Environment

Nuclear and renewables at odds over power bill shock

31 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]

Calls to upgrade regional connectivity as 3G shuts down

30 October

Telcos are being urged to boost mobile coverage in regional Australia as thousands of residents with old phones lose their ability to make calls or texts as the 3G network shuts down. Telstra and Optus on Monday joined TPG Telecom/Vodafone in...[Read More]

Time running out for Australian hydrogen, green iron

17 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

10 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]

Hybrids demoted to make way for electric Uber rides

9 October

Hybrid cars will no longer qualify as “green” vehicles on Uber’s rideshare service in Australia after the tech giant announced changes to prioritise electric cars on its platform. Uber executives announced the changes at a London event on...[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]

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]

One giant leap for agriculture as farmers look to space

15 February

Nestled deep in the industrial and commercial centre of a major metropolitan city, a vertical farm has sprouted indoors and its backers are reaching for the stars. Researchers based in Melbourne’s Docklands are working with the space agency NASA...[Read More]

Mixed outlook for agriculture in 2023

14 December

It’s a mixed outlook for agriculture in the coming year, with grains and lamb expected to perform well while the number of dairy farmers leaving the industry takes a toll. Rural Bank’s 2023 outlook also listed global economic challenges and...[Read More]

Electric car tax cuts welcome, more wanted

26 October

Federal budget tax cuts for electric cars and moves to create a national electric vehicle charging network in Australia have been welcomed by motoring and environmental groups overnight. The policies could shave $4700 off the cost of buying an...[Read More]

Expert finds short cut to emissions target

19 October

Australia can meet its emissions reduction target and ease its biodiversity crisis if it decides to end logging in native forests, a leading climate scientist says. Professor Brendan Mackey, who has co-authored reports for the Intergovernmental...[Read More]

Big Battery ‘more useful than big banana’

21 September

Australia can’t become fully powered by renewable energy without storage to support wind and solar, industry warns. South Australia’s Hornsdale Power Reserve was the world’s first Big Battery, since overtaken by a larger plant in...[Read More]

Farmers ‘big winners’ in UK trade deal