APPEA 2021 Perth
Johnston backs gas for WA power and industry
WA energy minister Bill Johnston sees no current alternative to gas for dispatchable power and wants to use low prices to lure more gas-hungry investments to WA
Coal
Coal is produced in WA in just two mines near Collie and almost all of it is used to generate electricity in power stations in Collie.
Energy Policy
WA energy debate: When and where the wind blows after coal
The WA energy trilemma: Labor is ready to go but don’t mention coal, Liberals want to drop coal but are light on detail, the Greens want to dump gas as well, and they all love green hydrogen.
Energy Policy
WA Libs fills Labor’s energy policy void with a coal exit and green hydrogen
The Liberals know where to take WA energy but probably not how to do it. Labor is on top of the detail but shy of facing the inevitable. So close to a bipartisan approach, will our political class blow it?
Renewable Energy
Stokes’ $650M pumped hydro plan reveals huge Collie clean up cost
Kerry Stokes' $650M pumped hydro plan could let WA avoid a $1.3B bill if a Collie miner fails: a risk the State Government does not ask about.
Power Generation
Wind and solar push down coal, gas and prices in South West WA
Two huge new wind farms and more solar panels in WA's South West displaced coal and gas last quarter giving a win-win of lower prices and emissions.
Coal
Collie’s Bluewaters Power worthless: Sumitomo
Sumitomo has completely written off the debt-laden Bluewaters coal-fired power station in Collie after paying $600 million for it less than a decade ago
Power Generation
New wind crushes coal on South West grid
Two new wind farms and surging rooftop solar installation has pushed renewable energy to 35% of South West WA's power in October, mainly at the expense of coal.
Carbon Emissions
South Korea joins China, Japan in net-zero in $80B squeeze on Australian fossil exports
South Korea, Japan and China's tightened climate goals will crunch Australian thermal coal, make LNG investments harder and possibly kill Santos' Barossa LNG project.
Carbon Emissions
Japan's net-zero by 2050 to hit Australian exports
A $40 billion market for Australian coal and LNG exports just became less welcoming with Japan's commitment to zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Power Generation
WA power plan not heading for net-zero emissions by 2050
The first cut at planning WA power's future ignores carbon costs that Woodside would estimate at many billions and comes nowhere near the WA Government's target of net-zero emissions by 2050.
Power Generation
Collie wobbles: WA power's financial mess
Before it takes WA to a clean, green renewable energy future the State Government has problems a plenty in still vital coal-fired power.
Power Generation
Synergy pushes its ageing coal plants to be more flexible
WA will be coal-powered for sometime and Synergy is working to ensure its Collie power stations can cope with the new world of intermittent renewable energy.
Power Generation
Steady coal to solar shift continues for WA
As wind and solar displaces coal the South West of WA will have ample generation, according to a 10-year look ahead, with the growth of electric vehicles being the big unknown.
Coal
Win for residents as Cockburn Cement dumps coal for gas
Two Perth suburbs may face their last summer of dust and smells before a lime plant stops burning coal but it is more bad news for WA's coal miners.
Power Generation
Cheap renewables mean no new coal or gas power for WA's South West
The WA Government expects no new coal or gas-fired power generation in the South-West will ever be built but those looking for clues to the future of Collie’s existing coal-fired power stations will have to wait for a plan to be released later this year.
=== from the archive ===
Coal and dust plagues two southern Perth suburbs
Residents of two southern Perth suburbs are suffering from dust and smell that say comes from the nearby coal-burning Cockburn Cement plant.