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CEF’s news report shows that a green capital tsunami of investments from China into cleantech around the world is speeding decarbonisation, but Australia, with its opaque foreign investment regime, is missing out, as investment hit a multidecade low last year, forgoing its massive opportunity to co-invest with China in clean energy-powered onshore value-adding, including green iron. Read more

During the first 8 months of 2024, China added 210GW of new capacity to the grid, a 14% y-o-y increase. August alone saw China add 25.1GW of new capacity additions. From January to August 2024, China spent RMB333bn (US$47bn) on power grid projects, a 19% y-o-y increase. In August alone, China invested RMB79bn (US$11bn) in the power grid. From January to August in 2024, China’s electricity demand increased by 7% y-o-y, reaching 6,456TWh. This is a sign of China’s continued economic resilience and as a result of the country’s continuous electrification-of-everything strategy. CEF expects China’s electricity demand to continue to climb in the coming decade. Read more

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In a landmark for accelerating electrification and decarbonisation of the Pilbara, Australia’s resources engine room, the WA Government’s Pilbara Energy Transition (PET) Plan has announced the development of priority common user infrastructure (CUI) corridors in the region. Read more

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The iron ore slump means Australia must pivot at speed and scale to its immense opportunities in green iron, which requires action on decarbonisation. BHP, we’re looking at you. Read more

CEF advocates for a $50m per group per annum cap to the diesel fuel subsidy, and for all tax receipts to be returned to the mining firms impacted if they are reinvested in deployment of electric vehicles (EV) and the enabling renewable energy infrastructure. This cap would limit this reduced subsidy to eight of the largest mining firms in the world, turning a headwind to decarbonisation into a tailwind, and therefore aligning with Australia’s national interests in terms of improved energy security and acting in alignment with the climate science. Read more

Tim Buckley analyses the latest AEMO ESOO, which shows no reliability gap out to 2034 – if all planned replacement capacity projects are delivered on time. Time for state governments to accelerate approvals and strategic public interest investment into firmed renewables in line with the federal 82% renewables by 2030 target, and lock in low-cost, clean reliable supply to ameliorate the climate, energy and cost of living crises. Read more

This July, China reached its 1,200GW of installed wind and solar capacity by 2030 target, 6 years ahead of time. As of the end of July CY2024, China has a total installed wind and solar capacity of 1,207GW. This early success could inspire other major powers to accelerate their renewable energy efforts, benefiting global climate goals. However, China must continue to focus on areas like energy efficiency and steel sector decarbonization, as well as address challenges such as grid connectivity and energy storage to sustain its progress. As China’s electricity demand grows, particularly with the ongoing electrification strategy, the need for increased power generation and grid modernization becomes more pressing. To meet its carbon targets, CEF estimates that China will need to add approximately 330GW of solar, 80GW of wind, and 4GW of nuclear capacity annually until 2040. Read more

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An analysis of current energy demand in the Pilbara, and the need for common user electricity infrastructure to accelerate electrification and decarbonisation at speed and scale, leveraging Australia’s opportunity to lead globally on zero-emissions value-added industries of the future. Read more

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