Diesel Nation: Australia Is Still Pumping Billions in the Wrong Direction as Oil Hyperinflation Hits
Australia’s federal Fuel Tax Credit (FTC) scheme refunded miners about AU$3.36 billion (≈US$2.2 billion) in 2025, with the five largest firms—BHP, Rio Tinto, Glencore, Fortescue and Yancoal—receiving roughly AU$1.94 billion (≈US$1.3 billion). The subsidy entrenches dependence on imported diesel, siphons billions from the federal budget and slows the mining sector’s shift to clean power amid volatile global oil markets. Analysts propose a “cap‑and‑reinvest” Transition Tax Incentive that caps refunds at AU$50 million per company (≈US$33 million) and redirects excess funds to electrification and renewable projects. With over 90% of crude oil imported, Australia now has the world’s highest diesel‑consumption intensity per capita.
Equipment Failure Likely Cause of “Ferocious” Fire at One of Australia’s Two Oil Refineries
A ferocious fire erupted at Viva Energy's Geelong refinery near Melbourne, likely triggered by a valve failure that caused a leak and subsequent explosion. The blaze halted petrol production while diesel, jet fuel and other outputs continue under constrained conditions....
World’s Biggest Co-Located Wind and Solar Project Begins Operations in China
Envision Energy announced that its 5.56 MW custom turbine wind‑and‑solar complex on the Loess Plateau has entered commercial operation. The co‑located facility spans the 635,000 km² plateau southeast of the Gobi Desert, blending wind and solar generation to overcome the region’s low‑wind,...
Construction Starts on Biggest Battery in Australia’s Most Advanced Renewable Grid
Alinta Energy has broken ground on the Reeves Plains battery, a 250 MW/1,000 MWh facility that will be South Australia’s largest storage asset and the state’s first gigawatt‑scale installation. A second phase is slated to double the capacity, positioning the project among...
Batteries Included: Amazon Makes Record Haul of Hybrid Renewable PPAs to Power Australian AI Push
Amazon Australia announced nine new power‑purchase agreements covering 430 MW and roughly A$2.8 billion ($1.85 billion). Eight of the contracts feature battery storage, including three utility‑scale solar‑battery hybrids—the first such deals Amazon has signed outside the United States. The additions bring Amazon’s Australian...
Most Heavy Emitters Blow Their Carbon Budgets, but Bowen Sees “Clear Sign” Safeguard Mechanism Is Working
The Clean Energy Regulator’s 2024‑25 Safeguard Mechanism data show a 5.5% drop in net industrial emissions to 120.3 Mt CO₂‑e, marking a 12% decline since the 2022‑23 reforms. Yet 141 of the 208 covered facilities still exceeded their allocated baselines, relying...
SwitchedOn Podcast: The Tax Tweak that Could Cut Renters Energy Bills
A proposed tax tweak would let Australian landlords claim an instant asset write‑off for installing electric heat‑pump water heaters, mirroring incentives already available to small businesses. The measure aims to overcome the split‑incentive barrier that forces renters to rely on...
“Desert Greening:” China’s Massive Solar Farms Create Cool Refuges for Plants in Gobi Desert
A new Chinese Academy of Sciences study finds that large‑scale solar farms in the Gobi desert generate a daytime cooling effect of up to 3.1 °C, creating micro‑climates that support plant growth. The cooling, termed a "cool island effect," varies with...
Can Networks Solve Australia’s “Chicken-and-Egg” EV Problem? The Battle for Control of Kerbside Charging
Energy Networks Australia (ENA) has asked the Australian Energy Market Commission to amend ring‑fencing rules so distribution networks can install, own, and maintain kerbside electric‑vehicle chargers on existing poles. The change would reclassify EV chargers from a contestable service to...
Queensland LNP Want Oil and Gas Project Fast-Tracked, Even as It Erects Stop Sign for Wind and Solar
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has launched a campaign to fast‑track approval of the Taroom Trough oil and gas field, despite the federal EPBC Act’s exclusion of fossil‑fuel projects from its 30‑day Fast‑Track Assessment. The state will task the Queensland Productivity...
Danish Giant Sells Giga-Scale Battery as Project Readies to Hit the Grid
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has sold its 240 MW/960 MWh Summerfield battery in South Australia to Intera Renewables, the local arm of Palisade Investment Partners. The project, which cost roughly AUD 250 million (about USD 165 million), is construction‑complete and slated to energise the grid in...
The Hours the Market Wants Back: Free Daytime Power, or a Fix for Solar and Wind Curtailment?
The Australian NEM’s 11 am‑2 pm window is plagued by frequent negative prices, with 32.7% of intervals showing zero or below‑market rates over the past year. This oversupply has led to 7.89 TWh of renewable curtailment, 82% of which occurs during those negative‑price...
UK Labour Approves Nation’s Largest Solar Farm, Reform UK Mayor Vows to Fight the Decision
The UK Labour government approved the 800 MW Springwell Solar Farm in Lincolnshire, the nation’s largest solar project, despite strong local opposition led by Reform UK. The farm will power roughly 180,000 homes and includes a battery storage component, though its size...
Renewables Hit 80 Pct Share in Australia’s Most Coal Dependent Grid for First Time
Queensland’s electricity grid, Australia’s most coal‑dependent system, hit an 80 percent renewable share for the first time on Monday at 11:20 am. The surge was powered mainly by rooftop solar (just over 4 GW) and large‑scale solar (about 3 GW), with wind contributing just...
“Birds Avoid Turbines:” Two New Studies Suggest Wind Farms Are Not “Killing Machines” After All
Two recent European studies found that wind turbines pose a far lower risk to birds than previously thought. The German offshore study tracked over four million bird movements and recorded avoidance rates of 99.87% at night and 99.86% by day,...
