Environment
Power struggle: data centre energy rules spark concerns
29 July
Large-scale data centres will be forced to invest in additional renewable energy to fuel their operations and avoid causing power price hikes in regulations agreed to by all but two states and territories. The Energy and Climate Change Ministerial...[Read More]
Businesses MIA on rooftop solar and battery revolution
11 June
Australian households are generating nearly four times as much solar energy as retailers, manufacturers and other non-residential buildings, with most commercial rooftops panel-free. Harvesting the vast, untapped generating and storage potential in...[Read More]
Small business switched off from electrification boom
3 June
Thousands of Australian small businesses are falling behind on electrification, weighing on national climate goals and leaving manufacturers exposed to gas market volatility. Many small and medium-sized businesses that rely on gas-powered heat to...[Read More]
Climate agencies to ask AI to predict future disasters
20 May
Australia’s leading climate authorities plan to deploy artificial intelligence to help forecast natural disasters, including what might happen if a tropical cyclone hit a major city. But they warn early attempts to expand predictions using AI will...[Read More]
Budget lacks energy for big renewable project reforms
13 May
Australia’s growing throng of solar panels, batteries and electric cars will be managed by a new regulator in a multimillion-dollar budget commitment welcomed by investment and climate groups. The change will come in addition to support for...[Read More]
Green groups warn climate courage missing from budget
13 May
Climate wins on bike lanes and batteries have been overshadowed by a failure to capture fossil fuel revenue and rein in off-road diesel credits, environment groups say. The lead up to Tuesday’s federal budget was dominated by a campaign to hike...[Read More]
Rural leaders see budget shortfalls for health, roads
13 May
Australia’s regions will benefit from funding to bolster fuel supplies and public hospitals, but investment in rural health reform, better connectivity and safer country roads continues to fall short, according to industry groups. The federal...[Read More]
Bumpy path predicted for self-driving cars in Australia
26 March
Autonomous cars could slash transport pollution by driving more efficiently, avoiding traffic snarls and reducing the need for car parks. But with the wrong policy settings, the technology could undo those savings by putting more cars on the road,...[Read More]
AI crocodile detection system comes with warning
25 March
An AI detection system is hoped to make a splash by dramatically improving safety at swimming spots and boat ramps across Australia’s crocodile-infested northern waterways. But its creators warn it can only identify crocodiles above the waterline...[Read More]
Aussie drivers divided over petrol vs electric future
18 March
Almost two in five Australians are considering an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next car purchase, but many could change their minds if the government puts the brakes on a tax discount. The Australian Finance Industry Association revealed the...[Read More]
High-power pit stop: quantum batteries could rev up EVs
18 March
Next-generation batteries Australian researchers are developing could potentially recharge electric cars faster than petrol vehicles fill up and top up smartphone instantaneously. The CSIRO’s quantum battery research team made the predictions on...[Read More]
Postcode where more drivers plug into electric car cuts
18 March
Ending a tax exemption for electric vehicles could unfairly punish families outside major metropolitan areas who are dealing with longer commutes and are most likely to maximise the tax cut. The National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging...[Read More]
Scientists make Parkinson’s drug from plastic bottles
18 March
Scientists have discovered a way of making a drug for Parkinson’s disease from used plastic bottles, saying it shows how waste materials can be “reimagined as valuable resources”. Developed by a team at the University of Edinburgh, the...[Read More]
No ill winds blowing for renewables spending in budget
11 March
The federal climate minister has hit back at speculation there will be budget cuts to clean energy policies, comparing it to stripping funds from health or education. Chris Bowen dismissed reports of cuts to new clean energy funding in the federal...[Read More]
Compact homes unlocking cheaper, cleaner city living
5 March
In a time of climate change and strained housing affordability, sometimes it pays to think small. At just 50 square metres, the apartments and townhouses inside the Two Sisters development in North Melbourne are far smaller than the 236 sq m average...[Read More]