Reports and Analysis
OP ED ON REPORT | Australia should hitch its solar wagon to the China juggernaut
Climate Energy Finance’s new report, International Solar PV and BESS Manufacturing Trends, has delved into developments across China, the European Union, the United States, India, Australia, and the Middle East through early 2025. CEF observes continued price deflation in solar PV and batteries – prices dropped 20% for batteries, and Chinese panels plummeted by 37 to 46% in 2024. This cost reduction has turbocharged deployment rates, with almost 600GW of solar PV installed in 2024. Assuming continued growth in China deployments, 700GW this year seems likely, and CEF projects this will rise to 1,000GW per annum by 2030. BESS installation rates are expected to treble in this timeframe. With solar modules and battery manufacturing capacity at three times the current global installations, expectations of plateauing installations are entirely unlikely. Read more
OP ED | BYD leads unstoppable charge to electric vehicles, as Tesla leaves the race
In 2024, China registered 31.436 million new automobiles, a rise of 4.5 per cent over the previous year, with the […] Read more
China Monthly Energy Update | March 2025
Combined solar and wind power capacity in China surpasses coal capacity for the first time in February 2025 Read more
REPORT | International Solar PV and BESS Manufacturing Trends 2025
“Our new report finds the world will install 1,000GW of solar PV per annum by 2030, driven by rapid price deflation and technology acceleration. China’s continued manufacturing dominance is behind this momentum, with other jurisdictions like the EU, US and India scrambling to respond. Raising tariff barriers to try and contain China’s lead and domestic manufacturing capability is ineffective; strategic collaboration with market leaders is the only way forward for countries seeking to host manufacturing facilities and safeguard their own domestic energy transitions.” Read more
OP ED | Australia Secures Critical Green Iron Industry Policy Package to Future-Proof the Whyalla Steelworks and Kickstart a Decarbonised Iron Industry
The Albanese Government has today announced a landmark package to salvage the beating heart of South Australia’s steel industry, and provide the necessary, strategic public intervention to future-proof and catalyse the region’s transition to a nation-leading green iron and steel hub. Read more
Monthly China Energy Update | February 2025
China hit new record of solar and wind power capacity additions in 2024 Read more
OP ED | Foreign investors need clarity on the rules for inbound investment into Australia
Australia’s FMIA can unlock >$500bn of new investment in Australia across energy infrastructure (grid T&D), solar, wind, PHS, BESS and V2G charging) and value-added our key mining exports (e.g. green iron, rare earths & lithium hydroxide refining), as well as providing zero emissions lower cost domestic clean energy to power our downstream industries, like Rio Tinto’s public-private multibillion dollar investment proposals to pivot to green aluminium value-add across Australasia. Read more
OP ED | The gas export industry continues to cry wolf about always looming shortages, but this isn’t supported by the facts
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO)’s recent 4QCY2024 Quarterly Energy Dynamics (QED) report gives some much needed context. AEMO highlighted 84% of East Australian gas production is exported. This highlights that, not withstanding a tripling of gas production over the last decade, there is a totally contrived domestic market shortage, designed to keep East Australian industry & consumers paying export price parity and beyond for this public Australian asset now captured and being exploited by multinationals, mostly corporate tax free. Read more
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
