Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 32m

The lastest CLEANaS newsletter Clean Sweep is out! Volunteers are needed for the Sounds of Sustainability Festival and the Rathmines Repair Cafe & Community Event. Find out about the new Solar Neighbourhoods program with discounted rooftop solar and home battery systems.
mailchi.mp/dee36d06e482...

Alec Roberts with the mascot for the Solar Neighbourhoods program in front of the new CLEANaS pavillion at the Living Smart Festival

Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 2d

Find out about the latest joint initiative between Lake Mac, City of Newcastle and Maitland Council: Solar Neighbourhoods - Battery and/or Solar bulk-buy. There's also interesting podcasts, feedback requests, targeted surveys, and award recommendations.
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Promotional poster for the Solar Neighbourhoods: Solar and Battery Program. The background shows a sunny suburban neighborhood with houses, some featuring rooftop solar panels. A stylized sun with radiating rays symbolizes solar energy. Bold white and orange text reads: “Solar Neighbourhoods – Solar and Battery Program. Solar and batteries, backed by your local council.” Logos of participating councils appear at the bottom: City of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie City, and Maitland City Council. The flyer promotes a community initiative supporting solar energy and battery storage, backed by local government.

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 2d

The festival season continues with Sounds of Sustainability Festival at Valentine, Sustainable Future Festival at The Entrance, and the Sustainable Living Festival at Medowie. Citizen science activities include Aussie Bird Count and Australian Pollinator Count. 2/3

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 2d

enviroBYTES - the latest #environmental and #STEM news for the Hunter Region is out. With over 100 events listed in October and November pick something that takes your interest.
mailchi.mp/884cfb96554c...
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Serene floodplain landscape featuring calm lake water bordered by trees and vegetation. In the foreground, a large twisted tree extends over the water, with reeds and grasses growing along the shoreline. A fallen branch or log floats in the lake. The opposite shore is lined with more trees, and the partly cloudy sky casts a mix of light and shadow across the scene. The image highlights the tranquil beauty and ecological complexity of a natural floodplain environment.

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 2d

Load and behold: should you opt for an electric cargo bike over a second car?
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #bike #activetransport

Load and behold: should you opt for an electric cargo bike over a second car?

Cargo ebikes are ideal for the millions of short-distance car trips Australians take every day. Here’s how to make one work for you

www.theguardian.com

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 4d

, and large-scale solar added another 15% - meaning Australia’s largest grid was 69% solar powered and overall 75% Renewable Energy. Please note that nearly 17% of Utility Solar was being curtailed at the time (Coal can't turn off easily).
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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 4d

Rooftop Solar Energy record broken (only 2 days after previous record broken). At 12:30pm today (18 Oct) on the Australian National electricity market the amount of rooftop solar alone made up 54% of power in the grid #solarpower
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Graph showing breakdown of energy generation for 18th October for the Australian National Electricity Market, with record amounts of rooftop solar energy being generated.

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 17d

Cute sugar bag native bee visiting my Spring Onion flower heads (and then flying into the kitchen by mistake)

Close up of Sugar Bag Bee on Kitchen Window frame.

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 20d

Renewables overtake coal for first time on monthly basis in September in Australia’s main grid #renewableenergy #coal
reneweconomy.com.au/renewables-o...

Cattle Hill Wind farm Tasmania - a snowy scene showing five wind turbines in a natural bushland setting overlooking Lake Echo in central Tasmania

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 20d

Paper by Australian Firefighters Climate Alliance: #Renewables and #fire risk – what are the facts? australianfirefightersclimatealliance.org/2025/09/30/r...

Renewables and fire risk – what are the facts?

Why renewables? Australia and other high-emission nations must take drastic action to stop climate change impacts becoming irreversible. As was noted recently by Professor Mark Howden, Director of …

australianfirefightersclimatealliance.org

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 20d

Firefighters say #renewables pose no increased #fire risk esdnews.com.au/firefighters... 1/2

Firefighters say renewables pose no increased fire risk

Renewable power facilities do not pose a significant threat of increased fire risk, according to the Australian firefighters.

esdnews.com.au

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 21d

The abject saga of one of Australia’s most controversial gas fired power station projects
reneweconomy.com.au/the-abject-s...

The abject saga of one of Australia’s most controversial gas fired power station projects

One of Austraia’s most controversial gas fired power stations is starting operations. Here is a look back at exaggerated claims, political failures and a hydrogen folly.

reneweconomy.com.au

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · 23d

Why the biggest threat to Australia's net zero target is right-wing misinformation
www.afr.com/policy/energ...

Why the biggest threat to net zero is right-wing misinformation

The social licence of renewables is being attacked by professional and heavily resourced networks with a vested interest in delaying the energy transition.

www.afr.com

Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Aug 16

Of course, it is bigger and better than last year! We are expecting over 3000 kids and their families to come through the doors between 10am and 2pm. Hoping to break the attendance record for the Museum.

Science comes alive at Newcastle Museum
newcastleweekly.com.au/science-week...
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Science comes alive at Newcastle Museum

Hosted by the Hunter Innovation and Science Hub (HISH), this free, family-friendly event for National Science Week is on Sunday 17 August.

newcastleweekly.com.au

Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Aug 16

Looking forward to volunteering at Hunter Science Festival at Newcastle Museum tomorrow (Sunday) and representing CLEANaS and Hunter Innovation and Science Hub. #scienceweek

Hunter Science Festival Returns to Ignite Young Minds
www.intouchmagazine.com.au/single-post/...
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Hunter Science Festival Returns to Ignite Young Minds

Curious minds, families, and future innovators— get ready! The Hunter Science Festival 2025 is back, transforming the Newcastle Museum into a powerhouse of discovery and imagination on Sunday, 17 Augu...

www.intouchmagazine.com.au

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Aug 7

Find out about Indigenous STEM, Walkable neighbourhoods, and EV charging infrastructure. There's also new opportunities with citizen science, grants, targeted surveys, paid internships, and energy programs, guides, toolkits, and research trails. Big month! mailchi.mp/3a2801abfb97... 2/2

National Science Week, Hunter Science Festival 🔬, Indigenous STEM

mailchi.mp

Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Aug 7

The latest STEM and environmental news and information newsletter for the Hunter region enviroBYTES is out. This month brings National Science Week with 20+ events including our own Hunter Science Festival. This is on top of 40 other events this month. #scienceweek @inspiringnsw.bsky.social 1/2

Event poster for the Hunter Science Festival, part of National Science Week Newcastle. The red background features science-themed illustrations such as a skeleton, brain, microscope, DNA strand, and planets. Text includes 'National Science Week Newcastle,' 'Hunter Science Festival,' and 'Sunday 17 August.' Logos for Newcastle Museum and National Science Week 2025 are also displayed.

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Reposted by Alec Roberts

The Australia Institute @australiainstitute.org.au · Apr 7

Australian governments are meant to represent the interests of Australians, not multinational gas corporations.

Australians are tired of rampant gas exports driving up their power bills.

✍️ Add your name to the call to fix Australia's gas export problem!
nb.australiainstitute.org.au/fix_gas_expo...

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Jul 23

Moree green hydrogen project gets green light
moreeonlinenews.com.au/2025/07/24/m...

SUNDOWN Pastoral Company and Hiringa Energy have announced a start for the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project west of Moree.
#Hydrogen

Moree green hydrogen project gets green light - Moree Online News

SUNDOWN Pastoral Company, owned by David and Danielle Statham, and Hiringa Energy have announced a start for the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project west of Moree. GEGHA has satisfied all de...

moreeonlinenews.com.au

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Jul 18

Find out what Community Energy is with CORENA's guide to Community Energy in Australia.

corenafund.org.au/community-en...

#communityenergy #renewableenergy #renewables #climateaction #climate

A Guide to Community Energy in Australia: Power to the People - CORENA - Citizens' Own Renewable Energy Network Australia

Community energy refers to any renewable energy project that is developed, owned, and operated by a community, for the benefit of that community. Learn more.

corenafund.org.au

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Jul 9

Events include talks on High Speed Rail, Quantum Physics, and a Climate Fresk Summit. There's also interesting podcasts, targeted surveys and feedback requests to participate in, and opportunities of grants, competitions and awards to be aware of.
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Event poster for the Climate Fresk Summit. The top section features the event title Climate Fresk Summit; with a red handprint and a blue-green arc. Below, a large group photo shows attendees raising their hands in a hall. On the right, event details are listed: Where: The Treehouse, Callaghan Campus When: 6th of August, 9am – 5pm Cost: Free A QR code is included for registration. The keynote speaker, Dr Joëlle Gergis, is described as an award-winning climate scientist and IPCC lead author. Activities include a Climate Fresk Workshop and networking with postgraduate program leaders, academics, sustainability professionals, and community organizations. Logos of supporting organizations appear at the bottom.

Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Jul 9

The latest enviroBYTES is out, your local STEM and environmental newsletter for the Hunter area. Find out about a secret population of koalas.
mailchi.mp/8ba8d4b6a5f5...
#Hunter #STEM
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A green sea turtle is swimming underwater. Its shell and two front flippers are clearly visible, featuring a distinct pattern of dark and light scales. The surrounding water contains floating particles or debris.

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Jul 9

The paper:
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
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A global review of Procellariiform flight height, flight speed and nocturnal activity: Implications for offshore wind farm collision risk

Through systematic review and meta-analysis, we present a database of mean flight parameter values and uncertainty for Procellariiform species and flight groups. Flight speed and nocturnal flight par....

besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Jul 9

Wind energy industry must use the best ecological information to avoid unintended harm to wildlife
www.monash.edu/news/article...
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Wind energy industry must use the best ecological information to avoid unintended harm to wildlife

As Australia's transition to renewable energy accelerates with increased momentum, the wind energy industry must be guided by strong ecological evidence to avoid unintended harm to wildlife, according...

www.monash.edu

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Alec Roberts @gunnric.bsky.social · Jul 9

The work we have done aims to constructively inform policy development at the intersection of biodiversity conservation and renewable energy; two areas inherently linked.” - Lead author Dr Mark Miller, Research Fellow in the Monash School of Biological Sciences
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