RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES – AUSTRALIA

Origin Energy to ditch coal assets as it cuts carbon burden

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Original article by Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 21-Oct-15

Australian-listed Origin Energy has become the first energy group in the world to commit to all seven principles of the Carbon Disclosure Project. Origin will tell shareholders at its 2015 AGM that it will close down its Eraring coal-fired power station within two decades, with the aim of eventually generating all of its electricity via renewable sources. MD Grant King notes that energy companies account for 66 per cent of global carbon emissions.

CORPORATES
ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, CARBON DISCLOSURE PROJECT, AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL

Shorten loss on gay marriage

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 27-Jul-15

The Australian Labor Party’s National Conference has endorsed the policy of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to turn back asylum-seeker boats. Meanwhile, conference delegates have voted in favour of giving Labor MPs a conscience vote on the issue of same-sex marriage, although this will be limited to the current and next term of parliament. Shorten has committed to legalising same-sex marriage within 100 days if Labor wins the next federal election. Labor’s policy on a renewable energy target and an emissions trading scheme were also endorsed.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, NATIONAL UNION OF WORKERS, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF IMMIGRATION AND BORDER PROTECTION

Feeling unsafe joins economic fears: poll

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Original article by Greg Earl
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 16-Jun-15

The Lowy Institute for International Policy has released the findings of an opinion poll on issues such as national security and the Australian economy. Some 89 per cent of respondents identified Islamic State as the greatest security threat in the next 10 years. Meanwhile, 43 per cent expect solar power to be the nation’s main source of electricity within a decade. The proportion of respondents who are upbeat about the economic outlook has fallen from 86 per cent in 2009-10 to just 63 per cent.

CORPORATES
LOWY INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL POLICY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Retailers eye battery ‘revolution’

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 3-Jun-15

Battery storage technology is widely tipped to be the "next big thing" for Australian households. A number of energy groups are banking on future demand for battery storage, with AGL Energy entering the market in May 2015. Red Energy, Ergon Energy and ActewAGL hope to begin selling Panasonic’s new home battery system later in 2015, after they undertake a trial of the technology. Demand for battery storage solutions is expected to be particularly high among households with solar power.

CORPORATES
AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, RED ENERGY PTY LTD, SNOWY HYDRO LIMITED, ERGON ENERGY CORPORATION LIMITED, ACTEWAGL, PANASONIC AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, TESLA MOTORS INCORPORATED, ENPHASE ENERGY, MORGAN STANLEY AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY

‘Zero-down’ finance heats up solar rivalry

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Original article by Angela Macdonald-Smith
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 6-Mar-15

AGL and Origin Energy are expanding their solar energy divisions. AGL is launching an offer of a solar panel installed for free, with a fixed monthly fee payable for a minimum amount of solar power. The company says "power purchase agreements" are very popular in overseas markets. Origin Energy is already running a similar program in Adelaide

CORPORATES
AGL ENERGY LIMITED – ASX AGL, ORIGIN ENERGY LIMITED – ASX ORG, SUNGEVITY AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, SUNPOWER CORPORATION

BHP wants carbon rules clarity

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 6-Mar-15

BHP Billiton intends to spend more on low-emission technologies, but the group wants more clarity on climate change policy. Fiona Wild, BHP’s head of climate change, says the challenge is to make carbon capture and storage technologies financially viable. Such initiatives are important, but fossil fuels will retain their central place in energy generation

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP