{"id":395675,"date":"2025-08-17T18:06:09","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T16:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=395675"},"modified":"2025-08-17T18:06:11","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T16:06:11","slug":"fossil-fuel-fightback-the-gears-shift-on-the-renewable-crash-test-dummy-eraring-coal-lives-wind-and-solar-slump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=395675","title":{"rendered":"Fossil Fuel Fightback: The gears shift on the Renewable Crash Test Dummy \u2014 Eraring coal lives, wind and solar slump"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JoNova<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Jo Nova<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If the whole renewables fantasy was crumbling, it would look something like this<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Despite the Labor Government throwing money at unreliable energy, renewables hopes are quietly unraveling. The largest energy retailer in the country just announced a nice 26% profit jump, based on fossil fueled gas, and they also announced they\u2019d be keeping Australia\u2019s largest coal plant open longer. The two year extension for Eraring, is now a four year extension. Despite reaping in gas profits and keeping the planet-destroying-plant operating, the share price promptly leapt 6% to a ten year high<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Significantly, Giles Parkinson at Reneweconomy<\/em> also noticed that Origin\u2019s annual report includes talk of batteries, but no wind or solar projects, which seems like an important oversight in a nation belting headlong towards the Green Utopia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, for the first time I can recall, a fossil fuel CEO is daring to defend the industry. The shift in confidence in palpable.\u00a0 Mike Wirth, the Chevron CEO, is not only saying \u201coil is not evil\u201d but he clearly isn\u2019t afraid of the Australian government. He\u2019s so unafraid he also delivered a \u201cstinging rebuke\u201d \u2014 saying that high costs, red tape and environmental rules have made Australia so uncompetitive, investors are leaving to spend their money in the US and the middle east instead. Indeed, Chevron had a plan to double their Australian gas production but have abandoned that now.\u00a0Australia used to be the world\u2019s largest LNG exporter, but Qatar and the US outpaced us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a similar theme, Ampol just surprised the market by spending $1 billion dollars to double the number of petrol stations it owns, making it the largest retailer in the country. The CEO Matt Halliday said the unthinkable: \u201cThe transition [to EVs] will take decades, and combustion engines are going to still make up a large chunk of the national car fleet beyond 2050.\u201d<\/em> It was a very unfashionable and backward thing to say, but shares leapt 8% on the news yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia\u2019s biggest energy retailer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

hits go slow button on wind and solar, mulling options on Eraring<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giles Parkinson, Reneweconomy<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origin Energy, Australia\u2019s biggest energy retailer, appears to have hit the go-slow button on the rollout of new renewable energy projects, and is still mulling options on the already extended Eraring coal generator, the country\u2019s biggest, which is officially due to close in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Curiously, in its annual report, the company says: \u201cWith the Eraring Power Station\u2019s closure planned for August 2027, failure to deliver our major renewable generation projects may affect Origin\u2019s future supply capacity, financial prospects and reputation.\u201d Yet it has made no commitment to build those projects in that timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of the irony of putting the nations biggest battery next to the nations biggest coal plant, as if it needed back up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this is made up entirely of big batteries, including the giant 700 MW, 2,800 MWh Eraring battery being next to the coal generator\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It [the annual report] includes no wind or solar projects. The technologies did not even rate a mention in the results presentation, apart from the giant 1.45 gigawatt (GW) Yanco Delta wind project in the south-west of NSW, which has gained grid access rights but is still to complete environmental approvals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chevron\u2019s CEO says \u201cOil is not evil\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chevron boss Mike Wirth leads the fossil fuel fightback<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By Perry Williams, The Australian<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike Wirth has a message for the fossil fuel haters: oil is not evil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boss of Chevron, one of the world\u2019s largest producers, has a front-row seat to the energy revival that\u2019s gathered pace under the Trump administration. After a 43-year career in the oil and gas industry, he sees part of his role as helping deliver some home truths on the reality of the energy transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome criticise fuels as somehow being evil or immoral or any number of different characterisations that you can find out there \u2026 to attack our industry,\u201d Mr Wirth tells The Australian. \u201cWhen, in fact, people in the world have the highest standard of living in human history today because they are not toiling all day long to feed themselves and feed their families and create heat when it\u2019s cold or try to stay cool when it\u2019s warm. I strongly disagree with characterisations that our products are only bad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the international oil giant delivers the hard truths, without pandering. Clearly the power in the room has shifted, and with Trump in the US, doors are opening, and Australia is not so relevant:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chevron delivers gas warning to Labor with Australian investment souring<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n
\n
\"A<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Global energy giant Chevron has delivered a stinging rebuke directly to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles over Australia\u2019s slump as an investment destination under Labor, warning that high costs, onerous taxes and \u00adenvironmental delays meant a historic plan to double its $US80bn ($123bn) Australian LNG business was off the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chevron\u2019s Texas-based chief executive, Mike Wirth, delivered the blunt message to Mr Marles on Friday afternoon in Geelong at a private meeting between the pair, saying he was concerned Australia was now uncompetitive with gas rivals such as the US and Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Wirth revealed Chevron had at one point considered \u00addoubling its LNG footprint in WA to 10 processing trains from the current five units that exported gas from its Gorgon and Wheatstone plants. However, that expansion had now been shelved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia\u2019s $100bn LNG industry made it the world\u2019s largest exporter for the past decade\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile Ampol bets big on Australians driving petrol cars for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ampol makes $1bn bet on the future of combustion engines over EVs<\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ampol\u2019s stunning $1.1bn move to almost double the footprint<\/a> of its petrol stations is not only about expansion. It\u2019s a calculated bet on the future of internal combustion engines versus electric vehicles. The retailer and refiner has snapped up a portfolio of around 500 EG-branded petrol stations, consolidating its position as the country\u2019s biggest fuel retailer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But [Ampol\u2019s CEO, Matt Halliday] is also a realist. The transition will take decades, and combustion engines are going to still make up a large chunk of the national car fleet beyond 2050.\u00a0Despite also using its own debt to fund the deal,\u00a0Ampol investors have firmly backed the expansion, sending shares nearly 8 per cent higher on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make no mistake, this is the Trump effect \u2014 as Perry Williams at the Australian<\/em> reports,<\/a> the Chevron CEO speaks with the President regularly and says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI find the President to be curious. He asks questions. He asks good questions. He likes to talk to people in business. Under the prior administration, the door was not open. I only met President Biden once, and it was for a photo op,\u201d Mr Wirth says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026he\u2019s a big believer in American energy, and he believes that American energy strength can underpin economic strength and national security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the American energy juggernaut taking off, Australia will be dragged by its green chains\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo: LNG Carrier http:\/\/photozou.jp<\/a>\/photo\/show\/254715\/24141912.|  Photo Ampol: Marcnutt1996 <\/a>|<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo: Trump:\u00a0Gage Skidmore f<\/a>rom Peoria, AZ, United States of America<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Despite the Labor Government throwing money at unreliable energy, renewables hopes are quietly unraveling. The largest energy retailer in the country just announced a nice 26% profit jump, based on fossil fueled gas, and they also announced they\u2019d be keeping Australia\u2019s largest coal plant open longer. The two year extension for Eraring, is now a four year extension. Despite reaping in gas profits and keeping the planet-destroying-plant operating,\u00a0the share price promptly leapt 6% to a ten year high.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":395685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818216,691818886,691831296,691818219,691819094],"class_list":{"0":"post-395675","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-australia","9":"tag-fossil-fuel","10":"tag-green-utopia","11":"tag-high-costs","12":"tag-renewable-green-energy","14":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/OIG-2023-11-10T193255.362.jpeg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1EVR","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":339655,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=339655","url_meta":{"origin":395675,"position":0},"title":"Smart but deceptive: NSW govt keeps big coal plant on until just after the next election to avoid $3b electricity bill shock","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"15\/08\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The largest coal plant in Australia was supposed to close in August next year, but the NSW government decided to buy a two year extension until a few months after the next state election. Now the modeling comes out showing that they decided to keep the Eraring coal plant running\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Australia\"","block_context":{"text":"Australia","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=australia"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-295.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-295.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-295.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-295.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/image-295.png?fit=1200%2C591&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":422533,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=422533","url_meta":{"origin":395675,"position":1},"title":"Aussie Coal Closure Delayed, to Lower Prices and Stabilise the Grid","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"22\/01\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"I know you will all be surprised as I am that $10s of billions spend on renewables has failed to produce a viable replacement for a single coal plant.","rel":"","context":"In \"April 2029\"","block_context":{"text":"April 2029","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=april-2029"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQMVYhJA45TbFaOA6lXwMPod8Jf8sP9A6x9bXlylYOBw-iww1rA-xzM87AiCmt9LWfbSooRdv5joV8796SgoKGfe_k1DI-IYdUHLGramSKLu9w4vcv2E_gTwiHkH-3Li-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQMVYhJA45TbFaOA6lXwMPod8Jf8sP9A6x9bXlylYOBw-iww1rA-xzM87AiCmt9LWfbSooRdv5joV8796SgoKGfe_k1DI-IYdUHLGramSKLu9w4vcv2E_gTwiHkH-3Li-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQMVYhJA45TbFaOA6lXwMPod8Jf8sP9A6x9bXlylYOBw-iww1rA-xzM87AiCmt9LWfbSooRdv5joV8796SgoKGfe_k1DI-IYdUHLGramSKLu9w4vcv2E_gTwiHkH-3Li-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQMVYhJA45TbFaOA6lXwMPod8Jf8sP9A6x9bXlylYOBw-iww1rA-xzM87AiCmt9LWfbSooRdv5joV8796SgoKGfe_k1DI-IYdUHLGramSKLu9w4vcv2E_gTwiHkH-3Li-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0AQMVYhJA45TbFaOA6lXwMPod8Jf8sP9A6x9bXlylYOBw-iww1rA-xzM87AiCmt9LWfbSooRdv5joV8796SgoKGfe_k1DI-IYdUHLGramSKLu9w4vcv2E_gTwiHkH-3Li-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C782&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":330030,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=330030","url_meta":{"origin":395675,"position":2},"title":"Not Zero? 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Its use in the developing countries will continue to grow in the decades to come. Meanwhile, we will see just how \u201ctemporary\u201d is Germany\u2019s existential move back to coal this winter. 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