Many have argued the energy industry needs to change to reduce carbon emissions, but one concern that remains is the consequence this will have on economic prosperity.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Recent research about energy industry restructuring options for a green transition indicates that innovation in renewable energy positively influences GDP.
On Q&A, Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said South Australia’s high electricity prices were “the consequence” of Jay Weatherill’s renewable energy policies. Is that right?
South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill, SA Liberal leader Steven Marshall and SA Best leader Nick Xenophon at a leaders’ debate hosted by the ABC.
AAP Image/Morgan Sette
SA Liberal Party leader Steven Marshall said that state Labor policy had left South Australians with ‘the highest energy prices in Australia’ and ‘the least reliable grid’. Is that right?
The European Investment Bank’s funding of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline will harm the climate and makes little financial sense.
The price of new-build renewable energy is expected to fall significantly relative to new-build coal energy in coming years.
AAP Image/Lucy Hughes Jones
The price of renewable energy will fall significantly relative to new-build coal in coming decades, making an all-renewable electricity system more desirable, both economically and environmentally.
Mountain to climb? The Greens have set their sights on topping 90% renewable energy.
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Prime Minister Tony Abbott said this week that Labor’s pledge to source half the nation’s power from renewable energy by 2030 will “mean a massive bill, perhaps $60 billion or more, that will have to be carried by the consumers of Australia.” Is that right?
Broadcaster Alan Jones said on Q&A that the cost of wind power far outstrips the cost of coal power.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
Broadcaster Alan Jones told the Q&A audience this week that coal fired power costs about $79 a kilowatt-hour, while wind power is about $1502 a-kilowatt hour. Is that right?
South Australia’s wind farms have coped without baseload power before - they can do it again.
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Coal closures announced this week in South Australia will cause employment pain, but could also help pave the way for the state to go 100% renewable - something that modelling suggests is eminently possible.
One problem with wind power: the wind doesn’t always blow.
Wind turbine via www.shutterstock.com
Consumers of wind power pay twice: first via their monthly electricity bill and a second time as taxpayers to finance billions of dollars in subsidies.
Renewables or oil? The former means betting each-way on energy storage. The latter means hoping to pull off a trifecta on carbon storage.
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The question of whether the future will be powered by coal and oil or by renewable energy is crucially important, both to the medium-term future of the Australian economy and to the long-term future of…
The government knows that solar panel subsidies are very popular with voters.
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Federal industry minister Ian Macfarlane has finally revealed his opening gambit on negotiations on the future of the Renewable Energy Target (RET). He and environment minister Greg Hunt have pledged to…
Up in the air: the federal government is still trying to get bipartisan support for its plan to scale back renewable energy investment.
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The federal government’s plan to reduce Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) could jeopardise billions of dollars in investment while giving a boost to the fossil fuel sector, experts have predicted…
Fracking for gas - not a silver bullet for emissions reduction.
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The boom in natural gas supplies brought about by techniques like fracking will not automatically deliver the anticipated cuts to greenhouse emissions, a new analysis has warned. Burning natural gas produces…
The Renewable Energy Target adds just over a dollar a week to your power bills.
AAP Image/Alan Porritt
The long-awaited review of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target has been released and, as widely predicted, has recommended winding back or even scrapping the various parts of the scheme. We asked Conversation…
Clouding the issue: the latest analysis of the impact of the Renewable Energy Target contradicts previous reports.
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The review of the Renewable Energy Target is due to be handed to the federal government any day now, yet amazingly there are still conflicts over whether the policy makes electricity more or less expensive…
Even when the wind doesn’t blow, it is technically possible for Australia to get all its electricity needs from renewable sources.
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In a recent article on The Conversation, University of Melbourne Professor Emeritus Frank Larkins wrote that Australia’s targets to increase renewable energy will make electricity more expensive, thanks…
Wind farms: great, unless it’s not windy.
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Australia has some fairly ambitious goals for green energy: a renewable energy target (currently under review) of 20% of electricity from renewables by 2020, and a forecast to get 51% of electricity from…