www.guardian.co.uk
6 May 2012
Firm has 'no plans' to work with thinktank following campaign comparing people concerned about climate to mass murderers
Diageo, one of the world's largest drinks companies, has announced it will no longer fund the Heartland Institute, a rightwing US thinktank which briefly ran a billboard campaign this week comparing people concerned about climate change to mass murderers and terrorists such as Osama bin Laden, Charles Manson and Ted Kaczynski.
On Thursday, a billboard appeared over the Eisenhower Expressway in Illinois showing a picture of Kaczynski, the Unabomber, who in 1996 was convicted of a 17 year mail bombing campaign that killed three people and injured dozens. The caption read: "I still believe in global warming. Do you?" A day later it was withdrawn.
The London-based drinks giant, which owns brands such as Guinness, Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Moet & Chandon, said this year that it was "reviewing any further association with Heartland" following the release online of internal Heartland documents which revealed its corporate donors as well as a plan to promote an alternative climate change curriculum in US schools. Following the widespread outcry triggered by Heartland's billboards, a Diageo spokeswoman told the Guardian: "Diageo vigorously opposes climate scepticism and our actions are proof of this. Diageo's only association with the Heartland Institute was limited to a small contribution made two years ago specifically related to an excise tax issue. Diageo has no plans to work with the Heartland Institute in the future".
In February, a US scientist, Peter Gleick, admitted obtaining and publishing internal Heartland documents which showed that Diageo had given the thinktank $10,000 (£6,190) in 2010. The documents, one of which Heartland later claimed was a fake, said the thinktank was expecting another $10,000 from Diageo this year.
On Friday, Heartland, which is trying to promote its annual conference for climate skeptics, to be held in Chicago this month, said it was withdrawing the billboard campaign. However, it refused to apologise, claiming the campaign was an "experiment". Its website is still hosting the original press release, which includes the claim that the "most prominent advocates of global warming aren't scientists. They are murderers, tyrants, and madmen".
Microsoft, which has a policy of supplying free software to all non-profit organisations in the US, posted a blog on its website on Saturday distancing itself from Heartland. The thinktank received software from Microsoft worth $59,908 in 2011. The blog said: "Microsoft believes climate change is a serious issue that demands immediate, worldwide attention and we are acting accordingly,..
The Heartland Institute does not speak for Microsoft on climate change. In fact, the Heartland Institute's position on climate change is diametrically opposed to Microsoft's position. And we completely disagree with the group's inflammatory and distasteful advertising campaign". In March, General Motors, the world's largest carmaker, said it was ending its funding of Heartland after 20 years owing to the thinktank's hardline climate scepticism.
As expected, the Heartland Institute is sowing the seeds of its own demise and becoming a further embarrassment to the denialists who continue to ignore science and evidence. How much longer before Nick Minchin, Tony Abbott and Ted Baillieu catch on?
Saturday, 12 May 2012
Japan enters nuclear recess as sole working power reactor shuts
www.bloomberg.com
6 May 2012
Japan began a recess from nuclear-generated electricity, its first in more than four decades, after its sole operating power reactor was halted for scheduled maintenance last night. Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari No. 3 reactor in northern Japan stopped generating electricity at 11:03 p.m, yesterday, and fission ceased at 4 a.m, this morning, said Satoshi Takada, a spokesman for the utility. Closing the 912 MW Tomari unit leaves Japan without an operating power reactor for the first time since May 1970, as plant operators carry out mandatory maintenance or additional safety checks following the Fukushima disaster. The country's 50 nuclear plants provided 30% of its electricity prior to March 11, 2011.
The utilities powering the world's third-biggest economy have been forced to turn to coal, oil and gas-fired plants to keep factories, offices and households supplied with electricity. Buying and importing those fuels is driving up costs and may lead to higher electric bills and a further drag on an economy that's contracted in three of the past four years. Japan may "momentarily" be without atomic power, the Maimchi newspaper cited Industry Minister Yukio Edano as saying on April 15 after he failed to get agreement from local authorities that reactors at the Ohi plant of Kansai Electric (9503) passed safety tests and should resume.
Record LNG Imports
The Ohi atomic plant is located about 95 km (59 miles) northeast of Osaka, the nation's second-biggest metropolitan area. It helps power the Kansai area of western Japan that's about the size of Belgium, has an economy worth $1 trillion--similar in size to Mexico's--and is home to the cities of Osaka and Kyoto as well as the factories of Sharp Corp, and Panasonic Corp. Japan's 10 regional power utilities bought record amounts of liquefied natural gas last year to replace nuclear, or 52.9 million metric tons of LNG in the fiscal year ended in March, up 27% from a year earlier, according to data from the Federation of Electric Power (9501) Companies.
Use of petroleum, which includes crude and fuel oil, more than doubled to 23.3 million kiloliters (147 million barrels), according to the federation's data. Petroleum consumption was the highest in at least 10 years. Fuel costs at the nine regional utilities that have atomic plants--Okinawa Electric Power Co, is the exception--may more than double to about 7 trillion yen ($87.7 billion) in the year ending March 2013 if reactors remain shut, according to an April 9 report by the industry ministry. Kansai Electric's fuel bills may rise by 800 billion yen to about 1.1 trillion yen, it said.
Power Shortages
Kansai Electric's output without nuclear power may be 16.3% short of peak demand this summer if Japan experiences a heat wave similar to the one in 2010, according to the government's April 23 forecast. The utility would need to turn on half of its 11 reactors to avoid the shortages forecast under the government's worst case scenario, according to Tomoko Murakami, a Tokyo-based nuclear analyst at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan. Restarting that number of reactors is very unlikely, she said last month.
Stress Tests
The Ohi reactors would be the first to come back online since Japan adopted so-called nuclear stress tests or computer simulations to assess each plant's ability to withstand earthquakes, tsunamis and to supply backup power to keep reactor cooling systems running. Power companies usually take about 10 days to start an idled reactor, according to Tomoe Sugimori, a spokeswoman for Kansai Electric. The failure of backup power at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Dai-Ichi station on March 11 last year caused the worst atomic accident since Chernobyl in 1986, and radiation fallout that forced the evacuation of about 160,000 people.
6 May 2012
Japan began a recess from nuclear-generated electricity, its first in more than four decades, after its sole operating power reactor was halted for scheduled maintenance last night. Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari No. 3 reactor in northern Japan stopped generating electricity at 11:03 p.m, yesterday, and fission ceased at 4 a.m, this morning, said Satoshi Takada, a spokesman for the utility. Closing the 912 MW Tomari unit leaves Japan without an operating power reactor for the first time since May 1970, as plant operators carry out mandatory maintenance or additional safety checks following the Fukushima disaster. The country's 50 nuclear plants provided 30% of its electricity prior to March 11, 2011.
The utilities powering the world's third-biggest economy have been forced to turn to coal, oil and gas-fired plants to keep factories, offices and households supplied with electricity. Buying and importing those fuels is driving up costs and may lead to higher electric bills and a further drag on an economy that's contracted in three of the past four years. Japan may "momentarily" be without atomic power, the Maimchi newspaper cited Industry Minister Yukio Edano as saying on April 15 after he failed to get agreement from local authorities that reactors at the Ohi plant of Kansai Electric (9503) passed safety tests and should resume.
Record LNG Imports
The Ohi atomic plant is located about 95 km (59 miles) northeast of Osaka, the nation's second-biggest metropolitan area. It helps power the Kansai area of western Japan that's about the size of Belgium, has an economy worth $1 trillion--similar in size to Mexico's--and is home to the cities of Osaka and Kyoto as well as the factories of Sharp Corp, and Panasonic Corp. Japan's 10 regional power utilities bought record amounts of liquefied natural gas last year to replace nuclear, or 52.9 million metric tons of LNG in the fiscal year ended in March, up 27% from a year earlier, according to data from the Federation of Electric Power (9501) Companies.
Use of petroleum, which includes crude and fuel oil, more than doubled to 23.3 million kiloliters (147 million barrels), according to the federation's data. Petroleum consumption was the highest in at least 10 years. Fuel costs at the nine regional utilities that have atomic plants--Okinawa Electric Power Co, is the exception--may more than double to about 7 trillion yen ($87.7 billion) in the year ending March 2013 if reactors remain shut, according to an April 9 report by the industry ministry. Kansai Electric's fuel bills may rise by 800 billion yen to about 1.1 trillion yen, it said.
Power Shortages
Kansai Electric's output without nuclear power may be 16.3% short of peak demand this summer if Japan experiences a heat wave similar to the one in 2010, according to the government's April 23 forecast. The utility would need to turn on half of its 11 reactors to avoid the shortages forecast under the government's worst case scenario, according to Tomoko Murakami, a Tokyo-based nuclear analyst at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan. Restarting that number of reactors is very unlikely, she said last month.
Stress Tests
The Ohi reactors would be the first to come back online since Japan adopted so-called nuclear stress tests or computer simulations to assess each plant's ability to withstand earthquakes, tsunamis and to supply backup power to keep reactor cooling systems running. Power companies usually take about 10 days to start an idled reactor, according to Tomoe Sugimori, a spokeswoman for Kansai Electric. The failure of backup power at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Dai-Ichi station on March 11 last year caused the worst atomic accident since Chernobyl in 1986, and radiation fallout that forced the evacuation of about 160,000 people.
Japanese experts warn Indonesia on nuclear energy
www.asiaone.com
4 May 2012
Japanese experts have warned the Indonesian government to be very careful when deciding whether to generate power from nuclear power, arguing that the archipelago is prone to natural disasters. Japanese experts Heizo Takenaka and Yoichi Funabashi said that even their own country, which is among the most technologically advanced in the world, still has problems in dealing with the double whammy of last years tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear meltdown that followed.
Takenaka, a former internal affairs and communications minister, said Japan dealt with a massive crisis after the quake struck the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. Funabashi said that it was the worst crisis the country had faced since World War II. Funabashi led an independent investigation team, established by the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, to review how the Japanese government and other agencies responded to the disaster. Responding to Indonesia's plan to have its own nuclear plant, Takenaka said that although each country could decide its own energy policy, Indonesia should consider the fact that it is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to disaster.
Radiation will have a lasting impact, so you have to take into account a lot of things before building a power plant. You have to think about the cost of its management, its security and its restoration should anything happen. Its very costly, time consuming and risky, Funabashi said. There are no nuclear plants in Indonesia, but the government has expressed interest in building one. The country has two agencies overseeing nuclear issues: The National Nuclear Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Regulator Agency and Institute of Nuclear Technology.
4 May 2012
Japanese experts have warned the Indonesian government to be very careful when deciding whether to generate power from nuclear power, arguing that the archipelago is prone to natural disasters. Japanese experts Heizo Takenaka and Yoichi Funabashi said that even their own country, which is among the most technologically advanced in the world, still has problems in dealing with the double whammy of last years tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear meltdown that followed.Takenaka, a former internal affairs and communications minister, said Japan dealt with a massive crisis after the quake struck the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. Funabashi said that it was the worst crisis the country had faced since World War II. Funabashi led an independent investigation team, established by the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, to review how the Japanese government and other agencies responded to the disaster. Responding to Indonesia's plan to have its own nuclear plant, Takenaka said that although each country could decide its own energy policy, Indonesia should consider the fact that it is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to disaster.
Radiation will have a lasting impact, so you have to take into account a lot of things before building a power plant. You have to think about the cost of its management, its security and its restoration should anything happen. Its very costly, time consuming and risky, Funabashi said. There are no nuclear plants in Indonesia, but the government has expressed interest in building one. The country has two agencies overseeing nuclear issues: The National Nuclear Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Regulator Agency and Institute of Nuclear Technology.
Morgan Stanley backs solar energy leases for clean power finance
www.bloomberg.com
3 May 2012
Morgan Stanley (MS) and Main Street Power Co, are providing funds that will enable Clean Power Finance Inc.'s customers to install as much as $300 million in residential solar power projects. The equity investments, along with debt from lenders led by Zions Bancorporation (ZION), will finance rooftop photovoltaic systems on homes in California and Arizona, Clean Power Finance said today in a statement.
The closely held San Francisco-based company has developed software that connects investors and solar installers that may lack resources to provide financing for their own customers. "We're constructing a platform, or as I think of it, a conduit between the capital markets and the installers", Kristian Hanelt, senior vice president of renewable capital markets for Clean Power Finance, said in a phone interview. Morgan Stanley "is investing for the tax benefits", including a 30% investment tax credit for solar, while Main Street will be the long-term owner of the systems, he said.
The MySolar fund is the company's third and the industry's largest for non-military installations, Hanelt said. SolarCity Inc.'s $1 billion program to install solar panels on military houses is the largest. It's backed by $350 million in loans from Bank of America Corp, and an undisclosed amount of tax-equity financing from US Bancorp. "We've brought together a group of parties who all are interested in participating in the explosive growth that's happening in residential solar", Hanelt said.
Enabling Solar
Other companies enabling residential solar, including SolarCity, SunRun Inc, and Sungevity Inc., finance installations for homeowners through leases or long-term power purchase agreements that allow them to install systems at little to no upfront cost to customers. The companies pick the installers or do the work themselves. Clean Power Finance says it's working with more than 1,500 installers in every U.S, state. "We don't actually take equity in these projects ourselves", Hanelt said. "We think that's a bad use of venture capital dollars and that we'd be better off spending the Kleiner Perkins and the Google Ventures venture capital on building our business itself", he said.
Including the latest fund, Clean Power Finance has raised about $500 million to finance installations for its customers, according to the statement. Google Inc. (GOOG) created a $75 million fund in September. The size of the company's initial fund and the investors wasn't made public, Alison Mickey, a Clean Power Finance spokeswoman, said by e-mail.
3 May 2012
Morgan Stanley (MS) and Main Street Power Co, are providing funds that will enable Clean Power Finance Inc.'s customers to install as much as $300 million in residential solar power projects. The equity investments, along with debt from lenders led by Zions Bancorporation (ZION), will finance rooftop photovoltaic systems on homes in California and Arizona, Clean Power Finance said today in a statement.
The closely held San Francisco-based company has developed software that connects investors and solar installers that may lack resources to provide financing for their own customers. "We're constructing a platform, or as I think of it, a conduit between the capital markets and the installers", Kristian Hanelt, senior vice president of renewable capital markets for Clean Power Finance, said in a phone interview. Morgan Stanley "is investing for the tax benefits", including a 30% investment tax credit for solar, while Main Street will be the long-term owner of the systems, he said.
The MySolar fund is the company's third and the industry's largest for non-military installations, Hanelt said. SolarCity Inc.'s $1 billion program to install solar panels on military houses is the largest. It's backed by $350 million in loans from Bank of America Corp, and an undisclosed amount of tax-equity financing from US Bancorp. "We've brought together a group of parties who all are interested in participating in the explosive growth that's happening in residential solar", Hanelt said.
Enabling Solar
Other companies enabling residential solar, including SolarCity, SunRun Inc, and Sungevity Inc., finance installations for homeowners through leases or long-term power purchase agreements that allow them to install systems at little to no upfront cost to customers. The companies pick the installers or do the work themselves. Clean Power Finance says it's working with more than 1,500 installers in every U.S, state. "We don't actually take equity in these projects ourselves", Hanelt said. "We think that's a bad use of venture capital dollars and that we'd be better off spending the Kleiner Perkins and the Google Ventures venture capital on building our business itself", he said.
Including the latest fund, Clean Power Finance has raised about $500 million to finance installations for its customers, according to the statement. Google Inc. (GOOG) created a $75 million fund in September. The size of the company's initial fund and the investors wasn't made public, Alison Mickey, a Clean Power Finance spokeswoman, said by e-mail.
Monday, 7 May 2012
Wind farm has plenty of puff
www.themercury.com.au
4 May 2012
YOU just have to look at the trees.. Then, says Hydro Tasmania chief executive Roy Adair, it's easy to see why the Cape Portland property on Tasmania's far north-east tip, is considered one of the best wind farm sites in Australia. "The configuration of the trees and the way that they are heavily leaning to one side", he said.
The 550ha beef, dairy and former woolgrowing property is home to the 56 turbine Musselroe wind farm, now under construction after an eight year gestation. Mr Adair said the delays, as Hydro Tasmania waited for finalisation of the Federal Government's Renewable Energy Target Scheme, had been a blessing. The green light for the $400 million project coincided with Europe's financial debacle-an opportunity for Hydro Tasmania to pull off a great turbine deal, with hard-pressed Danish builder Vestas Wind Systems. The wind turbines will stretch 18km across the Cape Portland property from east to west.
They will be connected to a control building by 60km of underground cable. Mr Adair said buying the property in 2009, rather than working with an existing owner, enabled Hydro Tasmania to put its giant turbines with hub heights of 80m and a 45m blade radius and each producing 3 MW of power where it wanted. He said Hydro Tasmania wasn't troubled by Aboriginal heritage, environmental and ecological dilemmas which had plagued recent Tasmanian developments.
He said there had been several situations where turbines, as well as the 50km transmission line to Derby, had been on a collision course with sensitive sites. "We just moved them", he said. Project manager Justin Cooper said the construction workforce was this month ramping up to a peak of 200, temporarily tripling the size of Gladstone, the nearest town. Premier Lara Giddings, who yesterday visited the site, said 200 jobs over 18 months was a welcome boost for an area hit hard by the forestry downturn.
4 May 2012
YOU just have to look at the trees.. Then, says Hydro Tasmania chief executive Roy Adair, it's easy to see why the Cape Portland property on Tasmania's far north-east tip, is considered one of the best wind farm sites in Australia. "The configuration of the trees and the way that they are heavily leaning to one side", he said.The 550ha beef, dairy and former woolgrowing property is home to the 56 turbine Musselroe wind farm, now under construction after an eight year gestation. Mr Adair said the delays, as Hydro Tasmania waited for finalisation of the Federal Government's Renewable Energy Target Scheme, had been a blessing. The green light for the $400 million project coincided with Europe's financial debacle-an opportunity for Hydro Tasmania to pull off a great turbine deal, with hard-pressed Danish builder Vestas Wind Systems. The wind turbines will stretch 18km across the Cape Portland property from east to west.
They will be connected to a control building by 60km of underground cable. Mr Adair said buying the property in 2009, rather than working with an existing owner, enabled Hydro Tasmania to put its giant turbines with hub heights of 80m and a 45m blade radius and each producing 3 MW of power where it wanted. He said Hydro Tasmania wasn't troubled by Aboriginal heritage, environmental and ecological dilemmas which had plagued recent Tasmanian developments.
He said there had been several situations where turbines, as well as the 50km transmission line to Derby, had been on a collision course with sensitive sites. "We just moved them", he said. Project manager Justin Cooper said the construction workforce was this month ramping up to a peak of 200, temporarily tripling the size of Gladstone, the nearest town. Premier Lara Giddings, who yesterday visited the site, said 200 jobs over 18 months was a welcome boost for an area hit hard by the forestry downturn.
South Korea approves emissions trading system
www.smh.com.au
3 May 2012
South Korea approved a cap-and-trade system to cut carbon emissions as President Lee Myung Bak seeks support from factories and power plants in the fastest-growing producer of greenhouse gases among industrialised democracies. The National Assembly passed a bill to establish a cap-and-trade system in the country by 2015 with the backing of both ruling and opposition parties, according to the assembly's webcast of the main session yesterday.
"The bill is needed to cope with global climate change and, domestically to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas efficiently", Kim Jae Kyung, a member of the ruling New Frontier Party, said in the assembly's plenary session before voting. The bill was passed in a 148 0 vote, with 3 abstentions. President Lee Myung Bak is struggling to sell the plan at home after pledging in December 2009 at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen to cut carbon emissions by 30% from forecast levels by 2020. The country's largest companies said the plan will hurt competitiveness.
Korea's decision follows an agreement at climate talks in December among about 200 countries including the US and China to wait until 2015 to sign a global accord on emission reductions that would take effect as late as 2020. "Korea becomes an early adopter in Asia" of a cap-and-trade program, Kang Hee Chan, a senior researcher at the Korea Environment Institute, said by phone. "Korea joins Australia and China, which plan to introduce the program in 2015".
Read More…
3 May 2012
South Korea approved a cap-and-trade system to cut carbon emissions as President Lee Myung Bak seeks support from factories and power plants in the fastest-growing producer of greenhouse gases among industrialised democracies. The National Assembly passed a bill to establish a cap-and-trade system in the country by 2015 with the backing of both ruling and opposition parties, according to the assembly's webcast of the main session yesterday.
"The bill is needed to cope with global climate change and, domestically to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas efficiently", Kim Jae Kyung, a member of the ruling New Frontier Party, said in the assembly's plenary session before voting. The bill was passed in a 148 0 vote, with 3 abstentions. President Lee Myung Bak is struggling to sell the plan at home after pledging in December 2009 at the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen to cut carbon emissions by 30% from forecast levels by 2020. The country's largest companies said the plan will hurt competitiveness.
Korea's decision follows an agreement at climate talks in December among about 200 countries including the US and China to wait until 2015 to sign a global accord on emission reductions that would take effect as late as 2020. "Korea becomes an early adopter in Asia" of a cap-and-trade program, Kang Hee Chan, a senior researcher at the Korea Environment Institute, said by phone. "Korea joins Australia and China, which plan to introduce the program in 2015".
Read More…
Japan assesses older nuclear plants
online.wsj.com
TOKYO--Japan is grappling with the question of whether older nuclear reactors are more prone to spinning out of control when a disaster hits, as the nation pushes to restart units for the first time since last year's accident in Fukushima.
The Japanese government, which has held a series of hearings on the matter this year with an expert panel, concluded age wasn't a factor in the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. All three reactors went online in the 1970s. The government said bolts, pipes and other important parts used in safety equipment such as cooling systems had been regularly replaced, making the age of the reactors less relevant.
A number of critics have expressed concern with the findings, saying that the government's investigations weren't broad enough, and that it ignored comments even from critical members of the panel. The government has been pressing to avert expected energy shortages over the summer by restarting some of Japan's 50 reactors, nearly all of which are now shut down while it reviews their safety. Some 60% of those reactors started operations in the 1970s or 1980s--a similar proportion to that seen globally.
On Wednesday, the government said it expects electricity shortages in Tokyo as well as in the Kansai and Kyushu regions this summer, which is shaping up to be the country's first peak-demand season without nuclear power since 1965. nuclear power generated 11% of Japan's power supply this past August, according to industry data. The loss of that power makes the potential for shortages greater this year than last, despite efforts by utilities to boost non-nuclear generation.
In a preliminary report, the government's national policy unit projected a 5% shortage for Tokyo and 4% shortages for Kansai and Kyushu. The forecast is based on data from last summer and on supply-capacity figures submitted by utilities. It takes into account the possible resumption of power-saving programs in place last summer, which were estimated to have trimmed typical demand levels by around 10%.
Read More…
TOKYO--Japan is grappling with the question of whether older nuclear reactors are more prone to spinning out of control when a disaster hits, as the nation pushes to restart units for the first time since last year's accident in Fukushima.
The Japanese government, which has held a series of hearings on the matter this year with an expert panel, concluded age wasn't a factor in the meltdown of three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi plant following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. All three reactors went online in the 1970s. The government said bolts, pipes and other important parts used in safety equipment such as cooling systems had been regularly replaced, making the age of the reactors less relevant.
A number of critics have expressed concern with the findings, saying that the government's investigations weren't broad enough, and that it ignored comments even from critical members of the panel. The government has been pressing to avert expected energy shortages over the summer by restarting some of Japan's 50 reactors, nearly all of which are now shut down while it reviews their safety. Some 60% of those reactors started operations in the 1970s or 1980s--a similar proportion to that seen globally.
On Wednesday, the government said it expects electricity shortages in Tokyo as well as in the Kansai and Kyushu regions this summer, which is shaping up to be the country's first peak-demand season without nuclear power since 1965. nuclear power generated 11% of Japan's power supply this past August, according to industry data. The loss of that power makes the potential for shortages greater this year than last, despite efforts by utilities to boost non-nuclear generation.
In a preliminary report, the government's national policy unit projected a 5% shortage for Tokyo and 4% shortages for Kansai and Kyushu. The forecast is based on data from last summer and on supply-capacity figures submitted by utilities. It takes into account the possible resumption of power-saving programs in place last summer, which were estimated to have trimmed typical demand levels by around 10%.
Read More…
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Origin's opportunistic RET resistance
www.climatespectator.com.au
3 May 2012
Origin Energy made big news in the Australian renewables sector yesterday by signing onto the biggest renewable energy power purchase agreement ever contracted in this country-the 270MW Snowtown II wind farm in SA. It represented an almost perfect rebuttal to criticisms by others in the renewable energy sector that the company was playing games to undermine the Renewable Energy Target by holding off on entering into PPAs to create the impression the target could not be met.
But on the same day, Origin Energy CEO Grant King undid this favourable publicity by delivering a presentation where he suggested the level of the RET be reduced by more than a fifth-from 45,000 GWs to 35,000 GWs in 2020. In the chart reproduced below, King argued that because electricity demand growth has dropped dramatically, we need far less renewable energy than initially projected to achieve the 20% by 2020 renewables target.
The implications for the large-scale renewables sector from following King's line of argument would be devastating. The current target for large scale renewables (LRET) such as wind and biomass is 41,000GWh by 2020, which he suggests should be lowered to 27,000GWh. Based on current legislation, Green Energy Markets estimates that we need to connect 1000MW of large scale renewables to the grid in 2014 (equivalent to about 4 Snowtown II's) and then 1500MW for each subsequent year to 2020. This adds up to a total of 10,000 MWs.
Read More…
3 May 2012
Origin Energy made big news in the Australian renewables sector yesterday by signing onto the biggest renewable energy power purchase agreement ever contracted in this country-the 270MW Snowtown II wind farm in SA. It represented an almost perfect rebuttal to criticisms by others in the renewable energy sector that the company was playing games to undermine the Renewable Energy Target by holding off on entering into PPAs to create the impression the target could not be met.
But on the same day, Origin Energy CEO Grant King undid this favourable publicity by delivering a presentation where he suggested the level of the RET be reduced by more than a fifth-from 45,000 GWs to 35,000 GWs in 2020. In the chart reproduced below, King argued that because electricity demand growth has dropped dramatically, we need far less renewable energy than initially projected to achieve the 20% by 2020 renewables target.
The implications for the large-scale renewables sector from following King's line of argument would be devastating. The current target for large scale renewables (LRET) such as wind and biomass is 41,000GWh by 2020, which he suggests should be lowered to 27,000GWh. Based on current legislation, Green Energy Markets estimates that we need to connect 1000MW of large scale renewables to the grid in 2014 (equivalent to about 4 Snowtown II's) and then 1500MW for each subsequent year to 2020. This adds up to a total of 10,000 MWs.
Read More…
Swim centre power station
www.themercury.com.au
2 May 2012
THE roof of Hobart's Aquatic Centre could become a big community-owned solar power station, says a Greens alderman. A meeting of local residents had already shown strong support for the idea and Alderman Bill Harvey said he wanted to see co-operatively-owned wind farms and solar installations installed around the city and further afield. Not every home was suitable for a solar panels and buying a share in a larger venture was a good way for residents to get involved with green energy, he said. Such projects carried the possibility of a financial return if the project was commercially viable, he said.
"There seems to be really strong interest in community-generated energy", Alderman Harvey said. "It's a green energy source, it's kudos for the council (and) it keeps money in the community, rather than paying a retailer on the mainland. "And 2012 is the year of the Co-Op, so it seems an appropriate time to be looking at these things". He said the Aquatic Centre site would be ideal for a large-scale solar system which would be able it to operate on a carbon neutral basis and provide a return for investors. "It's got a substantial roof negotiating with the council would be easier than negotiating with a business potentially", he said.
Melbourne-based community power advocate Embark has expressed an interest in helping the Aquatic Centre project get off the ground. Embark executive director Mary Doughety said a similar scheme for wind power in central Victoria attracted $10 million from 2000 mum and dad investors and was generating the power needs of a small town while providing returns of 8 to 10%.
"As an individual you can't invest in renewable energy", she said. "It's an easy way for people who rent or people who don't have the appropriate roof space or a suitable site for their own panels. "We believe an energy transformation has to take place over the coming decades. The premise is about making sure communities benefit". Alderman Harvey said he planned to hold further community meetings to shape the project in the coming months.
2 May 2012
THE roof of Hobart's Aquatic Centre could become a big community-owned solar power station, says a Greens alderman. A meeting of local residents had already shown strong support for the idea and Alderman Bill Harvey said he wanted to see co-operatively-owned wind farms and solar installations installed around the city and further afield. Not every home was suitable for a solar panels and buying a share in a larger venture was a good way for residents to get involved with green energy, he said. Such projects carried the possibility of a financial return if the project was commercially viable, he said."There seems to be really strong interest in community-generated energy", Alderman Harvey said. "It's a green energy source, it's kudos for the council (and) it keeps money in the community, rather than paying a retailer on the mainland. "And 2012 is the year of the Co-Op, so it seems an appropriate time to be looking at these things". He said the Aquatic Centre site would be ideal for a large-scale solar system which would be able it to operate on a carbon neutral basis and provide a return for investors. "It's got a substantial roof negotiating with the council would be easier than negotiating with a business potentially", he said.
Melbourne-based community power advocate Embark has expressed an interest in helping the Aquatic Centre project get off the ground. Embark executive director Mary Doughety said a similar scheme for wind power in central Victoria attracted $10 million from 2000 mum and dad investors and was generating the power needs of a small town while providing returns of 8 to 10%.
"As an individual you can't invest in renewable energy", she said. "It's an easy way for people who rent or people who don't have the appropriate roof space or a suitable site for their own panels. "We believe an energy transformation has to take place over the coming decades. The premise is about making sure communities benefit". Alderman Harvey said he planned to hold further community meetings to shape the project in the coming months.
Thai firm to spend $US600m on Aust energy
www.businessspectator.com.au
30 Apr 2012
Thai energy company Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc is planning to invest US$600 million (A$572 million) in new wind turbine plants in Australia, tripling its local wind-power output to 300 MWs. The expansion by Ratchaburi's subsidiary, Ratch-Australia Corporation, is aimed at staying in step with Australia's future energy policies, Ratchaburi Electricity chief executive Noppol Milinthanggoon said. The planned investment comes as Ratchaburi Electricity is moving to complete a $US813 million acquisition of Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund in raising its stake to 80% by June 2012.
Noppol said Ratchaburi Electricity is to invest a further $US30.5 million in Ratch-Australia to meet the 80% target from a current stake of 68%. A spokesperson for the company said the Australian offshoot will lead the expansion as part of the company's offshore investment plans. Ratch-Australia operates three wind power plants in Victoria at Starfish Hill, Toora and Windy Hill.
The Toora operation has 12 turbines with a production capacity of 1.75 MWs, meeting the power needs of 6600 families. "We have a goal to invest in at least three wind power projects with a total production volume of 200 MWs from an existing 100 MW capacity", Noppol said. He said the company was also looking to overhaul and expand the production capacity at Ratch-Australia's existing plants. Ratch-Australia Corporation currently oversees three natural gas power plants, two coal power plants and three wind power plants with a total production capacity of 1,126 MWs. The company says it has firm agreements covering 90% of the generated electricity to be purchased under contract over the next 11 years.
30 Apr 2012
Thai energy company Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc is planning to invest US$600 million (A$572 million) in new wind turbine plants in Australia, tripling its local wind-power output to 300 MWs. The expansion by Ratchaburi's subsidiary, Ratch-Australia Corporation, is aimed at staying in step with Australia's future energy policies, Ratchaburi Electricity chief executive Noppol Milinthanggoon said. The planned investment comes as Ratchaburi Electricity is moving to complete a $US813 million acquisition of Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund in raising its stake to 80% by June 2012.
Noppol said Ratchaburi Electricity is to invest a further $US30.5 million in Ratch-Australia to meet the 80% target from a current stake of 68%. A spokesperson for the company said the Australian offshoot will lead the expansion as part of the company's offshore investment plans. Ratch-Australia operates three wind power plants in Victoria at Starfish Hill, Toora and Windy Hill.
The Toora operation has 12 turbines with a production capacity of 1.75 MWs, meeting the power needs of 6600 families. "We have a goal to invest in at least three wind power projects with a total production volume of 200 MWs from an existing 100 MW capacity", Noppol said. He said the company was also looking to overhaul and expand the production capacity at Ratch-Australia's existing plants. Ratch-Australia Corporation currently oversees three natural gas power plants, two coal power plants and three wind power plants with a total production capacity of 1,126 MWs. The company says it has firm agreements covering 90% of the generated electricity to be purchased under contract over the next 11 years.
Friday, 4 May 2012
WA to launch world-first wave energy project
www.smh.com.au
1 May 2012
The first wave energy project in the Southern Hemisphere is set to commence operation in Western Australia next year, with the federal government announcing almost $10 million in funding today. WA-based energy company Carnegie Corporation will begin construction of Australia's first commercial scale grid-connected wave project next year, which will be located on and around Garden Island, with power delivered by the end of 2013. Energy Minister Craig Ferguson today announced the federal government would contribute $9.9 million as part of the Emerging Renewables program, with the state government contributing $5.5 million under the Low Emissions Energy Development program.
Mr Ferguson commended the project for showcasing innovative Australian technology, and said the by-product of emission-free desalinated water was a "welcome bonus". "This is where I see Australia growing into renewable energy jobs of the future", he said. As well as being the first such project in the Southern Hemisphere, the project also uses Australian-owned and developed CETO technology, which is the only of its kind in the world. Developed in WA over the last 10 years at a cost of $60 million, CETO differs to other wave energy technology by operating out of sight and underwater, where it is anchored to the ocean floor and generates electricity onshore, rather than offshore.
The CETO units move with motion of passing waves, driving pumps which deliver pressurised water to shore via a pipeline, which in turn drives hydroelectric turbines. In addition to generating zero-emission electricity, the pressurised water delivered ashore can also be used to supply a desalination plant. The unique Australian technology has already been snapped up by the world's largest electricity generator, French company EDF Energy, for use on Reunion Island. The project's onshore power generation facility will be located at Australia's largest naval base HMAS Stirling, and is expected to produce 2 MWs of electricity by 2014, with later expansion to 5 MWs.
A CSIRO study last year found Australia's wave energy alone was capable of providing three times Australia's annual energy consumption, which was 50,000 MWs. Carnegie Corporation chief executive officer Dr Michael Ottaviano said the project provided a unique opportunity for Australia to become a "technology provider rather than technology taker". Australia could rival Scotland, Dr Ottaviano said, which was trying to capture the wave energy industry by virtue of its offshore engineering experience and good wave resources.
"We've got just as much, if not more, competent offshore engineering experience from the oil and gas industry and our wave resources are some 20 times greater than Scotland", he said. State and federal government funds will comprise half of the project's $31.2 million cost, with New York-based investors Lind group also providing funding. Carnegie Corporation has signed memorandums of understanding with the Department of Defence and West Australian retailer, Synergy Energy.
1 May 2012
The first wave energy project in the Southern Hemisphere is set to commence operation in Western Australia next year, with the federal government announcing almost $10 million in funding today. WA-based energy company Carnegie Corporation will begin construction of Australia's first commercial scale grid-connected wave project next year, which will be located on and around Garden Island, with power delivered by the end of 2013. Energy Minister Craig Ferguson today announced the federal government would contribute $9.9 million as part of the Emerging Renewables program, with the state government contributing $5.5 million under the Low Emissions Energy Development program.Mr Ferguson commended the project for showcasing innovative Australian technology, and said the by-product of emission-free desalinated water was a "welcome bonus". "This is where I see Australia growing into renewable energy jobs of the future", he said. As well as being the first such project in the Southern Hemisphere, the project also uses Australian-owned and developed CETO technology, which is the only of its kind in the world. Developed in WA over the last 10 years at a cost of $60 million, CETO differs to other wave energy technology by operating out of sight and underwater, where it is anchored to the ocean floor and generates electricity onshore, rather than offshore.
The CETO units move with motion of passing waves, driving pumps which deliver pressurised water to shore via a pipeline, which in turn drives hydroelectric turbines. In addition to generating zero-emission electricity, the pressurised water delivered ashore can also be used to supply a desalination plant. The unique Australian technology has already been snapped up by the world's largest electricity generator, French company EDF Energy, for use on Reunion Island. The project's onshore power generation facility will be located at Australia's largest naval base HMAS Stirling, and is expected to produce 2 MWs of electricity by 2014, with later expansion to 5 MWs.
A CSIRO study last year found Australia's wave energy alone was capable of providing three times Australia's annual energy consumption, which was 50,000 MWs. Carnegie Corporation chief executive officer Dr Michael Ottaviano said the project provided a unique opportunity for Australia to become a "technology provider rather than technology taker". Australia could rival Scotland, Dr Ottaviano said, which was trying to capture the wave energy industry by virtue of its offshore engineering experience and good wave resources.
"We've got just as much, if not more, competent offshore engineering experience from the oil and gas industry and our wave resources are some 20 times greater than Scotland", he said. State and federal government funds will comprise half of the project's $31.2 million cost, with New York-based investors Lind group also providing funding. Carnegie Corporation has signed memorandums of understanding with the Department of Defence and West Australian retailer, Synergy Energy.
Coal or wind in your backyard?
www.climatespectator.com.au
30 Apr 2012
If you're going to 'pick winners' from the energy market, you at least want to choose wisely. So it's hard to see why Victorian laws treat coal and coal seam gas more favourably than renewable energy. The Environment Defenders Office (Victoria) (EDO) released a report last week that finds Victoria's laws give the mining industry privileged treatment that few other industries enjoy. In particular, they now make it easier to obtain approval for a coal mine than a wind farm in Victoria.
The planning rules for wind farms introduced by the state government last year are some of the toughest that apply to any type of development anywhere in the country. No new wind projects have been proposed in Victoria since they have been introduced. At the same time, the government has moved to relax the laws that apply to new mining projects, developing a strategy to encourage brown coal export in Victoria, and initiating a Parliamentary Inquiry to identify and remove barriers to further 'Greenfields' minerals exploration and mining. That Parliamentary Inquiry is due to table its report tomorrow. Let's hope it considers the following differences between the treatment of coal mines and wind farms in Victoria:
This treatment is obviously at odds with the scientific need to make a rapid transition out of polluting energy sources, like coal and gas, and into renewable energy. It is at odds with Victoria's abundant renewable energy resources, and their potential for growth in investment and jobs. It also represents a formidable distortion to the Victorian energy market. The carbon price and other Clean Energy Future policies will drive billions of dollars of investment in renewable energy, but that investment will not go to Victoria so long as these regulatory barriers are in place.
It reflects an assumption that the public benefit of extracting minerals is greater than any costs that may arise from doing so. However, the Industry Commission noted in 1991 that this is not necessarily the case--an argument which seems even more true now that more is understood about the impact on the health and safety of regional communities, the environmental impacts of mining (especially for coal and coal seam gas), and the macroeconomic costs of the mining boom for other economic sectors.
Why then should wind power be subject to more restrictive laws than coal and coal seam gas? For example, if wind farms are subject to 'no go' zones, why shouldn't coal mines be? The EDO report calls for a strategic planning process to identify sensitive areas (for example, those with valuable groundwater resources, or prime agricultural land, or high conservation value areas) and protect them from mining altogether through 'no go' zones closed to mining.
If regional communities can 'veto' wind farms near their property, why shouldn't they have the same rights for coal mines? The Victorian Farmers Federation has called for this right of veto. The EDO report also calls for regional communities to have the right to appeal mining approvals, and to enforce breaches of the law, in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
There are good reasons to think that renewable energy should be treated more favourably than fossil fuels, and given further support from the Victorian government. But at the very least, the government should level the playing field. After all, giving privileged support an industry as questionable as the coal and coal seam gas industry is stretching the limits of the phrase 'picking winners'.
Michael Power is a Law Reform Lawyer at the Environment Defenders Office (Victoria), an independent not-for-profit centre dedicated to public interest environment law.
30 Apr 2012
If you're going to 'pick winners' from the energy market, you at least want to choose wisely. So it's hard to see why Victorian laws treat coal and coal seam gas more favourably than renewable energy. The Environment Defenders Office (Victoria) (EDO) released a report last week that finds Victoria's laws give the mining industry privileged treatment that few other industries enjoy. In particular, they now make it easier to obtain approval for a coal mine than a wind farm in Victoria.
The planning rules for wind farms introduced by the state government last year are some of the toughest that apply to any type of development anywhere in the country. No new wind projects have been proposed in Victoria since they have been introduced. At the same time, the government has moved to relax the laws that apply to new mining projects, developing a strategy to encourage brown coal export in Victoria, and initiating a Parliamentary Inquiry to identify and remove barriers to further 'Greenfields' minerals exploration and mining. That Parliamentary Inquiry is due to table its report tomorrow. Let's hope it considers the following differences between the treatment of coal mines and wind farms in Victoria:
- A wind farm cannot be built within two km of a person's home without their consent. But a coal mine can be opened within 100 meters of a home without the owner's consent.
- Wind farms are now excluded from 'no go' zones stretching across the state. But coal mines face no such 'no go' zones: the only place they are excluded from is national parks (for now).
- All wind farms require planning approval from the local council. Coal projects, on the other hand, can avoid the need to obtain certain planning approvals at all in some cases.
- Wind farms must comply with environmental laws like any other project. Coal projects, on the other hand, are exempt from parts of key laws like the Environment Protection Act 1970 (Vic).
This treatment is obviously at odds with the scientific need to make a rapid transition out of polluting energy sources, like coal and gas, and into renewable energy. It is at odds with Victoria's abundant renewable energy resources, and their potential for growth in investment and jobs. It also represents a formidable distortion to the Victorian energy market. The carbon price and other Clean Energy Future policies will drive billions of dollars of investment in renewable energy, but that investment will not go to Victoria so long as these regulatory barriers are in place.
It reflects an assumption that the public benefit of extracting minerals is greater than any costs that may arise from doing so. However, the Industry Commission noted in 1991 that this is not necessarily the case--an argument which seems even more true now that more is understood about the impact on the health and safety of regional communities, the environmental impacts of mining (especially for coal and coal seam gas), and the macroeconomic costs of the mining boom for other economic sectors.
Why then should wind power be subject to more restrictive laws than coal and coal seam gas? For example, if wind farms are subject to 'no go' zones, why shouldn't coal mines be? The EDO report calls for a strategic planning process to identify sensitive areas (for example, those with valuable groundwater resources, or prime agricultural land, or high conservation value areas) and protect them from mining altogether through 'no go' zones closed to mining.
If regional communities can 'veto' wind farms near their property, why shouldn't they have the same rights for coal mines? The Victorian Farmers Federation has called for this right of veto. The EDO report also calls for regional communities to have the right to appeal mining approvals, and to enforce breaches of the law, in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
There are good reasons to think that renewable energy should be treated more favourably than fossil fuels, and given further support from the Victorian government. But at the very least, the government should level the playing field. After all, giving privileged support an industry as questionable as the coal and coal seam gas industry is stretching the limits of the phrase 'picking winners'.
Michael Power is a Law Reform Lawyer at the Environment Defenders Office (Victoria), an independent not-for-profit centre dedicated to public interest environment law.
Dhursar solar project commissioned
www.power-eng.com
28 Apr 2012
FirstSolar, Inc, has announced the commissioning by Reliance Power Ltd, a Reliance ADAGroup company, of a 40 MW ground mounted solar photovoltaic power plant in Rajasthan that will provide clean energy to Mumbai. The project was built in just five months. Comprising some 500,000 FirstSolar thin-film modules, the power plant is spread over 350 acres near Dhursar village in Jaisalmer district.The plant is expected to generate more than 60 million units (kW) of clean solar power a year,making it one of the country's largest photovoltaic power plant in terms of electricity generation.
Covering 350 acres, it is 23 times the size of Calcutta's famous EdenGardens cricket grounds and is expected to satisfy the annual electricity needs of more than 70,000 average Indian households. It will displace more than 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year,the equivalent of taking more than25,000 cars off the road. The Dhursar project is the first of several that Reliance plans to build with FirstSolar modules as part of a 100 MW module order placed last year.
28 Apr 2012
FirstSolar, Inc, has announced the commissioning by Reliance Power Ltd, a Reliance ADAGroup company, of a 40 MW ground mounted solar photovoltaic power plant in Rajasthan that will provide clean energy to Mumbai. The project was built in just five months. Comprising some 500,000 FirstSolar thin-film modules, the power plant is spread over 350 acres near Dhursar village in Jaisalmer district.The plant is expected to generate more than 60 million units (kW) of clean solar power a year,making it one of the country's largest photovoltaic power plant in terms of electricity generation.
Covering 350 acres, it is 23 times the size of Calcutta's famous EdenGardens cricket grounds and is expected to satisfy the annual electricity needs of more than 70,000 average Indian households. It will displace more than 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year,the equivalent of taking more than25,000 cars off the road. The Dhursar project is the first of several that Reliance plans to build with FirstSolar modules as part of a 100 MW module order placed last year.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
UK launches North Sea renewable energy hub
www.reuters.com
25 Apr 2012
LONDON, April 26 (Reuters)-More than twenty companies have signed a partnership agreement to turn the North Sea into a major renewable energy hub focusing on offshore wind power, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron is to announce on Thursday. Major utilities, such as Britain's Scottish Power and Norway's Statoil, manufacturers from Siemens to Gamesa Corp and supply chain companies are supporting the initiative, provisionally named Norstec.
"Our commitment and investment in renewable energy has helped to make renewable energy possible. Now we have a different challenge. We need to make it financially sustainable", Cameron will tell ministers from 23 countries who are attending a two-day clean energy summit in London. Further details about the operations of the network will be releaved at an offshore wind conference in London in June. Britain has an ambitious target of installing 18 GWs of offshore wind power capacity by 2020, compared with around 2 GW in operation in British waters at the moment.
German utility E.ON is also on Thursday expected to award a 736 million pound cable installation contract to British construction firm Balfour Beatty to connect its Humber Gateway offshore wind farm to the electricity grid. The 230 MW wind farm will be located 8 km off the coast of East Yorkshire and its 73 turbines will produce the equivalent of electricity used in 150,000 homes.
Two UK biomass power plants also reached major milestones on Thursday, with Helius Energy close to securing a finance deal to fund its 300 million pound Avonmouth plant and a construction start at the ECO₂ 38 MW biomass plant in Sleaford. British Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said earlier this week Britain would also sign clean energy cooperation agreements with Brazil, Germany, South Korea and the U.S, as part of the international summit. On Monday, Britain announced a partnership with the U.S, to support the development of floating wind turbines which can tap stronger wind forces.
25 Apr 2012
- Major utilities, manufacturers sign up to partnership
- E.ON awards offshore cable contract to Balfour Beatty
- Two UK biomass plants reach milestones
LONDON, April 26 (Reuters)-More than twenty companies have signed a partnership agreement to turn the North Sea into a major renewable energy hub focusing on offshore wind power, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron is to announce on Thursday. Major utilities, such as Britain's Scottish Power and Norway's Statoil, manufacturers from Siemens to Gamesa Corp and supply chain companies are supporting the initiative, provisionally named Norstec.
"Our commitment and investment in renewable energy has helped to make renewable energy possible. Now we have a different challenge. We need to make it financially sustainable", Cameron will tell ministers from 23 countries who are attending a two-day clean energy summit in London. Further details about the operations of the network will be releaved at an offshore wind conference in London in June. Britain has an ambitious target of installing 18 GWs of offshore wind power capacity by 2020, compared with around 2 GW in operation in British waters at the moment.
German utility E.ON is also on Thursday expected to award a 736 million pound cable installation contract to British construction firm Balfour Beatty to connect its Humber Gateway offshore wind farm to the electricity grid. The 230 MW wind farm will be located 8 km off the coast of East Yorkshire and its 73 turbines will produce the equivalent of electricity used in 150,000 homes.
Two UK biomass power plants also reached major milestones on Thursday, with Helius Energy close to securing a finance deal to fund its 300 million pound Avonmouth plant and a construction start at the ECO₂ 38 MW biomass plant in Sleaford. British Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said earlier this week Britain would also sign clean energy cooperation agreements with Brazil, Germany, South Korea and the U.S, as part of the international summit. On Monday, Britain announced a partnership with the U.S, to support the development of floating wind turbines which can tap stronger wind forces.
Japan recommends preferential price rates for renewable energy
www.bloomberg.com
25 Apr 2012
Japan will require power utilities to pay above market rates for electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, based on recommendations announced today by a government panel. The preferential rate, known as a feed-in tariff, for solar power was recommended at 42 yen (52 U.S,¢) a kW for 20 years, compared with the current rate of 13.65 yen a kW for industry and commercial users, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Wind-generated power was recommended at 23.10 yen a kW for plants with the capacity of 20 kWs or more and 57.75 yen for smaller ones, both for 20 years. For geothermal, the panel recommended 27.30 yen a kW for plants with the capacity of 15,000 kWs or more and 42 yen for smaller plants, both for 15 years. Japan currently gets about 9% of its electricity from renewable energy.
Pending approval by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the feed-in tariffs will be introduced in July to spur investment in solar, wind geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric power generation as Japan plans a shift away from atomic power after the Fukushima disaster. In August, Japan's parliament approved legislation for the feed-in tariffs to help diversify its energy mix following the devastating accident at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant in March 2011. Atomic power provided about 30% of the country's electricity before the Fukushima crisis.
Nuclear Free
Japan is set to be nuclear free for the first time in more than four decades next month as the last of its 50 operating reactors is scheduled to be shut for maintenance. All the reactors are being kept offline pending safety tests and government approval for restarts. The price recommendation for solar is in line with that earlier proposed by the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association. The Japan Wind Power Association had suggested a wind tariff of up to 25 yen over 20 years for bigger producers. The Japan Geothermal Developers' Council had recommended 25.8 yen a kW for 15 years for bigger suppliers.
25 Apr 2012
Japan will require power utilities to pay above market rates for electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, based on recommendations announced today by a government panel. The preferential rate, known as a feed-in tariff, for solar power was recommended at 42 yen (52 U.S,¢) a kW for 20 years, compared with the current rate of 13.65 yen a kW for industry and commercial users, according to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Wind-generated power was recommended at 23.10 yen a kW for plants with the capacity of 20 kWs or more and 57.75 yen for smaller ones, both for 20 years. For geothermal, the panel recommended 27.30 yen a kW for plants with the capacity of 15,000 kWs or more and 42 yen for smaller plants, both for 15 years. Japan currently gets about 9% of its electricity from renewable energy.
Pending approval by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the feed-in tariffs will be introduced in July to spur investment in solar, wind geothermal, biomass and hydroelectric power generation as Japan plans a shift away from atomic power after the Fukushima disaster. In August, Japan's parliament approved legislation for the feed-in tariffs to help diversify its energy mix following the devastating accident at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant in March 2011. Atomic power provided about 30% of the country's electricity before the Fukushima crisis.
Nuclear Free
Japan is set to be nuclear free for the first time in more than four decades next month as the last of its 50 operating reactors is scheduled to be shut for maintenance. All the reactors are being kept offline pending safety tests and government approval for restarts. The price recommendation for solar is in line with that earlier proposed by the Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association. The Japan Wind Power Association had suggested a wind tariff of up to 25 yen over 20 years for bigger producers. The Japan Geothermal Developers' Council had recommended 25.8 yen a kW for 15 years for bigger suppliers.
App shows green power flows to German consumers
www.reuters.com
25 Apr 2012
(Reuters) - Power users with "green" leanings in Germany now can put into practice what they preach by switching on electrical devices at times of high renewable energy production. A new app offered by German utility Vattenfall Europe provides short-term information about the share of power derived from renewables such as wind or solar within the overall power mix. Stromwetter (power weather), the smartphone app which was developed by the firm, displays in green colour any share of renewable power exceeding 10%, or 8 GW of usage out of the maximum power load on the transmission grids of roughly 80,000 MW, Vattenfall said on Wednesday.
"If you prefer to use power from wind and solar power sources, then that is the time period on which to focus your consumption," said Helmar Rendez, managing director of Vattenfall Distribution. "By using the app, power customers can voluntarily support the strategy shift towards renewables, independently of where they are buying their power and at what tariff it is priced," he added. Wind power accounted for 38% of renewable power output last year and solar power for 16%, with biomass accounting for 30% and hydroelectric power the rest.
Stromwetter will derive the data from Leipzig power exchange EEX, which collects and relays aggregated production figures from German and Austrian power companies in 15-minute intervals. Germany has embarked on a shift toward renewables and away from nuclear power in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster in March 2011. It derived 20% of power from renewables last year. It wants 35% by 2020 and 80% by the middle of the century.
25 Apr 2012
(Reuters) - Power users with "green" leanings in Germany now can put into practice what they preach by switching on electrical devices at times of high renewable energy production. A new app offered by German utility Vattenfall Europe provides short-term information about the share of power derived from renewables such as wind or solar within the overall power mix. Stromwetter (power weather), the smartphone app which was developed by the firm, displays in green colour any share of renewable power exceeding 10%, or 8 GW of usage out of the maximum power load on the transmission grids of roughly 80,000 MW, Vattenfall said on Wednesday.
"If you prefer to use power from wind and solar power sources, then that is the time period on which to focus your consumption," said Helmar Rendez, managing director of Vattenfall Distribution. "By using the app, power customers can voluntarily support the strategy shift towards renewables, independently of where they are buying their power and at what tariff it is priced," he added. Wind power accounted for 38% of renewable power output last year and solar power for 16%, with biomass accounting for 30% and hydroelectric power the rest.
Stromwetter will derive the data from Leipzig power exchange EEX, which collects and relays aggregated production figures from German and Austrian power companies in 15-minute intervals. Germany has embarked on a shift toward renewables and away from nuclear power in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster in March 2011. It derived 20% of power from renewables last year. It wants 35% by 2020 and 80% by the middle of the century.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Ryan resists mining veto calls
www.abc.net.au
23 Apr 2012
The Victorian Government is resisting calls to give landholders the power to veto mining activity on their land. Households can currently veto wind farm projects within a 2 km radius and the Victorian Farmers Federation says the laws should also apply to mining projects. It says farmers are particularly concerned about the risks associated with coal seam gas projects. However, Deputy Premier Peter Ryan says the current environment laws provide adequate protection.
"Through the laws that govern our mining regime in this state, anybody who wants to explore, for let alone actually mine coal seam gas in this state, will have to comply with the most rigorous laws in this nation", he said. He says coal seam gas projects do not pose a risk to the state's agriculture industry. "We have the best laws in Australia to make sure that not only is exploration very, very heavily monitored but to then make the next stage to mining is a huge quantum leap", he said. "We are very, very protective of all the environmental issues, particularly around the watertables".
23 Apr 2012
The Victorian Government is resisting calls to give landholders the power to veto mining activity on their land. Households can currently veto wind farm projects within a 2 km radius and the Victorian Farmers Federation says the laws should also apply to mining projects. It says farmers are particularly concerned about the risks associated with coal seam gas projects. However, Deputy Premier Peter Ryan says the current environment laws provide adequate protection.
"Through the laws that govern our mining regime in this state, anybody who wants to explore, for let alone actually mine coal seam gas in this state, will have to comply with the most rigorous laws in this nation", he said. He says coal seam gas projects do not pose a risk to the state's agriculture industry. "We have the best laws in Australia to make sure that not only is exploration very, very heavily monitored but to then make the next stage to mining is a huge quantum leap", he said. "We are very, very protective of all the environmental issues, particularly around the watertables".
Wind farm ecologist defends bird safety
www.abc.net.au
24 Apr 2012
An ecologist says there is no evidence wind farms are threatening the future of native bird populations. A dead wedge-tailed eagle has been found not far from the base of a wind turbine at the Waterloo wind farm in the mid-north of South Australia. Dr Cindy Hull, who works for renewable energy producer Hydro Tasmania, says some birds fly into blades but wind farms do not affect habitats or migration patterns.
"There's been a lot of work trying to assess whether it's impacting on the fate of the species and it isn't", she said. "The wind industry is actually the only electricity generators that monitor their impact on wildlife, no-one else does. "So just because nothing's been reported from the other types of electricity generation, doesn't mean impacts aren't occurring, they're just not being measured".
Environmental consultant Travis How of consultancy company EBS Ecology says there are wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons at the proposed Stony Gap wind farm site, south of Burra. "We've worked with TRUEnergy to then design infrastructure around that so potential habitat and the known populations aren't impacted upon at all", he said.
24 Apr 2012
An ecologist says there is no evidence wind farms are threatening the future of native bird populations. A dead wedge-tailed eagle has been found not far from the base of a wind turbine at the Waterloo wind farm in the mid-north of South Australia. Dr Cindy Hull, who works for renewable energy producer Hydro Tasmania, says some birds fly into blades but wind farms do not affect habitats or migration patterns."There's been a lot of work trying to assess whether it's impacting on the fate of the species and it isn't", she said. "The wind industry is actually the only electricity generators that monitor their impact on wildlife, no-one else does. "So just because nothing's been reported from the other types of electricity generation, doesn't mean impacts aren't occurring, they're just not being measured".
Environmental consultant Travis How of consultancy company EBS Ecology says there are wedge-tailed eagles and peregrine falcons at the proposed Stony Gap wind farm site, south of Burra. "We've worked with TRUEnergy to then design infrastructure around that so potential habitat and the known populations aren't impacted upon at all", he said.
Study claims tourists 'not put off' by wind farms in Scotland
www.bbc.co.uk
24 Apr 2012
Tourists visiting Scotland do not see wind farms as a problem, new research has suggested. In a survey commissioned by tourism agency VisitScotland, about 80% said a wind farm would not affect their decision about where to take a holiday. The study follows claims by US tycoon Donald Trump that wind farm developments would kill off tourism. He is expected to tell MSPs that the Scottish government's policy of promoting wind power is a mistake.
Nearly half of those questioned in the VisitScotland survey said they would be interested in visiting a wind farm if it had a centre included. Most of the 3,000 people questioned in the study neither agreed nor disagreed that wind farms spoil the look of the Scottish countryside. A similar number neither agreed nor disagreed that they would avoid an area of the countryside if there were a wind farm. The Scottish government said the survey proved that wind farms were not a problem for most visitors. The study came as Mr Trump prepared to appear at a Scottish parliament committee which is looking into green energy.
Earlier this year, Mr Trump-who is objecting to a planned offshore wind development near the site of his £1bn Aberdeenshire golf resort-accused First Minister Alex Salmond of being "hell bent on destroying Scotland's coastline". He has also attacked Scottish Natural Heritage and VisitScotland for "remaining silent on the issue". Mr Salmond hit back at the criticism ahead of Mr Trump's appearance before MSPs. He told the Scottish Trades Union Congress in Inverness that investment in Scotland did not "imply ownership of Scotland". He added that energy policy would be set by the Scottish people and parliament, and not by others.
24 Apr 2012
Tourists visiting Scotland do not see wind farms as a problem, new research has suggested. In a survey commissioned by tourism agency VisitScotland, about 80% said a wind farm would not affect their decision about where to take a holiday. The study follows claims by US tycoon Donald Trump that wind farm developments would kill off tourism. He is expected to tell MSPs that the Scottish government's policy of promoting wind power is a mistake.
Nearly half of those questioned in the VisitScotland survey said they would be interested in visiting a wind farm if it had a centre included. Most of the 3,000 people questioned in the study neither agreed nor disagreed that wind farms spoil the look of the Scottish countryside. A similar number neither agreed nor disagreed that they would avoid an area of the countryside if there were a wind farm. The Scottish government said the survey proved that wind farms were not a problem for most visitors. The study came as Mr Trump prepared to appear at a Scottish parliament committee which is looking into green energy.
Earlier this year, Mr Trump-who is objecting to a planned offshore wind development near the site of his £1bn Aberdeenshire golf resort-accused First Minister Alex Salmond of being "hell bent on destroying Scotland's coastline". He has also attacked Scottish Natural Heritage and VisitScotland for "remaining silent on the issue". Mr Salmond hit back at the criticism ahead of Mr Trump's appearance before MSPs. He told the Scottish Trades Union Congress in Inverness that investment in Scotland did not "imply ownership of Scotland". He added that energy policy would be set by the Scottish people and parliament, and not by others.
Friday, 27 April 2012
Ministers planning 'hidden subsidies' for nuclear power
www.guardian.co.uk
20 Apr 2012
Ministers are planning to subsidise nuclear power through electricity bills-despite their promises not to, a secret document seen by the Guardian reveals. The leaked document clearly lays out plans to use "contracts for difference" for nuclear power, which would allow nuclear operators to reap higher prices for their energy than fossil fuel power stations. The plans will further inflame rows over energy policy and cause a political furore for the Liberal Democrats, who fought the general election firmly opposing an expansion of nuclear power.
Fiona Hall, leader of the Lib Dem group in the European parliament with a special interest in energy, said she now had no doubt that the contract for difference was a subsidy. "Industry on all sides believe this is a subsidy". She wants the UK court of auditors as well as the European commission to give a legal ruling on the issue and believes any subsidy runs against the coalition agreement. In a blog posted on the Liberal Democrat Voice website she calls on fellow party members to "speak out" against nuclear subsidies.
The issue is a key one for many Lib Dem supporters and has acquired even greater resonance since the Fukushima disaster and the withdrawal from nuclear of countries such as Germany and Italy. Green campaigners believe the Lib Dems have been persuaded into allowing higher energy bills to flow into increased profits for nuclear companies by a sleight of hand that lets ministers disguise nuclear subsidies as support for "low-carbon power".
The Guardian has also seen a presentation made by Scottish & Southern Energy to MPs last month, saying the plans contain "hidden subsidies", will be open to challenge on legal grounds, and could "mess up" funding for renewables. Hall commented: "I have not seen the SSE presentation but even the nuclear industry accepts this is a covert subsidy".
Read More…
20 Apr 2012
Ministers are planning to subsidise nuclear power through electricity bills-despite their promises not to, a secret document seen by the Guardian reveals. The leaked document clearly lays out plans to use "contracts for difference" for nuclear power, which would allow nuclear operators to reap higher prices for their energy than fossil fuel power stations. The plans will further inflame rows over energy policy and cause a political furore for the Liberal Democrats, who fought the general election firmly opposing an expansion of nuclear power.Fiona Hall, leader of the Lib Dem group in the European parliament with a special interest in energy, said she now had no doubt that the contract for difference was a subsidy. "Industry on all sides believe this is a subsidy". She wants the UK court of auditors as well as the European commission to give a legal ruling on the issue and believes any subsidy runs against the coalition agreement. In a blog posted on the Liberal Democrat Voice website she calls on fellow party members to "speak out" against nuclear subsidies.
The issue is a key one for many Lib Dem supporters and has acquired even greater resonance since the Fukushima disaster and the withdrawal from nuclear of countries such as Germany and Italy. Green campaigners believe the Lib Dems have been persuaded into allowing higher energy bills to flow into increased profits for nuclear companies by a sleight of hand that lets ministers disguise nuclear subsidies as support for "low-carbon power".
The Guardian has also seen a presentation made by Scottish & Southern Energy to MPs last month, saying the plans contain "hidden subsidies", will be open to challenge on legal grounds, and could "mess up" funding for renewables. Hall commented: "I have not seen the SSE presentation but even the nuclear industry accepts this is a covert subsidy".
Read More…
Hydrogenics joins Enbridge in developing utility-scale energy storage
www.brandonsun.com
23 Apr 2012
MISSISSAUGA, Ont.-Hydrogenics Corp. and pipeline giant Enbridge Inc. have announced a joint venture to develop utility-scale energy storage in North America. The agreement, which includes a $5 million equity investment in the hydrogen generation company by Enbridge, brings together Hydrogenics' expertise in water electrolysis with Enbridge's expertise in natural gas pipeline networks and renewable energy generation.
Under the program, hydrogen produced during periods of excess renewable generation will be injected into Enbridge's existing natural gas pipeline network, proportionally increasing the renewable energy content in natural gas pipelines for essentially the operating cost of the electrolyzer. "Small quantities of hydrogen can be manageable in existing natural gas pipeline networks", the companies said in a joint release. "With the significant scale of the natural gas pipeline network, these same quantities of hydrogen have a very meaningful impact on electricity energy storage potential".
The collaboration between Hydrogenics and Enbridge will initially focus on the deployment of utility-scale energy storage in Ontario, with the opportunity to expand into Enbridge's operations elsewhere. "This clean energy solution establishes a bridge between the electricity and natural gas networks to bring seasonal storage capabilities to electricity networks", Enbridge spokesman Chuck Szmurlo said in a release. "This is another example of how Enbridge is investing in alternative energy technologies that complement our pipeline businesses while contributing to our growth in renewable and clean energy", said Szmurlo, vice-president of alternative and emerging technology.
Hydrogenics president and CEO Daryl Wilson said the two companies look forward to advancing the commercialization of hydrogen energy storage solutions that have GW-hour potential for electricity storage. "With distinct advantages over conventional energy storage methods, the hydrogen solution provides unrivalled energy storage capacity and application flexibility to meet the growing need for energy storage by North America's electricity grid operators".
Enbridge, with some 6,900 employees, operates the world's biggest crude oil and liquids transportation system with pipelines across North America and is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company with operations in Ontario, Quebec and New York state. It also has a significant and growing involvement in natural gas gathering and midstream businesses, and an increasing involvement in power transmission and has interests in close to 1,000 MWs of renewable and alternative energy generating capacity.
23 Apr 2012
MISSISSAUGA, Ont.-Hydrogenics Corp. and pipeline giant Enbridge Inc. have announced a joint venture to develop utility-scale energy storage in North America. The agreement, which includes a $5 million equity investment in the hydrogen generation company by Enbridge, brings together Hydrogenics' expertise in water electrolysis with Enbridge's expertise in natural gas pipeline networks and renewable energy generation.Under the program, hydrogen produced during periods of excess renewable generation will be injected into Enbridge's existing natural gas pipeline network, proportionally increasing the renewable energy content in natural gas pipelines for essentially the operating cost of the electrolyzer. "Small quantities of hydrogen can be manageable in existing natural gas pipeline networks", the companies said in a joint release. "With the significant scale of the natural gas pipeline network, these same quantities of hydrogen have a very meaningful impact on electricity energy storage potential".
The collaboration between Hydrogenics and Enbridge will initially focus on the deployment of utility-scale energy storage in Ontario, with the opportunity to expand into Enbridge's operations elsewhere. "This clean energy solution establishes a bridge between the electricity and natural gas networks to bring seasonal storage capabilities to electricity networks", Enbridge spokesman Chuck Szmurlo said in a release. "This is another example of how Enbridge is investing in alternative energy technologies that complement our pipeline businesses while contributing to our growth in renewable and clean energy", said Szmurlo, vice-president of alternative and emerging technology.
Hydrogenics president and CEO Daryl Wilson said the two companies look forward to advancing the commercialization of hydrogen energy storage solutions that have GW-hour potential for electricity storage. "With distinct advantages over conventional energy storage methods, the hydrogen solution provides unrivalled energy storage capacity and application flexibility to meet the growing need for energy storage by North America's electricity grid operators".
Enbridge, with some 6,900 employees, operates the world's biggest crude oil and liquids transportation system with pipelines across North America and is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company with operations in Ontario, Quebec and New York state. It also has a significant and growing involvement in natural gas gathering and midstream businesses, and an increasing involvement in power transmission and has interests in close to 1,000 MWs of renewable and alternative energy generating capacity.
Majority in UK accept wind turbines on landscape-poll
www.reuters.com
19 Apr 2012
(Reuters)-A majority of British people accept the look of wind turbines on the landscape and around two thirds favour wind power as an energy source, a sample of over 1,000 adults surveyed across the United Kingdom showed. Onshore wind is the least costly source of low-carbon energy, but a minority opposed to the look of turbines has slowed its development and raises costs for the UK to achieve its climate targets, a spokesman for RenewableUK said.
"Opposition to wind farms is the reserve of a relatively very small, but a very noisy and vociferous minority that is causing more difficulties at a local level", said Adam Bell of the wind and marine power lobby group, which had commissioned market research group Ipsos MORI to conduct the survey. "What this poll shows is that there is a silent majority in favour of wind power and a silent majority that (accepts) the look of wind turbines", he said, noting a number of onshore wind farm projects have been facing difficulties in getting approval.
In the online survey, respondents aged 16 64 were asked to rate the level of acceptability of the look of wind farms on the landscape on a 10 point scale ranging from completely unacceptable (1) to completely acceptable (10). Fifty-seven% of the 1,009 respondents gave a score between seven and 10, while one in six gave scores between one and four. Two in 10 were neutral, while 4% did not know. The survey results were similar to a renewable energy survey carried out late last year by online research firm YouGov, suggesting opposition to wind is often localised to particular projects and does not reflect wider public opinion.
The UK has one of the most ambitious climate targets in the world, with a 2050 goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 1990 levels. It has set legally binding targets for four five-year periods to 2027, known as carbon budgets. Britain also has a 2020 target to deliver 15% of the country's energy consumption from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, marine and biomass. Data from the UK's Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DECC) suggests installed onshore wind capacity could grow to 13 GWs by the end of the decade from just over 4 GW in operation today.
But the government may have to turn to other, more expensive renewable sources if the vocal minority opposed to the erection of more onshore turbines succeeds in blocking development. "The less onshore wind you deploy, the more expensive technologies you will have to deploy instead which just increases the cost of going green", Bell said. The cost of electricity generated from onshore wind ranges between ₤75-₤127 ($120 $200) per MW, according to DECC, citing 2010 data. By comparison, the cost of solar ranges between ₤202-₤380 pounds/ MW, offshore wind ₤149-₤191/ MW and dedicated biomass ₤127-₤165 pounds/ MW.
19 Apr 2012
- Two thirds of respondents favour wind power
- Majority says look of wind turbines acceptable
- Vocal minority still an obstacle for expansion
(Reuters)-A majority of British people accept the look of wind turbines on the landscape and around two thirds favour wind power as an energy source, a sample of over 1,000 adults surveyed across the United Kingdom showed. Onshore wind is the least costly source of low-carbon energy, but a minority opposed to the look of turbines has slowed its development and raises costs for the UK to achieve its climate targets, a spokesman for RenewableUK said.
"Opposition to wind farms is the reserve of a relatively very small, but a very noisy and vociferous minority that is causing more difficulties at a local level", said Adam Bell of the wind and marine power lobby group, which had commissioned market research group Ipsos MORI to conduct the survey. "What this poll shows is that there is a silent majority in favour of wind power and a silent majority that (accepts) the look of wind turbines", he said, noting a number of onshore wind farm projects have been facing difficulties in getting approval.
In the online survey, respondents aged 16 64 were asked to rate the level of acceptability of the look of wind farms on the landscape on a 10 point scale ranging from completely unacceptable (1) to completely acceptable (10). Fifty-seven% of the 1,009 respondents gave a score between seven and 10, while one in six gave scores between one and four. Two in 10 were neutral, while 4% did not know. The survey results were similar to a renewable energy survey carried out late last year by online research firm YouGov, suggesting opposition to wind is often localised to particular projects and does not reflect wider public opinion.
The UK has one of the most ambitious climate targets in the world, with a 2050 goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 1990 levels. It has set legally binding targets for four five-year periods to 2027, known as carbon budgets. Britain also has a 2020 target to deliver 15% of the country's energy consumption from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, marine and biomass. Data from the UK's Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DECC) suggests installed onshore wind capacity could grow to 13 GWs by the end of the decade from just over 4 GW in operation today.
But the government may have to turn to other, more expensive renewable sources if the vocal minority opposed to the erection of more onshore turbines succeeds in blocking development. "The less onshore wind you deploy, the more expensive technologies you will have to deploy instead which just increases the cost of going green", Bell said. The cost of electricity generated from onshore wind ranges between ₤75-₤127 ($120 $200) per MW, according to DECC, citing 2010 data. By comparison, the cost of solar ranges between ₤202-₤380 pounds/ MW, offshore wind ₤149-₤191/ MW and dedicated biomass ₤127-₤165 pounds/ MW.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Moyne Shire 'lucky' to have boom
www.abc.net.au
19 Apr 2012
The chairman of Rural Councils Victoria, Ken Gale, says the Moyne Shire, in the state's south-west, is experiencing a boom. The organisation is hosting the annual Rural Summit in Port Fairy. Councillor Gale is also a councillor on the Moyne Shire and says it has been blessed with large industrial developments while other small municipalities are struggling. He says gas and renewable energy developments are driving growth.
"We're very lucky here, we've got very low unemployment, we're in an excellent situation, we've got the wind farms, the power companies are setting up a range of projects throughout the shire", he said. "I think there's something like 17 projects on the go at the moment, so we're very lucky that we've got that to boost our economy".
He says most rural councils have a small rate base and need help. "We want them to really survive and thrive", he said. "They're doing an excellent job but they need a really big boost I believe from the Federal Government. "I don't think there's a lot of money around, state or federally, so we'll just have to wait and see but I would urge,.. mainly the Federal Government, to look at our smaller municipalities".
19 Apr 2012
The chairman of Rural Councils Victoria, Ken Gale, says the Moyne Shire, in the state's south-west, is experiencing a boom. The organisation is hosting the annual Rural Summit in Port Fairy. Councillor Gale is also a councillor on the Moyne Shire and says it has been blessed with large industrial developments while other small municipalities are struggling. He says gas and renewable energy developments are driving growth.
"We're very lucky here, we've got very low unemployment, we're in an excellent situation, we've got the wind farms, the power companies are setting up a range of projects throughout the shire", he said. "I think there's something like 17 projects on the go at the moment, so we're very lucky that we've got that to boost our economy".
He says most rural councils have a small rate base and need help. "We want them to really survive and thrive", he said. "They're doing an excellent job but they need a really big boost I believe from the Federal Government. "I don't think there's a lot of money around, state or federally, so we'll just have to wait and see but I would urge,.. mainly the Federal Government, to look at our smaller municipalities".
Vestas to install research wind turbine at Sandia facility in Texas
phys.org
18 Apr 2012
The initial phase of Sandia National Laboratories' Scaled Wind Farm Technology facility (SWIFT), currently being constructed in partnership with Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, will be a little bigger than originally planned. Leading wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems will add its own 300 kW, V27 research turbine to the two Sandia National Laboratories V27 research turbines. The Labs worked with Vestas Wind Systems to develop the new three-turbine site plan, uniquely tailored to study turbine-to-turbine interactions. Sandia National Laboratories and Vestas Wind Systems will conduct collaborative research with all three turbines, although each turbine can also be used separately with minimal interaction.
"The Lubbock site benefits from high wind resource and low turbulence, which is ideal for research", said Jon White, project manager and researcher in Sandia National Laboratories's Wind Energy Technologies group. "Wind at the site comes predominately from the south, making it easy to set up the turbine array for research on turbine-to-turbine interactions". The SWIFT concept reflects a shared emphasis amongst the partners on lowering the cost of wind power by maximising the output of a wind power plant rather than a single turbine.
Read more…
18 Apr 2012
The initial phase of Sandia National Laboratories' Scaled Wind Farm Technology facility (SWIFT), currently being constructed in partnership with Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, will be a little bigger than originally planned. Leading wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems will add its own 300 kW, V27 research turbine to the two Sandia National Laboratories V27 research turbines. The Labs worked with Vestas Wind Systems to develop the new three-turbine site plan, uniquely tailored to study turbine-to-turbine interactions. Sandia National Laboratories and Vestas Wind Systems will conduct collaborative research with all three turbines, although each turbine can also be used separately with minimal interaction.
"The Lubbock site benefits from high wind resource and low turbulence, which is ideal for research", said Jon White, project manager and researcher in Sandia National Laboratories's Wind Energy Technologies group. "Wind at the site comes predominately from the south, making it easy to set up the turbine array for research on turbine-to-turbine interactions". The SWIFT concept reflects a shared emphasis amongst the partners on lowering the cost of wind power by maximising the output of a wind power plant rather than a single turbine.
Read more…
CEFC review to fast-track transition to low cost clean energy
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
17 Apr 2012
The clean energy industry today welcomed the report on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation delivered to the Federal Government by the independent Expert Review Panel led by Reserve Bank Board Member Jillian Broadbent. Clean Energy Council acting Chief Executive Kane Thornton congratulated the panel on recognising the importance of developing our clean energy future, to insure Australia against rising energy prices in years to come.
"Australia has some of the best renewable energy resources in the world. Taking advantage of those through the CEFC can attract a massive amount of investment into clean energy and develop a range of technologies that will enable us to deliver low cost clean energy in a carbon-constrained world", Mr Thornton said. "We are encouraged by the review's understanding of the challenges our industry must overcome to develop new clean energy technologies such as wave energy, geothermal and large scale solar power.
"The report reveals a strong understanding of the complexities involved in providing support for new technologies, while not distorting the existing markets for proven clean energy sources like wind, solar and hydroelectric. The panel's recognition of the need for the CEFC to work in tandem with the Renewable Energy Target and a carbon price reflect a mature understanding of Australia's energy landscape. "The recognition that flexibility is required in assessing funding opportunities on a case-by-case basis is particularly important, as well as the independence from government that will ensure only the best projects receive investment support.
"This includes remaining open minded about investments in transmission, energy storage and the potential to aggregate smaller-including community owned-clean energy projects", he said. Mr Thornton said there had not been any form of electricity generation technology developed in Australia without significant government support. "The current challenge of developing new forms of energy technology is not unique to the clean energy sector, and other technologies such as coal and gas generation have enjoyed decades of public support to get to where they are today", said Mr Thornton. "Some level of government support is warranted when long-term investments requiring large amounts of capital are needed to kick-start promising first-of-kind technologies.
"Investment in an institution like the CEFC is all the more worthwhile given the risk to our economy if we put all our faith in fossil fuel-based technologies whose costs are increasing. The CEFC will help rapidly bring down the costs of the next generation of clean energy technologies for all energy users". The Clean Energy Council is now calling for the Australian Parliament to legislate the CEFC as a matter of urgency to allow the industry and investors to get on with the job of transforming Australia's electricity sector.
17 Apr 2012
The clean energy industry today welcomed the report on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation delivered to the Federal Government by the independent Expert Review Panel led by Reserve Bank Board Member Jillian Broadbent. Clean Energy Council acting Chief Executive Kane Thornton congratulated the panel on recognising the importance of developing our clean energy future, to insure Australia against rising energy prices in years to come."Australia has some of the best renewable energy resources in the world. Taking advantage of those through the CEFC can attract a massive amount of investment into clean energy and develop a range of technologies that will enable us to deliver low cost clean energy in a carbon-constrained world", Mr Thornton said. "We are encouraged by the review's understanding of the challenges our industry must overcome to develop new clean energy technologies such as wave energy, geothermal and large scale solar power.
"The report reveals a strong understanding of the complexities involved in providing support for new technologies, while not distorting the existing markets for proven clean energy sources like wind, solar and hydroelectric. The panel's recognition of the need for the CEFC to work in tandem with the Renewable Energy Target and a carbon price reflect a mature understanding of Australia's energy landscape. "The recognition that flexibility is required in assessing funding opportunities on a case-by-case basis is particularly important, as well as the independence from government that will ensure only the best projects receive investment support.
"This includes remaining open minded about investments in transmission, energy storage and the potential to aggregate smaller-including community owned-clean energy projects", he said. Mr Thornton said there had not been any form of electricity generation technology developed in Australia without significant government support. "The current challenge of developing new forms of energy technology is not unique to the clean energy sector, and other technologies such as coal and gas generation have enjoyed decades of public support to get to where they are today", said Mr Thornton. "Some level of government support is warranted when long-term investments requiring large amounts of capital are needed to kick-start promising first-of-kind technologies.
"Investment in an institution like the CEFC is all the more worthwhile given the risk to our economy if we put all our faith in fossil fuel-based technologies whose costs are increasing. The CEFC will help rapidly bring down the costs of the next generation of clean energy technologies for all energy users". The Clean Energy Council is now calling for the Australian Parliament to legislate the CEFC as a matter of urgency to allow the industry and investors to get on with the job of transforming Australia's electricity sector.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Ex-Corangamite mayor takes on Macarthur wind farm role
www.standard.net.au
18 Apr 2012
FORMER Corangamite Shire mayor Brendan Ryan has been appointed AGL Energy's Victorian wind farm operations manager to oversee operations at Macarthur and Glenthompson. Mr Ryan will be based at the Macarthur wind farm, but will also manage AGL Energy's Oaklands wind farm near Glenthompson. He said he was excited to take a lead role in a large scale development, while still working in a rural setting. Mr Ryan has worked in the wind power sector for eight years, working as a technician at the Yambuk wind farm and also working on five projects in South Australia, including AGL Energy's Hallett wind farms and the Snowtown wind farm which have combined project costs of more than $1 billion.
The former Corangamite Shire mayor and Camperdown electrician said he had witnessed the benefits the wind industry could provide regional areas. "From my experience in drought-stricken South Australia, the wind farms stimulated the community's retail income and generated employment", he said. "I know many local workers who would have been forced to leave their home district to find work elsewhere, but have instead become long-term employees in the emerging wind industry". Mr Ryan's new role will include inspecting wind turbines 90 metres above the ground, meeting with local government and community representatives and discussing permit compliance and potential community funding opportunities.
18 Apr 2012
FORMER Corangamite Shire mayor Brendan Ryan has been appointed AGL Energy's Victorian wind farm operations manager to oversee operations at Macarthur and Glenthompson. Mr Ryan will be based at the Macarthur wind farm, but will also manage AGL Energy's Oaklands wind farm near Glenthompson. He said he was excited to take a lead role in a large scale development, while still working in a rural setting. Mr Ryan has worked in the wind power sector for eight years, working as a technician at the Yambuk wind farm and also working on five projects in South Australia, including AGL Energy's Hallett wind farms and the Snowtown wind farm which have combined project costs of more than $1 billion.
The former Corangamite Shire mayor and Camperdown electrician said he had witnessed the benefits the wind industry could provide regional areas. "From my experience in drought-stricken South Australia, the wind farms stimulated the community's retail income and generated employment", he said. "I know many local workers who would have been forced to leave their home district to find work elsewhere, but have instead become long-term employees in the emerging wind industry". Mr Ryan's new role will include inspecting wind turbines 90 metres above the ground, meeting with local government and community representatives and discussing permit compliance and potential community funding opportunities.
Future of Japan's nuclear energy uncertain
www.upi.com
16 Apr 2012
TOKYO, April 16 (UPI), None of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors will be in operation as of May 6, as the country's last reactor operating is to go offline for maintenance, Japanese Trade Minister Yukio Edano said. The bulk of Japan's reactors, excluding the No. 3 Tomari reactor in Hokkaido scheduled to be shut down May 5 for maintenance, were taken offline for scheduled checkups but have stayed offline due to safety concerns sparked by the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster following the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami.
Although the May 5 Tomari shutdown means that nuclear power in Japan "will be zero from May 6 momentarily", Edano said in a speech Sunday in Tokushima that Japan will eventually reduce its reliance on nuclear power "to zero permanently", Kyodo news reports. The Tomari shutdown will mark the first time that Japan would be without nuclear power production since 1966, when the country's first reactor began operation. Prior to the Fukushima crisis, nuclear power provided 30% of Japan's electricity.
Edano's comments came as Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's administration has been seeking local approval to restart the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture. While Edano on Sunday called for support for the reactivation of the Oi reactors to avoid power shortages in the near future, he maintained, "We will realistically and steadily reduce the number of nuclear reactors through a process that would not cause concerns or confusion in society while thoroughly examining their safety".
At a parliamentary committee meeting Friday, Edano said that even if the two Kansai reactors are restarted, the utility's service territory, including Osaka, could face electricity shortages during summer heat waves, particularly with increased air conditioner use. "I have to say we are facing the risk of a very severe electricity shortage", Edano told reporters. But the momentum to restart Japan's reactors is losing ground as time passes, particularly if Japan and its economy emerge relatively unscathed from a nuclear power-free summer.
As for the decision to restart other nuclear reactors, the government plans to make those on a case-by-case basis. "Each time, we will make a decision based on safety and necessity", Edano said at a news conference Friday, noting that restarting the Oi reactors would not automatically open the door for reactors at other plants to be restarted. Platts news service cited industry sources as saying that Japan could see restarts of several of the country's nuclear reactors this year, yet they say most of the total nuclear capacity of 48.96 GWs is expected to remain shut because of safety concerns.
16 Apr 2012
TOKYO, April 16 (UPI), None of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors will be in operation as of May 6, as the country's last reactor operating is to go offline for maintenance, Japanese Trade Minister Yukio Edano said. The bulk of Japan's reactors, excluding the No. 3 Tomari reactor in Hokkaido scheduled to be shut down May 5 for maintenance, were taken offline for scheduled checkups but have stayed offline due to safety concerns sparked by the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster following the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami.Although the May 5 Tomari shutdown means that nuclear power in Japan "will be zero from May 6 momentarily", Edano said in a speech Sunday in Tokushima that Japan will eventually reduce its reliance on nuclear power "to zero permanently", Kyodo news reports. The Tomari shutdown will mark the first time that Japan would be without nuclear power production since 1966, when the country's first reactor began operation. Prior to the Fukushima crisis, nuclear power provided 30% of Japan's electricity.
Edano's comments came as Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's administration has been seeking local approval to restart the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture. While Edano on Sunday called for support for the reactivation of the Oi reactors to avoid power shortages in the near future, he maintained, "We will realistically and steadily reduce the number of nuclear reactors through a process that would not cause concerns or confusion in society while thoroughly examining their safety".
At a parliamentary committee meeting Friday, Edano said that even if the two Kansai reactors are restarted, the utility's service territory, including Osaka, could face electricity shortages during summer heat waves, particularly with increased air conditioner use. "I have to say we are facing the risk of a very severe electricity shortage", Edano told reporters. But the momentum to restart Japan's reactors is losing ground as time passes, particularly if Japan and its economy emerge relatively unscathed from a nuclear power-free summer.
As for the decision to restart other nuclear reactors, the government plans to make those on a case-by-case basis. "Each time, we will make a decision based on safety and necessity", Edano said at a news conference Friday, noting that restarting the Oi reactors would not automatically open the door for reactors at other plants to be restarted. Platts news service cited industry sources as saying that Japan could see restarts of several of the country's nuclear reactors this year, yet they say most of the total nuclear capacity of 48.96 GWs is expected to remain shut because of safety concerns.
WA farms for solar power
www.governmentnews.com.au
17 Apr 2012
Utilities will use renewable energy generated from a solar panel installation at Greenough River solar farm through a public and private joint venture. The Western Australian Water Corporation will purchase 100% of the sustainable energy generated by the 10 MW farm to offset the requirements of the Southern Seawater desalination Plant near Binningup. As a joint venture between Verve Energy and GE Energy Financial Services, the Western Australian Government has committed $20 million to the project, including $10 million from the Royalties for Regions Program and the Public Utilities Office.
According to a release from Verve Energy, the two companies each own 50% of the facility and no debt has been raised to fund the project. Installation of above ground electrical works and structural elements supporting the panels has been the focus of the construction since November 2011. Photovoltaic module (PV) manufacturer, FirstSolar will supply more than 150000 of its thin film PV modules to the facility. Additionally, FirstSolar will supply operations and maintenance support, engineering, procurement and construction services once the solar farm is operational. Minister for Energy, Peter Collier said the Greenough River solar farm will generate enough electricity for 3000 average homes while displacing 20000 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year.
"The demonstration of this proven technology in WA on a commercial scale should encourage the development of larger projects and reduce renewable energy costs in the medium to long term", Mr Collier said. FirstSolar vice president business development and sales, Jack Curtis said FirstSolar's panels will produce electricity with no water use, waste production or CO₂ emissions. According to the WA Government, the City of Geraldton will generate millions of dollars for the local economy from the employment of local contractors as well as sourcing of products. The solar farm 50 km south of Geraldton is expected to open in July/August 2012.
17 Apr 2012
Utilities will use renewable energy generated from a solar panel installation at Greenough River solar farm through a public and private joint venture. The Western Australian Water Corporation will purchase 100% of the sustainable energy generated by the 10 MW farm to offset the requirements of the Southern Seawater desalination Plant near Binningup. As a joint venture between Verve Energy and GE Energy Financial Services, the Western Australian Government has committed $20 million to the project, including $10 million from the Royalties for Regions Program and the Public Utilities Office.
According to a release from Verve Energy, the two companies each own 50% of the facility and no debt has been raised to fund the project. Installation of above ground electrical works and structural elements supporting the panels has been the focus of the construction since November 2011. Photovoltaic module (PV) manufacturer, FirstSolar will supply more than 150000 of its thin film PV modules to the facility. Additionally, FirstSolar will supply operations and maintenance support, engineering, procurement and construction services once the solar farm is operational. Minister for Energy, Peter Collier said the Greenough River solar farm will generate enough electricity for 3000 average homes while displacing 20000 tonnes of greenhouse gas each year.
"The demonstration of this proven technology in WA on a commercial scale should encourage the development of larger projects and reduce renewable energy costs in the medium to long term", Mr Collier said. FirstSolar vice president business development and sales, Jack Curtis said FirstSolar's panels will produce electricity with no water use, waste production or CO₂ emissions. According to the WA Government, the City of Geraldton will generate millions of dollars for the local economy from the employment of local contractors as well as sourcing of products. The solar farm 50 km south of Geraldton is expected to open in July/August 2012.
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
EU’s ‘Recession-Busting’ wind industry set to triple in value
www.bloomberg.com
16 Apr 2012
The European Union's "recession-busting" wind power industry is forecast to triple in value as its labor force doubles in the 10 years through 2020, the European Wind Energy Association said.
The contribution of the wind industry to the economy of the 27 nation EU will rise to 94.5 billion euros ($123 billion) in 2020 from 32.4 billion euros in 2010, the lobby group, known as EWEA, said today in a report published in Copenhagen at the start of its annual conference. Jobs supported by the industry will jump to 520,000 from 238,154, it said. "Wind energy is a recession-busting industry", EWEA President Arthouros Zervos said in a statement. It is "providing increasing economic activity, more jobs and exports every year to an EU struggling with an economic crisis intensified by ever-increasing amounts of fuel being imported at rising costs".
The EU is chasing a target of getting 20% of all energy for power, heating and transport from renewables by 2020. The contribution of the wind industry to EU economic output increased by a third in 2010 from 2007, according to today's report. EWEA said Feb. 6 that wind power capacity expanded more than 10% last year with 21% of the bloc's new power capacity coming from wind.
Even so, the industry has struggled in recent months amid increased competition, and as European governments work to rein in budget deficits. Spain, with just under a quarter of the EU's wind farms, in January suspended subsidies to new developments. In its February report, EWEA said investment in the industry was unchanged at about 12.6 billion euros in 2011. EWEA called for "stable national renewable energy frameworks" and a joined up European power grid to spur the industry further as well as a target to cut greenhouse gases in the bloc by 30% for the 30 years through 2020, up from the current goal of a 20% reduction.
The continent's two biggest turbine makers, Aarhus, Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS) and Gamesa Corp. Tecnologica SA (GAM) of Zamudio, Spain, have both shed more than 60% of their value in the past year as competition from China helped crimp margins. Navigant Consulting Inc.'s BTM Consult said March 26 that they were the biggest and fourth-largest turbine makers by market share in 2011.
The industry now contributes 0.26% of European economic output, according to today's report. By 2020, wind power will contribute 0.59% of EU economic output, rising to almost 1% a decade later, it said. Net exports for wind totalled 5.7 billion euros in 2010, and the industry saved the bloc an identical amount in fossil fuel bills, according to the report. EWEA included wind farm developers, turbine makers and component manufacturers in its study, as well as jobs and economic output relating to transportation of the turbines, and the electronics and metals used in them.
16 Apr 2012
The European Union's "recession-busting" wind power industry is forecast to triple in value as its labor force doubles in the 10 years through 2020, the European Wind Energy Association said.
The contribution of the wind industry to the economy of the 27 nation EU will rise to 94.5 billion euros ($123 billion) in 2020 from 32.4 billion euros in 2010, the lobby group, known as EWEA, said today in a report published in Copenhagen at the start of its annual conference. Jobs supported by the industry will jump to 520,000 from 238,154, it said. "Wind energy is a recession-busting industry", EWEA President Arthouros Zervos said in a statement. It is "providing increasing economic activity, more jobs and exports every year to an EU struggling with an economic crisis intensified by ever-increasing amounts of fuel being imported at rising costs".
The EU is chasing a target of getting 20% of all energy for power, heating and transport from renewables by 2020. The contribution of the wind industry to EU economic output increased by a third in 2010 from 2007, according to today's report. EWEA said Feb. 6 that wind power capacity expanded more than 10% last year with 21% of the bloc's new power capacity coming from wind.
Even so, the industry has struggled in recent months amid increased competition, and as European governments work to rein in budget deficits. Spain, with just under a quarter of the EU's wind farms, in January suspended subsidies to new developments. In its February report, EWEA said investment in the industry was unchanged at about 12.6 billion euros in 2011. EWEA called for "stable national renewable energy frameworks" and a joined up European power grid to spur the industry further as well as a target to cut greenhouse gases in the bloc by 30% for the 30 years through 2020, up from the current goal of a 20% reduction.
The continent's two biggest turbine makers, Aarhus, Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS) and Gamesa Corp. Tecnologica SA (GAM) of Zamudio, Spain, have both shed more than 60% of their value in the past year as competition from China helped crimp margins. Navigant Consulting Inc.'s BTM Consult said March 26 that they were the biggest and fourth-largest turbine makers by market share in 2011.
The industry now contributes 0.26% of European economic output, according to today's report. By 2020, wind power will contribute 0.59% of EU economic output, rising to almost 1% a decade later, it said. Net exports for wind totalled 5.7 billion euros in 2010, and the industry saved the bloc an identical amount in fossil fuel bills, according to the report. EWEA included wind farm developers, turbine makers and component manufacturers in its study, as well as jobs and economic output relating to transportation of the turbines, and the electronics and metals used in them.
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