Environment
Businesses MIA on rooftop solar and battery revolution
10 June
Australian households are generating nearly four times as much solar energy as retailers, manufacturers and other non-residential buildings, with most commercial rooftops panel-free. Harvesting the vast, untapped generating and storage potential in...[Read More]
Shifting gears: electric cars surge during fuel crisis
3 June
A record number of Australian drivers are choosing electric and hybrid vehicles, with the low-emission cars closing in on half of all new vehicles sales for the first time. Motorists are slamming the brakes on petrol and diesel cars, with their...[Read More]
Small business switched off from electrification boom
3 June
Thousands of Australian small businesses are falling behind on electrification, weighing on national climate goals and leaving manufacturers exposed to gas market volatility. Many small and medium-sized businesses that rely on gas-powered heat to...[Read More]
Australia’s remaining solarless roofs harder to crack
27 May
On a mission to investigate solar, battery and electrification retrofits for the block of flats she lives in, Coco Venaglia has faced hurdle after hurdle. The building’s strata committee is open to upgrades but pressed for time, and was pleased...[Read More]
Climate agencies to ask AI to predict future disasters
20 May
Australia’s leading climate authorities plan to deploy artificial intelligence to help forecast natural disasters, including what might happen if a tropical cyclone hit a major city. But they warn early attempts to expand predictions using AI will...[Read More]
Budget lacks energy for big renewable project reforms
13 May
Australia’s growing throng of solar panels, batteries and electric cars will be managed by a new regulator in a multimillion-dollar budget commitment welcomed by investment and climate groups. The change will come in addition to support for...[Read More]
Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
13 May
Climate wins on bike lanes and batteries have been overshadowed by a failure to capture fossil fuel revenue and rein in off-road diesel credits, environment groups say. The lead up to Tuesday’s federal budget was dominated by a campaign to hike...[Read More]
Rural leaders see budget shortfalls for health, roads
13 May
Australia’s regions will benefit from funding to bolster fuel supplies and public hospitals, but investment in rural health reform, better connectivity and safer country roads continues to fall short, according to industry groups. The federal...[Read More]
Batteries undercutting gas, keeping lid on power bills
6 May
Australian power grids have proven far more resilient to the latest global energy crisis compared with the Russia-Ukraine war, bolstered by battery boom and subdued local gas prices. A ballooning battery fleet soaking up cheap, abundant solar to...[Read More]
‘Like charging a phone’: $1.5m boost for EV network
29 April
Electric vehicle chargers could be installed in the basements of more than 400 apartment buildings around Australia as part of a $3.4 million investment in the technology. Sydney-based charging company ReadySteadyPlug announced plans to expand its...[Read More]
Beef over EU deal boils over as security ties touted
25 March
Australia’s red-meat sector has been urged to get behind a contentious trade pact with the European Union as the bloc’s head hails shared security goals. The parties struck an agreement on Tuesday after years of negotiations to expand trade...[Read More]
Electric truck transition preparing for the long haul
15 April
War in the Middle East and associated spiralling diesel costs could spell the perfect time for truck fleets to keep edging closer to electrification. On Tuesday, the NSW government announced an expansion of heavy vehicle electrification incentives...[Read More]
More records loom as fuel crunch turbocharges EV sales
8 April
Australians have raced to secure electric vehicles during the Middle East war-driven fuel crisis, near-doubling sales to set a national record. Motorists bought more than 15,800 new electric cars during March, according to figures released by the...[Read More]
Electric vehicle fee could throttle record adoption
8 April
An annual fee for driving electric vehicles could put the brakes on their record sales in Australia, with almost one in three households saying it would change their purchase intentions. Working families in outer suburbs were most likely to be...[Read More]
Discount loans to drive down the price of electric cars
4 February
Motorists will be offered another incentive to choose electric over petrol through a $60 million program to cut the cost of car loans. The Climate Energy Finance Corporation announced the scheme in partnership with Hyundai on Tuesday, revealing it...[Read More]