Article courtesy of The Australian
13.09.2025
Finally, the decision has been made to approve an extension of the life of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project until 2070. The decision is vital for domestic gas supplies in Western Australia and exports to our most important foreign customers and allies.
Woodside will have to comply with new conditions to safeguard the widespread rock art on the Burrup Peninsula, something government and the company have agreed is of international cultural significance.
The decision underscores the reality that gas will be an important energy commodity for a long time to come. This fact is highlighted by the latest report from the International Energy Agency into hydrogen that shows the much-hyped technology remains a long way from reality. According to the IEA, production forecasts for hydrogen by 2030 have plummeted because of high costs, regulatory uncertainty and slow infrastructure development.
More important is the failure of the commercial sector to find a profitable way to produce hydrogen, or buyers willing to underwrite the risk. IEA executive director Fatih Birol said a “gloomier outlook has taken hold” with fears that hydrogen had “simply gone through another ‘hype’ cycle, just like in the 1970s, 1990s and early 2000s”.
The Woodside approval and hydrogen outlook are important backdrops to the federal government’s decision, expected next week, to set a 2035 target for the nation’s carbon dioxide emissions. The expectation is the federal government will set a target range rather than a specific figure. A low target would be a bow to reality but still does not explain how it will be achieved.
With a promised hydrogen revolution stalled and offshore wind petering out because of global pushback and high costs, the pressure will increase on land-based renewable energy solutions as protests against them are gathering strength.
As we report on Saturday, environment leaders finally have started to realise they have been caught napping. Former Australian Greens leader Christine Milne has called out the major national green groups – Wilderness Society, Australian Conservation Foundation, World Wide Fund for Nature and Greenpeace – for “never ever” showing up to fight against species-destroying wind farms.
Farmers no doubt will welcome the change of heart but are entitled to ask why has it taken so long for urban greenies to get the message.
