Juan Weik

UK-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto plans to significantly reduce operating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its aluminium projects in Queensland's Gladstone through renewable electricity supplies from Australia's largest planned solar photovoltaic (PV) plant.

Australian integrated utility AGL Energy has increased its pipeline of renewable power and storage projects by 500MW to up to 5.8GW.

An explosion at the 1,586MW Callide coal-fired power plant in Australia's Queensland state in May 2021 was the result of the simultaneous failure of key electrical equipment and system back-ups in a "complex series of events that could not have been anticipated", Queensland state-controlled utility CS Energy said.

UK-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto has announced a second major power purchase agreement (PPA) for the supply of renewable electricity to its Gladstone aluminium operations in Australia's Queensland state.

Demand for Australian carbon credits and renewable energy certificates is expected to continue increasing rapidly over the coming years, including voluntary markets, officials at the country's Clean Energy Regulator (CER) said today as they unveiled details about the planned Australian Carbon Exchange.

The list of Australia's largest emitters of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions changed for the 2022-23 fiscal year to 30 June, with Australian independent Woodside Energy and UK-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto each climbing one spot and Czech investment firm Sev.en Global Investments entering the rankings for the first time.

Australia's banking and broking industry group the Australian Financial Markets Association (Afma) has partnered with the Carbon Market Institute (CMI) to develop standard documentation to support over-the-counter (OTC) trading of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Financial investment commitments to utility-scale renewable energy projects in Australia reached their lowest level in several years in 2023. But they can get back on track with the expanded Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) scheme, the Clean Energy Council (CEC) said today.

Australia's Queensland state government will review the long-term suitability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) following the rejection of a demonstration project planned by commodities producer and trading firm Glencore.

Australia's Queensland state government announced today it will ban carbon capture and storage (CCS) in its portion of the Great Artesian Basin.

Australian utilities and market experts have grown more vocal about the need for federal and state governments to support existing and future gas-fired power generation, as the country phases out coal-fired plants and transitions to a system with more renewables.

Australian independent Strike Energy plans to build and operate an 85MW peaking gas-fired power plant that could come on line by October 2026 near its South Erregulla operations in Western Australia (WA).

The Australian federal government-backed Climate Active certification program continued to drive voluntary demand for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) last year, although future growth remains uncertain as the scheme will undergo a planned reform.

The Australian federal government is not considering allowing international renewable energy certificates (I-RECs) issued in Australia for local electricity consumption under its Climate Active voluntary programme, despite requests from market participants.

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is not considering listing method-specific Australian carbon credit futures contracts as it aims to focus on generic products, ASX's head of commodities, Daniel Sinclair said.

Australia's main political opposition has suggested changes could come to the country's reformed safeguard mechanism if it moves back to power next year, although its climate change and energy spokesman has fallen short of announcing any planned policies during a carbon event in Melbourne.

The Australian federal government will support the development of four new carbon crediting project methodologies proposed outside of government, federal energy minister Chris Bowen announced today.

Australian chemicals and fertilizer producer Incitec Pivot (IPL) has earned 63,529 Safeguard Mechanism Credits (SMCs) with its Moranbah ammonia facility in Queensland for the 2023-24 compliance year that ended in June, which it plans to hold for future surrender requirements from another facility.