
Tagged under: New Zealand | Climate Emergency Declarations | Legislation
Ageing ex mining chiefs set up new ginger group urging Paris exit
2018-11-16 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyA new super-group of seasoned global warming deniers and ex mining chiefs has formed to lobby for Australia’s withdrawal from Paris accord.
Portugal reaches 100% renewables, ends fossil fuel subsidies
2018-04-09 in Renew Economy | News and analysis for the clean energy economyPortugal grid averages 103% renewable electricity over month of March; government suspends power supply subsidies in April.
Tagged under: Renewable Energy | Electricity | Electricity Grid
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