Competition among developers of renewable energy projects in WA's South West is hotting up, with two solar farms starting construction this year and a further eight major projects hoping to join them.
Perth business executive Stephanie Unwin is moving from chairman to chief executive of listed biotech company Phylogica, while one of its non-executive directors has been promoted to the role of chief scientific officer.
Prominent local businesswoman Samantha Tough has been named chair of ASX-listed 3D printing firm Aurora Labs, adding to her long list of board positions.
The WA Independent Power Association has called for the state government to block a plan by public generator Synergy to set up a new renewable energy fund, while supporting a move to reduce Synergy's capacity.
A wage freeze could be on the agenda for public sector staff in the upcoming state budget, according to new Treasurer Ben Wyatt, as Treasury officials warn the state will need to pay increasing rates of interest on government bonds.
A lack of battery storage across the electricity network in Perth and surrounds is the most significant energy problem facing the state, according to recent research from the University of Western Australia.
The growth of solar power over the next decade could cut the price of energy in WA, according to a man involved in one of the latest projects to take a step forward.
Energy infrastructure company APA Group has entered into an agreement with Synergy for the purchase of power from its Emu Downs solar farm near Cervantes, with construction of the project now set to begin next month.
Certainty around the state's domestic gas supply received a boost today, with the Chevron-led Gorgon project delivering first domgas to Synergy and AWE taking the next step towards the development of stage two at the Waitsia gas field.
The state's five port authorities posted substantially lower net incomes in the 2016 financial year but were still in the black by $223 million, according to annual reports tabled in parliament in recent weeks.
A short term domestic gas contract between Woodside Petroleum and electricity generator Synergy is the first such deal since the North West Shelf Venture partners moved towards separate marketing of their production.
Perth business executive Peter Fogarty is leading two innovative water supply projects designed to underpin major agricultural and industrial projects in regional WA.
New technology is leading to a dramatic reduction in per capita power use around Australia, a new report has found, but WA has bucked the trend, as the only state where residential energy consumption is expected to increase over the coming decade.
The state government has released details of its new digital innovation framework on the same day the auditor general slammed the state for letting its ICT strategy fall behind the rest of the country.
Residents at Alkimos Beach and White Gum Valley are set to participate in trials of solar energy technology and battery storage that could lead to large reductions in power bills.
Consumers should expect to pay less for their electricity in the long term as a result of sweeping changes to Western Australia's energy market that aim to slash the cost of supply, Energy Minister Mike Nahan says.
SPECIAL REPORT: The number of women serving on company boards is slowly one the rise, but it's still rare to see a female take the chair, judging by Business News's analysis of Western Australian company directors.
A lobby group set up to defend a major component of Western Australia's oversupplied electricity market has stepped up its political stunts today presenting a large likeness of a gold watch as a symbol that it's time to retire Muja AB power station.
The impact on economic development and power prices from a sale of the state's electricity network could be managed by a strong regulatory framework, Premier Colin Barnett said today, as he continued to reassess his view on the ownership of Western Power.
Sydney-based GrainCorp has emerged as a cornerstone investor in a bid to corporatise and list CBH Group, through a complex deal that would deliver up to $1 billion in cash plus share
The state government has hit back at a number of claims made by a new power industry lobby group, calling its campaign a scaremongering tactic run by companies seeking to protect their taxpayer-funded incomes.
A new lobby group associated with influential players in the power industry has warned the state government it risks a voter backlash at the 2017 poll if proposed changes to the sector trigger higher prices to households.
There is little immediate prospect of the state government expanding its current $5 billion asset sales program, despite Premier Colin Barnett seeming to flirt with the possibility this week.
Two niche operators in Western Australia's electricity market have accused the state government of being more concerned with protecting its own interests than creating a truly competitive industry
WA is one of the world's largest producers of lithium, but a plan to diversify from mining into advanced manufacturing opportunities will be tricky to shore up.
Economist and climate change adviser Ross Garnaut has called on the Barnett government to write down the value of coal-fired power stations and other ageing assets, warning that keeping them online threatened its ability to reduce power prices.
The state government has flagged more asset sales after its mid-year budget update confirmed deepening financial problems, with the annual deficit worse than expected and state debt tipped to reach an unprecedented $39 billion.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is understood to be investigating Synergy following predatory pricing complaints from several players in the state's electricity market.
Synergy chairman Lyndon Rowe has mapped out a detailed agenda for energy market reform, saying there would be catastrophic consequences if the government did not tackle market players with vested interests.
Having invested million of dollars over many years in an uncertain regulatory environment, Western Australian private power station developers are now facing further delays due to proposed changes to the electricity market.
Vinalco Energy, the Synergy-owned Muja power station operator, could be fined up to $100,000 after it was found to have exercised unlawful power over Western Australia's electricity market.
Rob Bransby has been appointed as the new permanent chief executive officer of Perth Racing. Mr Bransby is a leading health and insurance business executive.
Transferring control of large swathes of WA's electricity market to the east-coast based national regulator has been welcomed by dominant market player Synergy.
SPECIAL REPORT: Business News looks at what's holding up and what's contributing to electricity price reductions, reviews the players in WA's wave energy and waste-to-energy industries and reports on allegations of market manipulation by a Synergy-owned business.
