Age
31 May 2011, Page: 4
SO YOU thought you had gone green, buying a seven star house with a water tank in a new estate with a sprinkling of gum trees. But it turns out your innercity cousins might still have the edge. New houses on Melbourne's urban fringe are responsible for much greater levels of greenhouse gas emissions than city apartments or high density suburban housing.
Despite the push to introduce six and seven star energy ratings for new houses, the appetite for new household appliances and the increasing reliance on car travel has negated many of the benefits, according to a study from University of Melbourne.
While the operational use of energy in homes has come down because of star ratings, the embodied energy and energy used for commuting to far flung developments has risen, it found. The embodied energy used to make the product in the typical new house has risen more than 400% since the 1950s, mainly driven by the size of the house and the declining number of occupants.
And the average house size has soared, with many new houses well over 200 m², more than double the average in the same period. But it is travel emissions that have ballooned at the greatest rate about 1400%. While Melbourne's suburban fringe in the 1950s was about six kilometres from the CBD Energy, it is now about 35 kilometres away. At this distance, Melbourne's public infrastructure simply cannot keep up, the study's author Dr Robert Crawford said.
Choosing a seven star house was better than a five or six star, but not if the owners lived a "two or three star lifestyle", he said. "When people actually get into their houses and install inefficient heating or cooling systems, or run them all day long, the star system become meaningless".
The study looked at three types of new housing: highrise apartments in Docklands; inner suburban, medium density housing, such as the K2 development in Windsor; and new, outer suburban detached houses. All were more efficient than houses built three years ago (when five star homes were the standard), but energy use in seven star homes was only 13% less than in 2008. High rise apartments were up to 70% less.
Since the start of this month, all new houses have to have a minimum six star energy rating. This applies to the thermal performance of a home, as well as requiring the installation of a solar hot water system or a rainwater tank for toilet flushing. Australia is one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world on a per person basis.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Solar panels idle in race for rebate
Sunday Mail Brisbane
29 May 2011, Page: 12
THE solar panels are on but there's no electricity flowing to the homes of hundreds of families who have rushed to have systems installed before federal rebates are slashed by more than $1000. In a desperate attempt to qualify for extra cash, The Sunday Mail has learned some operators have guaranteed homeowners they will install the panels by the end of June. But operators have told them they will have to wait until the new financial year before the systems are operational.
That's because the homes need switchboard upgrades for the system to work, or checks by state electricity authorities. From July 1, the federal solar credits scheme will be reduced, with the average rebate to households installing a 1.5kW system in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide dropping from $6200 to $5000. The Gillard Government's Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator has confirmed the systems do not have to be operational by July 1 to qualify. They simply have to be on the roof and capable of generating electricity.
Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt said that after the debacle of the home insulation scheme and Green Loans, the Government should launch an immediate investigation into the scheme. "We do not want unacceptable delays before the solar panels actually generate electricity", Mr Hunt said. "I call on Climate Change Minister Greg Combet to launch an urgent review into these allegations, to report by June 15. "The review should ensure consumer protection, and investigate whether there is any improper or collusive practice. "We don't want solar panels to go the way of Pink Batts".
29 May 2011, Page: 12
THE solar panels are on but there's no electricity flowing to the homes of hundreds of families who have rushed to have systems installed before federal rebates are slashed by more than $1000. In a desperate attempt to qualify for extra cash, The Sunday Mail has learned some operators have guaranteed homeowners they will install the panels by the end of June. But operators have told them they will have to wait until the new financial year before the systems are operational.
That's because the homes need switchboard upgrades for the system to work, or checks by state electricity authorities. From July 1, the federal solar credits scheme will be reduced, with the average rebate to households installing a 1.5kW system in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide dropping from $6200 to $5000. The Gillard Government's Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator has confirmed the systems do not have to be operational by July 1 to qualify. They simply have to be on the roof and capable of generating electricity.
Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt said that after the debacle of the home insulation scheme and Green Loans, the Government should launch an immediate investigation into the scheme. "We do not want unacceptable delays before the solar panels actually generate electricity", Mr Hunt said. "I call on Climate Change Minister Greg Combet to launch an urgent review into these allegations, to report by June 15. "The review should ensure consumer protection, and investigate whether there is any improper or collusive practice. "We don't want solar panels to go the way of Pink Batts".
Carbon debate appeal
Adelaide Advertiser
30 May 2011, Page: 65
A GROUP of 15 energy companies has called for the urgent introduction of an effective price on carbon. In an open letter to major political parties released yesterday, the Clean Energy Council, which represents the 15 energy companies and others in the renewable energy sector, urged federal politicians to participate constructively in the debate on the final form of carbon pricing.
"Australians want action on climate change and a clean energy future", the letter said. "Business wants certainty to invest in more clean energy projects". Clean Energy Council chief Matthew Warren said there was support for emissions reduction of 5% below 2000 levels by 2020.
30 May 2011, Page: 65
A GROUP of 15 energy companies has called for the urgent introduction of an effective price on carbon. In an open letter to major political parties released yesterday, the Clean Energy Council, which represents the 15 energy companies and others in the renewable energy sector, urged federal politicians to participate constructively in the debate on the final form of carbon pricing.
"Australians want action on climate change and a clean energy future", the letter said. "Business wants certainty to invest in more clean energy projects". Clean Energy Council chief Matthew Warren said there was support for emissions reduction of 5% below 2000 levels by 2020.
Energy options ignored
West Australian
27 May 2011 Page: 22
The directions paper released recently by the Department of Energy introduces itself as detailing a smarter energy future for West Australians. Lip service is made about cleaner energy, with use of renewable energy sources. However, renewable energy options are repeatedly dismissed with a bias to maintain the continued burning of fossil fuels.
There is also no mention of the looming onset of peak oil.Gas, which is presented as a major player, is also a significant greenhouse gas contributor and in the short term may be of value only if it gets rid of the polluting use of coal in power stations.
Even more alarming is the invitation of coal seam gas frackers to infiltrate WA as part of the plan. Dangers to our health and environment are becoming all apparent from this vile form of mining in other parts of the world and greenhouse pollution resulting is probably the same as with coal because of fugitive methane emissions. Finally, carbon capture and storage is included as a solution but this technology is unproved, costly and would divert resources from development of renewables.
The recommendation of this paper will lock WA into many more years of fossil fuel pollution. Instead, what is needed is a healthy, secure and sustainable energy future and significant reduction of this State's carbon emissions by 2030.
Greg Glazov, Gnangara.
27 May 2011 Page: 22
The directions paper released recently by the Department of Energy introduces itself as detailing a smarter energy future for West Australians. Lip service is made about cleaner energy, with use of renewable energy sources. However, renewable energy options are repeatedly dismissed with a bias to maintain the continued burning of fossil fuels.
There is also no mention of the looming onset of peak oil.Gas, which is presented as a major player, is also a significant greenhouse gas contributor and in the short term may be of value only if it gets rid of the polluting use of coal in power stations.
Even more alarming is the invitation of coal seam gas frackers to infiltrate WA as part of the plan. Dangers to our health and environment are becoming all apparent from this vile form of mining in other parts of the world and greenhouse pollution resulting is probably the same as with coal because of fugitive methane emissions. Finally, carbon capture and storage is included as a solution but this technology is unproved, costly and would divert resources from development of renewables.
The recommendation of this paper will lock WA into many more years of fossil fuel pollution. Instead, what is needed is a healthy, secure and sustainable energy future and significant reduction of this State's carbon emissions by 2030.
Greg Glazov, Gnangara.
NSW Solar Changes - Industry response
Clean Energy Council
24 May 2011
The NSW Government's solar power decision today will anger many households, but will save more than 5000 jobs in this vital industry, according to the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said the O'Farrell Government had been forced to deal with a diabolical policy problem in cleaning up the oversubscribed Solar Bonus Scheme.
The government announced a support package to help solar households in hardship as part of its decision to reduce the feed in tariff from 60¢ to 40¢ and honour existing applications. "The Clean Energy Council argued strongly for the honouring of existing applications, avoiding any cuts to existing household support and the evolution of a new scheme to continue the success of the solar industry in NSW", Mr Warren said.
"Today's announcement shows the Government is committed to sustaining a viable solar industry, but it comes at a terrible price. "The retrospective reduction in the feed in tariff remains unacceptable for solar households and we remain committed to the retention of the existing rate for those who signed up to the scheme in good faith".
More than 40,000 applications lodged with the government under the scheme were on the line and solar companies had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in stock for these new systems. "Failing to honour these deals would immediately send the industry to the wall", Mr Warren said. "There are still significant uncertainties going forward. The survival of the solar industry in Australia remains at stake. "The challenge remains to quickly develop a new scheme that continues to deliver affordable clean energy to NSW households and businesses and continue to build this vital new NSW industry".
24 May 2011
The NSW Government's solar power decision today will anger many households, but will save more than 5000 jobs in this vital industry, according to the Clean Energy Council. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Matthew Warren said the O'Farrell Government had been forced to deal with a diabolical policy problem in cleaning up the oversubscribed Solar Bonus Scheme.
The government announced a support package to help solar households in hardship as part of its decision to reduce the feed in tariff from 60¢ to 40¢ and honour existing applications. "The Clean Energy Council argued strongly for the honouring of existing applications, avoiding any cuts to existing household support and the evolution of a new scheme to continue the success of the solar industry in NSW", Mr Warren said.
"Today's announcement shows the Government is committed to sustaining a viable solar industry, but it comes at a terrible price. "The retrospective reduction in the feed in tariff remains unacceptable for solar households and we remain committed to the retention of the existing rate for those who signed up to the scheme in good faith".
More than 40,000 applications lodged with the government under the scheme were on the line and solar companies had invested hundreds of millions of dollars in stock for these new systems. "Failing to honour these deals would immediately send the industry to the wall", Mr Warren said. "There are still significant uncertainties going forward. The survival of the solar industry in Australia remains at stake. "The challenge remains to quickly develop a new scheme that continues to deliver affordable clean energy to NSW households and businesses and continue to build this vital new NSW industry".
Green energy costs 'out of date'
Sydney Morning Herald
26 May 2011, Page: 7
THE federal government and the power industry have massively overestimated the cost of renewable energy, according to new University of Melbourne research, commissioned by the government's own Garnaut climate change review. Forecasts prepared last year for the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism as it helped plan the future electricity network suggest solar and wind power are far more costly than they actually are.
In some cases, rooftop solar panels are already cheaper than the prices they were predicted to fall to in the year 2030. "If you make the international comparisons to the US Department of Energy and the IEA [International Energy Agency], Australia is really relying on information that's very out of date", said Patrick Hearps, a University of Melbourne research fellow and technical director at the group Beyond Zero Emissions. "If you're looking at how we should be planning energy over the next 10 or 20 years, and you are using the data provided to the government, you are not going to be looking at large scale renewables.
You are going to be looking at gas as an interim measure". The report Renewable Energy Technology Cost Review, launched last night, says that the "cost curve", dictating that solar, wind and hydropower power becomes cheaper as more people use it, has dipped more sharply than predicted five years ago, suggesting that billions of investment could be misdirected.
It critiques the most recent assessment of the nation's future energy mix late last year by Australia's electricity generators, which used data developed by the Electric Power Research Institute, a non profit US research organisation funded by energy companies. The report found that photovoltaic panels produce energy at a cost of about $300 a MW the cost predicted for 2030.
Wind power today can cost about $130 a MW, but the generator's data said it would not dip to that price until 2030. solar thermal energy, which can directly replace "baseload" coalfired power, is also dropping quickly in price. The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said changes to the cost of renewable energy would be noted.
26 May 2011, Page: 7
THE federal government and the power industry have massively overestimated the cost of renewable energy, according to new University of Melbourne research, commissioned by the government's own Garnaut climate change review. Forecasts prepared last year for the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism as it helped plan the future electricity network suggest solar and wind power are far more costly than they actually are.
In some cases, rooftop solar panels are already cheaper than the prices they were predicted to fall to in the year 2030. "If you make the international comparisons to the US Department of Energy and the IEA [International Energy Agency], Australia is really relying on information that's very out of date", said Patrick Hearps, a University of Melbourne research fellow and technical director at the group Beyond Zero Emissions. "If you're looking at how we should be planning energy over the next 10 or 20 years, and you are using the data provided to the government, you are not going to be looking at large scale renewables.
You are going to be looking at gas as an interim measure". The report Renewable Energy Technology Cost Review, launched last night, says that the "cost curve", dictating that solar, wind and hydropower power becomes cheaper as more people use it, has dipped more sharply than predicted five years ago, suggesting that billions of investment could be misdirected.
It critiques the most recent assessment of the nation's future energy mix late last year by Australia's electricity generators, which used data developed by the Electric Power Research Institute, a non profit US research organisation funded by energy companies. The report found that photovoltaic panels produce energy at a cost of about $300 a MW the cost predicted for 2030.
Wind power today can cost about $130 a MW, but the generator's data said it would not dip to that price until 2030. solar thermal energy, which can directly replace "baseload" coalfired power, is also dropping quickly in price. The Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said changes to the cost of renewable energy would be noted.
Airlines back biofuels
Age
26 May 2011, Page: 8
The development of commercially viable and sustainable biofuels is essential for the aviation industry to become carbon neutral by 2020, industry players say. The International Civil Aviation Organisation has earmarked 2020 as the year when the industry will achieve carbon neutral growth. It is targeting 2% annual fuel efficiency improvements from now until then.
Boeing Australia and South Pacific president Ian Thomas says initiatives such as lighter, more aerodynamic aircraft, advances in engine technology and better air traffic control systems will help, but aren't enough to achieve the desired result. "That will probably get us to about half way in terms of our goal of carbon neutrality", Dr Thomas said at the launch of a CSIRO report, Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation, yesterday. "The other half of the picture is biofuels sustainable aviation biofuels. "Not taking farm produce off somebody's plate, but really using byproducts of current industries that don't threaten food stocks".
The CSIRO report was commissioned by the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group, which includes Air New Zealand, Qantas and Virgin Australia, as well as aircraft manufactures Boeing and Airbus. The report was also prepared with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and The Climate Group. "Sustainable aviation fuels derived from biomass are a feasible option", the report said. "There is sufficient existing sustainable biomass to support a local bio derived jet fuel industry".
The report says Australia and New Zealand are strongly positioned to produce sustainable aviation fuels that comply with social, environmental and economic criteria. This includes not impacting on food security or the environment. CSIRO economist Paul Graham says sources of biomass include crop stubble, forest residues and urban waste. Potential new sources are grasses, Jatropha seeds and algae, among others.
Climate Group global director of energy Rupert Posner says effectively dealing with climate change means finding solutions that maintain or improve people's quality of life. "Not flying is simply not a solution", he said. The report says turning biomass into jet fuel may generate more than 12,000 jobs in Australia and New Zealand over the next 20 years and reduce aviation fuel imports by $2 billion a year. Crude oil prices are about $US100 a barrel.
The development of a local biofuel production industry requires government support, and Virgin Australia executive Merren McArthur is urging Canberra to get on board. The CSIRO report found the global aviation industry was responsible for 2% of annual greenhouse emissions.
26 May 2011, Page: 8
The development of commercially viable and sustainable biofuels is essential for the aviation industry to become carbon neutral by 2020, industry players say. The International Civil Aviation Organisation has earmarked 2020 as the year when the industry will achieve carbon neutral growth. It is targeting 2% annual fuel efficiency improvements from now until then.Boeing Australia and South Pacific president Ian Thomas says initiatives such as lighter, more aerodynamic aircraft, advances in engine technology and better air traffic control systems will help, but aren't enough to achieve the desired result. "That will probably get us to about half way in terms of our goal of carbon neutrality", Dr Thomas said at the launch of a CSIRO report, Flight Path to Sustainable Aviation, yesterday. "The other half of the picture is biofuels sustainable aviation biofuels. "Not taking farm produce off somebody's plate, but really using byproducts of current industries that don't threaten food stocks".
The CSIRO report was commissioned by the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group, which includes Air New Zealand, Qantas and Virgin Australia, as well as aircraft manufactures Boeing and Airbus. The report was also prepared with the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and The Climate Group. "Sustainable aviation fuels derived from biomass are a feasible option", the report said. "There is sufficient existing sustainable biomass to support a local bio derived jet fuel industry".
The report says Australia and New Zealand are strongly positioned to produce sustainable aviation fuels that comply with social, environmental and economic criteria. This includes not impacting on food security or the environment. CSIRO economist Paul Graham says sources of biomass include crop stubble, forest residues and urban waste. Potential new sources are grasses, Jatropha seeds and algae, among others.
Climate Group global director of energy Rupert Posner says effectively dealing with climate change means finding solutions that maintain or improve people's quality of life. "Not flying is simply not a solution", he said. The report says turning biomass into jet fuel may generate more than 12,000 jobs in Australia and New Zealand over the next 20 years and reduce aviation fuel imports by $2 billion a year. Crude oil prices are about $US100 a barrel.
The development of a local biofuel production industry requires government support, and Virgin Australia executive Merren McArthur is urging Canberra to get on board. The CSIRO report found the global aviation industry was responsible for 2% of annual greenhouse emissions.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Stricter rules for wind turbines than for coal plants
Age
25 May 2011, Page: 4
WHICH would you rather have built near your home: a wind turbine or a coal power plant? Under Baillieu government policy, it appears you have some say about the former, but not the latter. The Coalition last year said that if elected it would return fairness to a lopsided planning system by not approving a wind turbine within two kilometres of a home without a signed contract with the resident. That policy is yet to be fleshed out.
By contrast, the Environment Protection Authority last week applied state law to grant Melbourne company HRL approval to build a 300 MW coal fuelled plant at Morwell. It would be built within two kilometres of about 250 houses. Lobby group Environment Victoria said the Coalition was making it easier for new electricity generation to come from coal than wind, at odds with national and state climate goals. "It obviously sends the wrong signal when we are trying to clean up the energy supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions", campaigns director Mark Wakeham said.
There was a mixed response yesterday from those living within two kilometres of the proposed plant site.. Catherine, who did not want to give her surname, was not happy about it. "It seems to me that the coal plants they are building are coming closer and closer to the township of Morwell, and that will mean that residents will have to move further out from the town to get away from them".
She said her asthma had worsened since she moved to the Latrobe Valley, and blamed air pollution from the stacks visible from her backyard. "If we get a choice of a wind turbine going in instead of another coal plant, that would certainly be the way to go". Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said people in the valley were used to living near coal fired power stations and did not object to a new one.
Doubt remains whether the plant will be built after the EPA approved a plant only half the size of what the company wanted, and The Saturday Age revealed that Australia's four big banks had refused finance. Federal government documents suggest the plant, trialling new coal gasification technology, needs to be at least 400 MWs to be viable.
About 300 people rallied at State Parliament yesterday to protest against the plant's approval, calling on the federal and state governments to withdraw financial backing. A state government spokeswoman said details of a wind turbine buffer policy were still being developed, but it would be specific to wind farms, not to coal or gas plants.
25 May 2011, Page: 4
WHICH would you rather have built near your home: a wind turbine or a coal power plant? Under Baillieu government policy, it appears you have some say about the former, but not the latter. The Coalition last year said that if elected it would return fairness to a lopsided planning system by not approving a wind turbine within two kilometres of a home without a signed contract with the resident. That policy is yet to be fleshed out.
By contrast, the Environment Protection Authority last week applied state law to grant Melbourne company HRL approval to build a 300 MW coal fuelled plant at Morwell. It would be built within two kilometres of about 250 houses. Lobby group Environment Victoria said the Coalition was making it easier for new electricity generation to come from coal than wind, at odds with national and state climate goals. "It obviously sends the wrong signal when we are trying to clean up the energy supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions", campaigns director Mark Wakeham said.
There was a mixed response yesterday from those living within two kilometres of the proposed plant site.. Catherine, who did not want to give her surname, was not happy about it. "It seems to me that the coal plants they are building are coming closer and closer to the township of Morwell, and that will mean that residents will have to move further out from the town to get away from them".
She said her asthma had worsened since she moved to the Latrobe Valley, and blamed air pollution from the stacks visible from her backyard. "If we get a choice of a wind turbine going in instead of another coal plant, that would certainly be the way to go". Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said people in the valley were used to living near coal fired power stations and did not object to a new one.
Doubt remains whether the plant will be built after the EPA approved a plant only half the size of what the company wanted, and The Saturday Age revealed that Australia's four big banks had refused finance. Federal government documents suggest the plant, trialling new coal gasification technology, needs to be at least 400 MWs to be viable.
About 300 people rallied at State Parliament yesterday to protest against the plant's approval, calling on the federal and state governments to withdraw financial backing. A state government spokeswoman said details of a wind turbine buffer policy were still being developed, but it would be specific to wind farms, not to coal or gas plants.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Climate for change
Adelaide Advertiser
25 May 2011, Page: 23
While Australian politicians variously run hot or cold on global warming, our UK motherland is putting its foot down. Carbon emissions there will be halved by 2025, British Prime Minister David Cameron promised last week. This puts our proposed 5% cut in the shade and our bickering very much in the spotlight. Prime Minister Julia Gillard is struggling to get her Parliament to agree global warming is real, never mind what to do about it.
She wants a tax on carbon; Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says that's "toxic" and he wants to plant more trees. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet was gushing after the UK announcement and probably more than a little envious. "The Australian Government welcomes efforts by the UK to increase the level of action it is taking to combat climate change", he said.
University of Adelaide climate change Professor Barry Brook says it would be a good idea to examine the UK energy policy and see how they hope to achieve such steep cuts in emissions. "Britain has come out with an extremely ambitious plan", he says. "They are going to have to have some strong policy underpinning that. "They're going to be picking technologies to drive forward. "One is to build a whole bunch of new nuclear power stations, as well as a large deployment of offshore wind (turbines)".
Australia, on the other hand, has set weak short term targets and stronger longterm targets, in the hope energy policy will be sorted out in the meantime. "There's the climate science imperative and then there's the reality of what Australia can do right now", Professor Brook says. "The White Paper on energy still hasn't materialised and until the carbon tax comes in, an energy plan isn't worth a lot really. "Australia seems to be waiting for all these things to happen before it does anything".
The British Government's 50% target is one giant step in its legally mandated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030, and 80% by 2050. Most of the world's major economies have given undertakings on what they hope to achieve by 2020. For Australia, it's a 5% reduction on its 2000 emissions. The European Union promises between 20 and 30% on its 1990 levels, Japan and Russia are going for 25% over the same timeframe and the US is aiming for a 17% reduction on 2005 emissions. Britain's energy intensive industries, such as steel manufacturers, are warning the country risks making itself uncompetitive unless other European countries follow its lead.
They have pressured the Government to put in an escape clause that allows for the target to be dumped as early as 2014 if Britain's European partners fail to implement their own CO₂, cuts. Mr Cameron agrees. "It doesn't actually help climate change if you simply drive an energy intensive industry to locate in Poland rather than Britain", he said last week. "We believe that Europe should follow our lead and go for a 30% reduction".
Because Europe yet has to make the same commitment, Mr Cameron has sanctioned a review in 2014 "to make sure that if they are not on that pathway, then we shouldn't put ourselves on it too". The European Union's Climate Action Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, says Britain's pledge is "an outstanding example of strong willingness to act despite difficult economic times". On Monday, Australia's Climate Commission declared evidence of global warming "beyond doubt". The commission's report advocates a different "pathway" to emission reductions which would support initially small targets, such as Australia's 5%.
"The budget approach sees far more flexibility so that your emissions might be far larger now, but with a payoff in the future and that's allowed for", says Professor Will Steffen, a climate science expert and the executive director of the Australian National University's Climate Change Institute, said. "You could be a big emitter but it's because you are building new infrastructure which in 10 years will see a big reduction in emissions. "It allows more flexible strategies".
25 May 2011, Page: 23
While Australian politicians variously run hot or cold on global warming, our UK motherland is putting its foot down. Carbon emissions there will be halved by 2025, British Prime Minister David Cameron promised last week. This puts our proposed 5% cut in the shade and our bickering very much in the spotlight. Prime Minister Julia Gillard is struggling to get her Parliament to agree global warming is real, never mind what to do about it.
She wants a tax on carbon; Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says that's "toxic" and he wants to plant more trees. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet was gushing after the UK announcement and probably more than a little envious. "The Australian Government welcomes efforts by the UK to increase the level of action it is taking to combat climate change", he said.
University of Adelaide climate change Professor Barry Brook says it would be a good idea to examine the UK energy policy and see how they hope to achieve such steep cuts in emissions. "Britain has come out with an extremely ambitious plan", he says. "They are going to have to have some strong policy underpinning that. "They're going to be picking technologies to drive forward. "One is to build a whole bunch of new nuclear power stations, as well as a large deployment of offshore wind (turbines)".
Australia, on the other hand, has set weak short term targets and stronger longterm targets, in the hope energy policy will be sorted out in the meantime. "There's the climate science imperative and then there's the reality of what Australia can do right now", Professor Brook says. "The White Paper on energy still hasn't materialised and until the carbon tax comes in, an energy plan isn't worth a lot really. "Australia seems to be waiting for all these things to happen before it does anything".
The British Government's 50% target is one giant step in its legally mandated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030, and 80% by 2050. Most of the world's major economies have given undertakings on what they hope to achieve by 2020. For Australia, it's a 5% reduction on its 2000 emissions. The European Union promises between 20 and 30% on its 1990 levels, Japan and Russia are going for 25% over the same timeframe and the US is aiming for a 17% reduction on 2005 emissions. Britain's energy intensive industries, such as steel manufacturers, are warning the country risks making itself uncompetitive unless other European countries follow its lead.
They have pressured the Government to put in an escape clause that allows for the target to be dumped as early as 2014 if Britain's European partners fail to implement their own CO₂, cuts. Mr Cameron agrees. "It doesn't actually help climate change if you simply drive an energy intensive industry to locate in Poland rather than Britain", he said last week. "We believe that Europe should follow our lead and go for a 30% reduction".
Because Europe yet has to make the same commitment, Mr Cameron has sanctioned a review in 2014 "to make sure that if they are not on that pathway, then we shouldn't put ourselves on it too". The European Union's Climate Action Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, says Britain's pledge is "an outstanding example of strong willingness to act despite difficult economic times". On Monday, Australia's Climate Commission declared evidence of global warming "beyond doubt". The commission's report advocates a different "pathway" to emission reductions which would support initially small targets, such as Australia's 5%.
"The budget approach sees far more flexibility so that your emissions might be far larger now, but with a payoff in the future and that's allowed for", says Professor Will Steffen, a climate science expert and the executive director of the Australian National University's Climate Change Institute, said. "You could be a big emitter but it's because you are building new infrastructure which in 10 years will see a big reduction in emissions. "It allows more flexible strategies".
Time for physicians to step up campaign on climate change
Canberra Times
Tuesday 24/5/2011 Page: 10
Tony McMichael ("Folly to ignore climate change dangers on health", May 20, p17) is absolutely right in criticising the Royal Australasian College of Physicians for their myopic failure to support a carbon tax. The college is a champion of evidence based medicine in the treatment of individual patients. It also favours increased cigarette pricing for the prevention of tobacco related diseases.
Yet the evidence for human induced climate disruption through increased greenhouse gas emissions from our prodigious combustion of fossil fuels is no less compelling than the links between smoking and disease. Potential climate effects both globally and in Australia are far more widespread and dangerous than tobacco toxicity. The tremendous political and financial clout of the fossil fuel industry promotes misinformation about scientifically well established facts on the impact of CO₂, pollution on the environment, including loss of biodiversity and the health of humans.
The good state of human health and life expectancy, at least in industrialised countries, is predominantly due to the infrastructure of public health measures introduced in the 19th century and immunisation procedures during the 20th century. It is regrettable that the RACP, supposedly an independent professional organisation, is failing to provide leadership on the mitigation of the greatest public health hazard facing Australia and the world in the 21st century, namely anthropogenic global warming.
Bryan Furnass, Hughes
Tuesday 24/5/2011 Page: 10
Tony McMichael ("Folly to ignore climate change dangers on health", May 20, p17) is absolutely right in criticising the Royal Australasian College of Physicians for their myopic failure to support a carbon tax. The college is a champion of evidence based medicine in the treatment of individual patients. It also favours increased cigarette pricing for the prevention of tobacco related diseases.
Yet the evidence for human induced climate disruption through increased greenhouse gas emissions from our prodigious combustion of fossil fuels is no less compelling than the links between smoking and disease. Potential climate effects both globally and in Australia are far more widespread and dangerous than tobacco toxicity. The tremendous political and financial clout of the fossil fuel industry promotes misinformation about scientifically well established facts on the impact of CO₂, pollution on the environment, including loss of biodiversity and the health of humans.
The good state of human health and life expectancy, at least in industrialised countries, is predominantly due to the infrastructure of public health measures introduced in the 19th century and immunisation procedures during the 20th century. It is regrettable that the RACP, supposedly an independent professional organisation, is failing to provide leadership on the mitigation of the greatest public health hazard facing Australia and the world in the 21st century, namely anthropogenic global warming.
Bryan Furnass, Hughes
Renewables are key to the future
Age
Tuesday 24/5/2011 Page: 10
THE elephant in the room, or rather the elephant absent from the room where they develop Australian climate policy, is any government declaration of renewable energy programs ("Climate science audit slams skeptics", The Age, 23/5), While the US, Europe, China and India are making firm commitments to renewables through tax and fiscal policies, Australia is reticent, coy or just plain terrified of the fossil fuel bullies when it comes to talking up large scale solar, wind and tidal power generation.
That there has yet to be any commitment as to how the other 50% of the collected carbon tax will be deployed should suggest that it will be used to compensate the same polluters who are causing the problem. That there is not one renewable energy expert on Greg Combet's six person Climate Commission also suggests that the government is window dressing a product that it has no intention of selling.
John Ashton, North Fitzroy
Tuesday 24/5/2011 Page: 10
THE elephant in the room, or rather the elephant absent from the room where they develop Australian climate policy, is any government declaration of renewable energy programs ("Climate science audit slams skeptics", The Age, 23/5), While the US, Europe, China and India are making firm commitments to renewables through tax and fiscal policies, Australia is reticent, coy or just plain terrified of the fossil fuel bullies when it comes to talking up large scale solar, wind and tidal power generation.
That there has yet to be any commitment as to how the other 50% of the collected carbon tax will be deployed should suggest that it will be used to compensate the same polluters who are causing the problem. That there is not one renewable energy expert on Greg Combet's six person Climate Commission also suggests that the government is window dressing a product that it has no intention of selling.
John Ashton, North Fitzroy
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Paid to pollute
Adelaide Advertiser
24 May 2011, Page: 19
ACCORDING to my reckoning, if you are a large electricity utility generating electricity from polluting fossil fuels, then you can legally and uncritically command anywhere up to $10 per kW. However, if you are an SA homeowner generating electricity from clean solar power, you are being outrageous if you expect to get 54 cents for the same amount of electricity (The Advertiser editorial, yesterday).
The real problem is that whereas electricity retailers pay up to $10 to the big polluters, they pay no more than 10 cents to the small clean producers, with the taxpayer forking out any difference between the Government's solar feed in tariff and the retailers contribution.
If retailers paid the solar generators the same price as fossil generators, this would have no impact on electricity prices because it would be simply replacing one generator by another without any difference in the unit cost of the electricity supplied. What is needed is a level playing field with solar electricity getting no more or less than fossil electricity. This would produce better competition and greater certainty for all concerned.
Dennis Matthews, Ironbank
24 May 2011, Page: 19
ACCORDING to my reckoning, if you are a large electricity utility generating electricity from polluting fossil fuels, then you can legally and uncritically command anywhere up to $10 per kW. However, if you are an SA homeowner generating electricity from clean solar power, you are being outrageous if you expect to get 54 cents for the same amount of electricity (The Advertiser editorial, yesterday).
The real problem is that whereas electricity retailers pay up to $10 to the big polluters, they pay no more than 10 cents to the small clean producers, with the taxpayer forking out any difference between the Government's solar feed in tariff and the retailers contribution.
If retailers paid the solar generators the same price as fossil generators, this would have no impact on electricity prices because it would be simply replacing one generator by another without any difference in the unit cost of the electricity supplied. What is needed is a level playing field with solar electricity getting no more or less than fossil electricity. This would produce better competition and greater certainty for all concerned.
Dennis Matthews, Ironbank
Turning jobs green
Adelaide Advertiser
21 May 2011, Page: 1
Sustainable industries will provide some of the biggest opportunities for employment growth in the next 10 years, industry research predicts. Modelling commissioned by the Clean Energy Council shows that renewable energy jobs are expected to grow to about 55,000 by 2020, with a large part of these figures in solar power.
Clean Energy Council spokesman Mark Bretherton says there are huge long term employment opportunities for solar power, which are tempered by challenges over the next couple of years. "Years of stop start policy from governments of all sizes has led to a series of boom bust cycles that the industry has endured at regular intervals since the middle of the last decade", Mr Bretherton says.
"These well meaning initiatives have vastly underestimated the appetite among the public to install solar power, protecting themselves from rising electricity prices and taking individual action on climate change. The only thing we know for certain at the moment is that Australians love solar power".
He says incentive schemes still are required in the short term to support the industry and rough patches will gradually smooth out as the cost of solar continues to fall and support is ramped off. A recent survey of solar panel and solar hot water installers from around Australia finds most are optimistic about the performance of their business and their position within the industry in the next year.
solar panel and inverter installer Sun Connect operations manager James Strahan says many companies are keen to put on extra staff and nearly all expect positive financial returns. "From our collated responses of more than 100 solar businesses, it looks as though solar companies are on target to add jobs at a greater rate than the majority of business sectors in the economy", Mr Strahan says.
"In August 2010, the Australian solar industry employed an estimated 11,500 solar workers and over the next 12 months, our research shows that 89% of solar firms expect to add jobs while only 3% expect to cut workers. "You don't have to have a degree in solar engineering to work in this field. It's similar to how you can be a great salesperson in retail or insurance or medical equipment; with the right training you can use your skills to sell anything".
He says that their research finds manufacturing, wholesale trade and installation are the primary sectors poised for growth. "Within each group, there are a variety of jobs, including solar installers or technicians, plumbers with specific skills in solar installations, production workers, marketing and legal staff, finance staff, supervisors, production managers and operating workers", he says.
Another company within the solar industry is Zen Home Energy Systems, which has increased its staff numbers by more than 50% since the beginning of the year. Zen Home Energy chief executive Richard Turner says his company has taken on 27 new employees since January, taking the total number to 75. "Many of Zen Home Energy's latest recruits are new to the solar industry and bring with them a wide range of knowledge and skill sets", he says. "The solar industry is proving to be an attractive career choice for people of all ages, demographics and at all stages of their working lives.
Some of the newly created positions are in sales, management, reception, marketing, human resources, accounts, ICT, administration and IT". One of Zen Home Energy's new recruits, water systems manager Tim Ielasi, says his career has been a natural progression. "The first manufacturing company I was with about 10 years ago was into plumbing and gas. They made a natural progression into the solar industry and so did I", Mr Ielasi says.
"I oversee the product development and testing and approval procedures of all of our water product, including solar hot water and rainwater, and we are looking at getting into pool and underfloor heating. "It is still a relatively new industry. "There are up to 750,000 hot water systems sold in Australia yearly and only 8% of the market is solar hot water, and that figure will only go up. "As we push towards renewable energy, there is a lot more focus on the homeowner to push into being sustainable in their own home.,.. however small the industry may seem at the moment, it is ever growing and will continue to mature".
21 May 2011, Page: 1
Sustainable industries will provide some of the biggest opportunities for employment growth in the next 10 years, industry research predicts. Modelling commissioned by the Clean Energy Council shows that renewable energy jobs are expected to grow to about 55,000 by 2020, with a large part of these figures in solar power.Clean Energy Council spokesman Mark Bretherton says there are huge long term employment opportunities for solar power, which are tempered by challenges over the next couple of years. "Years of stop start policy from governments of all sizes has led to a series of boom bust cycles that the industry has endured at regular intervals since the middle of the last decade", Mr Bretherton says.
"These well meaning initiatives have vastly underestimated the appetite among the public to install solar power, protecting themselves from rising electricity prices and taking individual action on climate change. The only thing we know for certain at the moment is that Australians love solar power".
He says incentive schemes still are required in the short term to support the industry and rough patches will gradually smooth out as the cost of solar continues to fall and support is ramped off. A recent survey of solar panel and solar hot water installers from around Australia finds most are optimistic about the performance of their business and their position within the industry in the next year.
solar panel and inverter installer Sun Connect operations manager James Strahan says many companies are keen to put on extra staff and nearly all expect positive financial returns. "From our collated responses of more than 100 solar businesses, it looks as though solar companies are on target to add jobs at a greater rate than the majority of business sectors in the economy", Mr Strahan says.
"In August 2010, the Australian solar industry employed an estimated 11,500 solar workers and over the next 12 months, our research shows that 89% of solar firms expect to add jobs while only 3% expect to cut workers. "You don't have to have a degree in solar engineering to work in this field. It's similar to how you can be a great salesperson in retail or insurance or medical equipment; with the right training you can use your skills to sell anything".
He says that their research finds manufacturing, wholesale trade and installation are the primary sectors poised for growth. "Within each group, there are a variety of jobs, including solar installers or technicians, plumbers with specific skills in solar installations, production workers, marketing and legal staff, finance staff, supervisors, production managers and operating workers", he says.
Another company within the solar industry is Zen Home Energy Systems, which has increased its staff numbers by more than 50% since the beginning of the year. Zen Home Energy chief executive Richard Turner says his company has taken on 27 new employees since January, taking the total number to 75. "Many of Zen Home Energy's latest recruits are new to the solar industry and bring with them a wide range of knowledge and skill sets", he says. "The solar industry is proving to be an attractive career choice for people of all ages, demographics and at all stages of their working lives.
Some of the newly created positions are in sales, management, reception, marketing, human resources, accounts, ICT, administration and IT". One of Zen Home Energy's new recruits, water systems manager Tim Ielasi, says his career has been a natural progression. "The first manufacturing company I was with about 10 years ago was into plumbing and gas. They made a natural progression into the solar industry and so did I", Mr Ielasi says.
"I oversee the product development and testing and approval procedures of all of our water product, including solar hot water and rainwater, and we are looking at getting into pool and underfloor heating. "It is still a relatively new industry. "There are up to 750,000 hot water systems sold in Australia yearly and only 8% of the market is solar hot water, and that figure will only go up. "As we push towards renewable energy, there is a lot more focus on the homeowner to push into being sustainable in their own home.,.. however small the industry may seem at the moment, it is ever growing and will continue to mature".
Origin opts for smart meter trial
Summaries - Australian Financial Review
23 May 2011, Page: 17
Origin Energy has said it will trial energy efficiency technology, including software from US company Tendril, in 5000 homes this year. The technology will give customers information on changing electricity use to lower bills and greenhouse gas emissions. Tendril, based in Colorado, is backed by a number of venture capital investors and GE. Victoria is the leader in introducing such technology, with all homes to be fitted with smart meters by 2013.
23 May 2011, Page: 17
Origin Energy has said it will trial energy efficiency technology, including software from US company Tendril, in 5000 homes this year. The technology will give customers information on changing electricity use to lower bills and greenhouse gas emissions. Tendril, based in Colorado, is backed by a number of venture capital investors and GE. Victoria is the leader in introducing such technology, with all homes to be fitted with smart meters by 2013.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Climate science audit slams skeptics
Age
23 May 2011, Page: 3
THE government established Climate Commission has dismissed the skeptics and warned of dire consequences if adequate action to cut emissions is not taken in this "critical" decade. In a review of the scientific evidence, released today, the commission says: "We know beyond reasonable doubt that the world is warming and that human emissions of greenhouse gasses are the primary cause". It also says this year's Queensland and Victorian flooding "raised the question of a possible link between the floods and human induced climate change".
The government, embattled over the carbon tax, will use the report to bolster its case for action and to discredit critics. Prime Minister Julia Gillard set up the independent commission to give the public information as part of her move to price carbon. The audit of the science was done by one commissioner, climate scientist Will Steffen, and extensively reviewed by other experts.
Professor Steffen hit out at skeptics yesterday, telling The Age that Australia and the United States were "the two parts of the world where there is still significant media debate about the science". There was no debate within the credible scientific community. Professor Steffen, of the Australian National University, said the deniers were making a very emotional attack on the science it was not a rational criticism. "A lot of people who understand psychology say vocal denialism has less to do with the science but is more about a world view", he said.
Commission chairman Tim Flannery would not be drawn on the report's political implications, in particular between the Gillard carbon tax and Tony Abbott's direct action: "It underlines the need for a carbon price; it doesn't talk about the mechanism used to deliver that". But he stressed the need for a robust policy. fossil fuel emissions had to be dealt with directly it would not be adequate just to allow polluters to offset their emissions into agricultural sequestration, such as forestry and soil carbon, he said.
The report says the impacts of climate change are already being felt in Australia and elsewhere, with less than 1 degree of global warming; the economic, environmental and societal risks of future change are serious. "Minimising these risks requires rapid, deep and ongoing reductions to global greenhouse gas emissions. We must begin now if we are to decarbonise our economy and move to clean energy sources by 2050". The report also canvasses a "budget approach" to reducing emissions as an alternative to the present targets and timetables approach. This would set an amount of emissions consistent with a certain level of containment of global warming.
It "allows more flexibility in the economic and technical pathways to emissions reductions", it says, but warns "the fact that we have already consumed over 30% of our post 2000 budget means that much of that flexibility has been squandered if we wish to avoid the escalating risks associated with temperature rises beyond 2°". Highlighting the problems for Australia, the report points out that in the past 50 years, the number of record hot days has more than doubled, increasing the risk of heatwaves and associated deaths.
23 May 2011, Page: 3
THE government established Climate Commission has dismissed the skeptics and warned of dire consequences if adequate action to cut emissions is not taken in this "critical" decade. In a review of the scientific evidence, released today, the commission says: "We know beyond reasonable doubt that the world is warming and that human emissions of greenhouse gasses are the primary cause". It also says this year's Queensland and Victorian flooding "raised the question of a possible link between the floods and human induced climate change".
The government, embattled over the carbon tax, will use the report to bolster its case for action and to discredit critics. Prime Minister Julia Gillard set up the independent commission to give the public information as part of her move to price carbon. The audit of the science was done by one commissioner, climate scientist Will Steffen, and extensively reviewed by other experts.
Professor Steffen hit out at skeptics yesterday, telling The Age that Australia and the United States were "the two parts of the world where there is still significant media debate about the science". There was no debate within the credible scientific community. Professor Steffen, of the Australian National University, said the deniers were making a very emotional attack on the science it was not a rational criticism. "A lot of people who understand psychology say vocal denialism has less to do with the science but is more about a world view", he said.
Commission chairman Tim Flannery would not be drawn on the report's political implications, in particular between the Gillard carbon tax and Tony Abbott's direct action: "It underlines the need for a carbon price; it doesn't talk about the mechanism used to deliver that". But he stressed the need for a robust policy. fossil fuel emissions had to be dealt with directly it would not be adequate just to allow polluters to offset their emissions into agricultural sequestration, such as forestry and soil carbon, he said.
The report says the impacts of climate change are already being felt in Australia and elsewhere, with less than 1 degree of global warming; the economic, environmental and societal risks of future change are serious. "Minimising these risks requires rapid, deep and ongoing reductions to global greenhouse gas emissions. We must begin now if we are to decarbonise our economy and move to clean energy sources by 2050". The report also canvasses a "budget approach" to reducing emissions as an alternative to the present targets and timetables approach. This would set an amount of emissions consistent with a certain level of containment of global warming.
It "allows more flexibility in the economic and technical pathways to emissions reductions", it says, but warns "the fact that we have already consumed over 30% of our post 2000 budget means that much of that flexibility has been squandered if we wish to avoid the escalating risks associated with temperature rises beyond 2°". Highlighting the problems for Australia, the report points out that in the past 50 years, the number of record hot days has more than doubled, increasing the risk of heatwaves and associated deaths.
GE wants carbon price to kick in
Weekend Australian
21 May 2011, Page: 8
AUSTRALIA needs to move quickly and implement a price on carbon, and industry will follow. That's the message from global energy leviathan GE. And GE is not alone, with companies from a range of industries joining it, including AGL Energy, Linfox, Fujitsu, BP, Better Place, IKEA, Kell & Rigby, Alstom, Pottinger, ARTC and Pacific Hydro all backing a carbon price.
Speaking in late February at the clean energy lunch "Moving Australia towards a clean energy future", GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt suggested Australia's strong economic situation makes us ripe for change and ready to implement a price on carbon. "You just can't make a move that is this controversial when you have got wind in your face. You can make the move when you have got wind at your back", Immelt said.
GE's energy country executive for Australia and New Zealand, Tim Rourke, recently told The Australian that GE believes there has to be a price on carbon and an appropriate regulatory regime that will allow companies to invest in the clean energy space with some certainty. "Most companies want that certainty, and as soon as certainty is delivered, industry can move forward and there will be a faster uptake of clean energy", he says.
For GE, what sets Australia apart is its diversity of options: not only is it generously endowed with coal and gas resources, it also has excellent wind and solar resources. Hence it can deliver the ultimate energy portfolio approach. These options reflect GE's own energy philosophy. "We're technology agnostic.
We take a portfolio approach and innovate in different technologies", Rourke says. This helps the company maintain its leadership in energy innovation. GE has a SUS45 billion (S41.2bn) footprint in the energy space and it will invest $US5bn in clean energy over the next three years. Its commitment to clean energy is part of its so called Ecomagination philosophy.
According to Immelt, the initiative kicked off in 2004 and it's about investing in clean energy technology and making it profitable. "We started in 2005 by investing SUS700 million a year, we ended the decade investing SUS1.5bn a year in R&D", he says. Rourke says Australia has a great opportunity to become a global leader.
"We have plenty of options and we can exploit improving technologies, as Australians are relatively quick to embrace new technologies", he says. "We really are better placed than most countries". GE has cut its own emissions by 20% since 2005 and its renewable energy business has quadrupled in size to $US20bn in revenue.
21 May 2011, Page: 8
AUSTRALIA needs to move quickly and implement a price on carbon, and industry will follow. That's the message from global energy leviathan GE. And GE is not alone, with companies from a range of industries joining it, including AGL Energy, Linfox, Fujitsu, BP, Better Place, IKEA, Kell & Rigby, Alstom, Pottinger, ARTC and Pacific Hydro all backing a carbon price.
Speaking in late February at the clean energy lunch "Moving Australia towards a clean energy future", GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt suggested Australia's strong economic situation makes us ripe for change and ready to implement a price on carbon. "You just can't make a move that is this controversial when you have got wind in your face. You can make the move when you have got wind at your back", Immelt said.
GE's energy country executive for Australia and New Zealand, Tim Rourke, recently told The Australian that GE believes there has to be a price on carbon and an appropriate regulatory regime that will allow companies to invest in the clean energy space with some certainty. "Most companies want that certainty, and as soon as certainty is delivered, industry can move forward and there will be a faster uptake of clean energy", he says.
For GE, what sets Australia apart is its diversity of options: not only is it generously endowed with coal and gas resources, it also has excellent wind and solar resources. Hence it can deliver the ultimate energy portfolio approach. These options reflect GE's own energy philosophy. "We're technology agnostic.
We take a portfolio approach and innovate in different technologies", Rourke says. This helps the company maintain its leadership in energy innovation. GE has a SUS45 billion (S41.2bn) footprint in the energy space and it will invest $US5bn in clean energy over the next three years. Its commitment to clean energy is part of its so called Ecomagination philosophy.
According to Immelt, the initiative kicked off in 2004 and it's about investing in clean energy technology and making it profitable. "We started in 2005 by investing SUS700 million a year, we ended the decade investing SUS1.5bn a year in R&D", he says. Rourke says Australia has a great opportunity to become a global leader.
"We have plenty of options and we can exploit improving technologies, as Australians are relatively quick to embrace new technologies", he says. "We really are better placed than most countries". GE has cut its own emissions by 20% since 2005 and its renewable energy business has quadrupled in size to $US20bn in revenue.
Britain surprises with carbon plan
The Saturday Age
21 May 2011, Page: 13
THE British cabinet debate is said to have been furious, pitching the Prime Minister, David Cameron, against his own Chancellor, George Osborne. But this week, the Tory led, Coalition government surprised itself and Europe by committing to a radical "carbon budget" to halve CO₂ emissions by 2025. While Australia continues to wrangle over a carbon tax and the possible effect on the price of Weet Bix Britain, led by the Conservatives, has become the first country to set legally binding commitments through into the 2020s.
Under the plan, the 50% cut in emissions to be averaged out across the years 2023 to 2027 and benchmarked against 1990 levels will be enshrined in law. The targets, described as the most ambitious on greenhouse gases of any developed nation, were outlined by the Energy and Climate Minister, Chris Huhne, in Parliament on Tuesday, delighting environmentalists and sparking dire warnings from British industry.
In fact, this is the UK's fourth so called carbon budget since 2008, with emission targets established on the advice of the International Committee on Climate Change. The original starting point for measurement was 1990, when Great Britain produced 783 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. Since then, big reductions have been achieved with emissions down to 603 million tonnes during the past, five year cycle a 23% cut on the benchmark.
This next target point is the toughest: "As advised by the Committee on Climate Change, the level we propose setting in law would mean that net emissions over the Fourth Carbon Budget period should not exceed 1950 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent a 50% reduction from 1990 levels", Mr Huhne told the House of Commons. The cuts, he said, should be viewed as an economic stimulator, a boost and signal of confidence to the nation's green technology companies from wind power to electric cars to solar power placing them at the "leading edge of the global low carbon revolution".
Britain's environmental movement which had gloomily warned as late as last weekend that Mr Cameron would renege on the next round of targets appeared genuinely taken aback and quickly welcomed the move. However several key spokespeople have since pointedly highlighted the fact that the government's post credit crunch austerity drive has seen it slash funding for significant clean energy technologies, including solar power and carbon capture ventures.
As well, the new Green Bank proposed and pushed by the previous Labour government and seen as imperative to secure private investment in the renewal and replacement of Britain's ageing power stations will not be able to borrow for renewable energy projects for another four years. The bank is expected to raise money in the same way as regular banks but will use the profits to fund clean energy and low carbon projects.
It has been widely reported too that there was a concerted, backroom attempt by the UK Treasury to stymie the plan amid arguments that British industry would be curtailed and the frail first shoots of economic recovery stymied. The greatest fear is that other EU nations will not embrace such ambitious long term targets, dramatically reducing Britain's ability to compete.
Mr Cameron told the Parliament that that his Business Secretary, the Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, and others "had very legitimate concerns about energy intensive industries and how we should try to put together a package to help them, because they are being affected, not just by the carbon budget but by also changes to the electricity market and other costs.
"It doesn't actually help climate change if you simply drive an energy intensive industry to locate in Poland rather than Britain. That was one sticking point", he said. Some concessions were won for high energy consumption industries such as steel that provide special tax breaks to help compensate for the expected rise in electricity prices.
These arguments were ultimately overridden by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, which crafted the rhetoric to push the boost to Britain's long term economic projects provided by investment in green technology. However, the British government has managed to sneak in an out clause for itself: in 2014, a review can be ordered of the targets to see just how the rest of the EU stacks up against Britain. However any move to lower them would need ICC consultation and according to Chris Huhne "it would be almost impossible to renege on the commitment". Just a year before an election, that might just be true.
21 May 2011, Page: 13
THE British cabinet debate is said to have been furious, pitching the Prime Minister, David Cameron, against his own Chancellor, George Osborne. But this week, the Tory led, Coalition government surprised itself and Europe by committing to a radical "carbon budget" to halve CO₂ emissions by 2025. While Australia continues to wrangle over a carbon tax and the possible effect on the price of Weet Bix Britain, led by the Conservatives, has become the first country to set legally binding commitments through into the 2020s.
Under the plan, the 50% cut in emissions to be averaged out across the years 2023 to 2027 and benchmarked against 1990 levels will be enshrined in law. The targets, described as the most ambitious on greenhouse gases of any developed nation, were outlined by the Energy and Climate Minister, Chris Huhne, in Parliament on Tuesday, delighting environmentalists and sparking dire warnings from British industry.
In fact, this is the UK's fourth so called carbon budget since 2008, with emission targets established on the advice of the International Committee on Climate Change. The original starting point for measurement was 1990, when Great Britain produced 783 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. Since then, big reductions have been achieved with emissions down to 603 million tonnes during the past, five year cycle a 23% cut on the benchmark.
This next target point is the toughest: "As advised by the Committee on Climate Change, the level we propose setting in law would mean that net emissions over the Fourth Carbon Budget period should not exceed 1950 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent a 50% reduction from 1990 levels", Mr Huhne told the House of Commons. The cuts, he said, should be viewed as an economic stimulator, a boost and signal of confidence to the nation's green technology companies from wind power to electric cars to solar power placing them at the "leading edge of the global low carbon revolution".
Britain's environmental movement which had gloomily warned as late as last weekend that Mr Cameron would renege on the next round of targets appeared genuinely taken aback and quickly welcomed the move. However several key spokespeople have since pointedly highlighted the fact that the government's post credit crunch austerity drive has seen it slash funding for significant clean energy technologies, including solar power and carbon capture ventures.
As well, the new Green Bank proposed and pushed by the previous Labour government and seen as imperative to secure private investment in the renewal and replacement of Britain's ageing power stations will not be able to borrow for renewable energy projects for another four years. The bank is expected to raise money in the same way as regular banks but will use the profits to fund clean energy and low carbon projects.
It has been widely reported too that there was a concerted, backroom attempt by the UK Treasury to stymie the plan amid arguments that British industry would be curtailed and the frail first shoots of economic recovery stymied. The greatest fear is that other EU nations will not embrace such ambitious long term targets, dramatically reducing Britain's ability to compete.
Mr Cameron told the Parliament that that his Business Secretary, the Liberal Democrat Vince Cable, and others "had very legitimate concerns about energy intensive industries and how we should try to put together a package to help them, because they are being affected, not just by the carbon budget but by also changes to the electricity market and other costs.
"It doesn't actually help climate change if you simply drive an energy intensive industry to locate in Poland rather than Britain. That was one sticking point", he said. Some concessions were won for high energy consumption industries such as steel that provide special tax breaks to help compensate for the expected rise in electricity prices.
These arguments were ultimately overridden by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, which crafted the rhetoric to push the boost to Britain's long term economic projects provided by investment in green technology. However, the British government has managed to sneak in an out clause for itself: in 2014, a review can be ordered of the targets to see just how the rest of the EU stacks up against Britain. However any move to lower them would need ICC consultation and according to Chris Huhne "it would be almost impossible to renege on the commitment". Just a year before an election, that might just be true.
Monday, 30 May 2011
Waste plant contract goes to Landfill Gas
Courier Mail
20 May 2011, Page: 94
Landfill Gas Industries has won the race to build Brisbane City Council's new waste-to-energy generation plant. The company has been given the go ahead to construct the facility at 369 Sherbrooke Rd, Willawong. The company will operate the plant with Diamond Energy for at least the next 10 years. Landfill Gas Industries beat AGL Energy Services , Landfill Gas and Power, LMS Generation and Integrated Waste Resources to win the tender, after the council called for expressions of interest in November last year.
The plant will be on a remediated landfill site that closed in the 1990s. The site has an underground well and piped gas harvesting systems already in place to release methane gas created by the landfill. It currently has a flare burning methane gas. The Landfill Gas development will be the second renewable energy facility for Brisbane, with the Rochedale landfill waste-to-energy facility generating power since 2004.
20 May 2011, Page: 94
Landfill Gas Industries has won the race to build Brisbane City Council's new waste-to-energy generation plant. The company has been given the go ahead to construct the facility at 369 Sherbrooke Rd, Willawong. The company will operate the plant with Diamond Energy for at least the next 10 years. Landfill Gas Industries beat AGL Energy Services , Landfill Gas and Power, LMS Generation and Integrated Waste Resources to win the tender, after the council called for expressions of interest in November last year.
The plant will be on a remediated landfill site that closed in the 1990s. The site has an underground well and piped gas harvesting systems already in place to release methane gas created by the landfill. It currently has a flare burning methane gas. The Landfill Gas development will be the second renewable energy facility for Brisbane, with the Rochedale landfill waste-to-energy facility generating power since 2004.
Cables going underground
Herald Sun
19 May 2011, Page: 27
POWER cables to a three turbine wind farm in Chepstowe will be put underground to protect birdlife. Planning Minister Matthew Guy announced his approval of the wind farm yesterday after "calling in" the proposal. Mr Guy said Department of Planning and Community Development officers had conducted an investigation and met all parties associated with the VCAT proceeding. "This approval responds to concerns raised about potential impacts to local Brolga populations and proposes to locate all potentially hazardous power cables underground", he said. "Importantly, the proposal meets the 2010 noise assessment standards".
19 May 2011, Page: 27
POWER cables to a three turbine wind farm in Chepstowe will be put underground to protect birdlife. Planning Minister Matthew Guy announced his approval of the wind farm yesterday after "calling in" the proposal. Mr Guy said Department of Planning and Community Development officers had conducted an investigation and met all parties associated with the VCAT proceeding. "This approval responds to concerns raised about potential impacts to local Brolga populations and proposes to locate all potentially hazardous power cables underground", he said. "Importantly, the proposal meets the 2010 noise assessment standards".
Britain leaves Australia in its wake as it commits to 50% emissions cut
Canberra Times
19 May 2011, Page: 4
The British Government has vowed to slash Britain's greenhouse gas emissions by half within 15 years, dwarfing Australia's target of a mere 5% by 2020. Britain's Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huline outlined the ambitious goal to the British Parliament yesterday, saying carbon emissions between 2023 and 2027 would be cut by 50% of 1990 levels. The proposal would put Britain on course for an 80% emissions reduction by 2050, but would only be pursued if other European countries took similar action.
Mr Huhne said the decision would give investors the certainty they needed to invest in clean energy options and would place Britain at the leading edge of a new global industrial transformation. "Under this carbon budget, Britain in 2027 will be a different place and transformed for the better with warmer homes powered by green energy, many more cars powered by electricity and far less reliance on fossil fuels to drive our economy", he said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the move would keep the promise his coalition of Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats had made to be the greenest government ever". "The transition to a low carbon economy is necessary, real and global", Mr Cameron said. "By stepping up, showing leadership and competing with the world, the UK can prove that there need not be a tension between green and growth". The news has delighted the Australian Greens, who are growing increasingly frustrated that in Australia both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott are happy with a target to cut emissions only 5% of 1990 levels by 2020.
Greens deputy leader Christine Milne said Britain had set an example Australia should follow. "The United Kingdom has left the rest of the world far behind overnight, making the science based and achievable commitment to cut its carbon pollution to 50% below 1990 levels as soon as 2025", Senator Milne said. "What is remarkable is that the plans, which would put the UK at the forefront of the global transformation to a cleaner, healthier economy, are being criticised as too weak. "Tony Abbott would do well to reflect on the efforts of British Conservatives instead of looking to the American extreme right for guidance".
Environment groups have also seized on the announcement, describing the British targets as embarrassing for Australia. Climate Active Australia spokesman David Spratt said the British target put Australia's aspirations in a "very poor light". "The question for Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott is why they are allowing Australia to fall so far behind", he said. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet did not comment on Australia's target, but he welcomed the British proposal as evidence that countries around the world were taking climate change seriously.
"The UK experience demonstrates that market mechanisms drive reductions in carbon pollution at least cost while creating new economic opportunities and jobs", he said. Shadow climate minister Greg Hunt said the Opposition would carefully review the British announcement. "I understand there is bipartisan support for Australia's targets to cut emissions". he said.
19 May 2011, Page: 4
The British Government has vowed to slash Britain's greenhouse gas emissions by half within 15 years, dwarfing Australia's target of a mere 5% by 2020. Britain's Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huline outlined the ambitious goal to the British Parliament yesterday, saying carbon emissions between 2023 and 2027 would be cut by 50% of 1990 levels. The proposal would put Britain on course for an 80% emissions reduction by 2050, but would only be pursued if other European countries took similar action.
Mr Huhne said the decision would give investors the certainty they needed to invest in clean energy options and would place Britain at the leading edge of a new global industrial transformation. "Under this carbon budget, Britain in 2027 will be a different place and transformed for the better with warmer homes powered by green energy, many more cars powered by electricity and far less reliance on fossil fuels to drive our economy", he said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the move would keep the promise his coalition of Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats had made to be the greenest government ever". "The transition to a low carbon economy is necessary, real and global", Mr Cameron said. "By stepping up, showing leadership and competing with the world, the UK can prove that there need not be a tension between green and growth". The news has delighted the Australian Greens, who are growing increasingly frustrated that in Australia both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott are happy with a target to cut emissions only 5% of 1990 levels by 2020.
Greens deputy leader Christine Milne said Britain had set an example Australia should follow. "The United Kingdom has left the rest of the world far behind overnight, making the science based and achievable commitment to cut its carbon pollution to 50% below 1990 levels as soon as 2025", Senator Milne said. "What is remarkable is that the plans, which would put the UK at the forefront of the global transformation to a cleaner, healthier economy, are being criticised as too weak. "Tony Abbott would do well to reflect on the efforts of British Conservatives instead of looking to the American extreme right for guidance".
Environment groups have also seized on the announcement, describing the British targets as embarrassing for Australia. Climate Active Australia spokesman David Spratt said the British target put Australia's aspirations in a "very poor light". "The question for Ms Gillard and Mr Abbott is why they are allowing Australia to fall so far behind", he said. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet did not comment on Australia's target, but he welcomed the British proposal as evidence that countries around the world were taking climate change seriously.
"The UK experience demonstrates that market mechanisms drive reductions in carbon pollution at least cost while creating new economic opportunities and jobs", he said. Shadow climate minister Greg Hunt said the Opposition would carefully review the British announcement. "I understand there is bipartisan support for Australia's targets to cut emissions". he said.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
'Timber fire' for KI power
Adelaide Advertiser
19 May 2011, Page: 51
A biomass power plant fired from plantation timber on Kangaroo Island has been hailed as the key to maintaining the island's eco tourism status and restarting the timber mill, with more than 30 jobs created. The plan is the brainchild of RuralAus Investments, the owner of the timber mill and 2100ha of pine plantations on the island. RuralAus Investments chief executive John Ipsen yesterday announced the company would spend $374,000 on a full feasibility study into a 10 MW renewable biomass power plant on Kangaroo Island.
Mr Ipsen said it would potentially provide a "clean green" energy solution for one of the world's great eco tourism destinations. The company is also planning to restart the Kangaroo Island timber mill within five months and becoming the largest employer on the island when it is fully commissioned within a few years. "It will cost $250,000 to restart the mill and our aim is to produce high value lumber for the SA market", Mr Ipsen said. "We plan to start in the third quarter and employ probably 12 people initially for the green section of the million".
The move follows RuralAus Investments's purchase of 3500ha of land with 2100ha of pine trees on the island and the timber mill for $2.35 million in July 2010. The property was bought from Sustainable Forestry Management Australia when it went into receivership. Mr Ipsen said SA Government agencies fully supported the study because the reliability and performance of the Kangaroo Island energy network was plagued by high costs and supply limitations. "We have an opportunity to make a real impact on Kangaroo Island with ready access to an excellent source of renewable energy, which can provide a clean and relatively low cost power solution ", Mr Ipsen said.
He said RuralAus Investments needed 3 MW of power to run the timber mill and its pre feasibility study showed that a 10 MW power plant, to provide enough energy for its own use and the community, would work. "I've met with a number of local, state and federal government agencies and ministers and they are fully supportive of what we are trying to achieve", Mr Ipsen said. He said it would take about 18 months and $30 million to plan and build a 10 MW renewable energy power plant.
19 May 2011, Page: 51
A biomass power plant fired from plantation timber on Kangaroo Island has been hailed as the key to maintaining the island's eco tourism status and restarting the timber mill, with more than 30 jobs created. The plan is the brainchild of RuralAus Investments, the owner of the timber mill and 2100ha of pine plantations on the island. RuralAus Investments chief executive John Ipsen yesterday announced the company would spend $374,000 on a full feasibility study into a 10 MW renewable biomass power plant on Kangaroo Island.
Mr Ipsen said it would potentially provide a "clean green" energy solution for one of the world's great eco tourism destinations. The company is also planning to restart the Kangaroo Island timber mill within five months and becoming the largest employer on the island when it is fully commissioned within a few years. "It will cost $250,000 to restart the mill and our aim is to produce high value lumber for the SA market", Mr Ipsen said. "We plan to start in the third quarter and employ probably 12 people initially for the green section of the million".
The move follows RuralAus Investments's purchase of 3500ha of land with 2100ha of pine trees on the island and the timber mill for $2.35 million in July 2010. The property was bought from Sustainable Forestry Management Australia when it went into receivership. Mr Ipsen said SA Government agencies fully supported the study because the reliability and performance of the Kangaroo Island energy network was plagued by high costs and supply limitations. "We have an opportunity to make a real impact on Kangaroo Island with ready access to an excellent source of renewable energy, which can provide a clean and relatively low cost power solution ", Mr Ipsen said.
He said RuralAus Investments needed 3 MW of power to run the timber mill and its pre feasibility study showed that a 10 MW power plant, to provide enough energy for its own use and the community, would work. "I've met with a number of local, state and federal government agencies and ministers and they are fully supportive of what we are trying to achieve", Mr Ipsen said. He said it would take about 18 months and $30 million to plan and build a 10 MW renewable energy power plant.
Coal kicks goals
Age
18 May 2011, Page: 12
THE state government is negotiating with Alcoa about a massive expansion of coalmining near Anglesea. There has been unprecedented community opposition to this new threat to the Surf Coast. Under the government's wind power policy, a household will be able to block a cluster of turbines up to two kilometres from their house. Most of Anglesea, a town of more than 2000 people, is within two kilometres of the proposed open cut. Yet residents have no right of veto over this expansion.
It seems that the government has decided to pick winners and losers in Victoria's energy future. It is clear that it is siding with dirty coal over renewable sources of energy. In the 21st century this seems backwards and is unlikely to be popular with the community especially those on the front line of the coal expansion.
Cam Walker, campaigns co ordinator, Friends of the Earth, Fitzroy
18 May 2011, Page: 12
THE state government is negotiating with Alcoa about a massive expansion of coalmining near Anglesea. There has been unprecedented community opposition to this new threat to the Surf Coast. Under the government's wind power policy, a household will be able to block a cluster of turbines up to two kilometres from their house. Most of Anglesea, a town of more than 2000 people, is within two kilometres of the proposed open cut. Yet residents have no right of veto over this expansion.
It seems that the government has decided to pick winners and losers in Victoria's energy future. It is clear that it is siding with dirty coal over renewable sources of energy. In the 21st century this seems backwards and is unlikely to be popular with the community especially those on the front line of the coal expansion.
Cam Walker, campaigns co ordinator, Friends of the Earth, Fitzroy
Energy harvest as farms build up to reap the wind
West Australian
16 May 2011, Page: 15
In dusty back paddocks and weathered coastal landscapes across WA, a transformation is taking place. A wind farm investment drive is to become a multi billion dollar boom and nowhere is that boom likely to be bigger than in the small wheat belt town of Williams, about 150km south east of Perth. Fuelled by Federal Government imposed targets for renewable energy generation, a group of developers has launched an audacious bid to build one of Australia's biggest wind power projects.
The company, Semaphore Energy, has applied to the Shire of Williams to erect a 70m "guyed mast" to measure wind speeds and reliability at a nearby farm. The move would be a prelude to the construction of a 310.5 MW wind farm costing more than $1 billion and with 69 towers, each measuring 194m. At Kojonup, also in the South West, another group of private investors has said it intends to build a 150 MW wind project that will cost up to $500 million. The proposals are the latest in a number of wind power projects on the ground or in the pipeline.
Last week, a major 206 MW wind facility backed by international banking giant UBS and REST superannuation fund began producing its first power, two months ahead of schedule. The Collgar wind farm near Merredin in the Central wheat belt has been billed as a leading light in WA's push to meet Canberra's 20% mandatory renewable energy target by 2020.
Costing $750 million and generating enough electricity to power up to 125,000 homes, the project almost doubled the State's "green" energy production to 9%. State Energy Minister Peter Collier said the enthusiasm for wind power was "phenomenal" but it could never provide base load power and were only likely to be an adjunct in WA's energy mix. Mark Bretherton, a spokesman for wind industry lobby the Clean Energy Council, said the Williams proposal was unprecedented in Australia.
16 May 2011, Page: 15
In dusty back paddocks and weathered coastal landscapes across WA, a transformation is taking place. A wind farm investment drive is to become a multi billion dollar boom and nowhere is that boom likely to be bigger than in the small wheat belt town of Williams, about 150km south east of Perth. Fuelled by Federal Government imposed targets for renewable energy generation, a group of developers has launched an audacious bid to build one of Australia's biggest wind power projects.
The company, Semaphore Energy, has applied to the Shire of Williams to erect a 70m "guyed mast" to measure wind speeds and reliability at a nearby farm. The move would be a prelude to the construction of a 310.5 MW wind farm costing more than $1 billion and with 69 towers, each measuring 194m. At Kojonup, also in the South West, another group of private investors has said it intends to build a 150 MW wind project that will cost up to $500 million. The proposals are the latest in a number of wind power projects on the ground or in the pipeline.
Last week, a major 206 MW wind facility backed by international banking giant UBS and REST superannuation fund began producing its first power, two months ahead of schedule. The Collgar wind farm near Merredin in the Central wheat belt has been billed as a leading light in WA's push to meet Canberra's 20% mandatory renewable energy target by 2020.
Costing $750 million and generating enough electricity to power up to 125,000 homes, the project almost doubled the State's "green" energy production to 9%. State Energy Minister Peter Collier said the enthusiasm for wind power was "phenomenal" but it could never provide base load power and were only likely to be an adjunct in WA's energy mix. Mark Bretherton, a spokesman for wind industry lobby the Clean Energy Council, said the Williams proposal was unprecedented in Australia.
Debate refuses to blow over
Australian
16 May 2011, Page: 29
IF all the wind farms on the drawing boards in Australia are actually built, they will require a capital outlay of about $25 billion plus billions more for high voltage transmission systems to link them to the power grid. A decade ago, just a few MWs of wind capacity was available nationally; if the full list of proposals is delivered, there would be a large increase from the 2000 MW capacity of 2010.
The Energy Supply Association of Australia's yearbook reveals there are 106 wind developments in various stages of construction and planning, with a total capacity of 12,300 MWs equal to all the present power generation in Queensland, the second largest state supply system.
Credit agency Fitch Ratings, in its annual review of the east coast power industry, forecasts that $10.5bn should be spent between now and 2015 on building wind farms in five states. The rush to wind power, it says, will be led by Victoria (2335 MW), followed by South Australia (1132 MW), NSW (923 MW), Tasmania (568 MW) and Queensland (341 MW).
The main driver for wind development is the federal government's renewable energy target, designed to see 20% of all electricity consumed coming from zero emission resources by 2020. The trend will be further reinforced if the government can succeed in introducing a carbon price. The RET system is structured to produce tradeable Renewable Energy Certificates that are the currency for suppliers. They receive both the RECs price and the selling price for wholesale energy in the east coast market.
Without the mandated use of renewable energy and the RECs value, wind farmers would be unable to beat generators using brown coal, black coal and gas for a place in the market. The biggest problem for wind farm developers is that, as a result of the government's inclusion of support for rooftop solar systems in the RET structure, the RECs market is glutted and its values are low, resulting in the incentive to build large scale renewable generation being undermined.
At present prices, the best the wind generators can get in the market is about $35 per MW on average from the wholesale pool as well as as from RECs, whereas they need $100 to $110 to be commercially viable. As a result, about $4bn worth of wind farm projects are stalled and the renewables industry is fretting that the 2020 target may not be attainable.
Price is not the only factor troubling wind developers. The fast expansion of wind farm construction has created a rising tide of community concern in rural areas. The Senate, whose community affairs reference committee is investigating the social and economic impact of rural wind farms, has received 884 submissions, many of them from people riled by the intrusion of wind generation into the countryside. When South Australia's Premier Mike Rann travelled to the state's mid north recently to open a new farm, he was greeted by demonstrators waving placards saying "We can't sleep".
Peta Ashworth, group leader of the CSIRO Science into Society project, told the Senate committee at a hearing in Canberra that public acceptance is a critical factor for the successful deployment of wind power. Opponents cited landscape change, visual amenity, noise impacts and poor local consultation by project managers as their key concerns. "It appears for wind to be successfully deployed, planning processes that are transparent and participatory from an early stage will be required", she said.
Developers, the Clean Energy Council and environmental lobbyists argue, in turn, that there is strong community support in regional areas for wind farm projects, and that standards and guidelines for development are among the most stringent in the world, that no adverse health effects have been scientifically demonstrated for people living near wind turbines and that there is no evidence wind generation reduces property values.
Approval processes, however, are mostly in the hands of state and territory jurisdictions and Victoria's new Coalition government, for example, is reassessing the rules for wind developments and has said it will give local councils more say in the process. Greenpeace told the committee that the potential for wind power was "enormous", claiming that government policy could be used to drive wind development much faster than at present, aiming for wind generation alone to meet 21% of demand by 2020, with the closure of 8500 MW of coal fired power plants.
Union Fenosa Wind Australia, a Spanish owned company, which has "well progressed" plans to build 1330 MW of wind capacity in Victoria and NSW, says global improvements in the technology are "continuing apace". Its development manager, Thomas Mitchell, has told the Senate in a submission that technological improvements in the past decade have made mechanical noise from turbines "almost undetectable". For farmers, he says, hosting wind generation provides a resource that can co exist with other commercial operations, and for many offers a means of drought proofing their business.
16 May 2011, Page: 29
IF all the wind farms on the drawing boards in Australia are actually built, they will require a capital outlay of about $25 billion plus billions more for high voltage transmission systems to link them to the power grid. A decade ago, just a few MWs of wind capacity was available nationally; if the full list of proposals is delivered, there would be a large increase from the 2000 MW capacity of 2010.The Energy Supply Association of Australia's yearbook reveals there are 106 wind developments in various stages of construction and planning, with a total capacity of 12,300 MWs equal to all the present power generation in Queensland, the second largest state supply system.
Credit agency Fitch Ratings, in its annual review of the east coast power industry, forecasts that $10.5bn should be spent between now and 2015 on building wind farms in five states. The rush to wind power, it says, will be led by Victoria (2335 MW), followed by South Australia (1132 MW), NSW (923 MW), Tasmania (568 MW) and Queensland (341 MW).
The main driver for wind development is the federal government's renewable energy target, designed to see 20% of all electricity consumed coming from zero emission resources by 2020. The trend will be further reinforced if the government can succeed in introducing a carbon price. The RET system is structured to produce tradeable Renewable Energy Certificates that are the currency for suppliers. They receive both the RECs price and the selling price for wholesale energy in the east coast market.
Without the mandated use of renewable energy and the RECs value, wind farmers would be unable to beat generators using brown coal, black coal and gas for a place in the market. The biggest problem for wind farm developers is that, as a result of the government's inclusion of support for rooftop solar systems in the RET structure, the RECs market is glutted and its values are low, resulting in the incentive to build large scale renewable generation being undermined.
At present prices, the best the wind generators can get in the market is about $35 per MW on average from the wholesale pool as well as as from RECs, whereas they need $100 to $110 to be commercially viable. As a result, about $4bn worth of wind farm projects are stalled and the renewables industry is fretting that the 2020 target may not be attainable.
Price is not the only factor troubling wind developers. The fast expansion of wind farm construction has created a rising tide of community concern in rural areas. The Senate, whose community affairs reference committee is investigating the social and economic impact of rural wind farms, has received 884 submissions, many of them from people riled by the intrusion of wind generation into the countryside. When South Australia's Premier Mike Rann travelled to the state's mid north recently to open a new farm, he was greeted by demonstrators waving placards saying "We can't sleep".
Peta Ashworth, group leader of the CSIRO Science into Society project, told the Senate committee at a hearing in Canberra that public acceptance is a critical factor for the successful deployment of wind power. Opponents cited landscape change, visual amenity, noise impacts and poor local consultation by project managers as their key concerns. "It appears for wind to be successfully deployed, planning processes that are transparent and participatory from an early stage will be required", she said.
Developers, the Clean Energy Council and environmental lobbyists argue, in turn, that there is strong community support in regional areas for wind farm projects, and that standards and guidelines for development are among the most stringent in the world, that no adverse health effects have been scientifically demonstrated for people living near wind turbines and that there is no evidence wind generation reduces property values.
Approval processes, however, are mostly in the hands of state and territory jurisdictions and Victoria's new Coalition government, for example, is reassessing the rules for wind developments and has said it will give local councils more say in the process. Greenpeace told the committee that the potential for wind power was "enormous", claiming that government policy could be used to drive wind development much faster than at present, aiming for wind generation alone to meet 21% of demand by 2020, with the closure of 8500 MW of coal fired power plants.
Union Fenosa Wind Australia, a Spanish owned company, which has "well progressed" plans to build 1330 MW of wind capacity in Victoria and NSW, says global improvements in the technology are "continuing apace". Its development manager, Thomas Mitchell, has told the Senate in a submission that technological improvements in the past decade have made mechanical noise from turbines "almost undetectable". For farmers, he says, hosting wind generation provides a resource that can co exist with other commercial operations, and for many offers a means of drought proofing their business.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
The key to staying cool when the heat is on
Australian
16 May 2011, Page: 29
THE sun is obviously the world's greatest source of heat but, paradoxically, it is also being harnessed for cooling buildings, important on the hottest days when air conditioners can overwhelm the electricity supply, and institutions such as hospitals are taking advantage of the evolving technology.
Sustainability Victoria, which is working with the CSIRO and the Energy Resources Institute in India to develop small scale solar coolers, says solar cooling systems are either closed cycle systems or open cycle systems. Closed cycle systems produce chilled water that can supply any type of air conditioning equipment.
Open cycle systems, or desiccant systems, are a combination of sorptive dehumidification and evaporative cooling, providing cool, dry air to a building. Heat for thermally driven cooling is gathered by solar collectors typically used in home solar hot water systems. Using sorption, it is then converted into cold, which is delivered in the shape of chilled water or dry, cool air.
The Victorian body is also a partner in the installation of solar coolers at Echuca hospital, where it has part funded the replacement of two electric air conditioning units. The cooler has a solar field of 102 evacuated tube collectors over 422m² that feeds hot water to an absorption chiller, cutting the hospital's natural gas consumption.
"When the chiller is not in use, the hot water from the collector field is used for the domestic hot water demand or stored in hot water tanks for later use", Sustainability Victoria's Sonja Ott says. The solar cooling system was installed in March and is now under commissioning. "It is expected that the solar cooling system will save 1400 tonnes CO₂ equivalent and $60,000 in energy bills a year", Ott says.
CSIRO research team leader Stephen White says supply and demand problems with solar cooling are the subject of further research. "In a conventional air conditioning system, you use the electricity grid, which you hope will supply you with energy as and when it is needed to keep your building cold. "But once you have a solar air conditioning process, not only is the call for air conditioning variable over the day but also the supply of driving heat is variable".
The hard part is "trying to match that variable supply of power with a variable demand for cold". "In the last five to 10 years researchers around the world have been getting that integration working well to bring down the cost and improve the solar fraction", White says. Many conventional sorption units are powered by gas fired heat or by waste heat from an engine. "That's become a lot more popular in the past few years and now were looking at adding in a solar component that doesn't require the fossil fuels", he says.
White says the technology could be used in two ways: large systems with economies of scale for buildings such as hospitals or schools, or smaller plug and play systems for houses. "Absorption chillers are most cost effective at a large scale, in the MW range. To get economies of scale, go larger; but to go smaller, companies need to come up with a mass produced plug and play device". White says a solar cooling system is more efficient than a conventional electric system.
The focus for the next five to 10 years is for manufacturers to develop their products and get them on the market. "There's a bright future but a lot of work to do in terms of product development and also getting legislation so solar cooling is treated the same way as other renewables", White says. "It is not explicitly mentioned in renewable energy targets, [yet] solar cooling has the potential to address peak demand. The 200 member Solar Cooling Interest Group, of which White is chairman, is working with Standards Australia "to recognise the performance and benefits of solar cooling" as a precursor to lobbying government to have the technology recognised as a renewable energy device.
16 May 2011, Page: 29
THE sun is obviously the world's greatest source of heat but, paradoxically, it is also being harnessed for cooling buildings, important on the hottest days when air conditioners can overwhelm the electricity supply, and institutions such as hospitals are taking advantage of the evolving technology.
Sustainability Victoria, which is working with the CSIRO and the Energy Resources Institute in India to develop small scale solar coolers, says solar cooling systems are either closed cycle systems or open cycle systems. Closed cycle systems produce chilled water that can supply any type of air conditioning equipment.
Open cycle systems, or desiccant systems, are a combination of sorptive dehumidification and evaporative cooling, providing cool, dry air to a building. Heat for thermally driven cooling is gathered by solar collectors typically used in home solar hot water systems. Using sorption, it is then converted into cold, which is delivered in the shape of chilled water or dry, cool air.
The Victorian body is also a partner in the installation of solar coolers at Echuca hospital, where it has part funded the replacement of two electric air conditioning units. The cooler has a solar field of 102 evacuated tube collectors over 422m² that feeds hot water to an absorption chiller, cutting the hospital's natural gas consumption.
"When the chiller is not in use, the hot water from the collector field is used for the domestic hot water demand or stored in hot water tanks for later use", Sustainability Victoria's Sonja Ott says. The solar cooling system was installed in March and is now under commissioning. "It is expected that the solar cooling system will save 1400 tonnes CO₂ equivalent and $60,000 in energy bills a year", Ott says.
CSIRO research team leader Stephen White says supply and demand problems with solar cooling are the subject of further research. "In a conventional air conditioning system, you use the electricity grid, which you hope will supply you with energy as and when it is needed to keep your building cold. "But once you have a solar air conditioning process, not only is the call for air conditioning variable over the day but also the supply of driving heat is variable".
The hard part is "trying to match that variable supply of power with a variable demand for cold". "In the last five to 10 years researchers around the world have been getting that integration working well to bring down the cost and improve the solar fraction", White says. Many conventional sorption units are powered by gas fired heat or by waste heat from an engine. "That's become a lot more popular in the past few years and now were looking at adding in a solar component that doesn't require the fossil fuels", he says.
White says the technology could be used in two ways: large systems with economies of scale for buildings such as hospitals or schools, or smaller plug and play systems for houses. "Absorption chillers are most cost effective at a large scale, in the MW range. To get economies of scale, go larger; but to go smaller, companies need to come up with a mass produced plug and play device". White says a solar cooling system is more efficient than a conventional electric system.
The focus for the next five to 10 years is for manufacturers to develop their products and get them on the market. "There's a bright future but a lot of work to do in terms of product development and also getting legislation so solar cooling is treated the same way as other renewables", White says. "It is not explicitly mentioned in renewable energy targets, [yet] solar cooling has the potential to address peak demand. The 200 member Solar Cooling Interest Group, of which White is chairman, is working with Standards Australia "to recognise the performance and benefits of solar cooling" as a precursor to lobbying government to have the technology recognised as a renewable energy device.
Clean power's share drops
Age
16 May 2011, Page: 6
THE proportion of Australia's electricity that comes from clean sources has fallen sharply over the past 50 years despite a decade of federal and state climate change programs. Research by consultants Green Energy Markets shows that renewable energy provided 19% of Australia's power in 1960, following the development of the early stages of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme. By 2008 it had plummeted to just 7% a reflection of the heavy investment in coal power in the second half of the previous century.
The decline in clean energy was steady across four decades before stabilising after 2000 due to growth in wind power and a modest increase in bioenergy. Environment Victoria, which commissioned the research, said it demonstrated how poorly Australia had invested in renewable power despite widespread agreement that exceptional resources were available. "For all of the hand wringing about climate change over the past decade, we've seen massive growth in emissions from coal generation while renewable energy has flatlined", campaigns director Mark Wakeham said. "What this research clearly shows is that without a price on carbon the Australian economy will continue with pollution as usual".
The research comes as the federal government continues to consult with lobby groups from industry, the environmental movement and the welfare sector over the structure of the carbon price scheme being developed by a committee of Labor, Greens and independent MPs. It has promised to release the proposed design by mid year. Options being considered include using some carbon price revenue to pay to close one of the most greenhouse intensive Victorian brown coal power plants. The Baillieu government last week abandoned talks with the owners of the Hazelwood power plant, often described as Australia's "dirtiest", to close a quarter of its capacity by 2014.
The research found the amount of electricity derived from coal increased by nearly 10% between 2001 and 2009. Carbon dioxide emissions from coal power increased by about 14 million tonnes over that period. Three new black coal fired power plants were built in Queensland; only one was decommissioned. Gas a form of fossil fuel power with lower emissions than coal has increased from nothing in 1960 to providing about 9% of the electricity supply, largely due to a Queensland gas generation target and the NSW Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme. Generation from renewable sources fluctuated across the decade, with the amount coming from hydropower falling due to the drought but gradually being replaced by new plants, mostly wind farms.
16 May 2011, Page: 6
THE proportion of Australia's electricity that comes from clean sources has fallen sharply over the past 50 years despite a decade of federal and state climate change programs. Research by consultants Green Energy Markets shows that renewable energy provided 19% of Australia's power in 1960, following the development of the early stages of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Scheme. By 2008 it had plummeted to just 7% a reflection of the heavy investment in coal power in the second half of the previous century.
The decline in clean energy was steady across four decades before stabilising after 2000 due to growth in wind power and a modest increase in bioenergy. Environment Victoria, which commissioned the research, said it demonstrated how poorly Australia had invested in renewable power despite widespread agreement that exceptional resources were available. "For all of the hand wringing about climate change over the past decade, we've seen massive growth in emissions from coal generation while renewable energy has flatlined", campaigns director Mark Wakeham said. "What this research clearly shows is that without a price on carbon the Australian economy will continue with pollution as usual".
The research comes as the federal government continues to consult with lobby groups from industry, the environmental movement and the welfare sector over the structure of the carbon price scheme being developed by a committee of Labor, Greens and independent MPs. It has promised to release the proposed design by mid year. Options being considered include using some carbon price revenue to pay to close one of the most greenhouse intensive Victorian brown coal power plants. The Baillieu government last week abandoned talks with the owners of the Hazelwood power plant, often described as Australia's "dirtiest", to close a quarter of its capacity by 2014.
The research found the amount of electricity derived from coal increased by nearly 10% between 2001 and 2009. Carbon dioxide emissions from coal power increased by about 14 million tonnes over that period. Three new black coal fired power plants were built in Queensland; only one was decommissioned. Gas a form of fossil fuel power with lower emissions than coal has increased from nothing in 1960 to providing about 9% of the electricity supply, largely due to a Queensland gas generation target and the NSW Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme. Generation from renewable sources fluctuated across the decade, with the amount coming from hydropower falling due to the drought but gradually being replaced by new plants, mostly wind farms.
First company for Orkney's marine renewables base
European Marine Energy Centre
www.emec.org.uk/
15 May 2011
The first company to establish a permanent shore-based facility at Orkney's new marine renewables base has secured its first client - the European Marine Energy Centre. International maritime company Fendercare Marine is providing secure storage for multi-kilometre stock of seabed power cable for EMEC, which operates the world's first offshore test facilities for wave and tidal energy technologies.
Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is carrying out a comprehensive refurbishment of the former naval base at Lyness on the island of Hoy – giving it a new lease of life as a multi-purpose centre for the rapidly evolving marine renewables industry. Fendercare is establishing a long-term presence at Lyness and will provide support services for a range of marine energy operations, including the deployment and mooring of wave and tidal devices.
Stan Groundwater, the company's general manager in Orkney, said: "With the islands in the global vanguard of this new industry, we're making a multi-million pound investment over the course of the project. "Our aim is to ensure developers and installers of marine devices can easily access expert services and save a good deal of time and money through having specialised stock and equipment held locally."
Lyness' location, in the sheltered deep-water anchorage of Scapa Flow, makes it ideally located for marine energy developers testing technologies at EMEC. Neil Kermode, EMEC's managing director, said: "Orkney's local authority has taken a visionary approach in creating a vital support base at Lyness. "It's great to see the private sector responding in such as positive way - we're delighted to be the first of many clients Fendercare can expect after making such a strong commitment to using the new facilities at Lyness."
The £3 million first phase of the Lyness redevelopment is expected to be completed this summer. Five marine energy developers will be using the facilities this year and four more companies are in discussions with the Council over establishing a presence onshore. Michael Morrison, business development manager for OIC Marine Services, said: "The marine renewables sector was in its infancy when the Council took the decision to invest in Lyness.
"We had confidence that this is the right location for a support base - we welcome the arrival of Fendercare and look forward to this and other companies creating a real hub of renewables activity on the shores of Scapa Flow." The Dutch-registered cargo vessel Deo Volente delivered EMEC's large cable reel from Norway to Fendercare's new facility at Lyness. A special trailer and tractor unit was used to move it from the quayside to the secure storage area.
www.emec.org.uk/
15 May 2011
The first company to establish a permanent shore-based facility at Orkney's new marine renewables base has secured its first client - the European Marine Energy Centre. International maritime company Fendercare Marine is providing secure storage for multi-kilometre stock of seabed power cable for EMEC, which operates the world's first offshore test facilities for wave and tidal energy technologies.
Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is carrying out a comprehensive refurbishment of the former naval base at Lyness on the island of Hoy – giving it a new lease of life as a multi-purpose centre for the rapidly evolving marine renewables industry. Fendercare is establishing a long-term presence at Lyness and will provide support services for a range of marine energy operations, including the deployment and mooring of wave and tidal devices.
Stan Groundwater, the company's general manager in Orkney, said: "With the islands in the global vanguard of this new industry, we're making a multi-million pound investment over the course of the project. "Our aim is to ensure developers and installers of marine devices can easily access expert services and save a good deal of time and money through having specialised stock and equipment held locally."
Lyness' location, in the sheltered deep-water anchorage of Scapa Flow, makes it ideally located for marine energy developers testing technologies at EMEC. Neil Kermode, EMEC's managing director, said: "Orkney's local authority has taken a visionary approach in creating a vital support base at Lyness. "It's great to see the private sector responding in such as positive way - we're delighted to be the first of many clients Fendercare can expect after making such a strong commitment to using the new facilities at Lyness."
The £3 million first phase of the Lyness redevelopment is expected to be completed this summer. Five marine energy developers will be using the facilities this year and four more companies are in discussions with the Council over establishing a presence onshore. Michael Morrison, business development manager for OIC Marine Services, said: "The marine renewables sector was in its infancy when the Council took the decision to invest in Lyness.
"We had confidence that this is the right location for a support base - we welcome the arrival of Fendercare and look forward to this and other companies creating a real hub of renewables activity on the shores of Scapa Flow." The Dutch-registered cargo vessel Deo Volente delivered EMEC's large cable reel from Norway to Fendercare's new facility at Lyness. A special trailer and tractor unit was used to move it from the quayside to the secure storage area.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Solar industry hits roof over plans to slash power rebate
Sydney Morning Herald
14 May 2011, Page: 11
UP TO 110,000 participants in the state government's solar bonus scheme will have the rate they are paid for generating electricity slashed from 600 a kW to 400 from July, a move that will save the NSW budget an estimated $470 million. But the state's solar industry says it will be destroyed by the change, saying it will now be impossible to sell up to $200 million worth of panels already purchased by solar installers. About 40,000 electricity customers who had applied to join the scheme before it was suspended to new entrants for two months on April 28 will be allowed to do so at a 200 rate.
The Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, announced the decision yesterday and said the scheme would not be reopened to new customers. The government would introduce legislation to retrospectively enforce the new rates. "It's still going to cost the taxpayer, it's still going to cost the people of NSW, but we have now a finalisation that is in the interests of everybody", he said. Under the scheme, electricity customers with solar panels are paid by power companies for energy generated back into the grid. The companies pass on the cost to their electricity customers through their electricity prices.
The scheme proved so popular that the former premier Kristina Keneally was forced to cut the rate for new entrants from 600 to 200 a kW last year and divert money from the climate change fund to cover a looming cost blowout. After the election it was discovered the scheme was still underfunded by $749 million. The Coalition government made the decision to absorb the extra cost into the budget instead of charging power companies to avoid putting pressure on electricity prices.
The Australian Solar Energy Society said the change would "send a chill down the spine of every NSW solar company and every resident concerned about climate change". The industry will rally at Circular Quay next Wednesday to protest against the retrospective change to the tariff rate. The Solar Energy Industries Association said it had already been contacted by people who were cancelling purchases. "This decision will destroy the industry in NSW if it goes ahead", the association's chairman, Ged McCarthy, said. "I have already consulted with lawyers and we will launch a class action against this retrospective legislation if it goes ahead. We have no choice but to fight it on behalf of our businesses and their customers".
A small, 1.5 kW solar panel system can earn about $1000 a year under the tariff in Sydney, but that would be cut by a third, meaning it could take years longer to pay off. The opposition environment spokesman, Luke Foley, criticised the decision to introduce retrospective legislation, which, he said, "penalises tens of thousands of people doing their bit for the clean energy future". The Greens MP John Kaye said the Coalition had supported the introduction of the 600 tariff when the scheme was introduced: "Never again will households or the clean energy industry trust even a legislated promise. The future of rooftop renewable energy has been dealt a savage blow".
14 May 2011, Page: 11
UP TO 110,000 participants in the state government's solar bonus scheme will have the rate they are paid for generating electricity slashed from 600 a kW to 400 from July, a move that will save the NSW budget an estimated $470 million. But the state's solar industry says it will be destroyed by the change, saying it will now be impossible to sell up to $200 million worth of panels already purchased by solar installers. About 40,000 electricity customers who had applied to join the scheme before it was suspended to new entrants for two months on April 28 will be allowed to do so at a 200 rate.
The Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, announced the decision yesterday and said the scheme would not be reopened to new customers. The government would introduce legislation to retrospectively enforce the new rates. "It's still going to cost the taxpayer, it's still going to cost the people of NSW, but we have now a finalisation that is in the interests of everybody", he said. Under the scheme, electricity customers with solar panels are paid by power companies for energy generated back into the grid. The companies pass on the cost to their electricity customers through their electricity prices.
The scheme proved so popular that the former premier Kristina Keneally was forced to cut the rate for new entrants from 600 to 200 a kW last year and divert money from the climate change fund to cover a looming cost blowout. After the election it was discovered the scheme was still underfunded by $749 million. The Coalition government made the decision to absorb the extra cost into the budget instead of charging power companies to avoid putting pressure on electricity prices.
The Australian Solar Energy Society said the change would "send a chill down the spine of every NSW solar company and every resident concerned about climate change". The industry will rally at Circular Quay next Wednesday to protest against the retrospective change to the tariff rate. The Solar Energy Industries Association said it had already been contacted by people who were cancelling purchases. "This decision will destroy the industry in NSW if it goes ahead", the association's chairman, Ged McCarthy, said. "I have already consulted with lawyers and we will launch a class action against this retrospective legislation if it goes ahead. We have no choice but to fight it on behalf of our businesses and their customers".
A small, 1.5 kW solar panel system can earn about $1000 a year under the tariff in Sydney, but that would be cut by a third, meaning it could take years longer to pay off. The opposition environment spokesman, Luke Foley, criticised the decision to introduce retrospective legislation, which, he said, "penalises tens of thousands of people doing their bit for the clean energy future". The Greens MP John Kaye said the Coalition had supported the introduction of the 600 tariff when the scheme was introduced: "Never again will households or the clean energy industry trust even a legislated promise. The future of rooftop renewable energy has been dealt a savage blow".
Settling for failure
Age
13 May 2011, Page: 10
IT'S becoming apparent the government "aspires" to a weak emissions reduction target, but will settle for complete failure ("Baillieu: carbon goal aspirational", theage.com, au, 12/5). The government tried to frame its cop out over the partial closure of Hazelwood (one of the most emissions intensive power stations in the world) in the rhetoric of economic responsibility.
The truth is that we are perilously close to points of no return in our climate system, and real economic responsibility can only now be achieved in conjunction with urgent action to combat climate change. Leading climate scientists are telling us that the world is resolutely on the path to 4° of warming in the latter half of this century enough to trigger a mass extinction and reduce Earth's carrying capacity to less than 1 billion people.
So what is our government doing to confront this crisis? Committing $50 million to HRL's proposed coal power station, trying to dismantle our nascent wind power industry, and now abandoning its commitment to reduce reliance on our dirtiest source of electricity. They are not fit to govern.
Shaun Murray, Yarraville
13 May 2011, Page: 10
IT'S becoming apparent the government "aspires" to a weak emissions reduction target, but will settle for complete failure ("Baillieu: carbon goal aspirational", theage.com, au, 12/5). The government tried to frame its cop out over the partial closure of Hazelwood (one of the most emissions intensive power stations in the world) in the rhetoric of economic responsibility.
The truth is that we are perilously close to points of no return in our climate system, and real economic responsibility can only now be achieved in conjunction with urgent action to combat climate change. Leading climate scientists are telling us that the world is resolutely on the path to 4° of warming in the latter half of this century enough to trigger a mass extinction and reduce Earth's carrying capacity to less than 1 billion people.
So what is our government doing to confront this crisis? Committing $50 million to HRL's proposed coal power station, trying to dismantle our nascent wind power industry, and now abandoning its commitment to reduce reliance on our dirtiest source of electricity. They are not fit to govern.
Shaun Murray, Yarraville
Nuclear plants on hold in Japan
Age
13 May 2011, Page: 7
JAPAN is to abandon plans to expand its nuclear power industry and make renewables a key part of its energy policy, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said two months after the tsunami disaster. As efforts continued to stabilise the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, Mr Kan said he would "start from scratch" the policy, which envisaged nuclear power providing more than 50% of Japan's energy by 2030
Japan, who's 54 nuclear reactors provide 30% of its electricity, had planned to build at least 14 new reactors over the next 20 years, but policymakers accept that this will be impossible in light of the Fukushima crisis. Mr Kan said that renewables, which make up 20% of overall supply, would have a bigger role in meeting energy needs. "I think it is necessary to move in the direction of promoting natural energy and renewable energy such as wind, solar and biomass", he said.
The stronger commitment to renewables marks Mr Kan's second sudden shift on nuclear power in a week following his order to close the Hamaoka atomic plant, which sits on an active fault line, while a new tsunami wall is built. Facing low approval ratings and criticism of his handling of the nuclear crisis from his party, the prime minister's public commitment to nuclear power has weakened in recent days.
His announcement came as the first of tens of thousands of nuclear evacuees were allowed to return home for two hours to collect clothes and personal items. About 80,000 people within 20 kilometres of the Fukushima No. 1 plant were forced out of their homes by the accident and have yet to be told when they will be able to return. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power, has promised to stabilise radiation levels and achieve safe "cold shutdown" of the nuclear plant's damaged reactors within nine months.
13 May 2011, Page: 7
JAPAN is to abandon plans to expand its nuclear power industry and make renewables a key part of its energy policy, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said two months after the tsunami disaster. As efforts continued to stabilise the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, Mr Kan said he would "start from scratch" the policy, which envisaged nuclear power providing more than 50% of Japan's energy by 2030
Japan, who's 54 nuclear reactors provide 30% of its electricity, had planned to build at least 14 new reactors over the next 20 years, but policymakers accept that this will be impossible in light of the Fukushima crisis. Mr Kan said that renewables, which make up 20% of overall supply, would have a bigger role in meeting energy needs. "I think it is necessary to move in the direction of promoting natural energy and renewable energy such as wind, solar and biomass", he said.
The stronger commitment to renewables marks Mr Kan's second sudden shift on nuclear power in a week following his order to close the Hamaoka atomic plant, which sits on an active fault line, while a new tsunami wall is built. Facing low approval ratings and criticism of his handling of the nuclear crisis from his party, the prime minister's public commitment to nuclear power has weakened in recent days.
His announcement came as the first of tens of thousands of nuclear evacuees were allowed to return home for two hours to collect clothes and personal items. About 80,000 people within 20 kilometres of the Fukushima No. 1 plant were forced out of their homes by the accident and have yet to be told when they will be able to return. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power, has promised to stabilise radiation levels and achieve safe "cold shutdown" of the nuclear plant's damaged reactors within nine months.
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