The top 18 recipients of the fuel tax credits collectively received a $3.3 billion rebate for the diesel they used over 2024-25. Under the Safeguard Mechanism, they paid just $150m. That’s a ratio of 22 to one. The analysis is from Climate Integrity, a not-for-profit group focused on corporate accountability, which commissioned Tim Baxter from NARU Research to look at the latest figures from Climate Energy Finance. Read more

Tim Buckley, founder and director of the Australian think tank Climate Energy Finance, told China Daily that the latest decision for a pre-feasibility study into a new oil refinery is “a massive own goal, one that will do nothing to build Australia’s energy security in the short or medium term”. By the time any resulting plant is operational in five to 10 years, it will “undermine Australian energy security by locking in our dependence on imported fossil fuels for many decades to come, undermining our energy system transformation in alignment with the climate science,” he said. Read more

Australia could unlock billions of dollars in manufacturing investment by accelerating the development of low-emissions steelmaking, according to a new report from Climate Energy Finance (CEF), which warns that the country’s iron ore export industry faces growing exposure as global steelmakers decarbonise. Read more

Tim Buckley, director at Climate Energy Finance, says D’Ambrosio has been an “absolute powerhouse” for more than a decade, brilliantly championing the energy transition and decarbonisation. “This is a big loss to Australia’s energy transformation leadership,” Buckley said in a statement on Thursday. Read more

Syndicated across 100+ mastheads The findings come more than a year after the federal government launched a $1 billion Green Iron Investment Fund to support early projects and the Whyalla steelworks transformation, but also as large-scale green iron facilities failed to reach a final investment decision. The group’s study, Arc of Ambition, analysed Australian and international efforts to produce and use green steel and iron. It found making green steel was the second-largest decarbonisation opportunity in the world and one in which Australia, as the world’s largest iron ore exporter, could play a major role. Read more

Main Story – Our new CEF Report: Arc of Ambition: Decarbonising and Safeguarding Australia’s Steel Industry Highlights – ‘Message to the haters’ AFR Headline Lowlights – China solar capacity installs in 1HCY2026 down Read more

This was from the Energy Newsletter today: Australia could construct electric arc furnaces for green manufacturing in Collie (WA), Whyalla (SA) and greater Brisbane (Qld) as soon as next year, unlocking billions in investment to support large-scale new firmed renewable-energy capacity, according to a new report from think tank Climate Energy Finance. The report calls for a National Iron and Steel Decarbonisation Strategy and a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to support investment in green onshore steelmaking. Read more

Globally, the iron and steel industry’s decarbonisation trajectory – key to tackling climate change, given the sector generated close to 10% of emissions – is advancing. But it is doing so haltingly, and at a pace that remains misaligned with the rate required to meet global emissions reduction obligations. Read more

A new report from independent think tank Climate Energy Finance (CEF), Arc of Ambition, calls for a National Iron and Steel Decarbonisation Strategy, a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and timely strategic investment in green onshore steelmaking as urgent national policy priorities. This would position regional Australia in global iron and steel supply chains, as the steel sector irreversibly transitions away from highly-polluting fossil fuel-based production. Read more

The vision of the ARENA white paper is more than just decarbonising Australia’s electricity system. It argues ultra-low-cost solar could help underpin future industries like green iron, hydrogen production and critical minerals processing. That would require enormous amounts of low-cost renewable electricity, but Climate Energy Finance director Tim Buckley said Australia was well placed to become what he described as a renewable energy superpower. Read more

Interview starts at: 24:30 Matt Pollard, Head of Research at Climate Energy Finance, said investing in low-emissions steelmaking is essential to reverse Australia’s long term manufacturing decline and boost productivity. He said electric arc furnaces are more energy efficient than coal-based steelmaking and can be supported by existing grid infrastructure with additional renewable energy and firming. Pollard highlighted the EU’s carbon border tariffs as a major driver of green steel, calling for stronger Australian carbon pricing and border measures. He noted four electric arc furnace projects are proposed across WA and Queensland, while China is rapidly decarbonising its steel industry. Read more

ABC Newcastle Breakfast – Interview with Tim starting at 1:40:37. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/newcastle-breakfast/breakfast/106964472 Climate Energy Finance director Tim Buckley said the belief that green steel is “too hard” is false, noting electric arc furnaces are already operating in Australia, New Zealand and the US with more than 90% lower emissions than Port Kembla. He questioned why Australia continues to support one of the world’s highest-emissions steel plants while exempting BlueScope from stronger Safeguard Mechanism requirements. Buckley urged government to stop subsidising the bad stuff and incentivise the good stuff, strengthen the Safeguard Mechanism, and back the growing pipeline of electric arc furnace projects. He said Australia should prioritise import replacement and domestic consumption, reducing reliance on imported high-emissions steel while introducing carbon-based anti-dumping measures. With Australia the world’s largest exporter of iron ore and coking coal, he said the long-term opportunity is to build the domestic steel supply chain before pursuing larger export projects. Read more