In a discussion paper of refreshing clarity, think-tank The Australia Institute outlines the next steps its government should take to fast-track the energy transition: support dispatchable renewables and storage; build-out transmission links; modernise market rules; create a safety net for displaced fossil-fuel workers.The well argued advice is highly applicable to other countries with growing penetrations of renewables. The paper includes solutions for making investment in new capacity attractive in a world where electricity prices are being driven down by low-cost wind and solar.

Wind turbines can change their output in response to operator and market signals at least ten times faster than conventional thermal power facilities and their response is far more accurate, concludes a report by Sandia National Laboratories for the US government. The inertia of a wind turbine rotor stores kinetic energy in return for only a slight loss of the turbine’s operating efficiency. Battery storage may find it hard to compete with the flexibility of wind turbines in the frequency management market.

Those looking for new arguments to encourage policy makers and the private sector to invest in the renovation of buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, would do well to take on board the findings in a study by Buildings 2030 and conducted by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe. It shows that making offices, schools and hospitals more energy efficient would greatly improve people’s health, well-being and productivity. The increase in productivity across Europe could be worth up to €500 billion.