For years, the electricity sector has been the poster child for emissions cuts in Australia. The sector achieved a stunning 26% drop in emissions over the past 15 years, while other sectors have hardly budged. The share of renewable energy has gone from 7.5% to more than 30% in that time. But unfortunately, this impressive pace is not fast enough. Investments in renewable energy plants slowed in 2023—financial approvals for new solar farms shrank more than a third and no new wind farms won backing. By the end of that year, Australia had 56 renewable energy projects under construction, down fr ..read more

At a sprawling vehicle test center in the English countryside, a hydrogen-powered Grenadier 4×4 made by Ineos Automotive grips steep and rugged tracks, showcasing its off-road capabilities. Making the demonstrator car was “a really obvious thing” to do, the company’s chief executive Lynn Calder told journalists at the unveiling this week. The young, fast-expanding company is part of petrochemicals giant and hydrogen producer Ineos, run by British billionaire and Manchester United stakeholder Jim Ratcliffe. “When we embarked upon the demonstrator project, we saw the opportunity to showcase… th ..read more

Lithium – ion batteries , metallic lithium and element symbol. 3d illustration. There’s a movement in Washington, D.C. to prevent lithium-ion battery fires as a bill to set standards for the batteries is advancing to the Senate. One of its biggest supporters is FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. We’ve been talking and learning about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries for years, specifically uncertified devices as they can create explosive fires that are not just destructive, but many times deadly. These intense blazes are also extremely challenging for firefighters to put out. The House passe ..read more

China’s top copper producer Zijin Mining (HKG: 2899) expects to produce 4% more copper in 2025 than previously planned to profit from the metal’s ongoing price rally, driven by anticipated supply shortages. The state-owned miner’s new goal is to boost copper production to 1.22 million tonnes next year. It also plans to further boost output to between 1.5 and 1.6 million tonnes by 2028, which represents a 50% increase from 2023. Zijin, which is also China’s top gold miner, justified the production forecast revisions to positive market fundamentals and the potential for capacity expansion. It n ..read more

Stock Markets For the first time ever, the 30-stock Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) penetrated the 40,000 level and closed above it. Major stock indexes were up slightly for the week. The DJIA is up by 1.24% while the Total Stock Market is up by 1.55%. As if to confirm the latter, the broad-based S&P 500 Index gained 1.54%. On the other hand, the technology-heavy Nasdaq Stock Market Composite outperformed by climbing 2.11%. The NYSE Composite Index climbed by 1.25%. The rally was across the board, with small, mid, and large-cap indexes advancing for the week. The risk perception indica ..read more

Microsoft is using its artificial intelligence models to help develop the next generation of batteries. Experts consider batteries an important tool for utilities trying to give up fossil fuels. That’s because batteries can be paired with solar or wind to provide reliable power even when there’s no wind or sun. Microsoft VP Jason Zander said his company used AI to scan 32.6 million potential molecular combinations and discovered 18 candidates for brand new battery designs. “We actually created a new battery substance that’s novel. It’s never existed before, but uses about 70% less lithium,” Z ..read more

China has developed a revolutionary car battery that can charge in just 10 minutes and power a car for hundreds of miles before it needs to be plugged in. A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has hailed “remarkable” developments in chemistry that have allowed China to develop new batteries that pack far more energy than existing technologies. The IEA highlighted EV batteries capable of travelling 250 miles without a recharge. Newer versions announced since the report was written can manage 600 miles. However, the agency raised the alarm about China’s increasing dominance of the ..read more

Copper vaulted toward a record in London and nickel spiked nearly 8%, capping a week of big moves in industrial and precious metals markets as bullish investors pile in and bearish bets unravel. Global benchmark copper contracts on the London Metal Exchange rallied as much as 2.8% on Friday to within striking distance of an all-time high set in March 2022. Copper prices had already hit records in New York and Shanghai this week, as the global market reels from a short squeeze centered on the Comex exchange. Precious metals were also on a tear on Friday, with silver surging to an 11-year hi ..read more

Gold’s record-setting rally may have captured the headlines this year, but it’s silver that’s running harder and faster as the less glamorous metal benefits from robust financial and industrial demand. Silver has soared by almost a quarter in 2024, outpacing gold and making it one of the year’s best-performing major commodities. Yet in relative terms, silver is still cheap. It currently takes about 80 ounces of silver to buy 1 ounce of gold, compared with the 20-year average of 68. The two metals move largely in tandem as both offer similar macro- and currency-hedging properties. With gold hi ..read more

While the demand for climate-warming fuels like petroleum and diesel is expected to peak before 2030, the global energy demand for alternative fuels to power vehicles to transport people, goods, and services will grow rapidly in the coming years. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently studied whether a new type of biofuel, produced by genetically engineered bacteria, could be part of the solution. Biomass-based diesel has an overall smaller carbon footprint than conventional diesel because it is not made from fossil fuels. Today’s biomass-based diesel is prima ..read more