Power transmission upgrades proposed in South Australia

Spanish Market: Electricity, Hydrogen
02/06/23

South Australian (SA) power transmission group ElectraNet has proposed A$2.35bn ($1.55bn) in network upgrades as it seeks to meet power demand for new and existing customers.

The group's transmission annual planning report update released on 31 May pointed to demand forecasts as proof of the need for further investment. ElectraNet said the company was experiencing an unprecedented level of enquiries from renewable energy generators, grid-scale battery providers and customers, totalling 2,000MW in new transmission, dwarfing the state's present maximum electricity demand level of 3,300MW.

"Electrification of the state's economy, new large industrial loads and the hydrogen sector are the key drivers of these high demand growth forecasts," said ElectraNet chief executive Simon Emms.

The company has developed priorities for new transmission in the state's mid-north, southeast and Eyre Peninsula districts to increase capacity and connect with projects in the state's renewable energy zones. The plans contain several options for each region, with a total price tag of up to A$2.35bn across a construction period stretching from the mid-2020s to the early 2030s.

ElectraNet and its New South Wales' counterpart TransGrid are currently building the 860km EnergyConnect interconnector to replace SA's gas-fired power stations. SA is already a national leader in renewable developments, with a target of 100pc renewable electricity production by 2030.

By Tom Major

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13/11/25

Plug Power warns pausing DOE activities risks loan

Houston, 13 November (Argus) — US hydrogen and electrolyzer manufacturer Plug Power warned investors that suspending activities related to its Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee carries a risk of losing access permanently to the low-cost federal financing. "Our decision to temporarily suspend activities related to the DOE loan could adversely affect our access to low-cast capital, delay project execution, and expose us to potential termination or modification of the DOE loan guarantee," the company said in a 10-Q form filed earlier this month with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Plug Power announced this week that it was suspending activities related to the $1.7bn loan guarantee while it considers reallocating capital away from previously announced plans. The loan facility, granted in the final days of the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden, was supposed to have financed the development of up to six green hydrogen plants in the US. However, all of those activities were put on hold after the administration of President Donald Trump paused clean energy commitments made under Biden pending further review. After months of engaging with Trump's DOE , Plug Power suspended activities related to the loan in November, including "projects previously contemplated in New York and Texas," according to the filing. Suspending activities on the projects may result in the DOE terminating the loan guarantee commitment if the agency determines Plug Power is not meeting required conditions or projected milestones, the company said. Plug Power has spent $250mn so far on the $800mn Texas project and expected to cover $400mn with the DOE loan. The company had been seeking an equity partner to make up the remainder of the cost. Since suspending the activities, Plug Power has announced a spate of deals to raise liquidity and pivot away from federal support, including joint development projects with renewable fuel producers, international electrolyzer deals, and signing away electricity rights to raise cash. Plug Power did not respond to a request from Argus for comment. By Jasmina Kelemen Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Ammonia viable bunker fuel under IMO plan: Fortescue

13/11/25

Ammonia viable bunker fuel under IMO plan: Fortescue

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Australia's main opposition party scraps net zero goal

13/11/25

Australia's main opposition party scraps net zero goal

Sydney, 13 November (Argus) — Australia's main parliamentary opposition the Liberal Party has dropped its four-year-old policy of targeting net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050, citing the expense of meeting the goal. If elected, the Liberal Party will remove the 2030 target of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 43pc from 2005 levels and the target of net zero emissions by 2050 from the Climate Change Act, leader Sussan Ley said on 13 November, accusing the Labor government of lying to the public on electricity prices and the cost of the energy transition. The centre-right party last held government from 2013-22 and adopted a policy targeting net zero by 2050 in 2021, under former prime minister Scott Morrison and during the US presidency of Joe Biden, a keen advocate of emissions reduction. Australia would remain in the Paris Agreement and commit to short-term targets under a future Liberal-led government, Ley said, without elaborating on what this would mean for the nation's 2030 and 2035 nationally determined contributions (NDC) to GHG reduction. The Liberals would cut emissions year-on-year via five-year blocks according to the NDC, said energy spokesman Dan Tehan, promising to prioritise energy affordability. "We will also reduce emissions in line with comparable countries by looking at what like-minded countries are doing overseas and making sure we are doing our fair share," Tehan said, adding that future development of technologies like carbon capture and storage would slash net emissions. The decision comes days after the Liberals' minority partner in the federal Coalition, the Nationals, agreed to dump a commitment to a legislated net zero emissions goal . Australia's Labor prime minister Anthony Albanese has doubled down on the nation's GHG reduction goals since 2022, recently unveiling a 62-70pc emissions reduction plan by 2035. Labor dominates the federal parliament and is likely to govern until 2031, in concert with the left-wing Australian Greens in the nation's upper house, the senate. Australia's next federal election must be held by 20 May 2028, but the Coalition is considered unlikely to return to power, having won just 43 out of 150 seats at this year's poll. By Tom Major Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Cop: California broadens climate collaborations

12/11/25

Cop: California broadens climate collaborations

Belem, 12 November (Argus) — California is expanding its work with other countries and subnational governments on climate change, clean energy and trade issues. The state signed a series of memorandums of understanding (MOU) on Tuesday as governor Gavin Newsom (D) attended the Cop 30 UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) signed an agreement with Nigeria to collaborate on a wide range of issues, including the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, low-carbon transportation, sustainable freight shipping, renewable energy development and low-carbon trade. Newsom also signed an MOU with the Brazilian state of Para, where Belem is located, to increase collaboration on wildfire prevention and response, after which he met with Brazilian indigenous peoples minister Sonia Guajajara to discuss areas for joint cooperation on climate action, including the role of indigenous communities in California and Brazil. Newsom also met with Thekla Walker, environment minister for the German state of Baden-Württemberg, and German state secretary Jochen Flasbarth. Walker and California natural resources secretary Wade Crowfoot signed a joint statement reaffirming their cooperation on addressing climate change, including in areas such as increasing renewable energy use and low-carbon technology. The two states first signed an MOU on climate change in 2018. More agreements could be forthcoming at the Cop. Dutch climate envoy Jaime de Bourbon Parme on Wednesday said he spoke with Newsom yesterday about joining a Netherlands-led coalition to phase out fossil fuel subsidies and expressed hope the governor would do so. The two met to discuss progress discuss progress toward carbon neutrality and continued collaboration under an MOU they signed in 2022. Newsom is the highest profile US official attending the Cop, with the administration of President Donald Trump deciding not to send any high-level officials. He has been using the trip to promote climate policy action by US states in the face of opposition from Trump. By Michael Ball Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Enhanced FT tech could drop SAF cost below HEFA: Aether

12/11/25

Enhanced FT tech could drop SAF cost below HEFA: Aether

Singapore, 12 November (Argus) — US-based climate technology firm Aether Fuels aims to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using its enhanced Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology at prices comparable to or lower than hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) product by 2030, founder and chief executive Conor Madigan told Argus in an interview. Madigan was speaking on the sidelines of an agreement signing ceremony on 11 November between Aether and Singapore-based energy and infrastructure provider Aster. This was to develop a next-generation SAF facility at Aster's refining and petrochemical complex on Singapore's Pulau Bukom. Named as Project Beacon, the plant will use Aether's Aurora™ technology to convert industrial waste gas and biomethane into Corsia-certified SAF, which achieves over 70pc reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional jet fuel. The capital investment amount will be shared later. Construction at the plant is expected to begin in 2026. It will then be commissioned in 2027 and begin commercial operations in 2028, employing 24 full-time staff. Project Beacon is expected to produce up to 50 b/d of fuel — or 2,000t/year — by 2028, comprising 1,600t of SAF and 400t bio-naphtha. Aether had previously signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Singapore Airlines in February and with US' JetBlue in September, for the airlines to potentially procure SAF produced. Other airlines have expressed interest as well, Madigan told reporters at a media briefing yesterday. Discussions with bio-naphtha buyers are still in early stages, but local demand for the product is expected. Aether also has plans for another SAF plant which can produce at least 1,000 b/d of fuel by 2030, Madigan added. The location is still being confirmed, but more details will likely be available in second-half of 2026 after Project Beacon is operational. With this larger plant, Aether expects to supply product at HEFA-SPK prices or below it and steadily bring the price down with subsequent plant development, Madigan said. "We expect to eventually get prices quite close to fossil fuel, although that also depends on factors slightly out of our control, including hydrogen and renewable power prices." The Argus fob Singapore SAF (class 2) price, netted back from ARA values, was at $2,892/t as of 11 November. This was over 3.5 times the fob Singapore jet/kerosine price at $745/t. Capex reduction, yield increases Madigan said that Aether's Aurora technology brings around a 50pc reduction in capital expenditure (capex) and a 20pc increase in yield, compared to existing FT SAF production technology. Capex is reduced through a few ways — one of which is reducing the amount of equipment from three to one via Aether's tri-converter. The syngas produced — comprising carbon monoxide, CO2 and hydrogen — is then input to the FT reactor. The reactor also runs on electricity rather than fuel combustion, which allows further cost reductions. Aether also has some "novel catalysts" whose robustness removes the need to get rid of certain feedstock contaminants like carbon monoxide, which contribute to cost savings too, Madigan told Argus . Actual reductions in monetary terms would vary depending on the exact feedstock used, he said. Madigan also sees an expansion in scale of FT plants from 2030 onwards, citing other plants at similar scale to Project Beacon in the US and Europe. FT likely essential with upcoming HEFA feedstock crunch "As the world electrifies and switches to more sustainable [energy] sources, industrial waste gas can become stranded and become waste streams that we can use," Madigan said. This will be essential, especially as HEFA feedstock supply tightens and prices rise, there also being less opportunities for HEFA technology costs to be reduced through innovation, as capex is less of a major driver for such plants. Regarding cover crops, Madigan noted immense challenges to change agricultural practices en-masse at existing agricultural lands, where cover crops are grown in rotation with — and generally insufficient capacity to meet the industry's full demand. Madigan also mentioned challenges around scaling up low-cost green hydrogen supply to produce SAF through the power-to-liquid pathway, also known as e-fuels. In comparison, feedstocks like biogas, industrial waste gas, or agricultural waste — which they can use— are much more abundant. And while biofuel plants running on the FT process generally need to be built near the producers of industrial waste gas or agricultural waste, this could support job creation for local communities associated with the additional collection and aggregation of such waste. "This is therefore a solution that can be one of the major long-term sources of sustainable fuel," Madigan said. By Sarah Giam Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Power transmission upgrades proposed in South Australia

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