Hopes gas will play the role of a so-called transition fuel towards a low-carbon future are dimming as costs of renewable energy dive and its emissions edge over coal is increasingly questioned, a new report by the Climate Action Tracker argues.

The NSW opposition leader Luke Foley has been caught out promising a policy that the Berejiklian government has already begun.

Fuel supplier Caltex Australia says it expects underlying half-yearly net profit to rise as much as 22 per cent as it benefits from higher refiner margins and bigger volumes of premium diesel sales.

Oil prices ended down more than 2 per cent after hitting a 10-month low in volatile trade amid renewed glut worries.

The energy utility has chosen the former head of Broadspectrum to succeed its outgoing chairman, Jerry Maycock.

• ANALYSIS

Like the Pythonesque parrot, Alan Finkel's independent review into the future security of Australia's electricity market is merely sleeping.

Oil prices fell 2 per cent to seven-month lows overnight after increases in supply by several key producers.

NSW's addiction to coal royalties shows no sign of easing after a surge in coal prices lifted expected royalties for the state by $839 million over four years.

Rising temperatures and humidity will make the world's tropics increasingly unliveable by pushing more people to the thresholds of their physical tolerance and beyond, a new international study finds.

The chief scientist is struggling to solve one of Australia's most intractable problems.

Solar power, once so costly it only made economic sense in spaceships, is becoming cheap enough that it will push coal and even natural-gas plants out of business faster than previously forecast.

Oil slid overnight as rising US supplies cast doubt on the pace of a global supply glut-reduction.

Australia's greenhouse gas emissions could return to 2005 levels by 2030 without new government action, contrary to the scenario modelled by the Finkel review, according to a new report by respected analyst Hugh Saddler.

Even after pressure on as companies to boost supply, the threat of power blackouts this summer hasn't gone away.

• COMMENT

Here's a guide to the Finkel Review, in case, like Tony Abbott, you haven't read it.

Santos' main environment statement on its proposed $3 billion coal seam gas project in north-west NSW lacks key data on groundwater impacts, salt disposal, air pollution and biodiversity, government agencies have found.

Glencore bid to buy more coal mines no slam dunk

Macquarie Group will acquire Cargill's North America power and gas business for an undisclosed amount.

Alan Finkel has released his review of the electricity market but plenty of questions remain.

The agency bumped up the oil giant's rating one notch, citing a strong performance despite oil price volatility and greater fiscal clarity following its $26.5 billion settlement of the deadly 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill.

The electricity market is bracing for significant change, with the risk that surging prices will force a number of smaller retailers to quit the market.

• COMMENT

With a dizzying array of positions, how's anyone supposed to invest?

• COMMENT

Well, it's not as though we couldn't see this one coming. Donald Trump was promising to pull the US out of the Paris Accord on climate change long before he took office.

Australians overwhelmingly want governments to favour renewable energy - even if it costs more, Lowy Institute poll finds.

On top of stricter emission controls and a move toward electric vehicles, Asia's diesel traders now have to worry about sea cucumbers off China's coast.

AGL Energy will spend $295 million on a 210 megawatt gas-fired power station alongside its 50-year-old Torrens Island plant in South Australia.

• COMMENT

Sometimes, the lost desert wanderer does stumble into an oasis, replete with the proverbial date palms and life-saving waters.

The gas price may have doubled but it will take time for this to translate into higher gas supplies.

President Donald Trump just made good on his campaign vow to leave the Paris climate accord. Now, the hard part: making coal great again.