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Climate Capital Forum founder Blair Palese comments on federal government grant to Bluescope Steel for work to reline existing arc furnace in Port Kembla through Critical Inputs to Clean Energy Industries program. “There is no time left for federal government support for anything except strategies to fully decarbonise as global demand for net-zero materials grows exponentially,” she said. Read more

Blair Palese, Climate Capital Forum founder criticises a $137 million federal grant to BlueScope Steel for a $1.15 billion upgrade of its Port Kembla blast furnace. “We need policy vision and ambition that encourages this transition, not more support for existing emission-intensive industries.” Read more

Energy analyst Tim Buckley said the regulator would set the next Default Market Offer, which determined what consumers pay, in coming months after wholesale electricity prices halved in the past year. “This follows the progressive unwinding of two years of hyperinflation in coal and gas commodity prices, both internationally and in our domestic energy markets,” he said. Wind and solar supported by big batteries and transmission are expected to bring permanently lower prices for homes, businesses and industry. “After two years of 20 per cent annual retail electricity price rises, consumers can hope for some real energy cost of living relief,” he said. Read more

Amid the cost of living crisis one ray of sunshine of late has been falling energy prices. And while the mild weather, lower fuel costs and fewer coal supply issues have played a part, the increase in cheap wind and solar energy has also been helping to drive down the cost of keeping the lights on and heating and cooling our homes and businesses. Read more

Tim Buckley, the director of think tank Climate Energy Finance, said consumers want real energy cost-of-living relief after two years of 20 per cent annual hikes in retail electricity prices, particularly now that wholesale prices halved last year. “This follows the progressive unwinding of two years of hyperinflation in coal and gas commodity prices, both internationally and in our domestic energy markets,” Buckley said. Read more

Australia can close down its largest coal-fired power plant and the residents of New South Wales wouldn’t experience any interruption in their electricity, according to a new report. CEF director Tim Buckley analyzed the 2024-2030 power sector and determined NSW will get along just fine without depending on dirty old coal. “There is no reason why the taxpayer should be on the hook for multiples of hundreds of millions of dollars to keep Eraring open,” said Buckley Read more

Energy analysts including Tim Buckley have argued that retail power prices should fall when the Australian Energy Regulator sets its default market offer for the year from 1 July. Even though wholesale prices make up only about one-third of the bill consumers pay, the drop so far this financial year could provide a “double-digit drop” if maintained, Buckley said. Read more

Offshore wind offers an option to supply large, stable electricity for major energy consumers and regional employers, making it a valuable component, particularly as we move to and beyond 82 per cent renewables. It also can help reframe, power and rebuild Australian regional communities, giving people a say through public consultation, partnering with First Nations, and different ways of asset ownership. Wind executive and Climate Capital Forum member Satya Tanner and CCF strategic comms lead Amanda Caldwell explain. Read more

There is no need to use taxpayer fund to keep Australia’s biggest coal power plant open beyond its planned closure date in 2025 as the state of NSW has made “massive progress” on new renewable energy and battery capacity, according to think tank Climate Energy Finance. Read more

Tim Buckley tells AusBiz there is no reliability gap surrounding the closure of Aus’ biggest coal plant, Eraring in NSW. He points to a report by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) presented to the NSW Energy Minister which shows no need for public subsidies to keep the plant open. Read more

In Canberra Times and across 100+. mastheads, CEF’s new report detailing the pipeline of firmed renewables that means Australia’s biggest coal power station, Eraring, can close down on schedule in 2025 with no electricity supply reliability gap. Read more

Climate Energy Finance’ Tim Buckley,: “The NSW government’s decision on whether to extend the life of Eraring coal fired power plant, Australia’s biggest, beyond its planned closure date of August 2025 at taxpayers’ expense, ostensibly to ensure supply, will be a hot button issue this year and has national implications for energy transition.” He estimates the cost of keeping all four Eraring units operating for another two years would be $300m to $400m. “There is no reason why the government would pay that subsidy” when “there is more than enough firmed renewables capacity in the pipeline” of development in NSW to offset Eraring’s closure. Read more