RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES – AUSTRALIA

Renewables must be low-cost, says Adani local executive

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 15-Mar-18

India-based Adani will start generating renewable energy in Australia later in 2018, when the first stage of its Rugby Run solar farm in Queensland begins operating. It is part of a push by the coal miner to have 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy capacity in Australia by 2022. Adani has indicated that it could invest in other renewables in Australia, such as pumped hydro and wind power, while it may also invest in renewable energy production in Western Australia. Rugby Run has a long-term supply contract with Alinta Energy.

CORPORATES
ADANI ENTERPRISES LIMITED, ADANI MINING PTY LTD, ALINTA ENERGY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, AURIZON HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX AZJ

NEG will kill large-scale wind and solar boom

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Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 12 : 24-Nov-17

The federal government’s proposed national energy guarantee will deter investments in large renewable energy projects if the emission reductions target that the government prefers is not changed. This is according to modelling by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, and comes as Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg and his state counterparts meet to discuss the NEG on 24 November. South Australia has indicated it will reject the NEG as it is currently proposed, while Queensland Energy Minister Mark Bailey says he will not agree to an NEG that does not meet the needs of his state.

CORPORATES
BLOOMBERG NEW ENERGY FINANCE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF ENERGY AND WATER SUPPLY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS. ENERGY REFORM IMPLEMENTATION GROUP

CET might not reduce power bills, says Sims

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Original article by Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 17-Oct-17

The Australian Competition & Commission has released the interim report of its inquiry into electricity prices. The report concludes that electricity network costs were the main cause of a sharp rise in electricity prices over the last decade. Meanwhile, ACCC chairman Rod Sims says that although a Clean Energy Target could potentially contribute to downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices, this might be offset by the impact of renewable energy target subsidies on electricity prices for consumers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION, JACOBS GROUP (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, AUSTRALIA. OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SCIENTIST, FRONTIER ECONOMICS PTY LTD

AGL refuses to budge on Liddell

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith, Ben Potter
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 28-Sep-17

AGL Energy’ chairman Jerry Maycock has told the company’s AGM that selling the Liddell coal-fired power plant would be "challenging", while extending the ageing plant’s life would involve substantial costs. He also ruled out building a new coal-fired plant, arguing that such a plant may ultimately not be competitive as the cost of renewable energy and battery storage technology falls. Meanwhile, AGL CEO Andy Vesey is confident that partially replacing the Liddell plant’s output with renewables will not result in higher electricity prices. He also indicated that the Loy Yang A power station could be shut down ahead of schedule.

CORPORATES
AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET OPERATOR LIMITED, MARKET FORCES

Abbott opposed cheaper gas push: Libs

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 21-Sep-17

Some Coalition MPs have criticised the stance of former prime minister Tony Abbott on the issue of energy policy, after he threatened to vote against the government if it legislates to provide more renewable energy subsidies. Abbott’s critics within the Coalition note that he recently opposed a push for LNG export controls due to sovereign risk concerns, while he had also opposed the abolition of the Renewable Energy Target when he was prime minister.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

AGL makes a ‘stack of profit’ from coal

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 11 : 23-Jun-17

Whitehaven Coal CEO Paul Flynn says Professor Alan Finkel’s predictions concerning the reduced cost of generating electricity from renewable energy sources are ambitious. Flynn, also used a speech at a Brisbane Mining Club function to lambast firms such as AGL Energy for promoting their commitment to renewable energy in their advertising, while noting that they will still be earning profits from electricity generated from coal-fired power stations for some years to come.

CORPORATES
WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED – ASX WHC, BRISBANE MINING CLUB PTY LTD, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (AUSTRALIA), AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

50-year rule for coal-fired power stations gathers steam

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Original article by Sarah Martin
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 11-Apr-17

The Federal Government is understood to be considering a new mechanism for ensuring a smooth transition to renewable energy. Having rejected the idea of an emissions intensity scheme, the Government is believed to be planning to adopt a "50-year rule" for coal-fired power stations. The idea has the support of the Business Council of Australia, with CEO Jennifer Westacott saying it would enable the closure of coal-fired power plants to be staggered.

CORPORATES
BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY, AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET COMMISSION

PM’s push for clean coal power

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 2-Feb-17

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the focus of the nation’s energy policy must be on ensuring a reliable supply of low-cost energy. He has called for the abolition of state-based bans on coal-seam gas projects and argued that clean coal should be part of the nation’s energy mix. Turnbull has also stressed the need for investment in storage technology for renewable energy. Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos has raised the possibility that the Clean Energy Finance Corporation could help finance the development of a clean-coal power station.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIA. CLEAN ENERGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Shorten’s power policy switches

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 1 & 6 : 7-Nov-16

Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says the Australian Labor Party has changed its stance on energy policy more than 10 times over the last decade. He has criticised the Opposition for adopting a policy of sourcing 50 per cent of Australia’s energy supply from renewable sources by 2030 when it had provided owners of coal-fired power stations with millions of dollars worth of taxpayers’ funds when it was in government. Labor had also given some $A268m worth of free carbon permits to the owners of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, ENGIE SA, FRONTIER ECONOMICS PTY LTD, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Old power stations under fire in ALP’s climate change plan

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Original article by Sid Maher
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Apr-16

The Federal Opposition is developing a new climate change policy whose aims will include generating of 50 per cent of Australia’s energy via renewable sources by 2030. The policy is also believed to include measures to decommission coal-fired power stations, the progressive reintroduction of an emissions trading scheme and an inquiry into the nation’s electric power industry. However, the Opposition has ruled out a carbon tax.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. PRODUCTIVITY COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, PITT AND SHERRY CONSULTING ENGINEERS, GRATTAN INSTITUTE