With governments laying out record spending on infrastructure as a source of stimulus, we are at a critical moment. Understanding how investors’ priorities have shifted and addressing barriers to investment is crucial to leveraging private capital through Australia’s economic recovery from COVID-19. ...

Following the release of the National Hydrogen Strategy in 2019, Australia is seeing exciting developments in government funding, new project announcements and private sector interest in a hydrogen industry. Federal and state governments are partnering with the private sector to support hydrogen technologies, in the race to become a premier exporter of clean hydrogen to the decarbonised global economy. This Insight explores the opportunities for Australia to establish a leading hydrogen industry, including recent policy developments, the latest funding announcements and key legal issues to be aware of. ...

The Energy Security Board's (ESB) Post 2025 Market Design Options Paper provides a glimpse into upcoming reforms that aim to release the potential of distributed energy resources to meet current challenges with falling minimum demand and to leverage demand side participation. ...

The Australian Government has finalised and released legislation to make major changes to Australia's foreign investment laws – commonly known as the 'FIRB regime' – with effect from 1 January 2021. This Insight summarises the key changes to the FIRB regime. ...

Hydrogen fuel offers Australia a low-emissions, clean, storable energy solution for our future domestic energy needs. Our timeline details major milestones for hydrogen technologies in Australia. ...

The Energy Security Board's Post 2025 Market Design Options Paper provides a peek into a future where the system services required to ensure a stable and secure National Electricity Market are unbundled; creating opportunities for market participants to capitalise on alternative revenue streams. ...

Australia is rapidly transitioning away from a centralised, coal-based energy system to one that is more decentralised and focused on renewable energy. This transition is being accompanied by increasing scrutiny of the human rights performance of renewables projects, including new benchmarking and a greater number of complaints. It is critical to know what practical steps to take towards implementing and embedding a strong approach to human rights compliance. ...

Wind farms and other renewable energy sponsors should be aware of two recent decisions of the Supreme Courts of Victoria and New South Wales, which have raised doubt over whether wind farm assets are chattels or fixtures. We briefly explore the key findings of each court and consider some broader repercussions of these decisions for the renewable energy industry. ...

The uptake of small and large-scale renewable energy, and the growth of demand-side technologies, has necessitated a new, fit-for-purpose electricity system that can recognise and respond to the changing energy landscape. In this insight, we discuss the key changes from the ESB. ...

Achieving the target of net zero remains at the forefront for the energy industry. As we increase investment in renewables and look for ways to improve efficiencies, new challenges emerge. Helpfully, there are a range of mitigation and management strategies that can be put in place to reduce risk and smooth the transition. In this Insight we outline some of those practical steps, including ones specifically geared towards managing or avoiding potential disputes during the development stages of a project. ...