Daily Telegraph
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 10
THE Rudd Government faces a massive payout of more than $1.6 billion a year to families, to offset rising energy and fuel prices under a new emissions trading system (ETS). Annual payments of about $500 million alone will be needed to protect the poor and the aged from a projected spike in electricity and gas prices.
A landmark CSIRO study, to be released today, reveals the high costs of going green and comes just weeks before the Government releases a crucial discussion paper on carbon trading. The study also finds an emissions trading system to be introduced from 2010 will raise more than $8 billion in additional revenue for Canberra. This will give the Government plenty of financial scope to deliver tax cuts and other payments to soften the blow of rising weekly bills.
The CSIRO report, commissioned for the Climate Institute Australia, found average families will face price rises of up to $10 a week for electricity, gas and petrol. If the Government wants to compensate families on average incomes, it will have to pay out up to $336 million by 2015, rising to $557 million by 2020. But, with struggling families battling to contain rising petrol prices, the Government will be under pressure to extend payments to most families.
This could see the Government paying out $1.7 billion in compensation by 2015, rising to $1.9 billion by 2025. The CSIRO report argues that "deep cuts in greenhouse emissions" are possible in Australia without reducing living standards. "Well-designed policy measures can protect low and middle-income households from potential short-run declines in energy affordability," it states.
The carbon trading scheme will start within two years as the centrepiece of Kevin Rudd's commitment to curb damaging greenhouse gases. Under the "cap and trade" scheme, heavy polluters will have to buy permits - increasing the incentive on business to embrace low-emission technologies. Higher energy costs are inevitable, with low income families particularly vulnerable.
The CSIRO report says a yearly payment of $185 by 2015 "would fully insulate low-income households from the impact of very high carbon prices on household energy consumption."
For low income families, concerns about the increased costs of energy and other goods and services are real," said Climate Institute Australia policy director Erwin Jackson, adding they could be overcome with "a fair and effective distribution of the multi-billion dollar bonus to government coffers provided by the ETS."
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Windfall raises hope for B&B
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 27
Babcock and Brown may get as much as $US3 billion ($3.2 billion) for its European wind power assets, helping it to reduce a debt burden that triggered a 50 per cent slump in its market value.
First round offers for the energy projects of Babcock and Brown's Wind Partners fund were due on June 16, said three people with knowledge of the plan. The Spanish utility Union Fenosa is understood to be among the companies and infrastructure funds that submitted bids.
Union Fenosa was following the process as part of its strategy to expand in renewable energy at home and abroad. Another Spanish company, Iberdrola SA, is also interested, said a spokeswoman for the company in Madrid yesterday. RWE, Germany's second largest utility, may also be in the market. An RWE spokesman, Konrad Boecker, in Essen, declined to comment last night on whether the company would bid.
B&B shares jumped 16 per cent yesterday on optimism that a sale might help satisfy bankers that the company and its funds can cut a combined debt that Credit Suisse Group estimates at $46 billion. Its bankers could force early repayment of $2.8 billion of Babcock's debt if its market value stays at current levels.
B&B shares rose 95c to close at $6.88, leaving its market value below the $2.5 billion level that would give the banks the right to recall the $2.8 billion early and force asset sales at the end of a four-month review period. Babcock Wind, 9 per cent owned by the troubled company, gained 0.6 per cent to $1.65.
'As long as Babcock is taking proactive action to reduce debt it's heading in the right direction," said White Funds Management's Angus Gluskie. "The company can survive, and investors will have to ride this out." Jonathan Mott, an analyst at UBS, estimated the sale of the European wind assets would have a "significant" impact on B&B's business, adding up to $300 million to net profit this year, according to a June 13 note.
B&B's chief executive, Phil Green, joins rivals including Allco Finance Group in struggling to manage debt and selling assets since the seizure on global credit markets. Allco, down 93 per cent in Sydney trading this year, said on Tuesday it would raise $165 million from the sale of California's largest wind power project to help repay $935 million of debt.
Babcock, Australia's second largest securities firm behind Macquarie Capital Group, said on Monday it expected first bids this week, and was confident it would sell the European wind assets by the third quarter of this year.
Babcock Wind said in February it might sell ventures in Europe, including the Enersis business in Portugal, to benefit from increased valuations for projects not reflected in its share price in Australia. The company owns about 830 megawatts of wind energy generation capacity in Europe. It has hired Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Chase to manage the sale.
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 27
Babcock and Brown may get as much as $US3 billion ($3.2 billion) for its European wind power assets, helping it to reduce a debt burden that triggered a 50 per cent slump in its market value.First round offers for the energy projects of Babcock and Brown's Wind Partners fund were due on June 16, said three people with knowledge of the plan. The Spanish utility Union Fenosa is understood to be among the companies and infrastructure funds that submitted bids.
Union Fenosa was following the process as part of its strategy to expand in renewable energy at home and abroad. Another Spanish company, Iberdrola SA, is also interested, said a spokeswoman for the company in Madrid yesterday. RWE, Germany's second largest utility, may also be in the market. An RWE spokesman, Konrad Boecker, in Essen, declined to comment last night on whether the company would bid.
B&B shares jumped 16 per cent yesterday on optimism that a sale might help satisfy bankers that the company and its funds can cut a combined debt that Credit Suisse Group estimates at $46 billion. Its bankers could force early repayment of $2.8 billion of Babcock's debt if its market value stays at current levels.
B&B shares rose 95c to close at $6.88, leaving its market value below the $2.5 billion level that would give the banks the right to recall the $2.8 billion early and force asset sales at the end of a four-month review period. Babcock Wind, 9 per cent owned by the troubled company, gained 0.6 per cent to $1.65.
'As long as Babcock is taking proactive action to reduce debt it's heading in the right direction," said White Funds Management's Angus Gluskie. "The company can survive, and investors will have to ride this out." Jonathan Mott, an analyst at UBS, estimated the sale of the European wind assets would have a "significant" impact on B&B's business, adding up to $300 million to net profit this year, according to a June 13 note.
B&B's chief executive, Phil Green, joins rivals including Allco Finance Group in struggling to manage debt and selling assets since the seizure on global credit markets. Allco, down 93 per cent in Sydney trading this year, said on Tuesday it would raise $165 million from the sale of California's largest wind power project to help repay $935 million of debt.
Babcock, Australia's second largest securities firm behind Macquarie Capital Group, said on Monday it expected first bids this week, and was confident it would sell the European wind assets by the third quarter of this year.
Babcock Wind said in February it might sell ventures in Europe, including the Enersis business in Portugal, to benefit from increased valuations for projects not reflected in its share price in Australia. The company owns about 830 megawatts of wind energy generation capacity in Europe. It has hired Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Chase to manage the sale.
Solar stopped
Northern Star
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 2
IN A report for the Co-operative Research Centre for Coal in Sustainable Development, CSIRO energy technology researchers in 2005 predicted that the cost of electricity from concentrated solar thermal plants would be competitive with coal-fired generation in five to seven years. The report was suppressed by the Howard Government, while hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated to so-called 'clean coal' research. As a result, Australian solar thermal initiatives were driven overseas.
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 2
IN A report for the Co-operative Research Centre for Coal in Sustainable Development, CSIRO energy technology researchers in 2005 predicted that the cost of electricity from concentrated solar thermal plants would be competitive with coal-fired generation in five to seven years. The report was suppressed by the Howard Government, while hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated to so-called 'clean coal' research. As a result, Australian solar thermal initiatives were driven overseas.
Delicate turbine maneuver a success
Border Mail
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 3
ONE millimetre is all a giant tower crane had to play with in the act of lowering a 24-tonne turbine into place at Bogong Power Station yesterday. The precision placement took just 20 minutes to complete but more than four days of preparation. It was a critical milestone for the $250million project that is now on track to generating its first electricity in less than 12 months.
An AGL project spokesman said the second turbine would be lifted into place in weeks. "These milestones are critical, if they slip we jeopardise the end date of the whole project," he said. "That was the first of two, the second expected to be here in the first week of July. "But as it stands we are on track for first generation in June next year and the project being completed by September." The turbine was manufactured in China and brought straight from Melbourne dock to the power station.
The AGL spokesman said there was no room for error in yesterday's operation. "it didn't take long to load but tour days' preparation for the foundations and it has to be positioned with accuracies of less than 1mm," he said A 45-tonne tower crane was used to load the turbine. "We had to use a tower crane similar to those on high rise sites," he said. AGL's 140Mw hydro power station on Lake Guy, between Mount Beauty and Falls Creek, is the biggest addition to the Kiewa hydro scheme since the 1960s.
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 3
ONE millimetre is all a giant tower crane had to play with in the act of lowering a 24-tonne turbine into place at Bogong Power Station yesterday. The precision placement took just 20 minutes to complete but more than four days of preparation. It was a critical milestone for the $250million project that is now on track to generating its first electricity in less than 12 months.An AGL project spokesman said the second turbine would be lifted into place in weeks. "These milestones are critical, if they slip we jeopardise the end date of the whole project," he said. "That was the first of two, the second expected to be here in the first week of July. "But as it stands we are on track for first generation in June next year and the project being completed by September." The turbine was manufactured in China and brought straight from Melbourne dock to the power station.
The AGL spokesman said there was no room for error in yesterday's operation. "it didn't take long to load but tour days' preparation for the foundations and it has to be positioned with accuracies of less than 1mm," he said A 45-tonne tower crane was used to load the turbine. "We had to use a tower crane similar to those on high rise sites," he said. AGL's 140Mw hydro power station on Lake Guy, between Mount Beauty and Falls Creek, is the biggest addition to the Kiewa hydro scheme since the 1960s.
Bligh's bright idea for Qld schools
Daily Advertiser
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 46
SOLAR panels will be fitted onto the roofs of all Queensland state schools in a $60 million solar energy initiative. Premier Anna Bligh yesterday launched the program, labelled the first of its kind in Australia, as part of the government's commitment to fight climate change. Ten schools will be the first to take part when the plan takes form next month, with solar panels and energy-efficient bulbs to be installed.
Circuit timers to turn off nonessential power at night and "smart meters", which monitor energy use will be part of the package. Ms Bligh said all 1251 public schools in Queensland would be fully kitted out over the next three years. She said the initiative was about harnessing "the power of the sun" and teaching school students about their environmental obligations.
"As well as growing the solar industry, this initiative offers a great opportunity for our young people to learn about this transforming technology and what they, and their school communities, can do to help combat climate change," she said. Each solar panel would reduce a school's electricity bill by around $800 each year, Ms Blight said.
"(It) will reduce energy consumption across all state schools by a total of 13 per cent," she said. Ms Bligh said the $60 million outlay would be recovered in the longterm savings the solar panels, and other measures, generated. "In a state famous for its sunshine, it makes sense to invest in this renewable technology," she said. "I want Queensland to lead the pack to be the solar state of Australia." She said the state government would look at implementing similar initiatives in other sectors, including state hospitals, galleries and stadiums.
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 46
SOLAR panels will be fitted onto the roofs of all Queensland state schools in a $60 million solar energy initiative. Premier Anna Bligh yesterday launched the program, labelled the first of its kind in Australia, as part of the government's commitment to fight climate change. Ten schools will be the first to take part when the plan takes form next month, with solar panels and energy-efficient bulbs to be installed.
Circuit timers to turn off nonessential power at night and "smart meters", which monitor energy use will be part of the package. Ms Bligh said all 1251 public schools in Queensland would be fully kitted out over the next three years. She said the initiative was about harnessing "the power of the sun" and teaching school students about their environmental obligations.
"As well as growing the solar industry, this initiative offers a great opportunity for our young people to learn about this transforming technology and what they, and their school communities, can do to help combat climate change," she said. Each solar panel would reduce a school's electricity bill by around $800 each year, Ms Blight said.
"(It) will reduce energy consumption across all state schools by a total of 13 per cent," she said. Ms Bligh said the $60 million outlay would be recovered in the longterm savings the solar panels, and other measures, generated. "In a state famous for its sunshine, it makes sense to invest in this renewable technology," she said. "I want Queensland to lead the pack to be the solar state of Australia." She said the state government would look at implementing similar initiatives in other sectors, including state hospitals, galleries and stadiums.
Bligh's bright idea for Qld schools
Daily Advertiser
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 46
SOLAR panels will be fitted onto the roofs of all Queensland state schools in a $60 million solar energy initiative. Premier Anna Bligh yesterday launched the program, labelled the first of its kind in Australia, as part of the government's commitment to fight climate change. Ten schools will be the first to take part when the plan takes form next month, with solar panels and energy-efficient bulbs to be installed.
Circuit timers to turn off nonessential power at night and "smart meters", which monitor energy use will be part of the package. Ms Bligh said all 1251 public schools in Queensland would be fully kitted out over the next three years. She said the initiative was about harnessing "the power of the sun" and teaching school students about their environmental obligations.
"As well as growing the solar industry, this initiative offers a great opportunity for our young people to learn about this transforming technology and what they, and their school communities, can do to help combat climate change," she said. Each solar panel would reduce a school's electricity bill by around $800 each year, Ms Blight said.
"(It) will reduce energy consumption across all state schools by a total of 13 per cent," she said. Ms Bligh said the $60 million outlay would be recovered in the longterm savings the solar panels, and other measures, generated. "In a state famous for its sunshine, it makes sense to invest in this renewable technology," she said. "I want Queensland to lead the pack to be the solar state of Australia." She said the state government would look at implementing similar initiatives in other sectors, including state hospitals, galleries and stadiums.
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 46
SOLAR panels will be fitted onto the roofs of all Queensland state schools in a $60 million solar energy initiative. Premier Anna Bligh yesterday launched the program, labelled the first of its kind in Australia, as part of the government's commitment to fight climate change. Ten schools will be the first to take part when the plan takes form next month, with solar panels and energy-efficient bulbs to be installed.
Circuit timers to turn off nonessential power at night and "smart meters", which monitor energy use will be part of the package. Ms Bligh said all 1251 public schools in Queensland would be fully kitted out over the next three years. She said the initiative was about harnessing "the power of the sun" and teaching school students about their environmental obligations.
"As well as growing the solar industry, this initiative offers a great opportunity for our young people to learn about this transforming technology and what they, and their school communities, can do to help combat climate change," she said. Each solar panel would reduce a school's electricity bill by around $800 each year, Ms Blight said.
"(It) will reduce energy consumption across all state schools by a total of 13 per cent," she said. Ms Bligh said the $60 million outlay would be recovered in the longterm savings the solar panels, and other measures, generated. "In a state famous for its sunshine, it makes sense to invest in this renewable technology," she said. "I want Queensland to lead the pack to be the solar state of Australia." She said the state government would look at implementing similar initiatives in other sectors, including state hospitals, galleries and stadiums.
Retain MRET, urges union
Australian
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 2
THE coal workers union has written to Climate Change Minister Penny Wong urging her to stick with the Government's policy for a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target against a rising tide of advice that the emissions trading regime could make it superfluous.
The MRET, which requires 20 per cent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, is intended as a way of boosting renewable technologies to commercial scale in the medium term, while the price imposed on carbon is still so low that they would not be otherwise competitive.
But both the Productivity Commission and the government's adviser on climate change policies, Roger Wilkins, have suggested the Government would be better off relying on the Emissions Trading Scheme alone, rather than such "market distorting" initiatives.
Now the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has written to Senator Wong urging her to ignore this advice, arguing that a low initial price on carbon would encourage energy supply from gas, but do nothing to develop technologies that were necessary to deliver the tar deeper cuts in emissions that will have to be made in the future.
If we remove the renewable target it will result in a substitution of gas for wind power and other forms of renewable energy," wrote CFMEU mining and energy division general president Tony Maher.
"While that will result in a lowering of our average emissions it does not help to prepare the economy and the energy supply industry for the medium to long term." Mr Maher said the Government might even need to be more interventionist than the present plans for the MRET assume, assigning specific targets for emerging renewable technology such as geothermal and solar thermal, which would otherwise be squeezed out by proven and cheaper renewable technologies like wind power.
Mr Maher's industry does not stand to benefit from the MRET, but is lobbying Government to set up a separate target for electricity generated with Carbon Capture and Storage technology. The Government has not responded to this suggestion. As The Australian reported recently, Mr Wilkins, who is reviewing Labor's climate change policies to complement an Emissions Trading Scheme, has questioned whether the MRET is the best way to force a shift to renewable technology.
His comments came after the Productivity Commission also questioned the wisdom of an MRET operating alongside an emissions trading regime. And the Government's climate change adviser, Ross Garnaut, has emphasised the need to phase out an MRET quickly, once an Emissions Trading Scheme is up and running. The federal Opposition wants the MRET to be replaced with a Clean Energy Target, which would include clean coal technology and gas, but the CFMEU does not support this approach.
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 2
THE coal workers union has written to Climate Change Minister Penny Wong urging her to stick with the Government's policy for a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target against a rising tide of advice that the emissions trading regime could make it superfluous.
The MRET, which requires 20 per cent of energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, is intended as a way of boosting renewable technologies to commercial scale in the medium term, while the price imposed on carbon is still so low that they would not be otherwise competitive.
But both the Productivity Commission and the government's adviser on climate change policies, Roger Wilkins, have suggested the Government would be better off relying on the Emissions Trading Scheme alone, rather than such "market distorting" initiatives.
Now the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has written to Senator Wong urging her to ignore this advice, arguing that a low initial price on carbon would encourage energy supply from gas, but do nothing to develop technologies that were necessary to deliver the tar deeper cuts in emissions that will have to be made in the future.
If we remove the renewable target it will result in a substitution of gas for wind power and other forms of renewable energy," wrote CFMEU mining and energy division general president Tony Maher.
"While that will result in a lowering of our average emissions it does not help to prepare the economy and the energy supply industry for the medium to long term." Mr Maher said the Government might even need to be more interventionist than the present plans for the MRET assume, assigning specific targets for emerging renewable technology such as geothermal and solar thermal, which would otherwise be squeezed out by proven and cheaper renewable technologies like wind power.
Mr Maher's industry does not stand to benefit from the MRET, but is lobbying Government to set up a separate target for electricity generated with Carbon Capture and Storage technology. The Government has not responded to this suggestion. As The Australian reported recently, Mr Wilkins, who is reviewing Labor's climate change policies to complement an Emissions Trading Scheme, has questioned whether the MRET is the best way to force a shift to renewable technology.
His comments came after the Productivity Commission also questioned the wisdom of an MRET operating alongside an emissions trading regime. And the Government's climate change adviser, Ross Garnaut, has emphasised the need to phase out an MRET quickly, once an Emissions Trading Scheme is up and running. The federal Opposition wants the MRET to be replaced with a Clean Energy Target, which would include clean coal technology and gas, but the CFMEU does not support this approach.
Big push for clean hydrogen energy
Courier Mail
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 73
Fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas will continue to meet base power generation needs for Australian industry and domestic electricity users but the nation needs to speed up its research efforts into a key alternative, hydrogen energy, Australia's peak group of scientists says.
A report by the Australian Academy of Science finds that while homegrown research into hydrogen energy is a "minor contributor" to the field, Australian scientists are able to make big contributions to the development of associated technologies like hydrogen storage materials and Carbon Capture and Storage.
However, the report says much of the hydrogen energy research and development going on is lacking in "critical mass", apart from clean coal technologies and hydrogen storage. hydrogen is attracting big interest worldwide as the price of oil soars and nations are under pressure to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. It is touted as a possible longterm, renewable source of clean energy for fuel-cell systems. When fuelled by pure hydrogen and oxygen these cells will produce electricity with water as the only chemical by-product.
Experts from around the world have been discussing hydrogen's potential as a largescale energy source at a conference in Brisbane this week. The academy's report says hydrogen could come into its own as a widespread energy alternative within 50 years but only scientists can meet big challenges such a economical storage options, reliable fuel-cells and public acceptance.
"The different national priorities for hydrogen energy research and development depend on each country's other energy sources, especially fossil fuels, and strategies to ensure security of supply and to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions," the report says. It says Australia enjoys lowcost power based largely on its vast reserves of coal and gas.
"Not surprisingly, therefore, early federal and state government initiatives have been directed towards more efficient utilisation of coal and gas, but there is also support for the development of alternative renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal." However, it says Australian scientists produced less than 2 per cent of the world's hydrogen publications since 1980, making the country 16th in the world in terms of hydrogen research.
The Australian Research Council invested nearly $23 million in research projects and fellowships devoted to hydrogen- related energy. Last year, the Queensland Government signed an agreement with the US state of South Carolina to jointly develop and commercialise hydrogen energy technologies. However, the state's investment in hydrogen research pales against the $900 million it has devoted to demonstrating clean coal technology.
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 73
Fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas will continue to meet base power generation needs for Australian industry and domestic electricity users but the nation needs to speed up its research efforts into a key alternative, hydrogen energy, Australia's peak group of scientists says.
A report by the Australian Academy of Science finds that while homegrown research into hydrogen energy is a "minor contributor" to the field, Australian scientists are able to make big contributions to the development of associated technologies like hydrogen storage materials and Carbon Capture and Storage.
However, the report says much of the hydrogen energy research and development going on is lacking in "critical mass", apart from clean coal technologies and hydrogen storage. hydrogen is attracting big interest worldwide as the price of oil soars and nations are under pressure to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. It is touted as a possible longterm, renewable source of clean energy for fuel-cell systems. When fuelled by pure hydrogen and oxygen these cells will produce electricity with water as the only chemical by-product.
Experts from around the world have been discussing hydrogen's potential as a largescale energy source at a conference in Brisbane this week. The academy's report says hydrogen could come into its own as a widespread energy alternative within 50 years but only scientists can meet big challenges such a economical storage options, reliable fuel-cells and public acceptance.
"The different national priorities for hydrogen energy research and development depend on each country's other energy sources, especially fossil fuels, and strategies to ensure security of supply and to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions," the report says. It says Australia enjoys lowcost power based largely on its vast reserves of coal and gas.
"Not surprisingly, therefore, early federal and state government initiatives have been directed towards more efficient utilisation of coal and gas, but there is also support for the development of alternative renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal." However, it says Australian scientists produced less than 2 per cent of the world's hydrogen publications since 1980, making the country 16th in the world in terms of hydrogen research.
The Australian Research Council invested nearly $23 million in research projects and fellowships devoted to hydrogen- related energy. Last year, the Queensland Government signed an agreement with the US state of South Carolina to jointly develop and commercialise hydrogen energy technologies. However, the state's investment in hydrogen research pales against the $900 million it has devoted to demonstrating clean coal technology.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Bridgewater's day in the sun approaches
Bendigo Advertiser
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 3
A TRIAL power station that will set the model for northern Victoria's solar future could be feeding power back into the grid within months. The $10 million trial development site outside Bridgewater, which will test and refine the technology, is progressing to schedule according to Melbourne alternative energy pioneer Solar Systems. The news comes as Premier John Brumby visited some of the world's leading solar facilities in Nevada in the US and announced the State Government's intentions to build multiple solar power stations in northern Victoria.
Solar Systems chief Dave Holland said Government plans for expansion in solar energy meshed with the company's long-term plans in northern Victoria. "We didn't go into this to only build the one station." he said. "We have plans to build dozens of these." Mr Holland said the $10 million Bridgewater station - which should be ready to produce power well before Christmas - would refine the technology for the company's far bigger $420 million north-west project.
Five potential sites, including Kerang and Mildura, have been listed for the project. Factors influencing the choice include reliability of sunshine and closeness to big users. Federal and State Governments have committed $129 million to the project, in which Solar Systems is a partner with TRUEnergy. It is expected to create up to 950 jobs. When finished in September, the 30-hectare Bridgewater site, with its field of mirrors and 75-metre tower, will give a glimpse of how the larger site will look.
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 3
A TRIAL power station that will set the model for northern Victoria's solar future could be feeding power back into the grid within months. The $10 million trial development site outside Bridgewater, which will test and refine the technology, is progressing to schedule according to Melbourne alternative energy pioneer Solar Systems. The news comes as Premier John Brumby visited some of the world's leading solar facilities in Nevada in the US and announced the State Government's intentions to build multiple solar power stations in northern Victoria.Solar Systems chief Dave Holland said Government plans for expansion in solar energy meshed with the company's long-term plans in northern Victoria. "We didn't go into this to only build the one station." he said. "We have plans to build dozens of these." Mr Holland said the $10 million Bridgewater station - which should be ready to produce power well before Christmas - would refine the technology for the company's far bigger $420 million north-west project.
Five potential sites, including Kerang and Mildura, have been listed for the project. Factors influencing the choice include reliability of sunshine and closeness to big users. Federal and State Governments have committed $129 million to the project, in which Solar Systems is a partner with TRUEnergy. It is expected to create up to 950 jobs. When finished in September, the 30-hectare Bridgewater site, with its field of mirrors and 75-metre tower, will give a glimpse of how the larger site will look.
Cost parity on the way
Adelaide Advertiser
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 61
SOLAR energy will cost the same as power from coal, natural gas and nuclear plants in about a decade, a report released yesterday suggests. By then, the price parity could propel solar adoption so that it accounts for 10 per cent of U.S. electricity generation by 2025. "Solar prices are falling as the solar industry scales," said Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Co-op America, a non-profit organisation advocating green economic solutions.
"For the first time in history, cost-competitive solar power is now within the planning horizon of every utility." The Utility Solar Assessment Study, produced by Co-op America and the Clean Edge research firm, projects that the cost of solar will fall from an average of $US5.50-$US7 for a peak watt today to $US1.43- $US1.62 per average peak watt by 2025. A peak watt is the number of watts output when a solar panel is illuminated under test conditions.
At the same time, fuel costs and capital costs to build traditional power plants will rise. Ron Pernick, Clean Edge's managing director and a coauthor of the study, said progress will come only with concentrated efforts by solar companies, utilities and regulators. And with lots of money - from $US450 billion-$US560 billion between now and 2025. he said. At the moment, the U.S. generates less than 0.1 per cent of its electricity from solar power. If the study's projections come true, by 2025 about 8 per cent of electricity will come from photovoltaic systems on roofs and in small solar fields.
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 61
SOLAR energy will cost the same as power from coal, natural gas and nuclear plants in about a decade, a report released yesterday suggests. By then, the price parity could propel solar adoption so that it accounts for 10 per cent of U.S. electricity generation by 2025. "Solar prices are falling as the solar industry scales," said Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Co-op America, a non-profit organisation advocating green economic solutions.
"For the first time in history, cost-competitive solar power is now within the planning horizon of every utility." The Utility Solar Assessment Study, produced by Co-op America and the Clean Edge research firm, projects that the cost of solar will fall from an average of $US5.50-$US7 for a peak watt today to $US1.43- $US1.62 per average peak watt by 2025. A peak watt is the number of watts output when a solar panel is illuminated under test conditions.
At the same time, fuel costs and capital costs to build traditional power plants will rise. Ron Pernick, Clean Edge's managing director and a coauthor of the study, said progress will come only with concentrated efforts by solar companies, utilities and regulators. And with lots of money - from $US450 billion-$US560 billion between now and 2025. he said. At the moment, the U.S. generates less than 0.1 per cent of its electricity from solar power. If the study's projections come true, by 2025 about 8 per cent of electricity will come from photovoltaic systems on roofs and in small solar fields.
Confidential report warns our green targets in doubt
Adelaide Advertiser
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 3
THE RANN Government's green credentials have been called into question over doubts it will meet energy efficiency targets it has set for its own buildings. An unreleased report shows the Government will fall short of its goal of reducing energy use among its assets by 2014 if current progress is maintained. The SA Government Energy Use Annual Report 2006-07, which documents the Government's progress against energy efficiency targets for its buildings, has not yet been signed off by State Cabinet.
However, part of the report, sighted by The Advertiser, shows if the rate of reduction in energy use in Government buildings is maintained, a reduction of just more than 20 per cent was expected by 2014 - about 5 percentage points shy of the 25 per cent target. The graph sighted is based on an 8.78 per cent reduction in energy use to the end of 2006-07, compared with 2000-01.
This figure is a large increase from the 1.93 per cent improvement cited in the previous year's annual report, however, it is understood accounting changes could have impacted the latest results. Members of the energy efficiency industry are understood to be concerned about the Government prioritising form over function when it comes to being clean and green.
While high-profile projects such as the Adelaide airport solar project and the recently announced $8 million State Government injection into a solar power project at the Wayville Showground are deemed useful, experts are concerned energy conservation measures such as energy efficiency and co-generation projects are being overlooked.
A spokesman for Energy Minister Patrick Conlon said the Government had seen the energy use report, but could not release it until it had passed through Cabinet. "We have set ambitious targets and we are making very good progress," he said. "There is a great deal of construction announced or under way which will take big steps towards the 25 per cent target. "I am always happy to compare our green record with that of any Government." Mr Conlon's spokesman said the report should pass through Cabinet in the next few weeks, at which time it would be released.
Thursday 19/6/2008 Page: 3
THE RANN Government's green credentials have been called into question over doubts it will meet energy efficiency targets it has set for its own buildings. An unreleased report shows the Government will fall short of its goal of reducing energy use among its assets by 2014 if current progress is maintained. The SA Government Energy Use Annual Report 2006-07, which documents the Government's progress against energy efficiency targets for its buildings, has not yet been signed off by State Cabinet.
However, part of the report, sighted by The Advertiser, shows if the rate of reduction in energy use in Government buildings is maintained, a reduction of just more than 20 per cent was expected by 2014 - about 5 percentage points shy of the 25 per cent target. The graph sighted is based on an 8.78 per cent reduction in energy use to the end of 2006-07, compared with 2000-01.
This figure is a large increase from the 1.93 per cent improvement cited in the previous year's annual report, however, it is understood accounting changes could have impacted the latest results. Members of the energy efficiency industry are understood to be concerned about the Government prioritising form over function when it comes to being clean and green.
While high-profile projects such as the Adelaide airport solar project and the recently announced $8 million State Government injection into a solar power project at the Wayville Showground are deemed useful, experts are concerned energy conservation measures such as energy efficiency and co-generation projects are being overlooked.
A spokesman for Energy Minister Patrick Conlon said the Government had seen the energy use report, but could not release it until it had passed through Cabinet. "We have set ambitious targets and we are making very good progress," he said. "There is a great deal of construction announced or under way which will take big steps towards the 25 per cent target. "I am always happy to compare our green record with that of any Government." Mr Conlon's spokesman said the report should pass through Cabinet in the next few weeks, at which time it would be released.
Renewable 40 energy 'will be cheapest in long run'
Canberra Times
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 5
Rising fossil fuel prices mean renewable energy will provide cheaper electricity in the long run, according to a Greenpeace report. The report, Energy (R)evolution, which was issued yesterday and uses modelling by Greenpeace and Canberra energy expert Dr Hugh Saddler, also calls for coal-fired power stations to begin being phased out and for gas-powered electricity to be used as a transition to renewable resources.
Co-author Julien Vincent said burning fossil fuels left Australia vulnerable to their increasing prices as well as "choking the atmosphere with greenhouse gases." "Unlike fossil fuels, the cost of harnessing the power of the wind and the sun will never go up," lie said. The report's modelling said electricity supply costs would triple from $11.7 billion a year to $30.9 billion a year in 2020 tinder "business as usual."
The Greenpeace plan, which involves cutting usage as well as shifting to renewable resources and which takes into account costs imposed by an Emissions Trading Scheme, would cost about $15 billion. "Increasing energy efficiency and shifting energy supply to renewable resources in the long term leads to falls in electricity prices. By 2030, wind will be a cheaper torte of electricity than coal," the report said. Costs would, though, rise in the short term, before dropping as the technologies became more established.
Greenpeace wants the Government to begin phasing out coalfired power stations by imposing an immediate moratorium on extending stations or building new ones. Capacity would be reduced by 75 per cent by 2020 and coal generated power would no longer be in use by 2030, tinder its blueprint.
"A combination of renewable energy being deployed at a large scale, aggressive energy efficiency measures in the short-term and the use of gas as a transitional fuel, results in overall fossil fuel use to diminish rapidly... By 2050, more sustained growth in solar concentrating thermal and geothermal, combined with smaller but still significant increases in solar [photovoltaic] and wind provide a suite of renewable energy technologies that provide over 70 per cent of Australia's electricity," the report said.
Australia generates 9.2 per cent of its electricity from renewable resources at present, and the report said this ought be increased to 40 per cent by 2020. Much energy would be produced locally, instead of being distributed through high-voltage transmission grids, in 2050, although "large offshore wind farms, geothermal energy and concentrating solar power plants in the sunbelt regions will... have an important role to play."
Greenpeace said its plan would mean greenhouse gas emissions would drop 37 per cent between 2005 and 2020, and 65 per cent in 2050. The organisation is calling for legislation requiring Australia's greenhouse gas emissions be cut to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. This would require emissions to peak within two years.
It also wants 40 per cent of electricity to come from renewable energy by 2020 and an Emissions Trading Scheme that covers at least 70 per cent of Australia's emissions, "omitting only agriculture, land use and forestry unless robust measurements of these sectors an be achieve in the future."
It includes a national energy efficiency target of a 2 per cent cut in power use every year. This could be done by increasing energy efficiency standards of new buildings and refits, and by retrofitting solar hot water systems to homes and offices. Transport energy use could be cut by moving freight from road to rail. The report backs calls for a highspeed train between Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 5
Rising fossil fuel prices mean renewable energy will provide cheaper electricity in the long run, according to a Greenpeace report. The report, Energy (R)evolution, which was issued yesterday and uses modelling by Greenpeace and Canberra energy expert Dr Hugh Saddler, also calls for coal-fired power stations to begin being phased out and for gas-powered electricity to be used as a transition to renewable resources.
Co-author Julien Vincent said burning fossil fuels left Australia vulnerable to their increasing prices as well as "choking the atmosphere with greenhouse gases." "Unlike fossil fuels, the cost of harnessing the power of the wind and the sun will never go up," lie said. The report's modelling said electricity supply costs would triple from $11.7 billion a year to $30.9 billion a year in 2020 tinder "business as usual."
The Greenpeace plan, which involves cutting usage as well as shifting to renewable resources and which takes into account costs imposed by an Emissions Trading Scheme, would cost about $15 billion. "Increasing energy efficiency and shifting energy supply to renewable resources in the long term leads to falls in electricity prices. By 2030, wind will be a cheaper torte of electricity than coal," the report said. Costs would, though, rise in the short term, before dropping as the technologies became more established.
Greenpeace wants the Government to begin phasing out coalfired power stations by imposing an immediate moratorium on extending stations or building new ones. Capacity would be reduced by 75 per cent by 2020 and coal generated power would no longer be in use by 2030, tinder its blueprint.
"A combination of renewable energy being deployed at a large scale, aggressive energy efficiency measures in the short-term and the use of gas as a transitional fuel, results in overall fossil fuel use to diminish rapidly... By 2050, more sustained growth in solar concentrating thermal and geothermal, combined with smaller but still significant increases in solar [photovoltaic] and wind provide a suite of renewable energy technologies that provide over 70 per cent of Australia's electricity," the report said.
Australia generates 9.2 per cent of its electricity from renewable resources at present, and the report said this ought be increased to 40 per cent by 2020. Much energy would be produced locally, instead of being distributed through high-voltage transmission grids, in 2050, although "large offshore wind farms, geothermal energy and concentrating solar power plants in the sunbelt regions will... have an important role to play."
Greenpeace said its plan would mean greenhouse gas emissions would drop 37 per cent between 2005 and 2020, and 65 per cent in 2050. The organisation is calling for legislation requiring Australia's greenhouse gas emissions be cut to 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. This would require emissions to peak within two years.
It also wants 40 per cent of electricity to come from renewable energy by 2020 and an Emissions Trading Scheme that covers at least 70 per cent of Australia's emissions, "omitting only agriculture, land use and forestry unless robust measurements of these sectors an be achieve in the future."
It includes a national energy efficiency target of a 2 per cent cut in power use every year. This could be done by increasing energy efficiency standards of new buildings and refits, and by retrofitting solar hot water systems to homes and offices. Transport energy use could be cut by moving freight from road to rail. The report backs calls for a highspeed train between Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
Throwing light on our solar future
Ballarat Courier
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 2
SOLAR maps of Victoria and Queensland will be developed to identify where large-scale solar power plants could be built in both states. The project, similar to wind mapping, will pinpoint the best sites for producing solar thermal energy based on landscape and access to the power grid. Victorian Premier John Brumby and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh yesterday announced a joint $680,000 for the solar atlases after they attended a solar business forum in the United States.
Mr Brumby said early investigations showed Victoria had the potential for a solar industry, particularly in the state's north-west, the site of a planned $420 million solar plant. "solar power is a potentially limitless resource, crucial to tackling climate change and to meeting our energy needs into the future," he said. The alliance between Victoria and Queensland will allow us to pool our resources to help ensure both states capture the benefits from establishing a solar thermal industry in Australia."
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 2
SOLAR maps of Victoria and Queensland will be developed to identify where large-scale solar power plants could be built in both states. The project, similar to wind mapping, will pinpoint the best sites for producing solar thermal energy based on landscape and access to the power grid. Victorian Premier John Brumby and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh yesterday announced a joint $680,000 for the solar atlases after they attended a solar business forum in the United States.
Mr Brumby said early investigations showed Victoria had the potential for a solar industry, particularly in the state's north-west, the site of a planned $420 million solar plant. "solar power is a potentially limitless resource, crucial to tackling climate change and to meeting our energy needs into the future," he said. The alliance between Victoria and Queensland will allow us to pool our resources to help ensure both states capture the benefits from establishing a solar thermal industry in Australia."
Friday, 27 June 2008
Trade winds
Economist
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 6
Wind power has come of age. But to make the most of it, electrical grids will have to be overhauled.
ON A ridge near Toledo in Castile-La Mancha stands a row of white windmills. Literary buffs, even if they have never been to Spain, will recognise them as the ferocious giants attacked by Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes's fictional 17th-century hero. These days, however, they are dwarfed by legions of modern wind turbines that grind out not flour but power, helping to make Spain one of the leading producers of wind-based electricity in Europe.
Does this amount to tilting at windmills? There is no doubt that Spain's wind turbines would not have been built without assistance from the highly visible hand of a government that wanted to prove its green credentials. But wind power is no illusion. World capacity is growing at 30% a year and will exceed 100 gigawatts this year. Victor Abate, General Electric's vice president of renewables, is so convinced that by 2012 half of the new generating capacity built in America will be wind powered that he is basing his business plan on that assumption.
Wind currently provides only about 1% of America's electricity, but by 2020 that figure may have risen to 15%. The one part of the United States that has something approximating a proper free market in electricity, Texas, is also keener than any other state on deploying the turbines. In May, T.
Boone Pickens, one of the state's most famous oil tycoons, announced a deal with GE to build a one-gigawatt wind farm-the world's largest-at a cost of $2 billion. What was once a greener-than-thou toy has thus become a real business (GE alone expects to sell $6 billion-worth of turbines this year)-and one with many advantages.
For example, as Lester Brown, the president of the Earth Policy Institute, a thinktank in Washington, DC, points out, a farmer in Iowa who gives up a tenth of a hectare (a quarter of an acre) of land to a turbine might earn $10,000 a year from it (about 3% of the value of the electricity it produces). Planted with maize, the same land would yield a mere $300-worth of bioethanol.
Moreover, wind farms can be built piecemeal, unlike most power stations. A half-finished coal-fired or nuclear energy plant is a useless waste of money, but a half-finished wind farm is simply a wind farm half the size originally intended-and one that has been providing revenue since the first turbine was completed. One consequence of this rapidly growing market is a virtuous circle of technological improvement that is pushing wind generated electricity closer and closer to solving Google's cheaper-than-coal equation.
The first turbines were cobbled together from components intended for ships. Now the engineers are borrowing from aircraft design, using sophisticated composite materials and equally sophisticated variable-geometry blades to make those blades as long as possible (bigger is better with turbine technology) and as smart as possible (a blade that can flex when the wind blows too strongly, and thus "spill" part of that wind, is able to turn when other, lesser turbines would have to be shut down for their own safety). The theoretical maximum efficiency of a turbine, worked out in the early 20th century by Albert Betz, is 59.3%. Modern turbines get surprisingly close to that, being about 50% efficient.
They are also more reliable than their predecessors. According to Mr Abate, when GE entered the turbine business in 2002 the average turbine was out of commission 15% of the time. Now its downtime is less than 3%. As a result, the cost of the energy cranked out by these turbines has come down to about 8 cents a kilowatt hour (kWh) and is still falling.
That makes wind power competitive with electricity generated by burning natural gas. Coal power is still cheaper, at about 5 cents a kWh. But according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), that would rise to 8 cents if the CO2 from coal-fired power stations had to be captured and stored underground (see box on the next page)-or, for that matter, if a carbon tax of $3o a tonne were imposed.
The power companies that buy the turbines are also getting smarter. They employ teams of meteorologists to scour the world for the best places to put turbines. It is not just a question of when the wind blows, but also of how powerfully. A difference of as little as one or two kilometres (one mile) an hour in average wind speed can have a significant effect on electrical output. And another lot of meteorologists sit in the control centres, making detailed forecasts a day or two ahead to help a company manage its power load. For one problem with wind is that if it stops blowing, the turbines stop turning. After cutting costs, that is the second great challenge of the spread of wind power.
The third is that people do not necessarily live where the wind blows. Indeed, they often avoid living in such places. Solving these problems, though, is a task not for the mechanical engineers who build the turbines but for the electrical engineers who link them to places where power is wanted. That means electricity grids are about to become bigger and smarter.
Bigger means transcontinental, at least for people like Vinod Khosla. His analogy is America's interstate highway system, built after the second world war. The new grids would use direct, rather than alternating, current. AC was adopted as standard over a century ago, when the electrical world was rather different. But DC is better suited to transporting power over long distances. Less power is lost, even on land. And DC cables can also be laid on the seabed (the presence of all that water would dissipate an AC current very quickly). In the right geographical circumstances that eliminates the difficulty of obtaining wayleaves to cross private land and the not-in-my-backyard objections that power lines are ugly. Indeed, there is already a plan to use underwater cables to ship windpower from Maine to Boston in this way.
Rewiring the planet
As it happens, Europe already has the embryo of a DC grid. It links Scandinavia, northern Germany and the Netherlands, and there is talk of extending it across the North Sea to the British Isles. another notoriously windy part of Europe. By connecting distant points, this grid not only delivers power to market, it also allows the system some slack. It matters less that the wind does not blow all the time because it blows at different times in different places.
The grid also permits surplus power to be used to pump water uphill in Norwegian hydroelectric plants (a system known as pumped storage), ready for use when demand spikes. Smarter grids, however, would help to smooth out such spikes in the first place. The ability to accommodate inherently intermittent sources such as wind is only one of several reasons for wanting to do this, but it is an important one. A smart grid will constantly monitor its load and (this is the smart bit) take particular consumers offline, with their prior agreement and in exchange for a lower price, if that load surges beyond a preset level.
For this purpose, a consumer may not necessarily be the same as a customer. The grid's software would be able to identify particular circuits, or even particular appliances, in a home, office or factory. Their owners would decide in what circumstances they should shut down or boost up, and the smart grid's software would then do the job. Water heaters and air-conditioners might stock up on heat or cold in anticipation of such shutdowns. Fridges would know how long they could manage without power before they had to switch on again.
Reducing spikes in demand that way will cut the need for what are known in the industry as "peakers" - small power plants such as pumped-storage systems that exist solely to deal with such spikes. Parts of America's existing dumb and fragmentary electricity grid are so vulnerable to load variations that their owners think they may be able to cope with no more than about 2% of intermittent wind power. Clearly peaks will never be eliminated entirely.
However, Mr Abate reckons that a combination of smart grids and gas-fired peakers should push the potential for wind power up a long way. To prove the point, GE is collaborating with the government of Hawaii, a state which is served by a series of small, isolated grids highly vulnerable to disruption. The firm's engineers reckon that clever grid management will allow up to 30% of local power to come from wind without any blackouts. If that improvement can be translated to the grids on the mainland, winds future looks assured.
Monday 23/6/2008 Page: 6
Wind power has come of age. But to make the most of it, electrical grids will have to be overhauled.
ON A ridge near Toledo in Castile-La Mancha stands a row of white windmills. Literary buffs, even if they have never been to Spain, will recognise them as the ferocious giants attacked by Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes's fictional 17th-century hero. These days, however, they are dwarfed by legions of modern wind turbines that grind out not flour but power, helping to make Spain one of the leading producers of wind-based electricity in Europe.
Does this amount to tilting at windmills? There is no doubt that Spain's wind turbines would not have been built without assistance from the highly visible hand of a government that wanted to prove its green credentials. But wind power is no illusion. World capacity is growing at 30% a year and will exceed 100 gigawatts this year. Victor Abate, General Electric's vice president of renewables, is so convinced that by 2012 half of the new generating capacity built in America will be wind powered that he is basing his business plan on that assumption.
Wind currently provides only about 1% of America's electricity, but by 2020 that figure may have risen to 15%. The one part of the United States that has something approximating a proper free market in electricity, Texas, is also keener than any other state on deploying the turbines. In May, T.
Boone Pickens, one of the state's most famous oil tycoons, announced a deal with GE to build a one-gigawatt wind farm-the world's largest-at a cost of $2 billion. What was once a greener-than-thou toy has thus become a real business (GE alone expects to sell $6 billion-worth of turbines this year)-and one with many advantages.
For example, as Lester Brown, the president of the Earth Policy Institute, a thinktank in Washington, DC, points out, a farmer in Iowa who gives up a tenth of a hectare (a quarter of an acre) of land to a turbine might earn $10,000 a year from it (about 3% of the value of the electricity it produces). Planted with maize, the same land would yield a mere $300-worth of bioethanol.
Moreover, wind farms can be built piecemeal, unlike most power stations. A half-finished coal-fired or nuclear energy plant is a useless waste of money, but a half-finished wind farm is simply a wind farm half the size originally intended-and one that has been providing revenue since the first turbine was completed. One consequence of this rapidly growing market is a virtuous circle of technological improvement that is pushing wind generated electricity closer and closer to solving Google's cheaper-than-coal equation.
The first turbines were cobbled together from components intended for ships. Now the engineers are borrowing from aircraft design, using sophisticated composite materials and equally sophisticated variable-geometry blades to make those blades as long as possible (bigger is better with turbine technology) and as smart as possible (a blade that can flex when the wind blows too strongly, and thus "spill" part of that wind, is able to turn when other, lesser turbines would have to be shut down for their own safety). The theoretical maximum efficiency of a turbine, worked out in the early 20th century by Albert Betz, is 59.3%. Modern turbines get surprisingly close to that, being about 50% efficient.
They are also more reliable than their predecessors. According to Mr Abate, when GE entered the turbine business in 2002 the average turbine was out of commission 15% of the time. Now its downtime is less than 3%. As a result, the cost of the energy cranked out by these turbines has come down to about 8 cents a kilowatt hour (kWh) and is still falling.
That makes wind power competitive with electricity generated by burning natural gas. Coal power is still cheaper, at about 5 cents a kWh. But according to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), that would rise to 8 cents if the CO2 from coal-fired power stations had to be captured and stored underground (see box on the next page)-or, for that matter, if a carbon tax of $3o a tonne were imposed.
The power companies that buy the turbines are also getting smarter. They employ teams of meteorologists to scour the world for the best places to put turbines. It is not just a question of when the wind blows, but also of how powerfully. A difference of as little as one or two kilometres (one mile) an hour in average wind speed can have a significant effect on electrical output. And another lot of meteorologists sit in the control centres, making detailed forecasts a day or two ahead to help a company manage its power load. For one problem with wind is that if it stops blowing, the turbines stop turning. After cutting costs, that is the second great challenge of the spread of wind power.
The third is that people do not necessarily live where the wind blows. Indeed, they often avoid living in such places. Solving these problems, though, is a task not for the mechanical engineers who build the turbines but for the electrical engineers who link them to places where power is wanted. That means electricity grids are about to become bigger and smarter.
Bigger means transcontinental, at least for people like Vinod Khosla. His analogy is America's interstate highway system, built after the second world war. The new grids would use direct, rather than alternating, current. AC was adopted as standard over a century ago, when the electrical world was rather different. But DC is better suited to transporting power over long distances. Less power is lost, even on land. And DC cables can also be laid on the seabed (the presence of all that water would dissipate an AC current very quickly). In the right geographical circumstances that eliminates the difficulty of obtaining wayleaves to cross private land and the not-in-my-backyard objections that power lines are ugly. Indeed, there is already a plan to use underwater cables to ship windpower from Maine to Boston in this way.
Rewiring the planet
As it happens, Europe already has the embryo of a DC grid. It links Scandinavia, northern Germany and the Netherlands, and there is talk of extending it across the North Sea to the British Isles. another notoriously windy part of Europe. By connecting distant points, this grid not only delivers power to market, it also allows the system some slack. It matters less that the wind does not blow all the time because it blows at different times in different places.
The grid also permits surplus power to be used to pump water uphill in Norwegian hydroelectric plants (a system known as pumped storage), ready for use when demand spikes. Smarter grids, however, would help to smooth out such spikes in the first place. The ability to accommodate inherently intermittent sources such as wind is only one of several reasons for wanting to do this, but it is an important one. A smart grid will constantly monitor its load and (this is the smart bit) take particular consumers offline, with their prior agreement and in exchange for a lower price, if that load surges beyond a preset level.
For this purpose, a consumer may not necessarily be the same as a customer. The grid's software would be able to identify particular circuits, or even particular appliances, in a home, office or factory. Their owners would decide in what circumstances they should shut down or boost up, and the smart grid's software would then do the job. Water heaters and air-conditioners might stock up on heat or cold in anticipation of such shutdowns. Fridges would know how long they could manage without power before they had to switch on again.
Reducing spikes in demand that way will cut the need for what are known in the industry as "peakers" - small power plants such as pumped-storage systems that exist solely to deal with such spikes. Parts of America's existing dumb and fragmentary electricity grid are so vulnerable to load variations that their owners think they may be able to cope with no more than about 2% of intermittent wind power. Clearly peaks will never be eliminated entirely.
However, Mr Abate reckons that a combination of smart grids and gas-fired peakers should push the potential for wind power up a long way. To prove the point, GE is collaborating with the government of Hawaii, a state which is served by a series of small, isolated grids highly vulnerable to disruption. The firm's engineers reckon that clever grid management will allow up to 30% of local power to come from wind without any blackouts. If that improvement can be translated to the grids on the mainland, winds future looks assured.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Brumby planning to plug Victoria into the sun
Age
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 5
FOUR solar plants capable of producing enough power to meet the annual needs of almost 200,000 homes could be built in Victoria over the next decade, under a plan for renewable energy outlined by Premier John Brumby. While work is under way on the development of a 154-megawatt solar power station in the state's north-west, Mr Brumby said he could "foresee another three or four plants of that potential size and scale over the next decade."
The $420 million solar plant near Mildura, a partnership between TRUEnergy and Melbourne-based company Solar Systems, is expected to provide enough green power for 45,000 homes by the time work is completed in 2013. Mr Brumby said Victoria had excellent prospects for solar power, particularly in the north and north-west, and large industrial users in the western suburbs could benefit from the technology.
"I really want to push this through, and we're seeing just great opportunities," he said, adding that he would like work to begin on another solar plant in Victoria within two years. Last month's state budget included a $72 million fund for large-scale, renewable energy projects. The Premier also told The Age he was considering a mandatory solar energy component within the state's renewable energy target, possibly at a quarter of the overall 10% target to be achieved by 2016.
"If we set the 2.5% target, that will lead to a very high degree of interest (from companies)... you'll see a rush of activity," he said. Mr Brumby made the comments as he and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh toured solar facilities in the US state of Nevada, which has a renewable energy target of 20% by 2015, of which 5% must be solar. They visited a new Las Vegas factory for Ausra - the solar thermal technology company founded by former Sydney University professor Dr David Mills - and a 75-megawatt solar thermal plant in Boulder City.
After taking part in a solar thermal business forum - in collaboration with the Clinton Foundation's climate initiative - the two premiers jointly announced a $680,000 project to develop a solar atlas for Victoria and Queensland that would help companies identify the best locations for solar investment.
The atlas, due for completion by the year-end, would consider not only the amount of solar radiation but factors such as the suitability of land and proximity to existing transmission cables. Clean Energy Council spokeswoman Irene Bukhshtaber said the prospect of additional solar plants in Victoria was "logical, do-able, necessary and affordable."
But she said the council, which represents clean-energy businesses, wanted an open market for renewable energy "so that the lowest-cost options win." Environment Victoria's campaigns director, Mark Wakeham, said the best thing the Government could do to was to broaden the reach of a new solar subsidy scheme. The scheme, restricted to households with solar panels producing up to two kilowatts, provides a premium rate for excess power that is fed back into the grid.
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 5
FOUR solar plants capable of producing enough power to meet the annual needs of almost 200,000 homes could be built in Victoria over the next decade, under a plan for renewable energy outlined by Premier John Brumby. While work is under way on the development of a 154-megawatt solar power station in the state's north-west, Mr Brumby said he could "foresee another three or four plants of that potential size and scale over the next decade."The $420 million solar plant near Mildura, a partnership between TRUEnergy and Melbourne-based company Solar Systems, is expected to provide enough green power for 45,000 homes by the time work is completed in 2013. Mr Brumby said Victoria had excellent prospects for solar power, particularly in the north and north-west, and large industrial users in the western suburbs could benefit from the technology.
"I really want to push this through, and we're seeing just great opportunities," he said, adding that he would like work to begin on another solar plant in Victoria within two years. Last month's state budget included a $72 million fund for large-scale, renewable energy projects. The Premier also told The Age he was considering a mandatory solar energy component within the state's renewable energy target, possibly at a quarter of the overall 10% target to be achieved by 2016.
"If we set the 2.5% target, that will lead to a very high degree of interest (from companies)... you'll see a rush of activity," he said. Mr Brumby made the comments as he and Queensland Premier Anna Bligh toured solar facilities in the US state of Nevada, which has a renewable energy target of 20% by 2015, of which 5% must be solar. They visited a new Las Vegas factory for Ausra - the solar thermal technology company founded by former Sydney University professor Dr David Mills - and a 75-megawatt solar thermal plant in Boulder City.
After taking part in a solar thermal business forum - in collaboration with the Clinton Foundation's climate initiative - the two premiers jointly announced a $680,000 project to develop a solar atlas for Victoria and Queensland that would help companies identify the best locations for solar investment.
The atlas, due for completion by the year-end, would consider not only the amount of solar radiation but factors such as the suitability of land and proximity to existing transmission cables. Clean Energy Council spokeswoman Irene Bukhshtaber said the prospect of additional solar plants in Victoria was "logical, do-able, necessary and affordable."
But she said the council, which represents clean-energy businesses, wanted an open market for renewable energy "so that the lowest-cost options win." Environment Victoria's campaigns director, Mark Wakeham, said the best thing the Government could do to was to broaden the reach of a new solar subsidy scheme. The scheme, restricted to households with solar panels producing up to two kilowatts, provides a premium rate for excess power that is fed back into the grid.
Winds of change in the north
Adelaide Advertiser
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 33
DUTCH company Suzlon Energy has established an office at Jamestown to service four wind-farm projects in the region. The office at Jamestown Industrial Park is expected to employ 27 people by 2012 to supply, construct and maintain wind farms in the Mid North and northern Yorke Peninsula. The company will build a regional centre, operations office and stores facilities in Jamestown at a cost of more than $2.5 million.
Suzlon has worked in partnership with AGL during the development of the Hallett wind-farm project. The first turbine and blades arrived in SA from Suzlon's manufacturing facility in India in late February and were then assembled on site at Hallett. The Hallett wind farm comprises 45 wind turbines that have a total capacity of 94.5 megawatts. Each tower is 80m high, with the blade tips reaching 124m.
Tuesday 17/6/2008 Page: 33
DUTCH company Suzlon Energy has established an office at Jamestown to service four wind-farm projects in the region. The office at Jamestown Industrial Park is expected to employ 27 people by 2012 to supply, construct and maintain wind farms in the Mid North and northern Yorke Peninsula. The company will build a regional centre, operations office and stores facilities in Jamestown at a cost of more than $2.5 million.
Suzlon has worked in partnership with AGL during the development of the Hallett wind-farm project. The first turbine and blades arrived in SA from Suzlon's manufacturing facility in India in late February and were then assembled on site at Hallett. The Hallett wind farm comprises 45 wind turbines that have a total capacity of 94.5 megawatts. Each tower is 80m high, with the blade tips reaching 124m.
Australian breakthrough snapped up - by eager Americans
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday 16/6/2008 Page: 4
FORMER Sydney University professor Dr David Mills couldn't find funding for his giant solar power plants in Australia, but US investors had no qualms wagering at least $40 million on the idea. Dr Mills' first factory for the mass production of "solar parks" will open in Las Vegas later this month. It hosted a gaggle of interested Australian politicians last night in Nevada, including the NSW Environment Minister, Verity Firth.
The power plants, conceived in Dr Mills's Sydney University lab, will reflect sunlight with mirrors to boil water and use the steam to spin turbines, generating electricity for a price not much higher than that of a coal-burning power station. But, unlike some solar power systems, they can function when the sun isn't shining by storing heat in insulated chambers for a rainy day, and continue steadily feeding power into the grid.
The technology, some of which the company is keeping under wraps, is not complicated or particularly expensive, but it is being exploited in Nevada rather than NSW because that is where the financial backing is, Dr Mills said. "We're not really talking about government money or subsidies, we're trying to establish a level playing field for the technology," Dr Mills said.
"There is a big debate being held here [in the US], but I don't think that debate is being held as it should be in Australia." Dr Mills moved the headquarters of Ausra, the solar company he founded, to the US last year because he found that banks there were more willing to take risks on large-scale developments that feed directly into the power grid. "We've shown that the system will be competitive with coalfired electricity, especially when it has the extra cost of having Carbon Capture and Storage fitted," Dr Mills said.
'Added to that, we obviously have no fuel costs." There have been regular inquiries from potential investors in Australia, but so far none has been found to fund a project on a scale that could start seeing greenhouse gas-intensive coal power stations replaced. Ausra does have a pilot plant already functioning at Liddell Power Station near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley's traditional coal country, supplementing the coalburning plant and preserving an estimated 4000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
The NSW Government would like to see more schemes like it, although it is offering no special incentives at this stage. Ms Firth said she hoped the introduction of the Federal Government's Emissions Trading Scheme and renewable energy target of 20 per cent by the year 2020, together with the state's own $40 million renewable energy fund, would encourage Dr Mills' company to persist with a large-scale solar plant in the state. "We'd obviously like to see this sort of industry in NSW, it's absolutely part of our longer term agenda," Ms Firth said.
Monday 16/6/2008 Page: 4
FORMER Sydney University professor Dr David Mills couldn't find funding for his giant solar power plants in Australia, but US investors had no qualms wagering at least $40 million on the idea. Dr Mills' first factory for the mass production of "solar parks" will open in Las Vegas later this month. It hosted a gaggle of interested Australian politicians last night in Nevada, including the NSW Environment Minister, Verity Firth.The power plants, conceived in Dr Mills's Sydney University lab, will reflect sunlight with mirrors to boil water and use the steam to spin turbines, generating electricity for a price not much higher than that of a coal-burning power station. But, unlike some solar power systems, they can function when the sun isn't shining by storing heat in insulated chambers for a rainy day, and continue steadily feeding power into the grid.
The technology, some of which the company is keeping under wraps, is not complicated or particularly expensive, but it is being exploited in Nevada rather than NSW because that is where the financial backing is, Dr Mills said. "We're not really talking about government money or subsidies, we're trying to establish a level playing field for the technology," Dr Mills said.
"There is a big debate being held here [in the US], but I don't think that debate is being held as it should be in Australia." Dr Mills moved the headquarters of Ausra, the solar company he founded, to the US last year because he found that banks there were more willing to take risks on large-scale developments that feed directly into the power grid. "We've shown that the system will be competitive with coalfired electricity, especially when it has the extra cost of having Carbon Capture and Storage fitted," Dr Mills said.
'Added to that, we obviously have no fuel costs." There have been regular inquiries from potential investors in Australia, but so far none has been found to fund a project on a scale that could start seeing greenhouse gas-intensive coal power stations replaced. Ausra does have a pilot plant already functioning at Liddell Power Station near Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley's traditional coal country, supplementing the coalburning plant and preserving an estimated 4000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
The NSW Government would like to see more schemes like it, although it is offering no special incentives at this stage. Ms Firth said she hoped the introduction of the Federal Government's Emissions Trading Scheme and renewable energy target of 20 per cent by the year 2020, together with the state's own $40 million renewable energy fund, would encourage Dr Mills' company to persist with a large-scale solar plant in the state. "We'd obviously like to see this sort of industry in NSW, it's absolutely part of our longer term agenda," Ms Firth said.
Solar industry supports Queensland plan for gross feed-in tariffs
Clean Energy Council
5 June 2005
QUEENSLAND: The Clean Energy Council today endorsed the Queensland Opposition's plan for a gross metering feed-in tariff for all solar photovoltaic (PV) generators in the state. The scheme involves a guaranteed premium payment for all the solar energy produced in the state, both domestic and commercial, including households, schools, shopping centres, sporting clubs, community halls and government buildings.
The Clean Energy Council, the peak industry body for clean energy including solar power, is seeking a nationally consistent gross metering feed-in tariff from 1 July 2009 - with a longterm price set high enough - to provide certainty for consumers and encourage growth of the solar industry.
"We would welcome Queensland becoming the ‘first mover' ahead of a national scheme," said Irena Bukhshtaber, GM – Communications, Clean Energy Council. "We believe that homes and businesses across the nation should be rewarded for all the clean energy they produce. A national gross feed-in tariff is an essential policy for both the growth of zero-emission solar energy and a viable, healthy solar industry in Australia," she said.
Stationary energy is responsible for 50% of Australia's emissions so any climate change solution must target the energy sector specifically. Clean energy like solar power provides electricity where and when it's needed without producing climate-changing greenhouse gases.
"With the recent introduction of means testing on solar rebates, a national gross feed-in tariff policy is vital to reduce financial barriers and maintain the incentive for all Australians to invest in climate change solutions" added Ms Bukhshtaber.
Feed-in tariffs have been proven in 46 countries where they stimulated rapid uptake of solar energy and reduced demand for high-emission, carbon intense power. Some countries are now looking at feed-in laws for large scale clean energy infrastructure as well. The Clean Energy Council is working with all Australian governments to deliver a suite of sustainable energy policies that will effectively cut greenhouse gas emissions at least cost to the economy.
5 June 2005
QUEENSLAND: The Clean Energy Council today endorsed the Queensland Opposition's plan for a gross metering feed-in tariff for all solar photovoltaic (PV) generators in the state. The scheme involves a guaranteed premium payment for all the solar energy produced in the state, both domestic and commercial, including households, schools, shopping centres, sporting clubs, community halls and government buildings.The Clean Energy Council, the peak industry body for clean energy including solar power, is seeking a nationally consistent gross metering feed-in tariff from 1 July 2009 - with a longterm price set high enough - to provide certainty for consumers and encourage growth of the solar industry.
"We would welcome Queensland becoming the ‘first mover' ahead of a national scheme," said Irena Bukhshtaber, GM – Communications, Clean Energy Council. "We believe that homes and businesses across the nation should be rewarded for all the clean energy they produce. A national gross feed-in tariff is an essential policy for both the growth of zero-emission solar energy and a viable, healthy solar industry in Australia," she said.
Stationary energy is responsible for 50% of Australia's emissions so any climate change solution must target the energy sector specifically. Clean energy like solar power provides electricity where and when it's needed without producing climate-changing greenhouse gases.
"With the recent introduction of means testing on solar rebates, a national gross feed-in tariff policy is vital to reduce financial barriers and maintain the incentive for all Australians to invest in climate change solutions" added Ms Bukhshtaber.
Feed-in tariffs have been proven in 46 countries where they stimulated rapid uptake of solar energy and reduced demand for high-emission, carbon intense power. Some countries are now looking at feed-in laws for large scale clean energy infrastructure as well. The Clean Energy Council is working with all Australian governments to deliver a suite of sustainable energy policies that will effectively cut greenhouse gas emissions at least cost to the economy.
Severn barrage ‘too expensive’ – report
www.environmental-finance.com/
London, 12 June:
A planned £15 billion ($29 billion) tidal-power barrage across the Severn Estuary is too expensive and the bill should not be footed by the UK taxpayer, according to a report commissioned by 10 environment groups. The 10-mile-long barrage would stretch between Wales and Somerset, and could generate 17 billion kilowatt hours of renewable power a year, providing up to 4.5% of likely electricity demand in the UK. But European consultancy Frontier Economics concluded that the same amount of renewable power could be generated using cheaper technologies.
The project was first proposed in 1981, by the Severn Tidal Power Group, a consortium which included Balfour Beatty. The plan never took off, and a report last year by the UK's Sustainable Development Commission said that the state should fund and run the barrage. However, Matthew Bell, author of the Frontier Economics report, said: "It is hard to think of reasons for the public sector to build or operate a barrage which would not be equally applicable to many other projects and assets that sit in the private sector.
"Not only is the private sector more than able to finance a scheme of this scale but, even using the most conservative estimates of costs, the barrage is one of the most expensive options for clean energy generation there is." Morgan Parry, head of WWF Cymru, added: "This report concludes quite clearly that government support for the Severn barrage is not justified.
Whereas we would welcome government intervention to improve the infrastructure of renewable energy supply, financial support for a redundant and highly damaging technology like a barrage is not the way to do it." Graham Wynne, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: "There are good reasons for trying to harness the energy potential of the Severn estuary. But the estuary is truly exceptional for its ecological value."
London, 12 June:
A planned £15 billion ($29 billion) tidal-power barrage across the Severn Estuary is too expensive and the bill should not be footed by the UK taxpayer, according to a report commissioned by 10 environment groups. The 10-mile-long barrage would stretch between Wales and Somerset, and could generate 17 billion kilowatt hours of renewable power a year, providing up to 4.5% of likely electricity demand in the UK. But European consultancy Frontier Economics concluded that the same amount of renewable power could be generated using cheaper technologies.
The project was first proposed in 1981, by the Severn Tidal Power Group, a consortium which included Balfour Beatty. The plan never took off, and a report last year by the UK's Sustainable Development Commission said that the state should fund and run the barrage. However, Matthew Bell, author of the Frontier Economics report, said: "It is hard to think of reasons for the public sector to build or operate a barrage which would not be equally applicable to many other projects and assets that sit in the private sector.
"Not only is the private sector more than able to finance a scheme of this scale but, even using the most conservative estimates of costs, the barrage is one of the most expensive options for clean energy generation there is." Morgan Parry, head of WWF Cymru, added: "This report concludes quite clearly that government support for the Severn barrage is not justified.
Whereas we would welcome government intervention to improve the infrastructure of renewable energy supply, financial support for a redundant and highly damaging technology like a barrage is not the way to do it." Graham Wynne, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: "There are good reasons for trying to harness the energy potential of the Severn estuary. But the estuary is truly exceptional for its ecological value."
AGL eyes expansion
Bendigo Advertiser
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 33
Melbourne - AGL Energy Ltd is investigating a stage five expansion to its Hallett wind farm in South Australia as the company aims to have almost half of its power generated from renewables by 2020.
Australia's largest power retailer yesterday officially opened its $236 million Hallett stage one wind farm 220 kilometres north of Adelaide, the first of four planned for the area.
AGL Energy is building on its renewable power generation ahead of the introduction of a national carbon trading system in 2010 and the federal government's target of having 20 per cent of the nation's power generated from renewable sources by 2020.
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 33
Melbourne - AGL Energy Ltd is investigating a stage five expansion to its Hallett wind farm in South Australia as the company aims to have almost half of its power generated from renewables by 2020.
Australia's largest power retailer yesterday officially opened its $236 million Hallett stage one wind farm 220 kilometres north of Adelaide, the first of four planned for the area.
AGL Energy is building on its renewable power generation ahead of the introduction of a national carbon trading system in 2010 and the federal government's target of having 20 per cent of the nation's power generated from renewable sources by 2020.
Elmore field days go green
Bendigo Advertiser
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 8
HOW alternative energy can be applied in farming will be a feature of this year's Elmore Field Days. The organising committee wants to showcase alternative energy solutions, suppliers and organisations under the theme Capitalising on a Climate of Change, and is calling on appropriate stall holders to register soon. The field days will run from October 7-9 and exhibits will feature all types of alternative energy - from biodiesel to solar - and all the technology that makes for practical solutions at the individual enterprise level.
In conjunction with La Trobe University Bendigo, the field days will specifically help farmers understand their energy consumption. Farmers will be able to calculate carbon emissions and review opportunities to create carbon trading opportunities and accrue carbon credits. Field days president Darren Trewick said there was a great lack of understanding among farmers and farm managers about carbon generation and emissions.
"Most farmers indicated they have little or no understanding of carbon trading," Mr Trewick said. "They did not know how they might benefit by supplying carbon credits, such as tree-planting or similar forestry initiatives, to assist industries that are substantial carbon generators. "The carbon issue will be an ongoing theme in agriculture, particularly over the next couple of years as the issue grows in significance.
"We expect to have survey groups working on the field days site to help farmers calculate their energy consumption, their carbon emissions footprint and how they may reduce their expenses and benefit from any credits in carbon trading.
"It is also a project that conforms with our objective of establishing the Elmore Field Days and the Elmore Events Centre site as a carbon-friendly event, which will make it unique." The Elmore Field Days committee welcomes interest from potential exhibitors of alternative energy solutions and suppliers, and community groups interested in the carbon aspects of agriculture.
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 8
HOW alternative energy can be applied in farming will be a feature of this year's Elmore Field Days. The organising committee wants to showcase alternative energy solutions, suppliers and organisations under the theme Capitalising on a Climate of Change, and is calling on appropriate stall holders to register soon. The field days will run from October 7-9 and exhibits will feature all types of alternative energy - from biodiesel to solar - and all the technology that makes for practical solutions at the individual enterprise level.
In conjunction with La Trobe University Bendigo, the field days will specifically help farmers understand their energy consumption. Farmers will be able to calculate carbon emissions and review opportunities to create carbon trading opportunities and accrue carbon credits. Field days president Darren Trewick said there was a great lack of understanding among farmers and farm managers about carbon generation and emissions.
"Most farmers indicated they have little or no understanding of carbon trading," Mr Trewick said. "They did not know how they might benefit by supplying carbon credits, such as tree-planting or similar forestry initiatives, to assist industries that are substantial carbon generators. "The carbon issue will be an ongoing theme in agriculture, particularly over the next couple of years as the issue grows in significance.
"We expect to have survey groups working on the field days site to help farmers calculate their energy consumption, their carbon emissions footprint and how they may reduce their expenses and benefit from any credits in carbon trading.
"It is also a project that conforms with our objective of establishing the Elmore Field Days and the Elmore Events Centre site as a carbon-friendly event, which will make it unique." The Elmore Field Days committee welcomes interest from potential exhibitors of alternative energy solutions and suppliers, and community groups interested in the carbon aspects of agriculture.
Cost to offset desal plant's carbon footprint hits $42m
Age
Monday 16/6/2008 Page: 5
OFFSETTING the Victorian desalination plant's contribution to climate change will add $42 million a year to its electricity bill, a new analysis shows. The report by Environment Victoria, the state's peak conservation lobby, says the size of the bill reflects the massive energy demands of the plant, to be built near Wonthaggi in west Gippsland.
If run on coal-fired electricity, the plant would pump out 1.048 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - equivalent to pollution from about 250,000 family cars. The State Government has promised to buy green energy to offset its energy use. According to Environment Victoria's analysis, the plant would require the equivalent of five new wind farms to be "carbon neutral." It estimates this would more than double the electricity bill from about $36 million a year to about $78 million.
Environment Victoria campaigns director Mark Wakeham said the most transparent way to ensure the plant operators offset its greenhouse gas emissions in full would be to make them buy 100% green power. "It's a complex area and there is some ambiguity in what the Government is saying. It is vitally important that the Brumby Government clearly outlines how the Wonthaggi project will be offset by renewable energy," he said. The environmental lobby opposes the $3.1 billion desalination plant, arguing it is expensive and high-polluting. Water Minister Tim Holding responds the Government is acting swiftly to meet the state's needs.
Monday 16/6/2008 Page: 5
OFFSETTING the Victorian desalination plant's contribution to climate change will add $42 million a year to its electricity bill, a new analysis shows. The report by Environment Victoria, the state's peak conservation lobby, says the size of the bill reflects the massive energy demands of the plant, to be built near Wonthaggi in west Gippsland.
If run on coal-fired electricity, the plant would pump out 1.048 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - equivalent to pollution from about 250,000 family cars. The State Government has promised to buy green energy to offset its energy use. According to Environment Victoria's analysis, the plant would require the equivalent of five new wind farms to be "carbon neutral." It estimates this would more than double the electricity bill from about $36 million a year to about $78 million.
Environment Victoria campaigns director Mark Wakeham said the most transparent way to ensure the plant operators offset its greenhouse gas emissions in full would be to make them buy 100% green power. "It's a complex area and there is some ambiguity in what the Government is saying. It is vitally important that the Brumby Government clearly outlines how the Wonthaggi project will be offset by renewable energy," he said. The environmental lobby opposes the $3.1 billion desalination plant, arguing it is expensive and high-polluting. Water Minister Tim Holding responds the Government is acting swiftly to meet the state's needs.
Wind cost to beat coal by 2030, report says Greenpeace
Age
Monday 16/6/2008 Page: 3
Australia has released new economic modelling revealing that wind power will be cheaper than coal by 2030. The claim is contained in an ambitious blueprint to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which says changing to renewable energy makes economic, not just environmental, sense. The blueprint - Australia's Energy (R)evolution - proposes cutting greenhouse emissions to 60% of 1990 levels by 2020 by generating 40% of electricity from renewable sources.
It says this would stabilise energy prices in the future, as long as it is combined with significant gains in energy efficiency. By contrast, it warns that electricity prices will nearly double by 2020 and almost triple by 2050 if Australia does not move away from fossil fuels, because of rising world prices and the increasing price of carbon permits under an Emissions Trading Scheme.
"Fossil fuels will continue to get more expensive, while the cost of wind will fall because of economies of scale," report coauthor Julien Vincent told The Age. "For the first time we can see how we are able to phase out the dirtiest fossil fuel in Australia and by 2030 have eliminated the biggest sources of greenhouse gas - coal." The report concentrates on the transport and energy sectors. It advocates improved insulation, more efficient electrical appliances, and replacing electrical heaters and hot water systems with solar collectors.
Monday 16/6/2008 Page: 3
Australia has released new economic modelling revealing that wind power will be cheaper than coal by 2030. The claim is contained in an ambitious blueprint to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which says changing to renewable energy makes economic, not just environmental, sense. The blueprint - Australia's Energy (R)evolution - proposes cutting greenhouse emissions to 60% of 1990 levels by 2020 by generating 40% of electricity from renewable sources.
It says this would stabilise energy prices in the future, as long as it is combined with significant gains in energy efficiency. By contrast, it warns that electricity prices will nearly double by 2020 and almost triple by 2050 if Australia does not move away from fossil fuels, because of rising world prices and the increasing price of carbon permits under an Emissions Trading Scheme.
"Fossil fuels will continue to get more expensive, while the cost of wind will fall because of economies of scale," report coauthor Julien Vincent told The Age. "For the first time we can see how we are able to phase out the dirtiest fossil fuel in Australia and by 2030 have eliminated the biggest sources of greenhouse gas - coal." The report concentrates on the transport and energy sectors. It advocates improved insulation, more efficient electrical appliances, and replacing electrical heaters and hot water systems with solar collectors.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
AGL Energy has big power generation plans in the wind
Weekend Gold Coast Bulletin
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 123
AGL Energy is investigating a stage five expansion to its Hallet wind farm in South Australia as the company aims to have almost half its power generated from renewables by 2020. Australia's largest power retailer yesterday officially opened its $236 million Hallet stage one wind farm, 220km north of Adelaide, the first of four planned for the area. AGL Energy is building its renewable power generation capacity before introduction of a national carbon trading system in 2010 and to help meet the federal government's target of having 20 per cent of the nation's power generated from renewable sources by 2020.
"We're looking potentially at a stage five at the Hallet wind farm, so there is potential for that," said AGL Energy managing director Michael Fraser. Hallet stage one has 45 wind turbines and will produce about 95 megawatts per year, enough to power about 54,000 homes. The second stage is in construction and two other additional stages under investment consideration. If all four projects proceed, AGL Energy could be operating more than 232 wind turbines and generating a combined capacity of more than 460 megawatts by 2011.
AGL Energy said just tinder a third of the company's current power generation was from renewable sources. It said it was aiming to increase that capacity to about 45 per cent by 2020. "I would expect, if we think out to 2020 where the government targets are, then probably we're going to end up somewhere in the order of 3000 to 4000 megawatts of renewable generation," said Mr Fraser.
"It would probably be tip in the 40 per cent plus range, 40 to 45 per cent of (total) generation capacity." AGL Energy said wind was the dominant technology in the renewable energy space, but the company was also looking at other options, including geothermal, wave technology and solar. The company provides gas and electricity to more than six million Australian customers.
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 123
AGL Energy is investigating a stage five expansion to its Hallet wind farm in South Australia as the company aims to have almost half its power generated from renewables by 2020. Australia's largest power retailer yesterday officially opened its $236 million Hallet stage one wind farm, 220km north of Adelaide, the first of four planned for the area. AGL Energy is building its renewable power generation capacity before introduction of a national carbon trading system in 2010 and to help meet the federal government's target of having 20 per cent of the nation's power generated from renewable sources by 2020."We're looking potentially at a stage five at the Hallet wind farm, so there is potential for that," said AGL Energy managing director Michael Fraser. Hallet stage one has 45 wind turbines and will produce about 95 megawatts per year, enough to power about 54,000 homes. The second stage is in construction and two other additional stages under investment consideration. If all four projects proceed, AGL Energy could be operating more than 232 wind turbines and generating a combined capacity of more than 460 megawatts by 2011.
AGL Energy said just tinder a third of the company's current power generation was from renewable sources. It said it was aiming to increase that capacity to about 45 per cent by 2020. "I would expect, if we think out to 2020 where the government targets are, then probably we're going to end up somewhere in the order of 3000 to 4000 megawatts of renewable generation," said Mr Fraser.
"It would probably be tip in the 40 per cent plus range, 40 to 45 per cent of (total) generation capacity." AGL Energy said wind was the dominant technology in the renewable energy space, but the company was also looking at other options, including geothermal, wave technology and solar. The company provides gas and electricity to more than six million Australian customers.
AGL expansion:
Launceston Examiner
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 26
AGL Energy Ltd is investigating a stage five expansion to its Hallet wind farm in South Australia as the company aims to have almost half of its power generated from renewables by 2020.
Australia's largest power retailer yesterday officially opened its $236 million Hallet stage one wind farm 220km north of Adelaide, the first of four planned for the area. AGL Energy is building on its renewable power generation ahead of the introduction of a national carbon trading system in 2010 and the Federal Government's target of having 20 per cent of the nation's power generated from renewable sources by 2020. The company provides gas and electricity to more than six million Australian customers.
Saturday 14/6/2008 Page: 26
AGL Energy Ltd is investigating a stage five expansion to its Hallet wind farm in South Australia as the company aims to have almost half of its power generated from renewables by 2020.
Australia's largest power retailer yesterday officially opened its $236 million Hallet stage one wind farm 220km north of Adelaide, the first of four planned for the area. AGL Energy is building on its renewable power generation ahead of the introduction of a national carbon trading system in 2010 and the Federal Government's target of having 20 per cent of the nation's power generated from renewable sources by 2020. The company provides gas and electricity to more than six million Australian customers.
Bald Hills gets a second wind
South Gippsland Sentinel Times
Wednesday 11/6/2008 Page: 3
THE 52-turbine Bald Hills Wind Farm project has been resurrected after a Japanese company announced on Friday it had bought the proposed farm from Wind Power. Mitsui and Co has acquired 100 per cent of the shares of Bald Hills Wind Farm, a special purpose company holding the development rights to the wind farm project. Construction of the 104 megawatt 1750 hectare wind farm was planned to begin this month, but Wind Power had seemingly gone cold on the project.
Former Federal environment minister Senator Ian Campbell controversially rejected the project in April 2006 because of fears it would threaten the endangered Orange-Bellied Parrot, but then overturned that decision in the following December. But now Mitsui is expecting it will have the wind farm in operation by 2011 and it is expected to generate renewable energy sufficient to power the equivalent of 62,000 average households and avoid up to 335,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
The Tarwin Valley Coastal Guardians have been campaigning against the project for six years and spokesman Tim Le Roy said he was disappointed that the group and the community had not been consulted by Mitsui prior to the takeover. "Were very disappointed they haven't given us a call," he said. "I will be formally pursuing the reasons why they haven't consulted with us and the community and I will be inviting them down.
"Hopefully Mitsui will be more reasonable than the landowners at Bald Hills and the former directors and shareholders at Wind Power. "In their press release they said there is widespread community support for their project, but I don t know who they've been talking to in the local area. Perhaps they've been misled. "The Australian Conservation Foundation, South Gippsland Shire Council and the Gippsland Coastal Board are all against it, so there's definitely been no support on the ground.
"There might be a lot of support from the greenies in Melbourne, but there isn't in the local area." "Victorian landscape should not be sacrificed for Japanese carbon traders. "If Japanese companies want to make electricity from wind they should do it on whichever mountain they choose in Japan. Don t do it down our way," he said. "Rural communities don't need these companies coming in here and exploiting our assets for their benefit.
"Ifs also interesting that the landowners there were told by Wind Power that they would always be dealing with them, and that they were always going to be developing the project themselves. "Now they've flogged it off to the Japanese. They did that up at Waubra where they flogged it off to the Spanish, and they flogged Wonthaggi to the union super funds. What else have they got to sell?" Mr Le Roy said Mitsui has many more hurdles to overcome before the wind farm is built.
"We've fought against this for six years and we knew that Wind Power were desperately trying to raise enough money to keep it going so we're not going to stop now," he said. Lindsay Marriott is a supporter of the project and if it goes ahead he will have seven wind turbines built on his 640-acre property.
Mr Marriott has welcomed the Mitsui takeover and said he "knew it was coming'. We have a good relationship with the company, and the company is a very honest and open company," he said. "I think this is a positive way forward for human beings and its something that we're going to have to do. "This project is about renewable energy and energy for Australia. "There are a few emerging issues coming out now and one is that Australia is going to be very short of energy, and clean energy in particular.
"This happens to be a very, very good wind farm site so I would be glad to see it go ahead." Mr Marriott was particularly scathing about some of the claims made by the Tarwin Valley Coastal Guardians. "I think you'll find that the Bald Hills Wind Farm has got much more support than what the Guardians would have you believe," Mr Marriott said.
"If you were to spend much time in Wonthaggi with the man on the street, you'd find that the Wonthaggi wind farm has been remarkably well accepted by the people there. "I truly believe that the majority of people living in this part of the world, let alone the rest of the world, are pretty tired of the nastiness and the misinformation that some of these anti-wind farm groups are promoting."
Wednesday 11/6/2008 Page: 3
THE 52-turbine Bald Hills Wind Farm project has been resurrected after a Japanese company announced on Friday it had bought the proposed farm from Wind Power. Mitsui and Co has acquired 100 per cent of the shares of Bald Hills Wind Farm, a special purpose company holding the development rights to the wind farm project. Construction of the 104 megawatt 1750 hectare wind farm was planned to begin this month, but Wind Power had seemingly gone cold on the project.
Former Federal environment minister Senator Ian Campbell controversially rejected the project in April 2006 because of fears it would threaten the endangered Orange-Bellied Parrot, but then overturned that decision in the following December. But now Mitsui is expecting it will have the wind farm in operation by 2011 and it is expected to generate renewable energy sufficient to power the equivalent of 62,000 average households and avoid up to 335,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
The Tarwin Valley Coastal Guardians have been campaigning against the project for six years and spokesman Tim Le Roy said he was disappointed that the group and the community had not been consulted by Mitsui prior to the takeover. "Were very disappointed they haven't given us a call," he said. "I will be formally pursuing the reasons why they haven't consulted with us and the community and I will be inviting them down.
"Hopefully Mitsui will be more reasonable than the landowners at Bald Hills and the former directors and shareholders at Wind Power. "In their press release they said there is widespread community support for their project, but I don t know who they've been talking to in the local area. Perhaps they've been misled. "The Australian Conservation Foundation, South Gippsland Shire Council and the Gippsland Coastal Board are all against it, so there's definitely been no support on the ground.
"There might be a lot of support from the greenies in Melbourne, but there isn't in the local area." "Victorian landscape should not be sacrificed for Japanese carbon traders. "If Japanese companies want to make electricity from wind they should do it on whichever mountain they choose in Japan. Don t do it down our way," he said. "Rural communities don't need these companies coming in here and exploiting our assets for their benefit.
"Ifs also interesting that the landowners there were told by Wind Power that they would always be dealing with them, and that they were always going to be developing the project themselves. "Now they've flogged it off to the Japanese. They did that up at Waubra where they flogged it off to the Spanish, and they flogged Wonthaggi to the union super funds. What else have they got to sell?" Mr Le Roy said Mitsui has many more hurdles to overcome before the wind farm is built.
"We've fought against this for six years and we knew that Wind Power were desperately trying to raise enough money to keep it going so we're not going to stop now," he said. Lindsay Marriott is a supporter of the project and if it goes ahead he will have seven wind turbines built on his 640-acre property.
Mr Marriott has welcomed the Mitsui takeover and said he "knew it was coming'. We have a good relationship with the company, and the company is a very honest and open company," he said. "I think this is a positive way forward for human beings and its something that we're going to have to do. "This project is about renewable energy and energy for Australia. "There are a few emerging issues coming out now and one is that Australia is going to be very short of energy, and clean energy in particular.
"This happens to be a very, very good wind farm site so I would be glad to see it go ahead." Mr Marriott was particularly scathing about some of the claims made by the Tarwin Valley Coastal Guardians. "I think you'll find that the Bald Hills Wind Farm has got much more support than what the Guardians would have you believe," Mr Marriott said.
"If you were to spend much time in Wonthaggi with the man on the street, you'd find that the Wonthaggi wind farm has been remarkably well accepted by the people there. "I truly believe that the majority of people living in this part of the world, let alone the rest of the world, are pretty tired of the nastiness and the misinformation that some of these anti-wind farm groups are promoting."
Wind farm opportunities explained: Businesses told to get ready
Barrier Daily Truth
Thursday 12/6/2008 Page: 1
Local businesses have been given a look at the opportunities that might be available to them through the proposed Silverton wind farm development. Representatives of Epuron, the company behind the project, were among a number of speakers at Tuesday night's launch of Business Broken Hill, formerly the Chamber of Commerce. About 100 people attended the launch at the Musicians' Club, according to president Robin Edgecumbe, who said the "over-riding feeling" was one of increased confidence in the city.
Mr Edgecumbe said that Epuron executive director, Andrew Durran, gave those present an "insight" into the sort of opportunities that would open up to local businesses as part of the $2 billion wind farm development, and how they could be "gearing up" now to take advantage of those opportunities.
Epuron wants to build up to 500 wind turbines on four properties near Silverton that would generate up to 1000 megawatts of power. Up to 700 jobs could be created during the two-year construction phase and another 120 full-time positions.
The company, which is still to secure all of the funds needed to proceed with the project, earlier this month announced that it had submitted an Environmental Assessment for the project to the NSW Department of Planning. Epuron has said the company would require just about every type of industry service by the time construction starts, as early as 2009. Mr Edgecumbe said Tuesday's launch also heard from State MP John Williams, City Council's General Manager Frank Zaknich, and the chairman of the Outback Development Forum, Kevin Taylor.
He said the feeling at the launch was one of a "much-heightened level of confidence in the business community." But he said those who spoke also stressed the importance of businesses, agencies and government working together. Meanwhile, those who attended heard about a number of new initiatives that have been developed as part of changes introduced by Business Broken Hill. Mr Edgecumbe said a soon-to-be-launched website would give investors in need of local services easier access to businesses, as well as provide training and other information to members.
The website, which will have links to other government and non-government agencies, will be online within two months, according to Mr Edgecumbe, who said it would be in a constant stage of development. Mr Edgecumbe said the name change and increase in services being offered had been six months in the making and was all about attracting new members. "We've still got a lot of work ahead of us but some of the fruits of our toil are now visible."
Thursday 12/6/2008 Page: 1
Local businesses have been given a look at the opportunities that might be available to them through the proposed Silverton wind farm development. Representatives of Epuron, the company behind the project, were among a number of speakers at Tuesday night's launch of Business Broken Hill, formerly the Chamber of Commerce. About 100 people attended the launch at the Musicians' Club, according to president Robin Edgecumbe, who said the "over-riding feeling" was one of increased confidence in the city.
Mr Edgecumbe said that Epuron executive director, Andrew Durran, gave those present an "insight" into the sort of opportunities that would open up to local businesses as part of the $2 billion wind farm development, and how they could be "gearing up" now to take advantage of those opportunities.
Epuron wants to build up to 500 wind turbines on four properties near Silverton that would generate up to 1000 megawatts of power. Up to 700 jobs could be created during the two-year construction phase and another 120 full-time positions.
The company, which is still to secure all of the funds needed to proceed with the project, earlier this month announced that it had submitted an Environmental Assessment for the project to the NSW Department of Planning. Epuron has said the company would require just about every type of industry service by the time construction starts, as early as 2009. Mr Edgecumbe said Tuesday's launch also heard from State MP John Williams, City Council's General Manager Frank Zaknich, and the chairman of the Outback Development Forum, Kevin Taylor.
He said the feeling at the launch was one of a "much-heightened level of confidence in the business community." But he said those who spoke also stressed the importance of businesses, agencies and government working together. Meanwhile, those who attended heard about a number of new initiatives that have been developed as part of changes introduced by Business Broken Hill. Mr Edgecumbe said a soon-to-be-launched website would give investors in need of local services easier access to businesses, as well as provide training and other information to members.
The website, which will have links to other government and non-government agencies, will be online within two months, according to Mr Edgecumbe, who said it would be in a constant stage of development. Mr Edgecumbe said the name change and increase in services being offered had been six months in the making and was all about attracting new members. "We've still got a lot of work ahead of us but some of the fruits of our toil are now visible."
Wind farm opportunities explained: Businesses told to get ready
Barrier Daily Truth
Thursday 12/6/2008 Page: 1
Local businesses have been given a look at the opportunities that might be available to them through the proposed Silverton wind farm development. Representatives of Epuron, the company behind the project, were among a number of speakers at Tuesday night's launch of Business Broken Hill, formerly the Chamber of Commerce. About 100 people attended the launch at the Musicians' Club, according to president Robin Edgecumbe, who said the "over-riding feeling" was one of increased confidence in the city.
Mr Edgecumbe said that Epuron executive director, Andrew Durran, gave those present an "insight" into the sort of opportunities that would open up to local businesses as part of the $2 billion wind farm development, and how they could be "gearing up" now to take advantage of those opportunities.
Epuron wants to build up to 500 wind turbines on four properties near Silverton that would generate up to 1000 megawatts of power. Up to 700 jobs could be created during the two-year construction phase and another 120 full-time positions.
The company, which is still to secure all of the funds needed to proceed with the project, earlier this month announced that it had submitted an Environmental Assessment for the project to the NSW Department of Planning. Epuron has said the company would require just about every type of industry service by the time construction starts, as early as 2009. Mr Edgecumbe said Tuesday's launch also heard from State MP John Williams, City Council's General Manager Frank Zaknich, and the chairman of the Outback Development Forum, Kevin Taylor.
He said the feeling at the launch was one of a "much-heightened level of confidence in the business community." But he said those who spoke also stressed the importance of businesses, agencies and government working together. Meanwhile, those who attended heard about a number of new initiatives that have been developed as part of changes introduced by Business Broken Hill. Mr Edgecumbe said a soon-to-be-launched website would give investors in need of local services easier access to businesses, as well as provide training and other information to members.
The website, which will have links to other government and non-government agencies, will be online within two months, according to Mr Edgecumbe, who said it would be in a constant stage of development. Mr Edgecumbe said the name change and increase in services being offered had been six months in the making and was all about attracting new members. "We've still got a lot of work ahead of us but some of the fruits of our toil are now visible."
Thursday 12/6/2008 Page: 1
Local businesses have been given a look at the opportunities that might be available to them through the proposed Silverton wind farm development. Representatives of Epuron, the company behind the project, were among a number of speakers at Tuesday night's launch of Business Broken Hill, formerly the Chamber of Commerce. About 100 people attended the launch at the Musicians' Club, according to president Robin Edgecumbe, who said the "over-riding feeling" was one of increased confidence in the city.
Mr Edgecumbe said that Epuron executive director, Andrew Durran, gave those present an "insight" into the sort of opportunities that would open up to local businesses as part of the $2 billion wind farm development, and how they could be "gearing up" now to take advantage of those opportunities.
Epuron wants to build up to 500 wind turbines on four properties near Silverton that would generate up to 1000 megawatts of power. Up to 700 jobs could be created during the two-year construction phase and another 120 full-time positions.
The company, which is still to secure all of the funds needed to proceed with the project, earlier this month announced that it had submitted an Environmental Assessment for the project to the NSW Department of Planning. Epuron has said the company would require just about every type of industry service by the time construction starts, as early as 2009. Mr Edgecumbe said Tuesday's launch also heard from State MP John Williams, City Council's General Manager Frank Zaknich, and the chairman of the Outback Development Forum, Kevin Taylor.
He said the feeling at the launch was one of a "much-heightened level of confidence in the business community." But he said those who spoke also stressed the importance of businesses, agencies and government working together. Meanwhile, those who attended heard about a number of new initiatives that have been developed as part of changes introduced by Business Broken Hill. Mr Edgecumbe said a soon-to-be-launched website would give investors in need of local services easier access to businesses, as well as provide training and other information to members.
The website, which will have links to other government and non-government agencies, will be online within two months, according to Mr Edgecumbe, who said it would be in a constant stage of development. Mr Edgecumbe said the name change and increase in services being offered had been six months in the making and was all about attracting new members. "We've still got a lot of work ahead of us but some of the fruits of our toil are now visible."
$300 million wind nod
Warrnambool Standard
Friday 13/6/2008 Page: 3
A $300 MILLION wind farm can be built near Port Fairy after winning the support of the State Government. The Ryan Corner project comprises 68 wind turbines to be built on land adjoining the Hamilton-Port Fairy Road, about 12 kilometres north-west of the town. Planning Minister Justin Madden has written to the Moyne Shire to reveal that he intends to approve the project.
Proponent TME Australia claims the development will create about 60 full-time jobs during its construction, and a further eight once the wind farm is operating. The 121.5-metre-high turbines will be placed on an area about 3600 hectares, which is currently used for grazing. The company states the wind farm will have a low visual impact on the Princes Highway and surrounding towns like Port Fairy, Yambuk and Orford.
Moyne Shire Council approved the project last year. With its combination of wind and open space, the shire is a key target of wind farm developers, with nine projects at various stages of planning. Mayor Ken Gale told The Standard yesterday that he welcomed the Government's imminent backing of Ryan Corner. "I think it is good that we are willing to look at and support alternative sources of energy," Cr Gale said.
TME Australia is also planning a massive wind farm project at Darlington, near Mortlake. The 150-turbine wind farm would be the most powerful in Australia. It also has projects in the pipeline at Hawkesdale and Berrybank, near Lismore.
Friday 13/6/2008 Page: 3
A $300 MILLION wind farm can be built near Port Fairy after winning the support of the State Government. The Ryan Corner project comprises 68 wind turbines to be built on land adjoining the Hamilton-Port Fairy Road, about 12 kilometres north-west of the town. Planning Minister Justin Madden has written to the Moyne Shire to reveal that he intends to approve the project.
Proponent TME Australia claims the development will create about 60 full-time jobs during its construction, and a further eight once the wind farm is operating. The 121.5-metre-high turbines will be placed on an area about 3600 hectares, which is currently used for grazing. The company states the wind farm will have a low visual impact on the Princes Highway and surrounding towns like Port Fairy, Yambuk and Orford.
Moyne Shire Council approved the project last year. With its combination of wind and open space, the shire is a key target of wind farm developers, with nine projects at various stages of planning. Mayor Ken Gale told The Standard yesterday that he welcomed the Government's imminent backing of Ryan Corner. "I think it is good that we are willing to look at and support alternative sources of energy," Cr Gale said.
TME Australia is also planning a massive wind farm project at Darlington, near Mortlake. The 150-turbine wind farm would be the most powerful in Australia. It also has projects in the pipeline at Hawkesdale and Berrybank, near Lismore.
Plug and play - the car of the future
Daily Examiner
Friday 13/6/2008 Page: 15
MELBOURNE: A car of the future, which can be charged from a household power point, has been unveiled in Melbourne after being converted into a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle by an Australian university team. The green car, which can be charged directly from the domestic power grid, was shown off by green company Szencorp and Sydney University of Technology (UTS). The PHEV uses a converted Toyota Prius, fitted with extra batteries for greater storage and a power socket so it can be charged directly from the grid.
Chris Dunstan, UTS project director, said the PHEV could offer not only much lower fuel bills but also the flexibility of storing wind power and solar energy at times. "Plug-in hybrid cars have the potential to revolutionise not only how we drive but how we generate and use electricity in our homes and workplaces," Mr Dunstan said. "This car heralds a not-too-distant future where householders will charge up their cars from solar panels on their roof and then pump surplus power from their car back into the grid on days of high peak power demand.
"If charged up on renewable energy, the PHEV can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it can run on electricity for over 30km, the average daily commute of many Australian motorists. "For longer trips, it simply switches back to normal hybrid operation," he said. The converted car combines attributes of electric cars that costs less to run than petrol vehicles, while using renewable energy, with the efficiency of hybrid vehicles that can travel up to 1000km without refuelling.
It can be charged from a normal household power point. Toyota this week announced it would start producing hybrid Camrys at its Melbourne plant, with the first cars due to roll off the production line in early 2010, while General Motors has also announced a plug-in electric car which it has not ruled out selling in Australia.
Friday 13/6/2008 Page: 15
MELBOURNE: A car of the future, which can be charged from a household power point, has been unveiled in Melbourne after being converted into a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle by an Australian university team. The green car, which can be charged directly from the domestic power grid, was shown off by green company Szencorp and Sydney University of Technology (UTS). The PHEV uses a converted Toyota Prius, fitted with extra batteries for greater storage and a power socket so it can be charged directly from the grid.
Chris Dunstan, UTS project director, said the PHEV could offer not only much lower fuel bills but also the flexibility of storing wind power and solar energy at times. "Plug-in hybrid cars have the potential to revolutionise not only how we drive but how we generate and use electricity in our homes and workplaces," Mr Dunstan said. "This car heralds a not-too-distant future where householders will charge up their cars from solar panels on their roof and then pump surplus power from their car back into the grid on days of high peak power demand.
"If charged up on renewable energy, the PHEV can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it can run on electricity for over 30km, the average daily commute of many Australian motorists. "For longer trips, it simply switches back to normal hybrid operation," he said. The converted car combines attributes of electric cars that costs less to run than petrol vehicles, while using renewable energy, with the efficiency of hybrid vehicles that can travel up to 1000km without refuelling.
It can be charged from a normal household power point. Toyota this week announced it would start producing hybrid Camrys at its Melbourne plant, with the first cars due to roll off the production line in early 2010, while General Motors has also announced a plug-in electric car which it has not ruled out selling in Australia.
Sourcing power from the waves
Burnie Advocate
Friday 13/6/2008 Page: 17
THE west coast of King Island is set to become the site of a revolutionary new power source. Within the next month scientists will set up monitors on the ocean floor to look at wave climate and the possibility of harnessing the energy to use as power. Energy company Oceanlinx is hoping to have power generated within the next couple of years. Oceanlinx executive director and chief technology officer Tom Denniss said it was looking at a number of sites on the island to capture the energy.
"King Island has an excellent wave climate, particularly on the west coast," he said. But to do this Oceanlinx must first test possible locations for suitability. This will include placing small and benign pressure sensors on the seabeds for a couple of months to record wave heights and periods. " This will hopefully be in place within the next month or so," Dr Denniss said. Dr Denniss said he was unsure which sites would be used, but they would probably be on the west coast, close to grid interconnection points.
This means it will probably be near Currie, but there are other possibilities. Dr Denniss said wave power was a denser energy source than wind and solar. "It is more predictable, and is also less variable... we also expect it to eventually be the cheapest renewable energy option," he said. Oceanlinx has projects running in Portland, Victoria; Port Kembla, NSW; Cornwall, United Kingdom; Rhode Island, US; Namibia and Hawaii. King Island already has solar and wind power running.
Friday 13/6/2008 Page: 17
THE west coast of King Island is set to become the site of a revolutionary new power source. Within the next month scientists will set up monitors on the ocean floor to look at wave climate and the possibility of harnessing the energy to use as power. Energy company Oceanlinx is hoping to have power generated within the next couple of years. Oceanlinx executive director and chief technology officer Tom Denniss said it was looking at a number of sites on the island to capture the energy.
"King Island has an excellent wave climate, particularly on the west coast," he said. But to do this Oceanlinx must first test possible locations for suitability. This will include placing small and benign pressure sensors on the seabeds for a couple of months to record wave heights and periods. " This will hopefully be in place within the next month or so," Dr Denniss said. Dr Denniss said he was unsure which sites would be used, but they would probably be on the west coast, close to grid interconnection points.
This means it will probably be near Currie, but there are other possibilities. Dr Denniss said wave power was a denser energy source than wind and solar. "It is more predictable, and is also less variable... we also expect it to eventually be the cheapest renewable energy option," he said. Oceanlinx has projects running in Portland, Victoria; Port Kembla, NSW; Cornwall, United Kingdom; Rhode Island, US; Namibia and Hawaii. King Island already has solar and wind power running.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)