Reports and Analysis
OP ED | MYEFO: nothingburger on green iron, Australia’s #1 economic opportunity, but some bright spots on renewables
On 18 December 2024, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Finance Minister Kety Gallagher released the Albanese Government’s 2024-25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO). This comes after the 2024-25 budget, released in May, announced $21bn in new funding initiatives under the landmark Future Made in Australia (FMIA) framework. Read more
REPORT | Australia is seeing an Acceleration in our Electricity Sector Transition, putting our 82% Renewables by 2030 Target in reach
Our new report finds that new investment and policy support is key, as is accelerated planning evaluation and approvals if Australia is to reach its target of 82% renewables by 2030 and an acceleration in the last 6 months now means if the current rate of progress is maintained the target is achievable. Read more
MONTHLY CHINA ENERGY UPDATE | Hydropower Generation Recovered, Driving Down Thermal Power Demand
China’s total electricity demand shows an overall 6.1% increase from January to September 2024, reaching 7,213TWh. In September alone China’s electricity demand reached 837TWh, +8.9% y-o-y. Of this 38% of the generation comes from zero emissions power, +12.9% y- Read more
REPORT | Green Metal Statecraft: Forging Australia’s Green Iron Industry
CEF’s new report examines the global shift towards decarbonising the iron and steel industry and outlines a strategic plan for Australia to capitalise on this transition by establishing a domestic green iron industry, leveraging its comparative advantages in its vast iron ore reserves and renewable energy potential. Read more
Storm Clouds for QLD’s Clean Energy Leadership as LNP Assumes Power
The QLD state election last week saw the David Crisafulli-led LNP form a majority government. The sunshine state is now at serious risk of being locked into high-emission fossil fuels to power the state, derailing the crowding-in of tens of billions of renewable energy and green industry capital unlocked by the critical new transmission and grid firming investments made under the previous government. Read more
REPORT | GREEN CAPITAL TSUNAMI: China’s >$100 billion outbound cleantech investment since 2023 turbocharges global energy transition
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
MONTHLY CHINA ENERGY UPDATE | Increasing Electricity Demand Showcasing China’s Economic Resilience
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
