Gas customers face higher bills sooner as exodus grows
Australians who remain connected to gas could face rising prices under reforms proposed to deal with changing energy use.
environmental issue
Solar scourge: rules make it cheaper to dump old panels
Australia's solar boom will create a significant waste problem, experts have told an inquiry, with tough rules needed to keep panels out of landfill.
‘Solar coaster’: industry fears renewable rebate end
Solar and battery installation firms are booming with the help of government rebates but most fear a crash will hit when the support ends.
‘One ocean’: Australia exporting seafood impact
While Australia prioritises its own marine environments, the country's reliance on imported seafood might just be shifting the impacts elsewhere.
Ditching diesel could save Pacific nations almost $1b
Replacing fuel imports with renewable power could save Pacific countries millions of dollars if they can secure enough investment to make the switch.
Power hungry: data centre energy use set to skyrocket
Artificial intelligence is set to make a major impact on Australia's electricity network, with a report warning about soaring demand from data centres.
Bird flu could wipe out endangered sea lion population
An Australian marine mammal could go extinct if H5 bird flu spreads to local colonies, after authorities flagged a second seal has likely contracted the virus.
Race to vaccinate after deadly bird flu milestone
An ambitious effort to vaccinate wild penguins against bird flu is ramping up as Australia recorded a distressing milestone in the worsening outbreak.
Environment rules promise protection but raise concerns
Tougher rules to protect Australia's environment have been welcomed by developers, but conservation groups say they fall short of the changes needed.
No free rides: cheap e-scooters fail to win commuters
Providing e-scooter and e-bike riders more convenient parking options could make more of a difference than cutting the price of a ride.
‘Deeply concerning’: mass deaths spark bird flu alarm
Authorities are seeking approval to vaccinate captive animals against bird flu after more than 1000 crested terns and 30 penguins died across two states.
Power prices fall but risks remain for life after coal
Renewable energy and batteries are pushing down wholesale power prices but a report warns they could rise again when coal-fired plants power down.
Hot out the oven: green iron trial produces first metal
One of Australia's first green iron projects has reached a milestone, producing molten metal from an electric furnace for the first time.
‘Don’t wait’: hot, dry conditions raise bushfire risk
With dry spring conditions and warmer-than-average temperatures, parts of the country are facing an increased risk of spring bushfires.
‘Walking dead’: plastic ingestion’s seabird impact
A world-first study has proven a seabird is suffering from population decline due to ingestion of plastic waste, with afflicted birds dubbed "the walking dead".
More Aussie firms could be captured by emissions scheme
Australian investors are pushing for big changes to Australia's major pollution policy and they could force more companies to reduce pollution.
Electric trucks could deliver a billion-dollar payload
Australian laws are keeping heavy-duty electric trucks off the road, a report says, when they could boost productivity by more than $2 billion.
Half a million and counting: Aussies power battery boom
Australians have installed more than 500,000 household batteries in a move experts say will keep putting downward pressure on power bills.
Progress and poor marks: Reef earns a mixed report card
Efforts to cut pollution in waterways feeding Australia's Great Barrier Reef are making progress but still falling short of targets.
Bird flu’s spread sparks Tasmanian devil, parrot fears
The detection of a deadly bird flu strain in Tasmania for the first time has prompted concern for endangered species that only exist on the island.
Electric switch could save public hospitals millions
Upgrading all of Australia's public hospitals from gas to electricity could save millions of dollars in energy bills but only if the government acts swiftly.
Big polluters make small cuts under climate scheme
Australia's biggest polluters have reduced emissions by less than one per cent in two years and an environmental group is calling for reforms.
Coral returns to Great Barrier Reef but risks remain
The world's largest coral reef system is showing positive signs of recovery but experts warn severe climate challenges lay ahead.
First inland bird flu case sparks ‘alarm bells’
Concerns for native birds are growing as two positive cases of bird flu in another state suggest the virus is spreading rapidly across the continent.
Australia’s biggest polluters to face emissions review
Regulations that limit emissions from Australia's biggest polluters will come under scrutiny in a review that could reshape the scheme.
Power play: national law could curb data centre demands
Data centres in every state and territory could be required to supply their own renewable energy if changes are introduced at a national level.
Sales surge: electric, hybrid cars drive vehicle record
Electric and hybrid vehicles made up almost half of all new cars sold in July as Australian motorists turned away from rising fuel prices.
Accidental export: Aussie green iron tech goes global
An Australian made machine that can boost the quality of iron ore without using water is ready to be shipped to the US after word of its creation spread.
Not too big, not too small: $100m to plug renewable gap
More small or medium-sized renewable energy projects could win loans as part of a multimillion-dollar scheme to address a gap in Australia's energy plans.
Push for nationwide ban on dumping old solar panels
Governments in all states and territories should ban solar panel dumping while a mandatory recycling scheme is created, an inquiry has been told.
Perfect mix: stage set for ‘maximum’ bird flu damage
The concentration of a bird flu outbreak near the mouth of the Murray River is creating a perfect storm for the spread of the deadly virus, experts have warned.