Media

In Canberra Times via AAP and syndicated to 100+ mastheads: Origin Energy has been in talks with the state government to extend the life of its Eraring plant, located south of Newcastle, after a review warned the scheduled 2025 closure would result in electricity shortfalls and price hikes. NSW officials are yet to confirm how long the plant’s life could be extended or how much it will cost. But analysis by independent think-tank Climate Energy Finance, released on Thursday, found keeping the plant open past 2025 could cost between $120 million and $150 million per year, paid to Origin to subsidise the extension. Read more

Extending the lifespan of NSW’s largest coal-fired power station would cost taxpayers between $120m-$150m a year, a report from a renewable energy think tank has concluded. Read more

“[Gautam] Adani continues to walk both sides of the street,” said Tim Buckley, director of Sydney-based think tank Climate Energy Finance. The Adani Group is not only one of the largest developers and operators of coal mines in India, but also operates the controversial Carmichael Coal Mine in Australia, which has faced fierce opposition from climate change campaigners who say it is a “death sentence” for the Great Barrier Reef. “Rather than ploughing billions into new fossil fuel projects, India would be far better served if Adani put 100% of its efforts and resources into developing low-cost zero emissions technologies,” Buckley added. Read more

Boards of banks and fossil fuel companies often share independent, non-executive directors. But with the need to transition to a lower carbon economy, experts are concerned about how these connections may be affecting progress. Tim Buckley comments for The Banker supplement in FT. Read more

Recent blackout crisis in Victoria is caused by a decade of inaction by the Coalition government in addressing climate and energy policy. The blackout was caused by storm damage to power lines, leading to the shutdown of coal-fired generators, which contributed to a third of the state’s power supply being lost. Tim Buckley argues that a lack of investment in transitioning the grid to renewable energy sources, such as rooftop solar and battery storage, has left the energy system vulnerable to such crises. Urging for a shift towards decentralized, decarbonized, and renewable energy solutions, the article emphasizes the need for state and federal cooperation and investment in a modern, resilient energy grid. Read more

Tim Buckley breaks down the COALition’s attempt to kill the renewables revolution by sowing disinformation and dissent in the community as the rest of the world rapidly decarbonises Read more

As Tim Buckley and Annemarie Jonson write, the Coalition’s Luddites are at it again, doing what they do best – wrecking the joint as they try to blow up the renewables transition. Meanwhile, investment in the clean energy that will solve the climate crisis and deliver permanent energy bill relief to consumers is skyrocketing Read more

Climate and energy experts criticised a $137 million federal grant to BlueScope Steel for a $1.15 billion upgrade of its Port Kembla blast furnace – extending coal-based steelmaking for two decades – as a missed chance to spur more ambitious carbon reductions. The Climate Capital Forum, which represents investors, decarbonisation firms and policy experts, said that “while Australia procrastinates, developed world leaders are pivoting”. 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

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