After total electricity demand declined for four years between 2010 and 2014, this month saw demand increased for the fourteenth successive month. The major factor pushing the resurgence of electricity demand is Queensland’s coal seam gas exports. CSG production uses a lot of electricity to power the pumps and compressors needed to extract the gas from

The April 2016 Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX®) Report by pitt&sherry and The Australia Institute (TAI) indicates that electricity generation, demand and consumption continues to be on the increase nationally following a seventeen month trend. The total annual demand in the NEM is now 2.5% higher than the low point recorded for the year ending February

The March 2016 Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX®) report by pitt&sherry and The Australia Institute indicates that while electricity generation continues to be the greatest contributor to emissions, principally through black and brown coal generation, petroleum and in particular diesel is a significant contributor to the increased growth in emissions with road transport and mining applications

The February 2016 Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX®) Report by pitt&sherry and The Australia Institute (TAI) has found that national electricity demand continues to rise on average by 0.17% per month, and although emissions fell slightly in the year to 31 January 2016 as a result of decreased brown coal generation and increased hydro generation, electricity

Multinational oil company BP is planning exploratory drilling for oil and gas in the Great Australian Bight. The Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications is conducting an inquiry into the proposal, including into social and economic impacts of potential oil and gas exploration and production. The economic benefits of oil and gas exploration are

The ACT government has set leading policies for clean energy and fossil fuel divestment. Public polling reported here shows high levels of support, both within the ACT and around the country. 

This discussion paper outlines two different possible implementations of the Finnish model. The first alternative is a direct translation of the Finnish system and would result in a loss of revenue for the state. The second alternative is a modification of the first to estimate a revenue neutral alternative.

This paper outlines the recent employment trends and future prospects of Queensland’s industries and regions, and explores the state’s changing economic context.

The economic assessment of the Wilpinjong mine heavily overstates the value of the project. This is easily seen by comparing the estimate of the project’s net present value, AUD$735 million, with the total stockmarket value of the proponent, only $114 million. The key flaw in the economic assessment is unrealistic production costs. The assessment assumes

A ReachTEL poll of 1077 South Australian’s shows opposition to a nuclear waste dump at 48.5% and support at 37.2%. (Full results below) Final submissions to South Australia’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission closed on Friday. “A nuclear waste dump remains unpopular, despite some recent high profile support and renewed focus with the Royal Commission,”

Digging for Answers is a response to the tentative findings of the South Australian Royal Commission into the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and in particular to proposed radioactive waste storage and disposal facilities in South Australia This report finds that the business case for a nuclear waste storage facility in South Australia is exaggerated. The project

North Stradbroke Island (NSI) has no “economy” of its own. Most of its residents don’t work at all, mostly by choice. Its houses are mostly owned and used by people who live and work on the mainland and come to the island for holidays and relaxation. On NSI, goods and services are sourced from the

A new report from The Australia Institute shows that a proposal to establish a global nuclear waste industry in South Australia would fail to secure 90% of the imported waste, leaving an expensive and risky legacy for the state. The report was commissioned by the Conservation Council of South Australia to analyse the submission to

This paper examines how the Finnish model of progressive traffic fines could work in Australia, and estimates the effect on individuals at different income levels.

Electricity emissions from the National Energy Market in Australia in 2015 increased 2.4 per cent on 2014 levels and have increased by 5.1 per cent since their lowest point in the year to June 2014, when the carbon price was abolished. This CEDEX® Electricity Update contains data for emissions from electricity generation in the National

The economic assessment of the Rix’s Creek Extension Project, written by consultants KPMG, heavily overstates the benefits of the project while largely ignoring potential costs. Key flaws are: High coal prices. Unorthodox treatment of wages. Assumption that most external costs are fully offset or mitigated, with no consideration of risk around these impacts. Minimal detail

The Australia Institute, in conjunction with Pitt&Sherry produce the CEDEX monthly. The CEDEX is the benchmark indicator for Australia’s carbon emissions and an up to date snapshot of vital data from the energy sector. CEDEX has been providing a comprehensive and early indication of key GHG and energy trends in Australia since 2009 and is

Economic assessment has been at the centre of controversial planning decisions on mining and coal seam gas projects in New South Wales (NSW) for several years. The Australia Institute welcomes the efforts of the NSW Government and NSW Department of Planning and Environment to improve the standard of economic assessment.

A new report by The Australia Institute outlines a solution to the twin problems of incentives for retirement of coal fired generation and funding rehabilitation liabilities.

A new report by The Australia Institute shows that local businesses in unconventional gas regions in Queensland believe that gas development led to deterioration in their finances, local infrastructure, social connections and labor force skills.  The analysis of mostly gas industry funded research also highlights survey results by the CSIRO that found less than a

The Australian government has recently approved Adani’s Carmichael coal project. If built, it would be the biggest coal mine in Australia. This briefing note puts the vast scale of Carmichael into context.

The Australia Institute has made a submission on the Environmental Impact Statement of the Bylong Coal Project, a proposed new thermal coal mine located south of the Hunter Valley in NSW.  The economic assessment of the Bylong Coal Project is not suitable for decision making purposes. It lacks transparency, is based on flawed methodologies and

New polling shows strong support for a moratorium on new coal mines in two of the safest Liberal seats in the country.  The ReachTEL poll of 694 residents in Wentworth and 679 in North Sydney was conducted in the wake of an open letter, signed by 61 prominent Australian’s, called for a global moratorium on

A new report by Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute, identifies an emerging economic risk of building ‘too many coal mines’. The report examines the potential economic harm flowing that a major expansion and construction of new coal mines can result cause, including: Lower coal prices associated increased supply (and associated reductions in

Too Close for Comfort : How the coal and gas industry get their way in Queensland. Examines the relationship between the Queensland Government and the fossil fuel industry. The report reveals a pattern of secrecy, a lack of accountability and transparency and a fast moving revolving door between the highest level of the bureaucracy and government, where political