Wind power leaves rivals in the shade

Summaries - Australian Financial Review
Tuesday 22/9/2009 Page: 6

The Federal Parliament recently passed the government's renewable energy target (RET) legislation, which promises a 'revolution' as businesses invest in wind, bioenergy, geothermal, tidal power, solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies. Pacific Hydro Chief Executive Rob Grant says the RET is only predicted to cut emissions from increased demand for electricity supply, rather than from any generation that is already in place.

Roaring 40s Managing Director Peter Berry says that debt has been a 'huge crisis' for his company, because it has limited the opportunity to finance projects; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Adviser John Wright told a senate committee last month that cutting the cost of win will involve building larger turbines; and Investec renewable energy specialist Mark Schneider says that 'wave energy' is interesting, but it may still be a development technology.