The cost of abandoning Snowy 2.0, Australia's largest renewable energy project, is still unknown. Snowy Hydro chief executive Dennis Barnes told a Senate estimates committee that the cost of ending the project has not been modelled. The company estimates completion will now cost between $22.2 billion and $25 billion, up from $12 billion in 2023. Barnes said replacing the project with batteries was modelled at $80 billion. Innovation Minister Tim Ayres said abandoning the project would be immensely costly and that the government would see it through.
About 400 students and supporters marched through Sydney on October 24 to demand urgent climate action before the COP31 conference in November. The conference is co-hosted by Australia and Turkey. The rally called for no new or expanded coal and gas, binding emissions targets and a just transition for workers and communities. Speakers included human rights lawyer Kavita Naidu, who said going beyond 1.5 degrees of warming was a death sentence. The rally was organised by Sydney Students for Climate, a new coalition of students concerned about climate inaction.
A future Coalition government would scrap funding for renewable energy projects, electric vehicle subsidies and social housing to pay for income tax cuts, according to leader Angus Taylor. He said the savings would add $31 billion to the federal budget bottom line, more than covering the plan to index income tax brackets to inflation. Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson said banning non-citizens from welfare and NDIS payments would add another $2 billion. Treasurer Jim Chalmers accused the opposition of not explaining how it would fund $110 billion in unfunded commitments.
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An online information session will be held on Thursday, October 29, from 1pm to 2.30pm, to explain the On-Farm Energy and Electrification Demonstration Program. The program aims to speed up the use of energy technologies across Victoria's agriculture sector through industry-led demonstration projects. Up to $5 million in grant funding is available, with grants of $200,000 to $750,000 for successful applicants. Eligible projects may improve energy efficiency, cut fuel, gas or energy use, generate renewable energy, or provide on-farm energy storage. The session will cover eligibility, project expectations, eligible spending, co-funding and knowledge-sharing requirements.
A volunteer group in Fremantle is using a free noodle bar to show that households can cook without gas. Electrify Fremantle is running the Electric Noodle Bar during Fremantle Design Week, where chef Amanda Auwdina cooks vegetarian noodles on induction hotplates. Organiser Wilf Johnston says the group aims to reach people who have not yet considered switching. Research by consumer organisation Choice found induction cooktops are more efficient and cheaper to run than gas. Johnston expects gas networks to be called into question in coming years.
Western NSW grazier Peter Barton has signed one-fifth of his 480-hectare property at Wellington into permanent conservation. The land is being bought by the NSW government to offset environmental damage from the Central West Orana renewable energy zone. Under the agreement, the land must stay in its natural condition, and Mr Barton receives annual payments for weed and pest control. The government says it has reached agreements for around 6,000 hectares, with another 8,000 hectares under advanced negotiations. Environmental groups have welcomed the new region-specific approach, which replaces an earlier system that drew criticism.
Premier Coal will move its Collie mine to day shifts only, a change the Western Australian government says it is disappointed by. Unions say the move could cut about 40 per cent of the workforce, or around 150 jobs. Management has handed out forms for voluntary redundancies. The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union says redundancy payments will be calculated at day shift rates, removing the night shift component. An energy analyst says the change should not cause power blackouts in the state.
Wholesale electricity prices fell 27 per cent from the July to September period last year, despite record winter demand. The Australian Energy Market Operator attributes the drop to rooftop solar, wind, large-scale solar and battery storage. Batteries are shifting record amounts of renewable energy into the evening, when demand is higher. Victoria accounted for almost all of the 1.3 per cent growth in demand. Renewable generation overtook gas for the first time, while gas-fired generation fell 34 per cent.
Calls have been made to scrap the Snowy 2.0 hydropower project after its estimated cost rose again. Snowy Hydro now estimates the cost could reach $25bn, and the project is not expected to be operational until spring 2029. Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said Energy Minister Chris Bowen should be removed. Mr Bowen described the cost blowout as very disappointing but defended the project as providing net benefits, saying it will last 150 years.
Victoria's new SEC Apprenticeship Academy plans to train 2000 electrical apprentices over four years, opening in the first quarter of 2027. The State Electricity Commission is partnering with NECA Education & Careers and the Electrical Trades Union. A pilot of 40 apprentices will start first, with expressions of interest expected in the coming weeks. The state expects its energy workforce to grow from about 45,000 to 68,000 by 2040. Minister for Energy and Resources Jaclyn Symes said Victoria needs more electricians to connect new energy projects and install batteries.
The cost of Snowy 2.0, the Snowy Mountains hydro-electric expansion, may now reach up to $25 billion. The project was priced at $2 billion when proposed in 2017. Its completion has been pushed back to late 2029. Energy Minister Chris Bowen says the project would still provide net benefits and blames geological challenges and early design decisions. Tunnelling is now 65 per cent complete. Opposition energy spokesperson Dan Tehan has called for Mr Bowen to resign, which he has refused.
The cost of Snowy Hydro 2.0 could reach $25 billion, up from the original $2 billion estimate. A reassessment by Snowy Hydro now puts completion at 2029 rather than 2028. The project's chief executive, Dennis Barnes, said the situation could have been worse and described the project as very complex. Machine tunnelling is 65 per cent complete, with about 5,000 people working on the project. The federal government plans to announce extra oversight and financing for the project in coming weeks, and more taxpayer funds are expected.
The cost of Snowy 2.0, Australia's biggest renewable energy project, could reach $25 billion, according to a new review by Snowy Hydro. The figure is roughly double the last estimate, and full operation is now expected in late 2029. Snowy Hydro chief executive Dennis Barnes said the company was disappointed by the higher costs, which he linked to earlier design problems and a larger workforce of about 5,000 people. He said the project was in its strongest position yet but did not rule out further cost increases.
The Victorian Government has given final approval to a 219-turbine wind farm at Warracknabeal Energy Park. It is the largest proposed wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere. The project will now go to the federal government for formal assessment. It is expected to power 1.2 million homes and bring economic opportunity to the town. Doctors for the Environment representative Dr Ben Ewald says the approval is a positive step in curbing carbon emissions, as it could allow more coal power plants to close.
Developer Alinta Energy has withdrawn plans for a $1.8 billion pumped hydro project in northern NSW, saying economic and timing challenges made it unviable. The 900 megawatt Oven Mountain scheme was one of the largest projects in the Armidale Renewable Energy Zone and was planned near Carrai. It is the second major renewable project to be dropped this month, after Origin Energy scrapped the Skye Ridge Wind Farm. Armidale Shire Mayor Sam Coupland said the council was shocked and questioned whether planning rules had become too onerous.
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More than 50 people joined a rally organised by Lock the Gate Alliance to call for an end to coal mining. Speakers said the swift parrot is being endangered by New South Wales approvals of new coal and gas projects. Nick Clyde said there are 17 coal mine expansion projects in the pipeline in the state. Sally Hunter asked people to urge the government to let the Maules Creek mine lease lapse and called for a plan to move mining jobs into renewable industries.
More than 50 people joined a rally organised by Lock the Gate Alliance to call for an end to coal mining. Speakers said the swift parrot is being endangered by New South Wales approvals of new coal and gas projects. Nick Clyde said there are 17 coal mine expansion projects in the pipeline in the state. Sally Hunter asked people to urge the government to let the Maules Creek mine lease lapse and called for a plan to move mining jobs into renewable industries.
Firmus Technologies says one of its three planned AI data centres in Tasmania's north is not yet funded. The company abandoned its plan to list on the Australian stock exchange earlier this month but is continuing with its Tasmanian projects. Firmus general energy manager Paul Grzinic told a parliamentary committee that the Launceston and Wesley Vale stage one sites are fully funded. He said the other sites still need development approval, which he described as a key step towards securing funding.
