Energy Generation & Storage

Consumer energy resources (CERs) are consumer-owned devices that generate, store, or manage electricity.

05 September 2024

The strong global push to electrify the world’s vehicle population has in turn created exponential demand for the various components comprising an EV, with the most important being its energy source – the battery. The EV battery (and its supply chain) serves as the single most valuable part of an EV, typically accounting for 30% to 40% of the value of the vehicle[2]. This high cost is mainly attributed to the battery’s composition of several critical raw minerals, including lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel and graphite[3]. As we share below, these minerals are hard to come by and supply is concentrated in the hands of a few countries.

24 July 2024

Welcome back to our 5-part series exploring the emerging opportunities and challenges associated with the uptake of CER in Australia from a tech law perspective, with a focus on privacy and data, AI and automation, cyber security and contracting to enable the transition to CER.

20 June 2024

The South Australian Government has passed an important legislative reforms for the regulation and licensing of hydrogen production and renewable energy facilities, expected to make it a ‘first mover’ among Australian State and Territory jurisdictions in 2024.

19 January 2024

In our country chapters, we look at initiatives to encourage the transition to a net zero economy – across emissions reduction targets, carbon markets, financing, transport, housing and buildings, and agriculture. Here is a brief snapshot. More detail and examples are in the country chapters.

24 November 2023

Among the largest economies in the world by GDP and a powerful member of the G20, the Republic of Korea has developed a strong industrial activity sector in recent decades.

24 November 2023

Indonesia is at a critical juncture in shaping its energy future. The archipelago nation faces the challenge of boosting energy supply by ensuring universal electricity access for its people by 2040, while cutting carbon emissions to reach its net zero target by 2060. This is happening against a backdrop of one of the fastest-growing economies globally. Indonesia has experienced rapid economic growth since the 1970s, reducing poverty levels across its population of almost 280 million. Now, climate change threatens its diverse ecosystem. Communities are vulnerable to flooding, rising sea levels and heatwaves.

24 November 2023

Vietnam is among the fastest growing markets in ASEAN. Strategically located in the centre of Southeast Asia, its GDP, foreign direct investment and middle-income population have all grown over the past decade. Vietnam’s share of annual global emissions is relatively small - approximately 0.88% in 2021 - for a population of almost 100 million, or roughly 1.2% of the world’s people. The country is severely affected by climate change. With 3,260 km long coastline, many low-lying cities and river delta regions, Vietnam ranks first in the world for exposure to flooding alongside Bangladesh. The World Bank estimates Vietnam lost around US$10 billion in 2020 due to climate impacts. Without appropriate adaption and mitigation measures, climate change could cost Vietnam around 12% to 14.5% of GDP annually by 2050 according to World Bank estimates.

24 November 2023

The Philippines is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. Increases in the frequency and intensity of typhoons, changes in rainfall patterns, rising sea levels and increasing temperatures all pose a serious threat to the archipelago nation’s ecosystems and its 100 million+ population. This makes poverty-reduction efforts even harder.

24 November 2023

Japan is the third-largest economy in the world and among the world’s highest emitters. Home to approximately 126.5 mn people, Japan consists of several thousand islands most of which are covered by mountains and surrounded by steep shorelines. The topography limits renewable energy development and Japan’s susceptibility to natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes has impacted nuclear generation following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant accident. Triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake, this event tipped Japan’s economy into recession. A little over a decade on, Japan’s economy is showing signs of recovery – and investors are circling.

24 November 2023

The net zero transition presents significant opportunities for Singapore, with its export-oriented, innovation-hungry, open economy. Yet it also carries significant challenges. Singapore is managing water and food scarcity, and rising sea levels threaten the low-lying landmass.

23 November 2023

The global appetite for cost-competitive green hydrogen has seen the US, the EU, Australia and others introduce incentives to lure investment and encourage development.

17 July 2023

ARENA and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water have published a consultation paper outlining indicative specifications for the program. The consultation paper covers proposed objectives, eligibility criteria and detail regarding the proposed funding mechanism, as well as other features of the program.

07 July 2023

The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Bill 2023 (SA) (Bill) would, if passed, be the most significant State-level reform in the renewables sector in Australia, by streamlining regulatory processes throughout the life-span of renewable energy and hydrogen production projects. [1]

08 June 2023

In March 2023 the Victorian Government released its second Offshore Wind Implementation Statement. This announcement keeps momentum for the developing Victorian industry at a time when proponents are preparing feasibility licence applications in the Gippsland Declared Area, which are due by 27 April 2023.

27 March 2023

The Singapore government plans to put low-carbon hydrogen at the heart of plans to accelerate its transition to a net zero economy, releasing a National Hydrogen Strategy to build capability in the space.

01 November 2022

The WA Government has released a consultation paper Renewable Hydrogen Target for Electricity Generation in the SWIS (Paper)[ ] in relation to a proposed ‘Renewable Hydrogen Target’ scheme (the Scheme).

31 October 2022

On 28 September 2022, the Queensland Government released the ‘Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan’ (Energy Plan). The $62 billion Energy Plan aims to evolve Queensland into a renewables, hydrogen and clean energy superpower.

30 September 2022

Transport is among the most emissions-heavy sectors. In 2019 the sector represented 23% of global energy-related emissions according to the 2022 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Mitigation Report.

14 September 2022

Offshore wind farms are one step closer in Australia following an announcement from the Federal Government on Friday.

11 August 2022

This recent decision of the Victorian Supreme Court shows that seasonal intermittent night time noise can be enough to create a nuisance.

28 April 2022

In our full Federal Budget Report, we reflected on the fact that Australia remains a ‘lucky’ country in having a stable political environment, vast natural resources and low unemployment. The challenge for the Government will be capitalising on those advantages and being able to smooth short term issues while still ensuring long term prosperity.

30 March 2022

Australia’s potential for developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects has been touted for some time — legislation for CCS projects has been in place in Victoria and Queensland for over a decade.

30 March 2022

Written by Claire Rogers and Tim Stanton

29 November 2021

Written by Caroline Andretich, Ben Bradstreet, David Phua, Michael Lawson and Craig Rogers

02 June 2021

This article was written by Roderick Smythe, Josh Thorneycroft, Maclean Greedy and Rachael Li.

22 December 2020

This article was written by Louis Chiam, Lachlan Fahey and Anthony Di Gregorio.

28 January 2020

This article was written by Louis Chiam, Annabel Griffin and Lachlan Fahey.

20 August 2019