Media

Tim points out that nuclear energy’s capital costs are underestimated, with real expenses potentially 300% higher. The modelling excludes major post-2050 costs, painting an unrealistic picture. Tim suggests the shift to renewable energy would be more economical. Read more

A new analysis by Tim Buckley from Climate Energy Finance reveals that a proposed nuclear energy plan in Australia could cost at least $4.3 trillion by 2050. This figure contrasts sharply with the $331 billion estimated by Frontier Economics for the opposition’s broader energy plan. Buckley argues that the original modeling excluded key costs and underestimated economic impacts, leading to flawed comparisons. He emphasizes that Australia risks $3.5 trillion in lost GDP if it follows the lower-growth trajectory assumed. Read more

Tim Buckley, Director at Climate Energy Finance, said in an interview with Jaynie Seal that Peter Dutton’s new gas plan sounds good but doesn’t solve the real problem. The plan offers $1 billion to increase gas production and lower energy bills, but Tim says there’s no actual gas shortage—just poor policy. For 50 years, gas was cheap in Australia, but after export facilities opened, prices jumped and local use dropped. Tim believes we should focus on keeping enough gas at fair prices for Australians before exporting it. He wants prices below $10, which is still high, but better than what people are paying now. Read more

The Australian budget was seen as sensible but incremental, without major structural changes. It focuses on cost-of-living relief, such as bulk billing and personal tax cuts. However, there were no new initiatives on decarbonization, despite previous investments like the Clean Iron and Green Aluminium funds. There is a need for Australia to pivot towards onshore manufacturing and value-adding exports, especially in green iron. The climate industry needs stronger support, with a bigger push for local content and supply chain capacity. There’s hope for continued progress in renewable energy and electrification to meet decarbonization targets by 2030. Read more

Tim Buckley discussed key energy issues facing Australia. He emphasized the importance of protecting national interests, particularly about key trade partners like China, Japan and Korea, and highlighted the growing importance of batteries in the energy market. He predicts that batteries will be the biggest disruption of 2025, driving the accelerating transition to electric vehicles and solar energy storage. He also noted that batteries can help lower power prices by storing solar energy during peak demand hours. Read more

Tim Buckley speaks with Jaynie Seal about the newly released bogus costings for the LNP’s nuclear plan, which the CSIRO confirmed last week would cost twice the price of firmed renewables Read more

Tim Buckley speaks to David Chau at ABC TV’s Close of Business about COP29 and how effective it is as a forum for global action on climate in the face of the election of Trump in the US and China’s staggering global leadership on decarbonisation. Tim notes that Australia’s $50m commitment to helping developing nations deals with the impacts of climate change is a tiny number compared to the $150bn in gross profits Australia’s fossil fuel exporters made in the last financial year, highlighting our hypocrisy as one of the world’s top 3 fossil fuel exporting nations. Read more

Tim Buckley comments on the record 73.6% renewables in the NEM last week, noting this is significant but more work is needed on CER and batteries to ensure we grasp our clean energy future – slashing energy bills for households and business Read more

Tim details CEF’s new report on the $100bn plus in cleantech capital China is investing around the world into solar, wind, EVs, batteries and more, including what Australia needs to go to attract this capital to speed our energy transition. Read more

Tim told Alicia Barry on ABC TV’s Close of Business that Peter Dutton’s detail free nuclear power plan is costly, a waste of taxpayer’s money, and will delay Australia’s energy transition by 20 years. Read more

Tim Buckley accurately predicts no new details in costings or any other aspect of the LNP’s nuclear ‘policy’ were revealed in Peter Dutton’s speech to CEDA the day after this interview. The LNP nuclear thought bubble remains unviable – too costly, impractical and decades too late for Australian decabonisation. Read more

Tim Buckley speaks with Sky News on transitioning our economy away from fossil fuels that Australia has had a historical over reliance on, and into zero emissions technology, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visit to the Pacific and the urgent need to end coal and gas. Tim also speaks on massive profitability of Australia’s iron ore majors, and the lack of urgency from Australia’s corporates to address the climate emergency. Read more