Giles Parkinson

Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of Renew Economy, and is also the founder of One Step Off The Grid and founder/editor of the EV-focused The Driven. He is the co-host of the weekly Energy Insiders Podcast. Giles has been a journalist for 40 years and is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review. You can find him on LinkedIn and on Twitter.

Giles's recent articles

Giant eight-hour battery project changes hands as storage costs plunge 40%

Giant eight-hour battery project changes hands as storage costs plunge 40%

A giant eight-hour battery project in New South Wales has changed hands in a deal that also confirms that battery storage costs — a critical part of the green energy transition — are still falling significantly.

The Coalition MP who tried to stop the solar farm that will help save thousands of local jobs

The Coalition MP who tried to stop the solar farm that will help save thousands of local jobs

If you ever need an example of the idiocy and the ignorance behind the Coalition and LNP campaign against renewable energy in Australia, a good place to start would be the federal MP for Flynn, Colin Boyce.

CSIRO patiently and methodically slaps down Peter Dutton’s nuclear nonsense

CSIRO patiently and methodically slaps down Peter Dutton’s nuclear nonsense

Australia’s premier scientific organisation, the CSIRO, has patiently and methodically slapped down the major nuclear talking points promoted by Coalition leader Peter Dutton in its latest GenCost report, which confirms – yet again – that integrated wind and solar are easily the cheapest option.

"The world’s greatest deceivers": Andrew Forrest takes aim at Woodside and Exxon

"The world’s greatest deceivers": Andrew Forrest takes aim at Woodside and Exxon

It didn’t take long after Donald Trump and the Republicans swept the polls in the US elections for the Australian fossil fuel industry and its political enablers to do what they like to do best: Celebrate a victory at the expense of the rest of the world.

World teeters on brink as Trump and cronies prepare to flood the zone with shit

World teeters on brink as Trump and cronies prepare to flood the zone with shit

Are you OK? It seems an important question as the unhinged and unrestrained president Donald Trump is swept back into power and the world contemplates the implications for the climate, for civil discourse, for women, for minorities, for society as a whole, and for our children and their children.

China solar giant Trina seeks approval for biggest battery project in Australia

China solar giant Trina seeks approval for biggest battery project in Australia

The Chinese-based solar giant Trina Solar has submitted plans to build what would be the biggest battery storage facility in Australia, at Kemerton in an industrial zone south of Perth.

Big battery market charges beyond expectations, now the grid just needs more wind and solar

Big battery market charges beyond expectations, now the grid just needs more wind and solar

The big battery storage market continues to charge ahead beyond expectations, buoyed by the doubling of planned capacity at what is already Queensland’s biggest battery, and a host of new projects that have taken the sector to levels and dimensions not contemplated even 12 months ago.

Five things we learned this week from Ted’s Talk and people who actually know stuff

Five things we learned this week from Ted’s Talk and people who actually know stuff

The Ted Talk: Not reading the room? Chutzpah? Or maybe the Opposition energy spokesman Ted O’Brien was simply unaware that he wasn’t speaking to the local town hall meeting, Sky after Dark or the Institute of Public Affairs.

A town like Alice. How a complex, isolated solar grid could provide blueprint for rest of Australia

A town like Alice. How a complex, isolated solar grid could provide blueprint for rest of Australia

Alice Springs is near the very centre of Australia: An iconic town made famous by its isolation, people, and multiple books and movies, and which now finds itself at the forefront of how to transition large isolated grids from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

South Australias world-leading renewable transition is attracting flood of new industry

South Australias world-leading renewable transition is attracting flood of new industry

Will a grid based around wind and solar kill manufacturing and industry? Its what the naysayers the Coalition and conservative agitators want you to believe, but the experience in South Australia, which leads the world in the uptake of wind and solar, proves the opposite.

AEMO slams Murdoch media campaign that claims renewables are not low cost

AEMO slams Murdoch media campaign that claims renewables are not low cost

The Australian Energy Market Operator has made a rare foray into the mainstream media debate around the green energy transition, saying claims that its cost assessment of renewables does not include transmission and storage are wrong.

Bowen: Its too late to avoid the climate emergency

Bowen: Its too late to avoid the climate emergency

Australias climate and energy minister Chris Bowen says the extreme weather events of recent years, and the heatwaves sweeping the globe in this northern summer, show that the world has already failed to prevent a climate emergency.

Morrisons media code could be catastrophic for climate and energy news

Morrison's government could hardly have wished for a better outcome. The core of their supplicant media is to receive millions to continue their cheering from the sidelines, while independent voices such as RenewEconomy risk being squeezed by these secret deals. Yet big media companies and the competition regulator claim this to be some sort of victory for media diversity and the democratic process.

Coal! Coal! Coal! for Australia, as bushfires and denial greet Olympic year (Reneweconomy 13.1.2020)

So much for the great Australian summer holidays. The apocalyptic vision and impacts of the brutal bushfires that have devastated large swathes of the country, and covered much of the rest in choking smoke, is accompanied by an unwanted record.

South Australias stunning renewable energy transition, and what comes next (Renew Economy 5-11-19)

The eyes of the energy world are upon it, but the renewable energy transition in South Australia is probably one of the misunderstood, misreported and under-appreciated achievements of our time.

Coalition signs off with a budget tailored for climate denial (RenewEconomy, 2.4.19)

The federal Coalition government has delivered its last budget before the May poll, and pretty much finished the way it started in government nearly six years ago: Long term climate and clean energy policies and technologies are ignored, and the focus is on trinkets and handouts.

Morrison puts lipstick on Tony Abbotts pig of a climate policy (Renew Economy).

Prime minister Scott Morrison has finally unveiled his climate policy and it is clearly designed to do two things: Placate the core rump of climate deniers and ideologues within his own party and the conservative media, and try to fool enough others that the Coalition is doing something to address a problem it barely admits exists, or worth doing anything about.

Coalition energy and climate policies hit rock bottom at year's end

The federal Coalition government has achieved what most would have assumed impossible at the start of 2018: its position on climate and energy policies has worsened and shifted even further to the right.

Lazard hails inflection point as wind, solar costs beat new and old fossils (Renew Economy)

Lazard hails inflection point as wind, solar costs beat new and old fossils.

Coalitions breathtakingly stupid response to IPCC climate report (RenewEconomy, 09.10.18)

It wasnt too hard to predict what the Coalition governments responses to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report would be you just needed to know where they would be making them.

Business gives up on Coalition, turns to Labor and states on energy, climate

Heres the most damning assessment of the Coalitions energy and climate policy, such as it remains after the crucifixion of Malcolm Turnbull and the elevation of conservatives Scott Morrison as prime minister and Angus Taylor as energy minister:

Taylor confirms no interest in emissions, but says hes no climate skeptic (RenewEconomy, 30.08.18)

New energy minister Angus Taylor has confirmed what was largely expected: that he has no interest in emission reductions under the remit handed him by prime minister Scott Morrison, and that his primary focus will be on reducing prices for consumers.

Morrison names leading anti-wind campaigner as energy minister

New prime minister Scott Morrison has ended the experiment of combining the energy and environment portfolios, and appointed one of the countrys most prominent anti-wind campaigners as energy minister, and a former mining industry lawyer as environment minister.

GILES PARKINSON & SOPHIE VORRATH Scoal-Mo as PM. What does that mean for climate and energy policy? (RenewEconomy, 24.08.18)

It says something about the state of Australias politics that the new prime minister, the man who brandished a lump of coal in parliament, is considered a moderate, at least in comparison to the forces he beat to the job.

Turnbull survives as puppet of right wing, as Australia burns (RenewEconomy, 21.08.18)

At least in 2009, Turnbull left his job as then Opposition leader with his dignity intact.But not now.

NEG in the air as Nationals go for coal, and Barnaby goes nuts

The timetable for a final decision on the controversial National Energy Guarantee has been thrown into the air amid a renewed push for coal generation by the National Party following the Coalitions super-Saturday by-election defeats last weekend.

Bad news for coal-huggers: Renewables at 50% by 2030

King coal to rule for 20 more years screamed the front page lead headline in The Australian, following the release of the Australian Energy Market Operators 20-year blueprint for the future of energy, known as its Integrated System Plan.

Turnbull's election budget dumps on climate and renewables

What is widely regarded as the last budget to be delivered by the Turnbull government before the next federal election ceded no ground on climate policy, insisting that its much criticised emissions reduction targets would remain unchanged.

South Australia's renewable energy future hangs by a thread

Its an election that is impossible to call. And too important to ignore.

Weatherill: Why state election will be a referendum on renewables

South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill might not be able to see much daylight between his Labor Party and the rival Liberals and SA Best, but hes certainly making sure there is a big difference between his energy policy and those of the Opposition and the upstart party of Nick Xenophon.

SA Labor shoots for 75% renewables, 25% storage target

South Australias Labor government has doubled down on its commitment to renewable energy, promising to increase the share of renewables to 75 per cent by 2025 if re-elected at next months state poll, and announcing plansto install 750MW of renewable storage to go with it.

Battery storage leaves fossil fuels and regulators in state of intertia

The brain cells are working overtime at the headquarters of network owners, grid operators, generators, and regulators. Australias electricity grid is about to make the leap from analogue to digital, and everyone is scrambling to keep up.

Shorten hails cheap wind and solar, but will he stop Adani

You would have missed it, if you were relying on mainstream media, but Labor leader Bill Shorten did actually mention clean energy and climate policies in his scene-setting speech for 2018, which may well turn out to be an election year.

GILES PARKINSON. Turnbull blows trumpet for right wing idiocy on energy

Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has chosen to close the year in much the same way as he started it on climate and energy policy: awaiting yet another review, and parroting the ever more absurd claims of the fossil fuel lobby and the right wing of his Coalition government on energy.

GILES PARKINSON. LNP, One Nation would force Queensland energy prices up; Greens, ALP down

A new analysis of the energy policies presented by the major and smaller parties contesting the Queensland state election shows that the Greens would deliver the biggest electricity savings, Labor would also push prices down, while One Nation and the LNP policies would force prices to rise.

GILES PARKINSON. South Australia's stunning transition to consumer-powered grid

South Australia is already being hailed or in some quarters demonised for its leadership on renewable energy technology. A new report from the Australian Energy Market Operator highlights how far out in front it is in the transition to a consumer-powered grid.The earlier comments by Turnbull and Frydenberg are now looking even more petty and ill informed.

GILES PARKINSON. Garnaut says NEG may do little for prices, certainty or competition.

Leading economist Ross Garnaut has delivered a critical appraisal of the federal governments proposed National Energy Guarantee, warning that it will unlikely deliver lower prices or investment certainty, and could simply lock in the power of the big incumbent generators.

GILES PARKINSON. AGL bought Liddell for nothing - what will it cost Turnbull?

One of the late billionaire Kerry Packers famous quotes about business was that you only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, a reference tohis ability to sell the Nine Network to the late entrepreneur for a small fortune and then buy it back at a fraction of the price.

GILES PARKINSON. Turnbull's abject capitulation to the coal lobby is now complete

The kindest thing to say about prime minister Malcolm Turnbulls absurd proposal to extend the life of the countrys oldest coal generator isthat he is playing politics.

GILES PARKINSON. AEMO says fossil fuel failures, renewable delays biggest threat to grid

The Australian Energy Market Operator has cited climate change, and the potential for large fossil fuel generators to fail in the summer heat-wave as the biggest threat to Australias electricity supplies in the coming years.

GILES PARKINSON. Super cheap solar - and why that's good for Australia's mining sector

Australias most pre-eminent solar researcher, Dr Martin Green, says the cost of solar PV technology will fall substantially in coming years, and while bad for the countrys thermal coal industry it will spell good news for other Australian mineral and materials exports.' Any loss in thermal coal sales due to strong solar PV uptake will be offset 5 times over by increased demand for more valuable resources- coking coal,iron ore,alumina and copper'

GILES PARKINSON. How the far Right have hijacked Australia's energy policy

If you ever wondered just how comprehensively the Far Right has hijacked the Coalitions energy policy, its worth reading the speech by NSW energy minister Don Harwin we reported onlast week.

GILES PARKINSON. Garnaut: CET may be useless without higher emission targets

Leading economist professor Ross Garnaut says the clean energy target recommended by the Finkel Review could be useless in meeting current emission reduction targets, because technology change and coal retirements will get us there in any case.

GILES PARKINSON. Coal on limited lifespan as CCS hopes go up in smoke

The coal industry is facing a new crisis point as a group of leading scientists call forthe construction of new coal generators tocease within three years, and as the industrys flagship clean coal and carbon capture and storage project went up in smoke in the US.

GILES PARKINSON. Finkel decoded: The good, the bad, and the very disappointing

The Finkel Report on the future of the national electricity market falls short of its opportunity to redefine energy markets. It has been focused on trying to find a pathway through the toxic energy politics in Australia, and accommodating the Coalitions modest climate targets, rather than seizing the moment and outlining what can and should happen, and what Australia would need to do to meet the Paris climate targets.

GILES PARKINSON. Tide turns as solar, storage costs trump ideologues and incumbents

Looking at the machinations over the proposed Adani coal mine in Queenslands Galilee Basin this week, or seeing certain Coalition Senators howling at the moon over wind turbine emissions,or the Treasurer brandishing a lump of coal in parliament, it is hard to imagine that any sort of progress has been made in Australia in what all but a determined few accept is the inevitable clean energy transition.

GILES PARKINSON. How AEMO's new boss will reform Australia's energy vision.

Audrey Zibelman, the new chief executive of the Australian Energy Market Operator, has been in the job for little over a week, but is already making her mark, signalling the biggest shift in energy management philosophy in a generation.

GILES PARKINSON. Turnbull leads attack on wind as Coalition readies carbon price backflip.

A rebadged carbon tax! In its review of its climate change policies, the government will try to dance its way through internal politics, the demands of the fossil fuel lobby and comparisons with Labor's proposals. Turnbull and Frydenberg appear to have concluded that the best way to appease the far right rump of the Coalition is to abandon direct support for renewables, help open up the Galilee coal resource and push for more coal seam gas.

GILES PARKINSON. Coalitions stunning hypocrisy and ignorance on renewable energy.

The Coalition appears to have abandoned all pretence that it supports renewable energy, now contradicting assurances by the grid owner and market operator and now the biggest generator in the country that the source of energy was not at fault for the massive blackout in South Australia last week. After Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg used the opportunity to use the blackoutto try to force the Labor statestargets. They were joined by Industry, Science and Innovation Minister Greg Hunt on Monday. In an opinion piece written for the Australian Financial Review, reported as the...

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