Carbon Economy

Solar PV jobs to crash if renewable energy target is scrapped, report finds

PETER HANNAM The recent decline of demand for solar photovoltaic panels would accelerate sharply if the Abbott government scrapped the renewable energy target (RET), potentially halving jobs in the industry, new research finds.

Climate change debate shifting to what it means for business

Barry Ritholtz It's time to throw out any preconceptions of climate change as a fight between green hippies and Big Oil.

Anti-coal move by giant Norway fund gathers support

An opposition proposal to prohibit Norway's $US815 billion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, from investing in coal companies has won the support of two minority parties whose backing the government needs.

Down the tubes? Barack Obama's legacy may hinge on Keystone XL pipeline decision

President Barack Obama will lay out an agenda on jobs, the economy and the environment during his State of the Union speech on Tuesday.

Solar PV giant predicts big firms will get bigger as costs slide

The pace of consolidation in the solar manufacturing industry will accelerate in the next three years as the cost of the technology declines and installations surge, the founder of the fourth-biggest solar-panel maker said.

Major trading powers pledge to free up trade in green products

The world's biggest trading powers aim for global free trade in environmental goods, though they gave no timeline for a deal they said would boost the fight against climate change.

China has 'serious concern' about US solar PV trade probe

China's commerce ministry called on the United States on Sunday to stop anti-dumping investigations into imports of solar power products from China, expressing "serious concern" and vowing to defend its producers.

China's carbon market may remain a solo one as companies get rights to offset pollution with non-CO2 credits

China will allow big emitters to use offset credits from nitrous dioxide (N2O) destruction to meet domestic climate targets, potentially limiting the ability of China's markets to be joined with other carbon markets.

China's solar PV installations soared to record in 2013

Developers in China installed a record 12 gigawatts of solar panels last year, almost matching the total amount of solar power in operation in the US, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

EU move to drop mandatory renewable energy target for 2030 irks wind, solar industries

Wind and solar power producers said they’re at risk of losing investment after the European Union’s executive arm scrapped proposals for a mandatory target on renewable energy use in 2030.

Banking

Westpac named world’s most sustainable company at Davos

George Liondis Westpac has been ranked the world’s most sustainable company in a major global coup for the Australian bank.

CO2 Group boss Grant quits as carbon opportunities evaporate

CO2 Group, Australia's biggest carbon project developer, said its chief executive has resigned as proposed changes to the country's climate policy force the company to pursue new growth areas.

EU's economic hard times to take toll on climate change ambitions

Seven years after it set some of the world's most stringent environmental targets, the European Union is about to revise its long-term goals to take more account of industry and changed economic circumstances.

Policymakers aren't aware of threat to farming from climate change, World Bank says

Climate change will play havoc with farming, and policy makers and researchers aren't fully aware of the significance on food supply, according to the World Bank.

MIT researchers eye potential of 80% solar PV efficiency

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are seeking to increase the efficiency of solar cells by helping them take advantage of more of the sun's rays.

Saudi Arabia picks partner as $US100 billion solar program dawns

Abdul Latif Jameel, a Saudi Arabian company, has teamed up with a European partner to build projects in the Arab nation's $US100 billion solar program.

Netherlands reduces gas output after tremors increase

The Netherlands will cut gas production at Groningen, the largest gas field in western Europe, by about a quarter over the next three years, after public concerns over earth tremors in the area.

Germany eyes cuts of a third to renewable energy support by 2015

Germany's economy minister wants to cut the support price paid for electricity from solar and wind power generators by about a third by 2015, according to a draft proposal for Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government.

Germany eyes cuts of a third to renewable energy support by 2015

Germany's economy minister wants to cut the support price paid for electricity from solar and wind power generators by about a third by 2015, according to a draft proposal for Chancellor Angela Merkel's new government.

Bright sparks scoop top award for cutting cost of solar power

PETER HANNAM Australia's world-leading efforts to drive down the cost of solar energy have been recognised.

Electricity

Victoria, South Australia face power blackouts

BRIAN ROBINS Elevated demand amid heatwave weather conditions in southern Australia have prompted warnings of the potential that large users could lose electricity supplies for a time Thursday and Friday.

Sucking CO2 from atmosphere may be only way to meet climate goals, UN report says

Governments may have to extract vast amounts of greenhouse gases from the air by 2100 to achieve a target for limiting global warming, backed by trillion-dollar shifts towards clean energy, a draft U.N. report shows.

Chinese companies found to be in frequent breach of emissions limits

Steel factories and thermal power plants in eastern China frequently exceed national standards, according to a study led by an environmental group in Beijing.

EU looks to mimic US's shale boom

The European Union plans guidelines for shale drilling under proposals that may facilitate oil and gas extraction using the contested technique that's brought the U.S. toward energy independence.

Cloudy Britain becomes Europe's hottest PV market

Cloudy Britain is emerging as Europe's hottest market to build solar parks.

Danish pension funds back developing nations' climate efforts

PensionDanmark A/S and other Danish pension investors backed a state fund to finance emission-reduction projects in developing countries as the Scandinavian nation seeks to export its climate know-how abroad.

Obama orders review of US energy sector to assess demand, climate change risks

US President Barack Obama ordered a broad review of the country's energy infrastructure, noting that factors such as rising demand and climate change have put increased pressure on the aging system.

Stormy weather sees Europe's electricity prices turn negative

North Europe's devastating storms sent wind turbines spinning and helped strengthen a new winter phenomenon for the region - negative electricity prices.

China steps up coal capacity even as pollution mounts

China approved the construction of more than 100 million tonnes of new coal production capacity in 2013 - six times more than a year earlier and equal to 10% of U.S. annual usage - flying in the face of plans to tackle choking air pollution.

Global carbon market to bounce back in 2014, BNEF predicts

The value of the global carbon market will rise 15 percent this year to 46 billion euros ($70 billion), driven by the European Union's plan to postpone sales of pollution permits, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Push for EU 2030 target for renewable energy

Ministers from Germany, France and six other countries call for the European Union to set a 2030 goal for renewable energy use, in opposition to their British counterpart who advocates a sole greenhouse gas emissions target.

Canada's Harper remains confident Keystone XL pipeline will be built

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper hopeful the Keystone XL pipeline will eventually be built even as President Barack Obama delays making a decision on the $US5.4 billion project.

EU's rescue plan for carbon market likely to start by April

The European Union's emergency plan to help boost carbon prices may get all necessary regulatory approvals as soon as next month and start around April, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

China reaffirms support for solar PV industry

China pledges further support support for its ailing solar power industry as the government seeks to revive a sector struggling with with overcapacity and falling prices.

China to assign credit ratings based on environmental performance

China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, will assign credit ratings to companies in industries with heavy pollution or overcapacity based on their efforts to protect the environment.

Japan to tap smart meters, fuel cells to tackle climate change

Japan plans smart meters in every residence and factory by the early 2020s and 5.3 million fuel cells in homes by 2030 to tackle climate change, according to a report to be submitted to the United Nations.

China launches fifth carbon market

The Chinese city of Tianjin has launched the country's fifth emissions trading scheme as the world's biggest-emitting nation took another step towards reining in its impact on the environment.

Government approves Clive Palmer's coalmine in Queensland

PETER HANNAM Christmas has come early for mining billionaire and newly minted MP Clive Palmer, with the federal government approving his monster China First coalmine in Queensland's Galilee Basin.

Carbon

Busy first day for China's biggest carbon market

The first day's trading in what will be by far the largest carbon market in China kicked off briskly yesterday with pricing in line with expectations, as Beijing continues its drive to slow its rapid growth of heat-trapping emissions.

Santos faces fines for Pilliga coal seam gas salt spill

Gas giant Santos' NSW branch could be slapped with hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines after it admitted to failing to report contamination and excessive salt levels at a drilling site in the state's northwest.

Energy

Coal 'prime culprit' behind climate change but can we live without it?

John Kemp "There is no denying the controversial reality of coal," Maria van der Hoeven, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), wrote in its annual report on the coal industry, published on Monday.

Energy

UK to open region as big as Wales for shale exploration

The U.K. government is ready to open an area the size of Wales for shale drilling next year, doubling the space available for exploration.

Australian government cuts billions of dollars from social programs

Gareth Hutchens, Peter Hannam The federal government has cut billions of dollars from programs ranging from the environment to health and indigenous legal aid.

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