All sides of politics agree that a German-style national feed-in tariff to encourage rooftop solar power makes sense. But Christine Milne’s bill to create the tariff is going nowhere. PETER MARES explains why on our partner website, Inside Story.

The technology is already available for generating reliable continuous electrical power from some renewables (eg. biomass). However, the current power capacity is small. Further development in the renewables sector is required before any significant level of substitution of coal-fired power can take place. Research and development into solar thermal, photovoltaic, ocean and geothermal energy indicates...

Lost in the current debate on Australia’s nuclear industry has been our prominent role in the development of what is clearly a more desirable option, electricity generation using solar cells, writes Martin Green.

Alternative energy comprises renewable sources of energy (hydro; biomass; wind; geothermal; solar, which includes [concentrating solar power]; and ocean sources, comprising tidal, wave, marine currents, ocean thermal energy and tapping the salt gradient), nuclear power, and waste. The use of renewable sources of energy can be optimised if advanced energy storage systems are developed and...

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries and Regional Services has conducted an inquiry into the role of infrastructure in assisting the economically sustainable development of Australia's regional areas. The foreword to the Committee's report states that the title 'Time running out' reinforces the urgent need to firstly acknowledge the deficiencies in infrastructure...