Grid-scale solar power tripled in Australia in 2018 as renewables met 20% of energy output
“2018 will go down as the year that fossil fuels began an inexorable decline in Australia’s electricity supply.”
Australia & Oceania
This archive covers progress stories from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Island nations. Expect reporting on environmental protection, Indigenous-led initiatives, public health advances, and policy wins that reflect the region’s distinct challenges and strengths.
Scientists report that coral reefs in West Hawaii are now recovering from bleaching
“We surveyed over 14,000 coral colonies at 20 sites along the West Hawaii coast from Kawaihae to Keauhou and were thrilled to see that many of the area’s reefs have stabilized, which is the first step toward recovery.”
Biggest coral reseeding project launches on Great Barrier Reef
Scientists have launched the largest-ever attempt to regenerate coral on the endangered Great Barrier Reef by harvesting millions of the creatures’ eggs and sperm during their annual spawning.
Tesla’s mega battery saves Australia $40 million in its first year
The 100-megawatt Hornsdale Power Reserve, which was designed by Tesla, has saved over $40 million AUD in annual maintenance costs to the electrical grid.
Australia invests $7.5 million in hydrogen project for clean energy
The majority of the hydrogen produced will be injected into the local gas network for domestic use and demonstrate the potential for renewable hydrogen storage in Australia’s gas network.
The world’s largest collection of rice is now permanently funded
Like the “doomsday” seed vault in Norway, the purpose of the IRRI gene bank is to ensure we never find ourselves in a position where our food supply isn’t secure and diverse.
In ‘world first’, ultra-cheap printable solar panels are launched in Australia
Printable solar cells could quietly rewrite who gets access to clean energy — and how fast. Developed at the University of Newcastle, these paper-thin panels cost under $10 per square meter and can be installed with adhesive tape by a small crew in a single day. The technology is less efficient than silicon and degrades faster, so durability remains an open question any rollout must honestly reckon with. But if the economics hold, solar could shift from a capital investment into something closer to a subscription service — accessible to renters, small businesses, and communities conventional panels have never reached.
New Zealand to ban single-use plastic bags by next year
Single-use plastic bags are among the most common items found in coastal litter in New Zealand.
The island of Samoa to go 100% renewable by 2025
The local utility has worked with Tesla to install a key piece of that plan, battery storage, and also a software system that can control Samoa’s entire electricity supply.
Philippine city of Mandaluyong passes law against LGBT discrimination
The Philippine city of Mandaluyong has approved an ordinance to protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from discrimination, the latest in a slew of local laws passed across the country.