Thursday 6/9/2007 Page: 4
Tatura and Longwood are home to the first two accredited renewable power generation stations in Victoria. Tatura Bio Gas Power Station is selling electricity into the grid after converting methane from waste water. Meanwhile, Elgo Winery is producing electricity from a large wind turbine.Victorian Government policy states that all electricity retailers and wholesale purchasers are required to contribute to the generation of additional renewable energy by acquiring energy certificates. The Renewable Energy Target Scheme demands that 10 per cent of Victoria's energy come from renewable sources by 2016.
The Tatura plant is run by Diamond Energy, which managing director Tony Sennitt described as a "boutique" renewable energy generation company- It was formed by former energy industry executives. The company has been supplying power into the grid since January this year, with enough power to supply about 1000 homes a year. "We take the (methane) gas and produce electricity from it and supply directly into the grid," Mr Sennitt said.
This is produced from the gas from the waste water that would ordinarily be sent into the atmosphere." Elgo Estate Wines owner and manager Grant Taresch said the winery was supplying the grid from a 150 kW turbine, using power for the winery and feeding back into the grid. Mr Sennitt said the benefit to the region was more jobs. He said for the earth in general, there was a reduction in production of greenhouse gases, while energy was offered on demand. Tatura is a trial site for the technology, with Diamond Energy hoping to develop a Shepparton plant by 2009, followed by Mooroopna.
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