Antinuclear

“No prohibitions”: Renewables funds can be spent on fossil hydrogen and CCS, officials say — perhaps even nuclear.

Angus Taylor’s latest intervention creates mass confusion, with officials insisting renewables funding could be redirected to fossil fuels and nuclear. The post “No prohibitions”: Renewables funds can be spent on fossil hydrogen and CCS, officials say appeared first on RenewEconomy.

“No prohibitions”: Renewables funds can be spent on fossil hydrogen and CCS, officials say — RenewEconomy

Billions in government grants set aside to support the development of renewable energy technologies could be redirected to fossil hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage projects and possibly nuclear energy under new regulations issued by federal energy minister Angus Taylor.

Officials from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) told a senate estimates hearing on Monday that there would be “no prohibitions” on which technologies the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) may fund under the new regulations

But in the process of issuing the regulations, it appears Taylor has created a regulatory omnishambles, with officials providing senate estimates contradictory information regarding which technologies the renewables agency may be able to fund………………………………

An explanatory statement included with the latest set of regulations stated that the Morrison government intends to ensure ARENA could fund non-renewable energy technologies.

“The Regulations provides ARENA with the necessary authority to deliver any non-renewable elements of the programs, supporting emissions reductions through broader clean energy technologies such as energy efficiency and non‑renewable low-emission technologies,” the explanatory statement said.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is, however, explicitly prohibited from investing in nuclear projects and carbon capture and storage projects under its legislation.

Representatives from the CEFC told the senate estimates hearing on Monday that it would not be possible for the green bank’s board to include carbon capture and storage projects within its definition of “low emissions technology”, due to the explicit prohibition contained within the CEFC’s legislation.

But, confusingly, officials from both the industry department and ARENA insisted that the prohibitions imposed on the CEFC would not apply to ARENA………. https://reneweconomy.com.au/no-prohibitions-renewables-agency-funds-opened-up-for-fossil-hydrogen-ccs-possibly-nuclear/

April 5, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized