Eastern Australia’s gas market is rapidly changing, driven by the first exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Queensland. And this is affecting the whole supply chain, from gas producers, to the way we use gas in our homes.
Current + lack of current = a headache for phycists.
Geralt/pixabay
In June this year, forecasts revealed residential and business demand has risen for the first time in five years. The trend could be here to stay, according to a report released today from the Australia Institute.
While many people in India live without electricity, it is looking less likely that Australian coal will supply it.
Environmental Change and Security Program/Flickr
“India needs Australian coal” is a view promoted by government and industry alike. But is there really a case for Australian coal in India? The evidence suggests not.
Hepburn Wind in Victoria is Australia’s largest community renewable energy project.
Hepburn Wind/Flickr
Nicky Ison, University of Technology Sydney e Ed Langham, University of Technology Sydney
Australia, like much of the rest of the world, is in the midst of an energy transition, driven by falling demand and uptake of renewables. Community energy is one way we can mange this transition to the benefit of all Australians.
Conventional forecasts have consistently overestimated energy use, leading to increased investment in energy infrastructure.
Indigo Skies Photography /Flickr
Electricity forecasts just 4 years ago predicted strong, uninterrupted growth in electricity demand. In reality, demand has fallen for the past four years. Why?
Since its launch in 2011, South Africa’s renewable energy programme has brought a diversity of new players and sources of investment to the country.
Reuters
South Africa has won global recognition for its renewable energy programme, but will it succeed in balancing the demands of financial and commercial soundness, and the transformation agenda?
Elon Musk says the the Powerwall solar charged batteries could take a home off the electricity grid.
YouTube/Tesla Motors
Batteries combined with digital technologies will improve the efficiency and reliability of the electric grid, transforming how people use their energy.
The Tesla Model S - mean, and green?
Mariordo/Wikimedia
James Whitmore, The Conversation e Michael Hopkin, The Conversation
The federal government’s keenly awaited Energy White Paper is firmly focused on cutting prices and red tape, and boosting industry competitiveness - and less so on climate change and renewable energy.
A still from a NSW election ad, run on television and online, which says “selling the electricity network is wrong; selling it to another country is just not on”.
CFMEU Mining/YouTube
Labor and the unions have decided to play the China card in the NSW election. Such scare campaigns ignore the facts, including that Australia has invested almost as much in China as China has here.
In the countdown to the March 28 New South Wales election, social media is a key battleground for persuading swinging voters.
@lyon_brendan/Twitter
Given the history on privatisation in NSW, and facing a more emotionally powerful campaign, the Baird government is actually doing pretty well to be closing in on polling day in a winning position.
With rooftop solar installations soaring, utilities are nervous – for a few reasons.
Greens MPs
Electric utilities want to quash distributed solar because they don’t want the competition, right? Perhaps, but if you rely at all on the grid, you have a stake in this fight, too.
Electricity privatisation has delivered big nest eggs for various state governments – but the NSW government’s $A13 billion privatisation price tag risks being undermined by an election pledge and the recent UBS controversy.
Dmitry Melnikov from www.shutterstock.com
Electricity privatisations have been like golden geese, providing A$37 billion to Australian state governments since 1992. But the price for NSW’s privatisation risks being undercut by two key events.
NSW Treasurer Andrew Constance with the 2014 budget. An economic analysis has found electricity revenues have been crucial to keeping the NSW budget in surplus in recent years.
Paul Miller/AAP
We found that without state-owned electricity revenues, the NSW Coalition government would have struggled to avoid recording deficits in every budget since its election in 2011.
There are many misleading claims about what happens after electricity privatisation – including the impact on prices and on jobs.
Paul Miller/AAP
Both sides of the electricity privatisation debate are guilty of cherry-picking so-called “facts” to suit their campaigns, rather than presenting the real story to voters.
Superconducting materials have strange and unusual properties including magnetic levitation.
Shutterstock
Just what is a superconductor? And what can it be used for? Research using superconductors at higher temperatures opens up more possibilities for this fascinating class of materials.
Mike Baird concedes there are ‘challenges’ facing the federal Liberal Party, led by Tony Abbott (right), but says voters want him to focus on state issues.
AAP/Paul Miller
‘There’s no doubt there’s challenges in Canberra … I would like Canberra to get on with the job of actually looking after the people it’s supposed to be representing.’ – Mike Baird