South Africa’s national electricity plan is being finalised. A scientist argues that an energy mix of nuclear, clean coal, renewable energy and gas is urgently needed to end 15 years of power cuts.
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Articles on Energy
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What would it mean to bring solar manufacturing back on shore in Australia?
As South Africa heads towards elections, there is no quick fix solution to the electricity crisis in the country. What exactly are the political parties promising voters?
Serious air pollution is a common problem in stations around Australia and the world. But solutions already exist, and some can be applied immediately to protect station staff and commuters.
We could make our hot cities cooler with white roofs and light roads. But progress has been glacially slow.
Our plant species are pickier about their preferred temperature range than you would expect. That means many will have to move south, seeking cooler climes.
China’s two largest EV battery makers are pledging to slash the cost of their batteries this year. Behind the pledge is a cost war – and new battery chemistries.
Nigeria’s sudden and total removal of fuel subsidies was not the best strategy to use.
In states with competition between retailers, the energy regulator is promising savings for most customers on the default plan. But it’s small change compared to price hikes. Here’s what to expect.
If Africa built only all the renewable power plants it has already planned, this would be enough to generate 76% of all electricity needed on the continent by 2040.
In the 19th century, the world ran on steam. In the 21st century, little has changed. Every thermal power plant still relies on steam as a final stage.
The amount of detailed real-time data a smart grid needs to manage the push for electrification and renewables presents challenges – but there’s an affordable solution.
When the Moon blocks the Sun during an eclipse, utility suppliers have to pull power from the grid to make up for gaps in solar energy.
Detroit’s plan to install solar panels in city neighborhoods may conflict with residents’ desires to see lower energy bills and more housing.
Will it make a difference when companies have to track and report emissions and environmental impact? Only if policies with teeth follow.
Underground thermal networks have the potential to revolutionize how Canadians heat their homes while helping to reduce carbon emissions.
Small modular reactors are popular among conservative politicians and supposedly the Australian public. But they’re nowhere near ready to power Australia in time to replace coal-powered stations.
Extreme winds from thunderstorms have downed transmission towers from Victoria to Western Australia in recent years. What’s going on?
Australia’s main grid has 40,000 km of transmission lines. Building another 10,000 km quickly is proving hard.
Transmission towers bent like soft plastic when extreme winds whipped through Victoria last week. Fixing it means asking hard questions.
Top contributors
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Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
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Director, Victoria Energy Policy Centre, Victoria University
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Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute
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Senior Industry Fellow, RMIT University
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Senior Research Associate, Renewable Energy & Energy Systems Analyst, UNSW Sydney
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Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland
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Professor of Engineering, Australian National University
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Professor of Global Energy, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick
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Lecturer, Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington
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Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University
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Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University
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Energy Fellow, Grattan Institute
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Chief economist, CSIRO energy, CSIRO
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Professor of Physics, University of Johannesburg
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Honorary Associate Professor, Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University
