Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to lift the official cash rate (OCR) by 25 bps on Tuesday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers was quick to place the blame on the private sector, rather than his own government’s policies. “The Board’s statement today does not mention government spending. It makes it very clear the pressure
UK investor snaps up two major battery projects, one a solar hybrid, adding to a growing portfolio to replace coal and create a grid with no smokestacks.
The post A grid with no smokestacks: Octopus snaps up biggest battery project and solar hybrid in push to replace coal appeared first on Renew Economy.
Over the past several years, Australia’s real inflation-adjusted wages have experienced their largest decline in modern history. Between the June quarter of 2020 and the March quarter of 2023, Australian real wages declined by 7.4%, returning to levels not seen since the March quarter of 2009. Real wages have recovered somewhat since, rising by 1.1%
NSW hails biggest and best result yet for long duration storage, with six massive batteries declared winners of latest tender, and at lower prices than previous auctions.
The post NSW awards contracts to six huge 8-hour battery projects, including the biggest in Australia appeared first on Renew Economy.
A parliamentary inquiry will examine the scale of the waste challenge looming on the flip-side of Australia's rooftop solar boom – and how to seize the opportunity it presents.
The post Federal parliament launches inquiry into solar panel reuse and recycling appeared first on Renew Economy.
Germany is moving to deepen ties with Italy as tensions rise with France over EU trade policy, Emmanuel Macron’s looming exit, and relations with US President Donald Trump, The Telegraph reported on Monday, citing diplomats from the bloc.
France and Germany have long been the “engine” of EU policymaking, but the outlet described Macron as a “lame duck” whose mandate ends in 2027.
One of the strangest features of the Australian political system over the last 80 years or so has been the permanent coalition between the Liberal and National (formerly Country) parties. It sometimes puzzles foreigners – I remember an American observer saying that the prevalence of coalition governments here was an indicator or political instability. And it takes different forms in different places. At the national level, until two weeks ago, there was a standing coalition agreement even when in opposition (this dates back to the 1970s, I think).
Back in March 2023, the Nine Papers ran a series of articles, entitled Red Alert, based on the claim of an “expert panel” that we should be ready to fight a war with China, within three years. With only a few weeks to go before the third anniversary of the series, the prediction is not looking good. Not only has there been no war, but relations between Australia and China are friendlier than they have been for years, going back at least as far as Turnbull’s prime ministership.
Asian share markets are in mixed mood after the poor showing on Wall Street overnight although some risk taking is occuring across other markets with Yen weakening while the Kiwi lifted despite a poor unemployment print. The Australian dollar is still lifting above the 70 cent level on the long expected RBA rate yesterday. Brent
The post Macro Afternoon appeared first on MacroBusiness.
It’s hard to know where Armageddon is going to come from… CERTAINLY NOT FROM GOD… God, in whatever format we pray to, would have long abandoned this planet of imbeciles, if he ever existed…
A by-election will be held soon in the Victorian state seat of Nepean, covering the Mornington Peninsula to the south-east of Melbourne.
Nepean has been held since 2022 by Sam Groth. Groth had announced plans to retire at the general election late last year, and stepped down from the deputy leadership last week.
Groth held Nepean by a 6.4% margin in 2022. It seems unlikely that Labor will contest this seat, although it will be interesting to see how One Nation performs, if they choose to stand.
Small, plug-in PV systems are populating balconies across Europe and the US, but many Australian apartment dwellers are locked out of the new solar boom.
The post Balcony solar is powering apartments from Berlin to Barcelona. So why not in Australia? appeared first on Renew Economy.
The new Net Zero Fund will launch in mid-2026 with a $5bn kitty of cheap money for industries wanting to go clean and green.
The post “Appetite for risk:” Net Zero Fund to offer super-cheap loans for industrial decarbonisation appeared first on Renew Economy.
29 of the 31 provinces on the Chinese mainland have released growth targets for 2026. Nineteen of the 29 provinces reduced their 2026 growth goals. This sets the stage for Beijing to follow suit and reduce the national real GDP growth objective from “around 5%” last year to “4.5-5.0%” for 2026. The structure of growth
The post Chinese regions lower their growth targets appeared first on MacroBusiness.
Plans for an up to 26 GW wind, solar and green hydrogen hub have new life breathed into them, just six months after they were abandoned by global oil and gas major bp.
The post Giant Pilbara wind, solar and hydrogen hub dumped by bp wins $21 million government grant appeared first on Renew Economy.