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Turnbull says Tasmania could become a 'battery for Australia'
Tasmania could become a "battery for Australia" under a proposal to double the capacity of the country's largest hydro power scheme, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared.
Senior Writer
Tasmania could become a "battery for Australia" under a proposal to double the capacity of the country's largest hydro power scheme, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declared.
The head of Victoria's energy watchdog has warned that households are being lured into deals with the promise of large discounts unaware that companies can ratchet up prices at any time.
The wisdom of a campaign by the Turnbull government emphasising the risks of moving too rapidly to renewable energy has been thrown into question by polling that suggests a majority of its supporters don't agree.
Extreme heat is a test. It tests people and the systems they rely on, not least the electricity system. So in a post-Hazelwood world, how will the national electricity grid cope during hot days as we seek comfort by cranking up our cooling systems?
What can be done to make sure the national electricity grid runs smoothly, not just next summer but in future summers as more coal plants inevitably shut and we move to a cleaner electricity grid?
As the giant Hazelwood coal plant turns off the last of its units, the national electricity grid manager has sought to reassure the public it is taking steps to ensure the lights stay on when demand soars next summer.
The Greens are pushing for a new public authority to take responsibility for Australia's beleaguered electricity system out of politicians' hands.
Calls for an extraordinary government intervention to keep the ailing Hazelwood coal power plant open have been rejected by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who said its closure would not affect electricity security.
A leading national business group has called on Canberra and Victoria to consider an unprecedented "emergency intervention" to keep the Hazelwood coal power plant running.
What if the biggest government announcement in electricity generation in years was both a great breakthrough and a distraction?
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