Billions in investment on the line unless energy market reforms exclude fossil fuels

As proposed energy market reforms are debated, a coalition of major renewable investors is warning Australia could lose access to billions of dollars in investment needed to transform the grid to 100 per cent clean energy unless the market reforms exclude fossil fuels.

Tasmania’s upper house has passed legislation to impose harsher penalties on protestors, as environmentalists and human rights lawyers warn the laws will change the state’s identity which environmental protest has fundamentally helped shape. 

And the Albanese government has extended funding for Australia’s world-leading solar energy scientists by $45 million to increase panel efficiency and shift to more abundant materials.

Investors warn funds for coal, gas imperil landmark energy reform

The Clean Energy Investor Group - representing developers holding $9 billion across 49 power projects nationally - said a capacity mechanism could stunt the next wave of wind and solar projects urgently needed to replace retiring coal-fired generators if it was not properly designed.

Why including coal in a new ‘capacity mechanism’ will make Australia's energy crisis worse

Australia’s electricity generators would be paid extra money to be available even if they don’t actually generate any energy, under a new mechanism proposed by the federal government’s Energy Security Board (ESB).

Tasmania's upper house passes legislation to impose harsher penalties on protesters

Environmentalists, unionists and human rights lawyers say laws that just passed the upper house are set to forever alter the face of protest in the state and change its identity.

Silver lining: Australian researchers given $45m to study alternative solar panel materials

The Albanese government has extended funding for research into more efficient and durable solar cells, increasing manufacturing capacity and a shift to more abundant and cheaper metals.

WA eyes interim emissions reduction target

Greenpeace's Jess Panegyres said the plan put WA "out in front of the country's energy transition", but warned the state needed to move away from major gas developments such as Woodside's proposed Scarborough project.

Gippsland set to be named as Australia’s first offshore wind zone

Australia could soon see the development of its first-ever offshore wind projects, with the Albanese government preparing to declare Victoria’s Gippsland region as the first special zone for offshore projects.