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

New CEF report calls for a national iron and steel decarbonisation strategy and carbon tariff to catalyse regional investment in electric arc furnace (EAF) pipeline 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. Read more

Climate Energy Finance issued the warning on Thursday in a 69-page report into the sector that recommended greater support to take the risk out of early projects and changes to put green metals on a level playing field with imports. 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. Read more

Canberra Times and across 100+ mastheads: Australia must act urgently to build a domestic green steel industry or could risk losing its $120 billion iron ore export market, a report has found. Climate Energy Finance issued the warning on Thursday in a 69-page report into the sector that recommended greater support to take the risk out of early projects and changes to put green metals on a level playing field with imports. 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

Tim Buckley, founder and director of Climate Energy Finance, argues that China has delivered stellar performance in sectors including batteries, wind power and photovoltaic energy. Against the backdrop of global climate change, he said China’s endeavors, ranging from investment layouts to strategic visions, have been hugely inspiring him. Buckley also observed that China’s high-speed rail network, spanning more than 50,000 km, is “just one massive achievement in low emissions industries of the future that China is leading on.” Read more

A high-level meeting has brought together experts, policymakers and industry leaders in the capital city of Western Australia on Monday, with a spotlight on the global green transition. Around 200 representatives from governments, businesses and academic institutions across Asia, Oceania and Africa have gathered at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Perth Conference, sharing their insights under the theme “Green Transition: Towards a Shared Future for Humanity and the Planet”. Read more