Environment
Ways for consumers to put the ‘sun tax’ in the shade
22 January
For those who can afford it, adding a battery could beat the “sun tax” that will further deplete the once-generous rate of return for rooftop solar pioneers. A third of Australia’s households have rooftop solar and almost three quarters of the...[Read More]
Nuclear and renewables at odds over power bill shock
30 October
Rolling out nuclear power plants in Australia could add $1000 a year to household electricity bills, according to energy experts, and regulators should focus on lower cost, renewable power. The warning has been issued at a Smart Energy Council event...[Read More]
Why packing waste could be the secret to a cool summer
30 October
Air conditioners could be ‘packing’ an energy-saving secret in future after an Australian research breakthrough involving waste material and static electricity. RMIT University announced the discovery on Tuesday, which researchers say could make...[Read More]
Time running out for Australian hydrogen, green iron
16 October
Time is running out for investors in genuine clean industries, but a time-stamp for green hydrogen could track production down to the hour to prove its credentials, an inquiry has been told. Proposed Future Made in Australia laws being considered by...[Read More]
Prosperity and climate action can go hand-in-hand
9 October
Protecting nature and combating climate change need not come at the expense of Australia’s prosperity, a global summit has been told. Climate change, energy, environment and water department secretary David Fredericks says his department is...[Read More]
Plum market as trade deal reached with Vietnam
11 September
Horticulture producers say Vietnam is a plum market for their produce, as the Albanese government confirmed the reopening of the Southeast Asian market. After two years of negotiations between the Australian and Vietnamese governments, market access...[Read More]
Making the Most of Your Solar Panels
29 August
Solar energy offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution to powering your home, 12-volt setup, or caravan. The benefits of harnessing the sun’s energy are substantial, ranging from reduced electricity bills to minimising your carbon...[Read More]
Local champions no small potato in net zero transition
27 March
Tonnes of potatoes boiled with recycled heat, milk and cheese waste transformed into fuel and timber milled with the power of the sun. That is how food producers and major industries across regional Australia are taking small steps towards...[Read More]
Google links solar farm deal to help big data go green
20 December
A business-critical data centre specialist and a global renewable energy provider are teaming up with tech giant Google to build new generation capacity in Australia’s energy grid. Data centre firm AirTrunk, Swedish energy giant OX2 and Google on...[Read More]
Nature repair bill passes after Greens agree to deal
6 December
Land owners will be able to be paid to improve the environment on their properties after the Greens struck a deal with the government on its proposed nature repair market. Under the scheme, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, businesses and...[Read More]
Asia’s biggest battery will power Australian homes
11 October
More than one million Australian households will be powered by one of the world’s largest battery systems after the government approved a new renewable energy hub. The battery will be located in Melbourne suburb of Plumpton, where it will store...[Read More]
Plucky farmer turns energy costs into chicken feed
21 June
A Victorian farmer has defied soaring energy bills to save $400,000 a year during the past decade – and he wants to show other producers how they can save money too. Chicken farmer Chris Freney has made the efficiency savings by installing...[Read More]
Green bonds to fund car-charging network, clean energy
14 June
Australian governments are tapping into investor hunger for AAA-rated green bonds to fund a fast-charging network for electric cars, wind farms, and greener schools and hospitals. Western Australia’s first green bond issuance has attracted more...[Read More]
War on urchins aims to save kelp forests
22 February
Ravenous sea urchins that are destroying kelp forests will be turned into farm fertiliser under a plan that will also boost some of Australia’s most valuable fisheries. In some parts of the Great Southern Reef, which wraps around the bottom half...[Read More]
Methane-eating organism a shapeshifter
18 January
A microorganism that feeds on methane to reduce the release of gas into the atmosphere is also a shapeshifter, a study has found. The microorganism, known as Candidatus Methanoperedens nitroreducens (or Ca. M. nitroreducens), is a critical life form...[Read More]