Millions of dollars announced for hydrogen in the Hunter, Australia’s largest bank announces cheap loans for green homes and more options for EV chargers. All that and more in this month’s good news in climate solutions.
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California runs on 100 per cent renewables for first time
The USA’s most populous state passed a major milestone at the end of April, with 100 per cent of California’s electricity being supplied with renewable energy for a short period. The 15-minute window on April 30 was the first time the state’s electricity needs have been entirely met with renewable sources, writes Renew Economy’s Sophie Vorrath.
CBA announces green home loans
The Commonwealth Bank has become the first of Australia’s ‘big four’ banks to offer a significantly reduced home loan rate for customers who are buying or building energy efficient homes. To qualify for the bank’s ‘Green Home Offer’, the customers’ home must either be a certified Green Star Home, or be solar-powered and gas-free with a seven-star NatHERS rating, writes Nine Newspapers’ Clancy Yeates.
Funding for Hunter Hydrogen Hub
The Federal Government has announced up to $82 million in funding for two hydrogen hubs in the Hunter Valley. The funding will be split between Port of Newcastle’s Green Hydrogen Hub and Origin Energy Future Fuels Pty Ltd’s Hunter Valley H2 Hub Implementation Project, writes InnovationAus.com’s Joseph Brookes. The Newcastle Herald reports Labor has committed to match the funding.
Plans for Perth to get world’s tallest timber tower
Victorian-based developer Grange Development has has submitted plans for a 183-metre high tower in South Perth that, if approved, will be the world’s tallest hybrid timber building. Engineered wood produces less carbon than concrete and steel as a building material. The building would be Australia’s second carbon-negative building, after the Atlassian tower, reports The Fifth Estate’s Rose Mary Petrass.
Coles launch carbon neutral beef brand
Coles has become the first major Australian supermarket chain to launch its own brand of carbon neutral beef. Coles Finest Certified Carbon Neutral Beef will initially be available in Victoria only, but the company plans to roll out the product nationwide over the next 12 months, writes The Countrymans’ Adam Poulsen.
More EV charging options coming
Service station company Ampol has launched a new electric vehicle (EV) charging network called Ampcharge. The company has plans for around 120 DC chargers nationally by October. More from Mike Costello in CarExpert.
Meanwhile, BP has signed a contract with EV charging station supplier Tritum to provide 1,000 chargers for Australia, New Zealand and the UK. BP says EV chargers are close to being as profitable as petrol, writes GoAutoNewsPremium’s Neil Dowling.
More solutions-focused news from Climateworks Centre:
