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Replacing poles and wires with renewables and storage on parts of Australia’s grid could “save hundreds of millions of dollars,” deliver more reliable supply, says energy minister.

The post Coalition to replace poles and wires with “affordable, reliable” renewable microgrids appeared first on RenewEconomy.

New rules, new interpretations of old rules, and restrictions best described as network stuff-ups is causing confusion and anger in the Victoria solar industry, currently the country’s biggest market.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: What is going on in Victoria? appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Big investors call for a plan to reach zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. "More can and must be done," they say.

The post Big investors call for zero emissions target, and a plan to get there appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Eastern Victoria is home to a strange creature that few have seen and even fewer have researched. You may be able to hear its gurgles under the ground but the 1.5- to 3-metre-long Giant Gippsland earthworm never comes to the surface in its natural life. In this episode of Look at me, Chris McCormack finds the only world expert on this creature and asks: why would you devote your life to a giant worm?

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Scientists call for a widespread cull of feral cats, rats, goats and pigs to save endangered species.

As concern grows solar and battery storage is being blocked in parts of Victoria, AusNet says efforts to fast-track the connection process may have led to mistakes.

The post AusNet blames online error as solar, battery connection refusals spark anger appeared first on RenewEconomy.

A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Can technology help to cut the vast amounts of food that never gets eaten?

Not long before coal use is over, say analysts, while warning of possible resurgence in China

The number of coal-fired power plants being developed around the world has collapsed in the last three years, according to a report.

The number of plants on which construction has begun each year has fallen by 84% since 2015, and 39% in 2018 alone, while the number of completed plants has dropped by more than half since 2015.

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Jo Cameron is one of two people on Earth known to have a mutation that means she feels almost no pain.

A 300MW wind farm has been proposed for development on forestry plantation land in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, overlooking the site of the now closed Hazelwood coal-fired power station.

The post Huge wind farm planned for Victoria’s coal centre, overlooking closed Hazelwood plant appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Global coal power capacity in pre-construction has fallen nearly 70% since 2015, when it was 1,090GW. In 2018, proposed capacity dropped nearly 25%, from 447GW in 2017 to 339GW.

Overall, the pre-construction pipeline has fallen nearly

The post Global coal plant pipeline shrinks for third year in a row appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Greens pick up AEMO's Integrated System Plan and accelerate it to reach 100% renewables by 2030, phase out fossil fuel cars, end thermal coal exports, and focus on solar hydrogen exports.

The post Greens aim to end coal, and petrol cars, by 2030 in rush to 100% renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Gold Coast-based engineering firm will partner with Canadian seaplane company to create what is thought to be the world’s first all-electric airline.

The post Canadian airline plans first all-electric fleet, with Australian twist appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Model X has some eye-catching features and gimmicks, but it is the joy of driving and the window to the future that is most fun.

The post Tesla Model X road test: An electric experience with smarts – and farts appeared first on RenewEconomy.

UN aviation body ICAO has listed the members of its technical advisory board (TAB) for its CORSIA global offsetting mechanism, adhering to historical splits between rich and poor countries with the latter represented by major CDM host nations and oil majors.

EUAs gained for a third successive session on Wednesday as a continued rebound in key energy contracts lifted sentiment in defiance of a weak auction.

California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credits took a step back this week as entities looked to complete purchases ahead of this week’s carryback compliance deadline.

Park officials say many wildflower tourists have been well-behaved, but some have ignored pleas to stay on trails

In one of the most famous literary descriptions of wildflowers, the English poet William Wordsworth wrote in the early 19th century of happily gazing upon a host of daffodils “fluttering and dancing in the breeze”. In 21st-century California, wildflowers dancing in the breeze are being trampled by helicopter.

As thousands of sightseers descend on southern California parks for a springtime “super bloom”, officials reported on Wednesday that a couple in a helicopter landed in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, crushing the delicate plants. They proceeded to walk around, further inflicting harm. As soon as they were approached by law enforcement officers, they scurried back into their aircraft and zoomed away.

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California issued more than 620,000 across seven projects this week, with a bulk of those credits being issued to a new forestry project, regulator data showed Wednesday.