There are some good explanations for the mismatch between regional support for climate action and the areas where renewable energy is making the biggest inroads.
The Mugga Lane Solar Farm in the ACT is part of a new wave of large-scale renewable energy projects.
AAP Image/Moaneng Australia
Australia could be getting half of its electricity from renewable energy by 2025, even without government subsidies for new wind and solar projects, according to a new analysis of energy industry trends.
Joachim Seel, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Andrew Mills, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory et Ryan Wiser, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Large-scale solar and wind tend to push energy prices down, which sounds great as a consumer. But that makes keeping the grid in constant balance harder.
Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker signed a comprehensive energy law in 2016 that authorized the development of new offshore wind and hydroelectric projects.
Massachusetts governor’s office
Several states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have developed ambitious renewable energy targets that hinge in large part on getting their power from turbines stationed in the water.
Andrew Blakers, Australian National University; Bin Lu, Australian National University et Matthew Stocks, Australian National University
Annual water requirements of a PHES-supported 100% renewable electricity grid would be much less than the current fossil fuel system, because wind and PV do not require cooling water.
Wind turbines are becoming as American as haybales.
MattJP
Experts expect the wind business to remain brisk in the US and abroad, on land and offshore.
The coils winding facility building in France, where a global effort to build the ITER fusion energy reactor is underway.
Rob Crandall/Shutterstock.com
As fusion becomes more technically viable, it’s time to assess whether it’s worth the money because breakthroughs in the lab don’t guarantee success in the marketplace.
Cape Verde’s renewable energy resources account for about 25% of total energy production.
Shutterstock
With cutting-edge technologies and innovative business practices, Cape Verde can achieve its goal in a way that is cost-effective and equitable
The price of new-build renewable energy is expected to fall significantly relative to new-build coal energy in coming years.
AAP Image/Lucy Hughes Jones
The price of renewable energy will fall significantly relative to new-build coal in coming decades, making an all-renewable electricity system more desirable, both economically and environmentally.
Yallourn Power Station in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria.
AAP Image/David Crosling
On Q&A, an audience member said renewable energy is ‘now cheaper than coal’. Senator Matt Canavan disagreed, saying renewables are not ‘at the moment, cheaper than coal’. Let’s look at the numbers.
As more wind turbines have been put in place, the cost of wind energy has gone down.
Dad of T&S
Global emissions from fossil fuels have stalled. That puts us in the right place to keep warming below 2°C, but there’s plenty of work still to be done.
Wind farms are pushing down the price of electricity in the electricity market.
Chris J Stewart, Starfish Wind Farm, Cape Jervis, South Australia.