Energy security requires both short and long planning. Recent gas and hydro announcements are a promising start towards some proper joined-up thinking.
As Malcolm Turnbull aspires to get a lift by thinking big, the Coalition is searching for hope in the smallest positive sign.
Dan Peled/AAP
As the government seeks to rein in the excessive expectations of what it can do to make housing more affordable, Malcolm Turnbull is throwing everything at his energy security policy.
Malcolm Turnbull says ending the local shortage ‘will ensure gas prices in Australia are lower and fairly reflect international export prices, as they should’.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Greens leader Richard Di Natale is calling for a reimagining of the way Australians approach work.
Malcolm Turnbull said the projection last week showed a shortage of gas supply in the eastern market with deep implications for energy security.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull has threatened to use the Commonwealth’s power over exports against gas producers if they do not carry through with undertakings to make more gas available for the domestic market.
There are calls for Australia’s onshore gas to flow much more freely.
Glen Dillon
Rising gas prices and energy security issues have led to calls for more gas to be pumped into our energy system. But we need to balance that with the equally pressing need to limit greenhouse emissions.
Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg with a lump of coal during Question Time.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
We have the technology to make oil from algae, rather than digging up crude oil from organisms that lived billions of years ago. But bringing it to market will take a force of economic and political will.
Guys, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
EPA/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Is nuclear power worth it? No, says Mark Diesendorf – it’s never been a major world energy force, it has caused huge accidents, and its greenhouse emissions are higher than many people realise.
Kudankulam is one of seven new nuclear plants being built in India.
IAEA
Asia and Eastern Europe are leading the way, but construction times for new projects are getting longer, and Europe’s dominant energy player, Germany, is turning its back on nuclear.
A nuclear-capable Pakistani missile during testing in 2011. The international community hopes other aspiring nuclear nations can develop nuclear power without the military muscle.
EPA/INTER SERVICES/AAP
Through history, nuclear power has gone hand in hand with the nuclear arms race. But does it have to be this way? Closer international cooperation can help nations embrace nuclear power peacefully.
Rooftop solar panels are disrupting Australia’s electricity market, and competing with networks.
Jason Wong/Flickr
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.
Australia likely has several decades of coal left in it yet.
eyeweed/flickr
Gary Ellem, University of Newcastle; Damien Giurco, University of Technology Sydney; James Ward, University of South Australia e Steve Mohr, University of Technology Sydney
Australia likely has decades of fossil fuels left to extract, export and burn. That could prove to be a problem if the world comes to an agreement on climate change. Here’s four ways to help the economy, and the climate.