Analysis

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Energy2050 – How Australia can achieve a net zero emissions future

As the pace and complexity of Australia’s energy transition intensifies, a new AEC project, Energy2050, aims to provide a clearer view of how the sector can realistically reach net zero by 2050. Rather than rehashing forecasts of what the energy mix will look like, the project will focus on the how - identifying the critical policy, market, and operational considerations needed to deliver a reliable, affordable and sustainable system. This week, we outline the scope of the project and the key challenges it will explore.

BY Louisa Kinnear Aug 07 2025

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Australia’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy: Solving problems or creating new ones?

Last Tuesday, the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute (ASFI) released the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy – a voluntary framework that financiers and investors can use to ensure economic activity they are investing capital in is consistent with a 1.5°C trajectory. One of the trickier aspects of the Taxonomy was whether to classify gas-powered generation, a fossil fuel energy source, as a “transition” activity to support net-zero. The final Taxonomy opted against this. Here we take a look at how ASFI came to this decision, and the pragmatism of it.

BY Rhys Thomas Jun 26 2025

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Twenty-Five Years of Rooftop Solar: Who were the Pioneers?

Australia’s energy landscape has transformed dramatically over the past 25 years, driven in part by the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 and the introduction of renewable energy certificates in 2001. Through the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, households have been incentivised to install rooftop solar with the help of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). From just 118 rooftop systems in 2001, over four million Australian homes now generate their own power. We take a closer look at regional trends in solar adoption, beginning with the early pioneers and the trajectory of small-scale PV uptake across the country.

BY Carol Tran Jun 05 2025

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Climate and energy: What do the next three years hold?

With Labor being returned to Government for a second term, this time with an increased majority, the next three years will represent a litmus test for how Australia is tracking to meet its signature 2030 targets of 43 per cent emissions reduction and 82 per cent renewable generation, and not to mention, the looming 2035 target. With significant obstacles laying ahead, the Government will need to hit the ground running. We take a look at some of the key projections and checkpoints throughout the next term.

BY Rhys Thomas May 15 2025

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Australia’s net zero plan is looking a lot like an electricity-only plan

The past three years have seen a stronger commitment to encouraging economy-wide decarbonisation, as seen through reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism and new policies like the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard and Future Made in Australia. But the release of two emissions reduction progress reports paints a sobering reality – no sector other than electricity is doing anything to help Australia meet its 2030 target. Is this leading to the proverbial “all eggs in one basket”? Or is electricity decarbonisation really the only viable pathway to 43 per cent by 2030? We take a closer look.

BY Rhys Thomas Dec 12 2024

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Frontier Economics and the cost of the transition: How does it stack up?

Nearly two weeks ago, headlines revealed Australia’s energy transition would be more expensive than previously estimated. This news stemmed from modelling by Frontier Economics, which highlighted long-term costs beyond the commonly cited net present value figure of $122 billion in capital cost, as outlined in the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) 2024 Integrated System Plan (ISP). We took a closer look.

BY Australian Energy Council Nov 28 2024

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The return of Trump: What does it mean for Australia’s 2035 target?

Donald Trump’s decisive election win has given him a mandate to enact sweeping policy changes, including in the energy sector, potentially altering the US’s energy landscape. His proposals, which include halting offshore wind projects, withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and dismantling the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), could have a knock-on effect across the globe, as countries try to navigate a path towards net zero. So, what are his policies, and what do they mean for Australia’s own emission reduction targets? We take a look.

BY Rhys Thomas & Tom Monaghan Nov 14 2024

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The demographics behind the Top 5 solar postcodes

More than a third of Australian households now have solar installed, making it the largest generation source, ahead of coal plants. While all parts of Australia has seen growth in solar installations, in our latest Solar Report we highlighted the leading postcodes in terms of installations this year to date. Here we take a look at the demographics behind the suburbs in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland based on the most recent census.

BY Carl Kitchen Nov 14 2024

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1.5 Degree C aligned – what does it actually look like?

Earlier this month, the CSIRO published economy-wide modelling looking at how each sector in Australia could transition to a 2oC and 1.5oC aligned world respectively. With mandatory climate disclosure laws kicking in next year, which will see companies required to assess how their businesses fit in a 1.5oC aligned future, this modelling is illustrative of some of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Here we take a closer look at the 1.5oC scenario, with a particular focus on what it means for the electricity generation sector. Read more.

BY Rhys Thomas Oct 31 2024

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Phantom Dwellings in Australia: A Growing Barrier for Renewable Energy Projects

As Australia intensifies its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve 82% renewable energy by 2030, significant obstacles continue to emerge. One of the more insidious and less understood tactics employed by opponents of renewable energy development is the strategic use of phantom dwellings - proposed residential developments that are never intended to be built but are utilised to delay or block renewable projects by exploiting legal and planning loopholes. We take a look at how this tactic is being used, the impact it’s having on renewable projects, and what can be done to mitigate against it.

BY Tom Monaghan Oct 10 2024

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Europe's Power Move: Leaving Coal Behind

Next week, the world’s sixth largest economy will bid farewell to coal, with the UK closing its final coal-fired power station. Like the UK, Europe is also seeing a collective phase out of coal, with a majority of European Union states pledging to transition away from the fossil-fuel. Europe’s commitment to decarbonise has accelerated this shift, but what are the implications of this phase-out? We take a closer look.

BY Tom Monaghan Sep 26 2024

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The Challenge Ahead for Australia’s Net Zero Economy Authority

Earlier this month. the Bill to establish a Net Zero Economy Authority was passed by Parliament. The new Authority aims to promote Australia’s economic transformation as the country moves towards a net zero emissions economy, ensuring the regions and their workers are both supported and able to benefit from the transition. So how will the Authority achieve this, and how will it fit in with the plethora of jurisdictional and industry transition efforts already underway? We take a closer look.

BY Braeden Keen Sep 19 2024

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Australia’s workforce shortage: A potential obstacle on the road to net zero

Australia is no stranger to ambitious climate policies. In 2022, the Labor party campaigned on transitioning Australia’s grid to 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and earlier this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled the Future Made in Australia agenda, a project which aims to create new jobs and opportunities as we move towards a net zero future. While these policies have unveiled a raft of opportunities, they have also highlighted a major problem: a lack of skilled workers. Why is this a problem? We take a closer look.

BY Tom Monaghan Jul 25 2024

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Great British Energy – The UK’s new state-owned energy company

Last week’s UK election saw the Labour Party return to government after 14 years in opposition. Their emphatic win – the largest majority in a quarter of a century - delivered a mandate to implement their party manifesto, including a promise to set up Great British Energy (GB Energy), a publicly-owned and independently-run energy company which aims to deliver cheaper energy bills and cleaner power. So what is GB Energy and how will it work? We take a closer look.

BY Tom Monaghan Jul 11 2024

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Transport Sectoral Plan – A breakdown of how the transport industry will reach net zero

Transport emissions are on track to become Australia’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. To address this, the Federal Government has published its Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap, outlining the steps to be taken to align transport with Australia’s efforts to reach net zero emission by 2050. We took a closer look at the roadmap.

BY Tom Monaghan Jun 13 2024

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Australia will soon have a Net Zero Plan – what can we expect?

The Federal Government has promised to develop a Net Zero Plan by the end of the year, which will involve integrating six sector plans to help Australia reach net zero by 2050. But with most sectoral decarbonisation policies focused only up until 2030, some unknowns are emerging about what this Plan might look like and how it intends to merge the sector pathways to promote an orderly and efficient economy-wide transition. We take a look at how this can be achieved.

BY Rhys Thomas May 02 2024