This article originally appeared in The Conversation. It can be found here. BP’s annual Energy Outlook report, released in February, details the results from modelling of what it sees as the “most likely” energy scenario out to 2035. In this … Continue reading BP’s extreme climate forecast puts energy giant in a bind
Big Energy hates the Renewable Energy Target because it is seeing renewables take a growing slice of their shrinking pie. Yes2Renewables activist Ben Courtice explains.
We keep hearing news of ongoing negotiations (or almost negotiations) between the Federal Coalition and Labor over a compromise agreement on reducing the Renewable Energy Target. What’s at stake?
Currently, the latest offer from the Coalition is to reduce the target (from 41,000 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy by 2020), to 31,000 gigawatt-hours (they had previously said 26,000 would be their preferred figure).
Labor, who have said they will take direction from the renewable energy industry, are so far holding out for a figure in “the mid to high 30s”, supported by the Clean Energy Council until they caved and made a more desperate sounding offer of 33,500 (rejected by the Coalition, regardless).
The ongoing uncertainty over the future of the target means that there is pretty much zero investment happening, banks won’t loan money for renewable projects, because no-one knows what the future will bring.
Unfortunately, if Labor do negotiate a reduced target with the Coalition, we could be in the position where a significant reduction in the target will be painted as a victory by many in the industry — because it gets the finance and construction of projects happening in the short term.
This is despite the fact that the existing, 41,000 gigawatt-hour target could still be met by new wind farms before 2020, with no reduction needed. Continue reading “Is a Labor compromise on reduction of the Renewable Energy Target acceptable?”
This Opinion piece is by David Clarke. For further information: http://ramblingsdc.net/. On Sunday 1st March, Clean-up Australia Day, we saw our Prime Minister Tony Abbott picking up rubbish. I wonder how much he picked up? Let’s be generous and suppose that … Continue reading Opinion: Abbott’s Clean Up Australia Day Efforts
The Japan Meteorological Agency has been the first of four major groups to release data relating to global average temperatures. The data is clear reminder to Australia that it’s current climate policy may be insufficient to curb these trends. This … Continue reading One for the record books: 2014 officially hottest year
India’s Energy Minister has announced a paradigm shift needs to take place in India’s energy sector. Protecting the environment, supplying off- grid residents and promoting energy security have been the motivations behind the move. The article was originally published in … Continue reading India’s plan to stop importing coal deals another blow to Australia
This article was originally posted at The Conversation. View the original post here. Reducing the renewable energy target would cost the federal budget about $680 million more to meet Australia’s target of 5% emissions reduction by 2020, according to modelling … Continue reading Renewable Energy Target cut would hit budget: modelling
This article originally posted at Climate Spectator. View the original article here. The continued decline in demand for electricity in Australia is great news for our transition towards a decarbonised economy. This is a ideal opportunity to retire our old, … Continue reading A window opens to dump dirty generators
This article originally posted at 350.org. View the original post here. The French government has approved its long-awaited Energy Bill, clearing the way for it to go before Parliament this autumn and be ratified in 2015. This is a major … Continue reading France approves landmark Climate Bill
This article originally posted at The Conversation. View the original post here. Ever since Clive Palmer announced that the Palmer United Party (PUP) would support the retention of the Renewable Energy Target (RET), The Australian and News Corp’s tabloids have … Continue reading When will Australia have its Kodak moment on renewable energy?
Australia’s Climate Council released a video this month on the back of their landmark report into the ageing fossil-fuel energy sector, finding that many of Australia’s generators will be too old for carbon capture and storage (CCS), as well as … Continue reading The Climate Council – What’s up with Australia’s electricity sector?
yes2renewables.org 