Making aluminium uses 10% of Australia’s electricity. Will tax incentives help smelters go green?
Aluminium is an exceptionally useful metal. Lightweight, resistant to rust and able to be turned into alloys with other metals. Small wonder it’s the second most used metal in the world after iron and demand is set to soar.
All Energy conference hears from Climateworks experts
The Clean Energy Council’s All Energy conference – a highlight in the clean energy calendar – this year featured six Climateworks Centre experts.
25.10.24
Fortescue has put its ambitious green hydrogen target on hold – but Australia should keep powering ahead
Australian mining and energy giant Fortescue announced late on Wednesday that its ambitious green energy goal – to produce 15 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually by 2030 – will be placed on hold.
How Australia’s energy system could change in a net zero future
Australia’s energy system will look different in a net zero emissions future. To play its part in addressing global climate change, Australia will need to rapidly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions – including emissions from its electricity system. This means the energy system needed to support Australia’s decarbonisation could look very different from the system serving the nation today. Securing a reliable energy system powered by variable renewable energy could change how electricity is used, stored and governed. Hold on, step back.
How Australia’s gas use is reduced in our decarbonisation scenarios
In 2022, gas contributed about 20 per cent of Australia’s emissions, based on Australian Government data. Besides the emissions released when gas is used, emissions are also released during gas extraction, transport and – in the case of gas exports – during the process of liquifying it. Climateworks Centre’s most recent decarbonisation scenarios show how this might change in a future where Australia reduces its emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.Â
Australia’s green hydrogen hour has arrived
Green hydrogen could be a fossil fuels replacement in some sectors if Australia takes the immediate steps to embrace it. In a world grappling with the complex problem of reducing carbon emissions to limit global warming, the universe’s most-abundant element has the potential to unlock part of the puzzle.
Insights from modelling the decarbonisation of Australia’s industry sector
This article is adapted from Ro Maxwell’s presentation at our Briefing Room event ‘How to decarbonise Australia: Industry, energy and technology’.
How Australia can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ‘hard to abate’ sectors
Australia has the tools and technologies at its disposal to decarbonise most sectors of its economy. However, sectors such as heavy industry and heavy-duty transport are sometimes called ‘hard to abate’ (or ‘harder to abate’), because of their high levels of emissions and the relatively high cost of reducing those emissions. Hard to abate industries could include steelmaking, mining, the aluminium supply chain, chemicals (such as fertilisers and plastics), cement, oil and gas, aviation, shipping and heavy road transport.
09.06.23
The Australian Federal Budget takes important steps toward net zero on hydrogen, housing and more
On Tuesday night, the Australian Treasurer delivered the first Federal Budget since the nation’s parliament put net zero targets into law.
Place-based approaches can help industrial regions decarbonise quicker – here’s how
Decarbonising Australia’s industrial sector will be essential for Australia to reach net zero. The Australian Government can set the right policy signals with ambitious long-term goals to diversify economically in new clean industries and coordinate investment in specific locations.
Australia’s main iron ore exports may not work with green steelmaking. Here’s what we must do to prepare
Making steel was responsible for about 7 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. That’s because steelmakers in countries like China, Japan and South Korea have long relied on fossil fuels like coal to make steel in blast furnaces.
‘We can do it’: Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen launches report outlining pathways to decarbonise Australian industry
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon. Chris Bowen MP, says he believes Australia can, with an ‘all-in effort’, decarbonise heavy industry and create jobs across the nation in the process.
21.02.23
Heavy industry in Australia could decarbonise, help limit warming to 1.5 degrees and create up to 1.35 million jobs: new report outlines pathways
A new report has, for the first time in Australia, outlined decarbonisation pathways that show it is possible for five of Australia’s most significant heavy industry supply chains to transition to net zero, consistent with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5ºC.
Climateworks takes Australian industrial decarbonisation message to Global Clean Energy Action Forum
The message from last month’s inaugural Global Clean Energy Action Forum (GCEAF) is that it’s time for action, Climateworks Industry Lead Rob Kelly says.
‘Setting up industrial regions for net zero’ report finds huge potential for decarbonisation
Major industrial regions – including the Pilbara, Kwinana, Hunter, Illawarra and Gladstone – have the natural resources, workforce and baseline infrastructure that can be expanded to support Australia’s net zero transition, according to a new report.
20.06.22
Westpac and the CEFC are the latest to join a major industry initiative exploring Australian industry’s transition to net zero emissions in supply chains
Westpac and the CEFC join major industry initiative to explore net zero emissions in supply chains, underscoring the key role of finance in the transition.
Challenges and opportunities for Australia’s industry sector
In a recent Briefing Room event, Climateworks Chair John Thwaites spoke with an expert panel to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities within this critical pillar of our export economy.
Heavy industry’s net-zero transition effort boosted by $2m ARENA grant and partnership with Rio, HSBC
An effort to transition ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors to net-zero emissions by 2050, including iron and steel, aluminium and chemical supply chains has been boosted by both a $2 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and major players Rio Tinto and HSBC joining the initiative, along with research provider BloombergNEF.
14.07.21
Australian Industry Energy Transitions initiative wraps up first phase, releasing early findings into emissions reduction opportunities across supply chains
A year on from the initiative’s launch, the first phase of the Australian Industry Energy Transitions initiative has wrapped up, bringing together industry and business leaders to work collectively towards net zero emissions by 2050.
29.06.21
Fortescue, Cbus and Aurecon are the latest to join Australian industry initiative set up to tackle supply chain emissions
The initiative, convened by Climateworks Australia and Climate-KIC has signed on Fortescue, Cbus and Aurecon to join industry and business leaders working together to address supply chain emissions.
Summary: Clean technology energy and industry transitions
On Tuesday, 27 October 2020, Climateworks and the British High Commission held the first of the ‘Building Our Future’ webinar series: ‘Clean technology: energy and industry transitions’.
16.11.20
Industry heavyweights come together to forge pathways towards a decarbonised future
Some of Australian industry’s biggest companies are supporting a new initiative that will see them work together to better understand pathways to achieving net zero emissions in supply chains.
Research identifies further potential for industrial demand side participation
New research has identified a large opportunity for industrial companies to reduce their own energy bills while also helping respond to peak demand pressures on the national electricity grid.
20.02.14
Industrial sector could cut energy use by 11 per cent
Australia’s industrial sector could cut its energy use by 11 per cent without adversely affecting business activity, according to a new report released by Climateworks Australia today. Climateworks Interim Executive Director, Greg Garvin said the report identified potential energy savings across the industrial sector which could save businesses money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
