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.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
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.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
China enters global solar system via US
Australian
12 May 2011, Page: 26
US solar panel maker FirstSolar and China Power International New Energy (CPINE) said they will collaborate on solar power projects in China, the US and elsewhere. The arrangement helps FirstSolar gain access to China's solar sector amid shaky conditions in Europe, the leading solar market. CPINE "has a tremendous advantage and strength in operating in China, and we have a tremendous advantage and strength in technology but also in building utility systems", Kevin Berkemeyer, FirstSolar's China representative, said at a news conference yesterday.
The companies will explore opportunities within China. FirstSolar also will assist CPINE, a unit of China Power International New Energy Development, to find investment in the US and elsewhere. CPINE has planned 2 GWs of projects for the domestic market. FirstSolar has 2.4 GW planned in North America. "We are very pleased to build an extensive and in depth relationship with FirstSolar, a global leader in solar photovoltaic technology", said Li Xiaolin, CPINE's chairwoman.
FirstSolar says that potential cuts in subsidies from budget strapped European governments could reduce demand and prices for solar products. The company reported that first quarter earnings fell 33% from a year earlier, citing higher costs, the Europe slowdown and a 14% decline in prices for its panels.
Uncertainty over the future of European governments' feed in tariff programs special electricity rates that give renewable energy companies higher returns than what they would get in the free market are among the challenges facing solar companies in Europe. The continent accounted for more than 80% of all solar panel demand last year.
"We're interested in diversification", T.K. Kallenbach, president of FirstSolar's Components Business Group, said yesterday. "But we're also interested in working with countries to help them develop more sustainable long term policies". He cited a series of "boom and bust" cycles in Europe in recent years in which unsustainable feed in tariffs hampered solar industry growth.
Solar power companies increasingly are looking to China for growth. The government has reiterated plans to cut reliance on imported fossil fuels to reduce pollution and because Beijing views the imports as a threat to national security. The government in March said it would set 15% as a target for use of renewable energy by 2020.
Non fossil fuels currently account for 8% of the country's energy use. FirstSolar in January signed a memorandum of understanding with China Guangdong Nuclear Solar Energy Development to build a solar plant in northern China's Inner Mongolia region. FirstSolar executives said yesterday that negotiations continue but declined to say when construction would begin.
12 May 2011, Page: 26
US solar panel maker FirstSolar and China Power International New Energy (CPINE) said they will collaborate on solar power projects in China, the US and elsewhere. The arrangement helps FirstSolar gain access to China's solar sector amid shaky conditions in Europe, the leading solar market. CPINE "has a tremendous advantage and strength in operating in China, and we have a tremendous advantage and strength in technology but also in building utility systems", Kevin Berkemeyer, FirstSolar's China representative, said at a news conference yesterday.
The companies will explore opportunities within China. FirstSolar also will assist CPINE, a unit of China Power International New Energy Development, to find investment in the US and elsewhere. CPINE has planned 2 GWs of projects for the domestic market. FirstSolar has 2.4 GW planned in North America. "We are very pleased to build an extensive and in depth relationship with FirstSolar, a global leader in solar photovoltaic technology", said Li Xiaolin, CPINE's chairwoman.
FirstSolar says that potential cuts in subsidies from budget strapped European governments could reduce demand and prices for solar products. The company reported that first quarter earnings fell 33% from a year earlier, citing higher costs, the Europe slowdown and a 14% decline in prices for its panels.
Uncertainty over the future of European governments' feed in tariff programs special electricity rates that give renewable energy companies higher returns than what they would get in the free market are among the challenges facing solar companies in Europe. The continent accounted for more than 80% of all solar panel demand last year.
"We're interested in diversification", T.K. Kallenbach, president of FirstSolar's Components Business Group, said yesterday. "But we're also interested in working with countries to help them develop more sustainable long term policies". He cited a series of "boom and bust" cycles in Europe in recent years in which unsustainable feed in tariffs hampered solar industry growth.
Solar power companies increasingly are looking to China for growth. The government has reiterated plans to cut reliance on imported fossil fuels to reduce pollution and because Beijing views the imports as a threat to national security. The government in March said it would set 15% as a target for use of renewable energy by 2020.
Non fossil fuels currently account for 8% of the country's energy use. FirstSolar in January signed a memorandum of understanding with China Guangdong Nuclear Solar Energy Development to build a solar plant in northern China's Inner Mongolia region. FirstSolar executives said yesterday that negotiations continue but declined to say when construction would begin.
Two firms join forces in geothermal push
Adelaide Advertiser
12 May 2011, Page: 48
Geothermal explorer Green Rock Energy and Pacific Hydro are in talks to jointly advance potential power projects in SA and Western Australia. Both the companies own a number of geothermal licences in the South Australian part of the Great Artesian Basin and North Perth Basin in WA, and are looking for a drilling investor.
Green Rock Energy, which also owns geothermal licences within the Olympic Dam expansion area, will drive exploration and identify drilling targets for a potential investor to establish a resource potential. Pacific Hydro will then apply its technical and commercial expertise in building and assessing the economic feasibility of power plants.
Initial power projects of at least 25 MW are contemplated in both the North Perth Basin and the Great Artesian Basin. Pacific Hydro owns more than $1 billion worth of solar PV, geothermal, hydropower and wind power projects in Australia Green Rock Energy managing director Richard Beresford said the possible partnership would underline the potential of the geothermal resource in the two basins.
"Both parties have already done a lot of work in the licences that they own", Mr Beresford said. "We now look forward to applying relevant expertise to jointly progress the potential of these projects". Green Rock Energy is leading the marketing of the projects on an equal footing to potential upstream drilling investors.
12 May 2011, Page: 48
Geothermal explorer Green Rock Energy and Pacific Hydro are in talks to jointly advance potential power projects in SA and Western Australia. Both the companies own a number of geothermal licences in the South Australian part of the Great Artesian Basin and North Perth Basin in WA, and are looking for a drilling investor.
Green Rock Energy, which also owns geothermal licences within the Olympic Dam expansion area, will drive exploration and identify drilling targets for a potential investor to establish a resource potential. Pacific Hydro will then apply its technical and commercial expertise in building and assessing the economic feasibility of power plants.
Initial power projects of at least 25 MW are contemplated in both the North Perth Basin and the Great Artesian Basin. Pacific Hydro owns more than $1 billion worth of solar PV, geothermal, hydropower and wind power projects in Australia Green Rock Energy managing director Richard Beresford said the possible partnership would underline the potential of the geothermal resource in the two basins.
"Both parties have already done a lot of work in the licences that they own", Mr Beresford said. "We now look forward to applying relevant expertise to jointly progress the potential of these projects". Green Rock Energy is leading the marketing of the projects on an equal footing to potential upstream drilling investors.
Renewable energy the future: UN
Sydney Morning Herald
11 May 2011, Page: 2
GLOBAL energy generated by renewables could increase up to 10 times on current levels by midcentury, a landmark study by a United Nations climate change body has found. In a report released last night in Abu Dhabi, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says detailed analysis it has carried out finds renewables will most likely contribute more than 17% of the planet's primary energy supply by 2030, and more than 27% by 2050.
Under the most positive outcomes of the analysis, 43% of energy could be supplied by renewables in 2030, growing to 77% in 2050, but these findings assume strict global carbon emissions targets and a number of other favourable conditions. The most optimistic findings would represent a cut of about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008 renewable energy contributed 09% to the world's primary energy supply.
By 2050, renewables' contribution to primary energy will be three to 10 fold greater, once biomass is excluded. One of the lead authors of the report, Wes Stein from CSIRO, told the Herald yesterday that "to put this in perspective the sorts of growth projected in renewable energy,.. is 20 to 40 times the total primary energy Australia uses at the moment". The report includes the contribution of solar, geothermal, bioenergy hydropower, ocean energy and wind.
11 May 2011, Page: 2
GLOBAL energy generated by renewables could increase up to 10 times on current levels by midcentury, a landmark study by a United Nations climate change body has found. In a report released last night in Abu Dhabi, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says detailed analysis it has carried out finds renewables will most likely contribute more than 17% of the planet's primary energy supply by 2030, and more than 27% by 2050.
Under the most positive outcomes of the analysis, 43% of energy could be supplied by renewables in 2030, growing to 77% in 2050, but these findings assume strict global carbon emissions targets and a number of other favourable conditions. The most optimistic findings would represent a cut of about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008 renewable energy contributed 09% to the world's primary energy supply.
By 2050, renewables' contribution to primary energy will be three to 10 fold greater, once biomass is excluded. One of the lead authors of the report, Wes Stein from CSIRO, told the Herald yesterday that "to put this in perspective the sorts of growth projected in renewable energy,.. is 20 to 40 times the total primary energy Australia uses at the moment". The report includes the contribution of solar, geothermal, bioenergy hydropower, ocean energy and wind.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Unhealthy claims blowing in the wind
www.climatespectator.com.au
13 May 2011
Recently, health concerns have been raised in some rural Australian communities that are situated near wind farms. These claims of adverse health effects as well as economic and social from wind turbine installations generated a level of speculative discussion that eventually led to a Senate Inquiry, a move initiated by Family First Senator Steve Fielding, to investigate the issue.
This seems anachronistic, considering the enormous burden of ill health and premature deaths borne by those communities who live near coal mines and power stations, which has been serially ignored by successive governments.
The impact of air pollution from burning fossil fuels on climate change, and the ensuing health effects, are both long term and cumulative. A recent study from Harvard Medical School has found that the costs to US residents of burning coal amounts to between $US300 $US500 billion dollars annually, or around $US1000 for every citizen. Previous studies, such as ExterneE (2005) in Europe, have arrived at similar conclusions. The figures in Australia are likely to be broadly similar.
There are many contributing factors, but the single largest is that of illness and mortality arising from air pollution. Health effects, mediated primarily by airborne small particulates (PM2.5), SO², NOx, volatile organic compounds and Ozone, include asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, heart attacks, arrhythmias and disproportionally affect children and those with pre existing illness. The US study's "best estimate" for damages due to air quality adds 9.3¢kW.
Read more…
13 May 2011
Recently, health concerns have been raised in some rural Australian communities that are situated near wind farms. These claims of adverse health effects as well as economic and social from wind turbine installations generated a level of speculative discussion that eventually led to a Senate Inquiry, a move initiated by Family First Senator Steve Fielding, to investigate the issue.
This seems anachronistic, considering the enormous burden of ill health and premature deaths borne by those communities who live near coal mines and power stations, which has been serially ignored by successive governments.
The impact of air pollution from burning fossil fuels on climate change, and the ensuing health effects, are both long term and cumulative. A recent study from Harvard Medical School has found that the costs to US residents of burning coal amounts to between $US300 $US500 billion dollars annually, or around $US1000 for every citizen. Previous studies, such as ExterneE (2005) in Europe, have arrived at similar conclusions. The figures in Australia are likely to be broadly similar.
There are many contributing factors, but the single largest is that of illness and mortality arising from air pollution. Health effects, mediated primarily by airborne small particulates (PM2.5), SO², NOx, volatile organic compounds and Ozone, include asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, heart attacks, arrhythmias and disproportionally affect children and those with pre existing illness. The US study's "best estimate" for damages due to air quality adds 9.3¢kW.
Read more…
Investors want action on carbon pricing
Summaries - Australian Financial Review
9 May 2011, Page: 9
Mitsui Co, is one of Japan's major investment and trading firms and believes that any uncertainty on carbon pricing would make it difficult to commit to renewable power investments in Australia. Mitsui has urged the Federal government not to delay its decision on carbon pricing. Junichi Yamada, a general manager at Mitsui Co (Australia) said that a delay would make it "very hard for Mitsui".
Mitsui project development manager Andres Maasing explained: "We have to put forward a compelling case to our minders in order to get projects approved". A delay in making a decision would affect that process. Prime Minister Julia Gillard vowed in February to introduce a carbon price in 2012. But the government and the Australian Greens have not been able to agree on emissions targets.
Despite the uncertainty over carbon pricing, Mitsui considers Australia to be an attractive market. In Victoria, Mitsui is developing the Bald Hills wind farm and has a 30% share of the Loy Yang power station in Latrobe Valley. In Western Australia, Mitsui has stake in the Kwinana Cogeneration Plant near Perth, which provides electricity to utility Verve Energy and electrical and steam power to the BP Australia Kwinana oil refinery.
9 May 2011, Page: 9
Mitsui Co, is one of Japan's major investment and trading firms and believes that any uncertainty on carbon pricing would make it difficult to commit to renewable power investments in Australia. Mitsui has urged the Federal government not to delay its decision on carbon pricing. Junichi Yamada, a general manager at Mitsui Co (Australia) said that a delay would make it "very hard for Mitsui".
Mitsui project development manager Andres Maasing explained: "We have to put forward a compelling case to our minders in order to get projects approved". A delay in making a decision would affect that process. Prime Minister Julia Gillard vowed in February to introduce a carbon price in 2012. But the government and the Australian Greens have not been able to agree on emissions targets.
Despite the uncertainty over carbon pricing, Mitsui considers Australia to be an attractive market. In Victoria, Mitsui is developing the Bald Hills wind farm and has a 30% share of the Loy Yang power station in Latrobe Valley. In Western Australia, Mitsui has stake in the Kwinana Cogeneration Plant near Perth, which provides electricity to utility Verve Energy and electrical and steam power to the BP Australia Kwinana oil refinery.
Outer suburbs turn on to solar power
Age
9 May 2011, Page: 3
ELEVEN years ago, Anthony Borg and Judith Warren were urban fringe trailblazers among the first to buy and build at Caroline Springs, a then new housing development in Melbourne's outer west. Last month they upgraded the home they hope will see them through their retirement years with a 1.65 kW rooftop solar system. In their neighbourhood they are not alone. New data shows Victorians in outlying and traditionally working class suburbs are embracing solar power more enthusiastically than those in wealthier areas.
Epping, in the outer north, is Victoria's top solar suburb with panels installed on one in 16 houses. Other suburbs in the top 10 include Caroline Springs, Altona, Rowville and Sunshine. The postcode breakdown, compiled by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator, challenges a frequent criticism that solar subsidies help the rich and leave the poor to bear increased electricity bills.
Mr Borg and Ms Warren spent about $6000 on solar to limit surging power costs and lessen their carbon footprint. "I reckon we should save a couple of hundred dollars [a quarter], but it depends on how the electricity company works it out for us", Mr Borg said. The proportion of households in wealthier suburbs that have taken up solar is below the state average.
"Tariffs and rebates are not all middle class welfare as they have been portrayed by some", said Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren. "In Victoria they have done a good job of leading many households to the conclusion that switching to solar makes economical sense as well as environmental sense".
The data comes as solar schemes face criticism. Energy market expert Rod Sims, an adviser to the federal government, believes they are an expensive and inefficient way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and should be phased out. Defenders of subsidies say they are necessary to develop a clean energy industry. The Baillieu government appears set to let the solar subsidy introduced by the Brumby government in 2009 lapse.
The scheme, a feed in tariff that pays households for power generated beyond what is used at home, has nearly reached its cap of 100 MWs of power generated. State Energy Minister Michael O'Brien has said there was no commitment to continue the scheme. Federally, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet last week said national solar subsidies would be reduced earlier than planned in response to skyrocketing power bills and an overheating renewable energy market.
9 May 2011, Page: 3
ELEVEN years ago, Anthony Borg and Judith Warren were urban fringe trailblazers among the first to buy and build at Caroline Springs, a then new housing development in Melbourne's outer west. Last month they upgraded the home they hope will see them through their retirement years with a 1.65 kW rooftop solar system. In their neighbourhood they are not alone. New data shows Victorians in outlying and traditionally working class suburbs are embracing solar power more enthusiastically than those in wealthier areas.
Epping, in the outer north, is Victoria's top solar suburb with panels installed on one in 16 houses. Other suburbs in the top 10 include Caroline Springs, Altona, Rowville and Sunshine. The postcode breakdown, compiled by the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator, challenges a frequent criticism that solar subsidies help the rich and leave the poor to bear increased electricity bills.
Mr Borg and Ms Warren spent about $6000 on solar to limit surging power costs and lessen their carbon footprint. "I reckon we should save a couple of hundred dollars [a quarter], but it depends on how the electricity company works it out for us", Mr Borg said. The proportion of households in wealthier suburbs that have taken up solar is below the state average.
"Tariffs and rebates are not all middle class welfare as they have been portrayed by some", said Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren. "In Victoria they have done a good job of leading many households to the conclusion that switching to solar makes economical sense as well as environmental sense".
The data comes as solar schemes face criticism. Energy market expert Rod Sims, an adviser to the federal government, believes they are an expensive and inefficient way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and should be phased out. Defenders of subsidies say they are necessary to develop a clean energy industry. The Baillieu government appears set to let the solar subsidy introduced by the Brumby government in 2009 lapse.
The scheme, a feed in tariff that pays households for power generated beyond what is used at home, has nearly reached its cap of 100 MWs of power generated. State Energy Minister Michael O'Brien has said there was no commitment to continue the scheme. Federally, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet last week said national solar subsidies would be reduced earlier than planned in response to skyrocketing power bills and an overheating renewable energy market.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Right answer, wrong reason: Solar industry
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
05 May 2011
Household solar power must not be used as the scapegoat for electricity price rises, despite adjustments to Solar Credits arrangements announced by Government today being a necessary and sensible decision. Matthew Warren, the Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the clean energy sector, questioned the justification for the announcement.
"For some time now the Clean Energy Council has been concerned about the stability of the solar market. We have been consulting with industry, analysing the market and talking to Government. We acknowledge a reduction in the solar credits multiplier for next year will help create longer term certainty for the industry", he said. "This decision has nothing to do with rising electricity prices, and everything to do with supporting an industry of the future. That's why any job losses in this industry are the worst kind of job losses. "So it's a necessary change, but it will hurt", he said.
Mr Warren said the positive aspects of strong demand for solar technology by Australian families should not be lost amid policy uncertainty. The truth is Australia loves solar. It is a technology that gives families a way of protecting themselves against rising electricity prices", he said. "Electricity price rises are mainly driven by the need for critical investment in network capacity. Painting solar as the problem child is misguided and out of step with what Australians are telling us through their purchasing decisions.
"Yesterday we released data for solar installations across Australia as a percentage of eligible households. It shows the idea that solar is the province of inner urban elites is a myth. People in regional communities, working class suburbs and coastal villages are all signing up. Australians from all walks of life are embracing this technology".
Mr Warren said there is the real risk that this industry could be a victim of its own success. "The SRES Scheme is designed to be an uncapped incentive for households to install solar. Australian households have responded exactly as the policy intended. "What has been done today is an effort to correct a flaw in the market design, not to control electricity prices that are barely affected by this program".
Mr Warren said the solar industry had weathered years of stop start policy from state and federal governments. "It is appropriate that support is adjusted as the cost of solar power systems continue to fall. But the minimal time available for business planning will mean that small businesses in particular will struggle to ride the wave of rising and falling demand as a result of this decision.
"This will lead to pain for some solar installers. These are business people who have taken a significant financial risk, they have real skin in the game". "Current market pressures are the result of a number of local and international factors occurring simultaneously. They might not equate to a permanent shift in conditions", he said.
05 May 2011
Household solar power must not be used as the scapegoat for electricity price rises, despite adjustments to Solar Credits arrangements announced by Government today being a necessary and sensible decision. Matthew Warren, the Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the clean energy sector, questioned the justification for the announcement.
"For some time now the Clean Energy Council has been concerned about the stability of the solar market. We have been consulting with industry, analysing the market and talking to Government. We acknowledge a reduction in the solar credits multiplier for next year will help create longer term certainty for the industry", he said. "This decision has nothing to do with rising electricity prices, and everything to do with supporting an industry of the future. That's why any job losses in this industry are the worst kind of job losses. "So it's a necessary change, but it will hurt", he said.
Mr Warren said the positive aspects of strong demand for solar technology by Australian families should not be lost amid policy uncertainty. The truth is Australia loves solar. It is a technology that gives families a way of protecting themselves against rising electricity prices", he said. "Electricity price rises are mainly driven by the need for critical investment in network capacity. Painting solar as the problem child is misguided and out of step with what Australians are telling us through their purchasing decisions.
"Yesterday we released data for solar installations across Australia as a percentage of eligible households. It shows the idea that solar is the province of inner urban elites is a myth. People in regional communities, working class suburbs and coastal villages are all signing up. Australians from all walks of life are embracing this technology".
Mr Warren said there is the real risk that this industry could be a victim of its own success. "The SRES Scheme is designed to be an uncapped incentive for households to install solar. Australian households have responded exactly as the policy intended. "What has been done today is an effort to correct a flaw in the market design, not to control electricity prices that are barely affected by this program".
Mr Warren said the solar industry had weathered years of stop start policy from state and federal governments. "It is appropriate that support is adjusted as the cost of solar power systems continue to fall. But the minimal time available for business planning will mean that small businesses in particular will struggle to ride the wave of rising and falling demand as a result of this decision.
"This will lead to pain for some solar installers. These are business people who have taken a significant financial risk, they have real skin in the game". "Current market pressures are the result of a number of local and international factors occurring simultaneously. They might not equate to a permanent shift in conditions", he said.
Solar struggle feeds into power cost blame game
Canberra Times
6 May 2011, Page: 4
ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell has accused the Federal Government of using the clean energy industry as scapegoats for soaring power costs. Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said feed in tariff schemes offered in the ACT and NSW had hiked up electricity prices and cuts to solar panel subsidies would reduce household power bills by $35 a year. Under changes announced yesterday by Mr Combet, federal subsidies for household solar panels will drop from a peak of around $6200 offered on June 30 to $1200 for a basic 1.5kw system after July 1, 2013.
But Mr Corbell said ageing infrastructure was driving up electricity prices, not an increase in households signed up to the ACT's feed in tariff scheme. "I'm getting sick of the feed in tariff being used as a scapegoat for rising electricity costs because it's an easy sell", he said. "Demand for electricity is going up in summer and winter and the transmission network needs to be augmented to deal with that. This is what is contributing to rising electricity prices, the impact of the feed in tariff scheme is only costing 50¢ a week on households".
Enviro Friendly Products founding director David Payne said the subsidy cuts would cause a 50% drop in solar panel sales at his Phillip store. "Companies across the country will suffer. There will be a significant drop in sales. But we need to get to a point where we don't need subsidies and [solar panels] stand on their own as an economic model". Mr Payne said the Federal Government was using the renewable energy industry as a "political football" and strong demand for solar panels had only a minor impact on rising power costs. "The price of power is increasing because of dilapidated infrastructure. Saying it's because of solar panel subsidies is simply not true".
He said clean energy businesses in the ACT were more sheltered from the subsidy cuts than other states because of existing solar panel feed in tariffs, which offer households 45.7¢ for every kW they put into the grid. ANU Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems director Andrew Blakers said Australia was in the middle of a "solar revolution" and urged the Government to create a clear and transparent support scheme. He said clean energy businesses needed to work harder to reduce the cost of installing solar panels now that Federal Government subsidies had been cut.
Meanwhile, the ACT Government announced yesterday new renewable energy targets that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020. Mr Corbel' said 15% of energy used in Canberra would be sourced from renewable sources by next year, increasing to 25% by 2020. But the Greens said Mr Corbell's targets were meaningless, because no new policies had been created. Greens climate change spokesman Shane Rattenbury said the targets announced by Mr Corbell simply reflected what ACT residents were already doing.
6 May 2011, Page: 4
ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell has accused the Federal Government of using the clean energy industry as scapegoats for soaring power costs. Federal Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said feed in tariff schemes offered in the ACT and NSW had hiked up electricity prices and cuts to solar panel subsidies would reduce household power bills by $35 a year. Under changes announced yesterday by Mr Combet, federal subsidies for household solar panels will drop from a peak of around $6200 offered on June 30 to $1200 for a basic 1.5kw system after July 1, 2013.
But Mr Corbell said ageing infrastructure was driving up electricity prices, not an increase in households signed up to the ACT's feed in tariff scheme. "I'm getting sick of the feed in tariff being used as a scapegoat for rising electricity costs because it's an easy sell", he said. "Demand for electricity is going up in summer and winter and the transmission network needs to be augmented to deal with that. This is what is contributing to rising electricity prices, the impact of the feed in tariff scheme is only costing 50¢ a week on households".
Enviro Friendly Products founding director David Payne said the subsidy cuts would cause a 50% drop in solar panel sales at his Phillip store. "Companies across the country will suffer. There will be a significant drop in sales. But we need to get to a point where we don't need subsidies and [solar panels] stand on their own as an economic model". Mr Payne said the Federal Government was using the renewable energy industry as a "political football" and strong demand for solar panels had only a minor impact on rising power costs. "The price of power is increasing because of dilapidated infrastructure. Saying it's because of solar panel subsidies is simply not true".
He said clean energy businesses in the ACT were more sheltered from the subsidy cuts than other states because of existing solar panel feed in tariffs, which offer households 45.7¢ for every kW they put into the grid. ANU Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems director Andrew Blakers said Australia was in the middle of a "solar revolution" and urged the Government to create a clear and transparent support scheme. He said clean energy businesses needed to work harder to reduce the cost of installing solar panels now that Federal Government subsidies had been cut.
Meanwhile, the ACT Government announced yesterday new renewable energy targets that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2020. Mr Corbel' said 15% of energy used in Canberra would be sourced from renewable sources by next year, increasing to 25% by 2020. But the Greens said Mr Corbell's targets were meaningless, because no new policies had been created. Greens climate change spokesman Shane Rattenbury said the targets announced by Mr Corbell simply reflected what ACT residents were already doing.
US government sued on climate - Teenagers argue agencies failed to protect planet
Age
6 May 2011, Page: 14
ADVOCATES of stringent curbs on greenhouse gas emissions have sued the US government, arguing that key agencies had failed in their duty to protect the atmosphere as a public trust to be guarded for future generations. Similar lawsuits are to be filed against states around the country, according to the plaintiffs, a coalition of groups concerned about climate change called Our Children's Trust.
Most of the individual plaintiffs in the suit, filed in US District Court in San Francisco, are teenagers, a decision apparently made to underscore the intergenerational nature of the public trust that the atmosphere represents. More novel, however, is the suit's reliance on the public trust doctrine, which dates to Roman times. In some ways the suit parallels a current case, brought by several states against the five largest energy companies in the country, that frames greenhouse gas emissions as a public nuisance, legal experts noted.
Last month, the Supreme Court heard arguments on issues in that case, including the standing of the states to bring such lawsuits. Several justices expressed scepticism: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, for example, questioned whether the courts were being asked to intervene in an arena in which the executive branch specifically the Environmental Protection Agency has the expertise to act.
The EPA has determined that greenhouse gases pose a danger to the public health and welfare and are therefore subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. It has argued that this regulatory process, which is already under way, should not be preempted by the courts. Legal experts on Wednesday said they were unsure whether the new lawsuit could gain legal traction, given that it presents issues that overlap in some ways with the public nuisance case. The Supreme Court is expected to issue an opinion on that case in the next few months.
Courts that hear these cases will be heavily influenced by the Supreme Court's opinion, said Michael Gerrard, director of Columbia University's Centre for Climate Change Law. Mr Gerrard said that by filing such lawsuits, environmentalists were "trying to use all available options in view of the failure of Congress" to act on greenhouse gas emissions. The House approved a sweeping bill to limit such emissions in 2009, but a more cautious effort died in the Senate last year. And the recently elected Republican majority in the House is threatening to strip the EPA of regulatory powers related to global warming.
6 May 2011, Page: 14
ADVOCATES of stringent curbs on greenhouse gas emissions have sued the US government, arguing that key agencies had failed in their duty to protect the atmosphere as a public trust to be guarded for future generations. Similar lawsuits are to be filed against states around the country, according to the plaintiffs, a coalition of groups concerned about climate change called Our Children's Trust.
Most of the individual plaintiffs in the suit, filed in US District Court in San Francisco, are teenagers, a decision apparently made to underscore the intergenerational nature of the public trust that the atmosphere represents. More novel, however, is the suit's reliance on the public trust doctrine, which dates to Roman times. In some ways the suit parallels a current case, brought by several states against the five largest energy companies in the country, that frames greenhouse gas emissions as a public nuisance, legal experts noted.
Last month, the Supreme Court heard arguments on issues in that case, including the standing of the states to bring such lawsuits. Several justices expressed scepticism: Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, for example, questioned whether the courts were being asked to intervene in an arena in which the executive branch specifically the Environmental Protection Agency has the expertise to act.
The EPA has determined that greenhouse gases pose a danger to the public health and welfare and are therefore subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. It has argued that this regulatory process, which is already under way, should not be preempted by the courts. Legal experts on Wednesday said they were unsure whether the new lawsuit could gain legal traction, given that it presents issues that overlap in some ways with the public nuisance case. The Supreme Court is expected to issue an opinion on that case in the next few months.
Courts that hear these cases will be heavily influenced by the Supreme Court's opinion, said Michael Gerrard, director of Columbia University's Centre for Climate Change Law. Mr Gerrard said that by filing such lawsuits, environmentalists were "trying to use all available options in view of the failure of Congress" to act on greenhouse gas emissions. The House approved a sweeping bill to limit such emissions in 2009, but a more cautious effort died in the Senate last year. And the recently elected Republican majority in the House is threatening to strip the EPA of regulatory powers related to global warming.
Monday, 16 May 2011
Skepticism is bastardry, says head of ACF
Australian
29 April 2011, Page: 6
THE president of the Australian Conservation Foundation has attacked the "scientific bastardry" of climate change skeptics amid weakening public consensus that humans are to blame. Ian Lowe, who is also professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University, lamented the narrowing of the carbon tax debate. He said it was "naive" to believe putting a price on carbon was the solution to the problem, arguing the carbon price would have to rise to "politically unrealistic" levels if it was to drive the transition away from coal fired power. He said other complementary measures would be needed to encourage renewable energy.
Addressing a conference in Melbourne organised by the academics' union, the National Tertiary Education Union, Professor Lowe called on scientists to become more active in promoting the scientific evidence of human induced climate change. "As a profession who are paid from the public purse, it is a fundamental part of our responsibility to the community to be engaged in the public debate about these issues", he said. He said the evidence for human induced climate change was backed by virtually all scientists. He described the views of climate change skeptics as "illegitimate arguments that you could call scientific bastardly".
29 April 2011, Page: 6
THE president of the Australian Conservation Foundation has attacked the "scientific bastardry" of climate change skeptics amid weakening public consensus that humans are to blame. Ian Lowe, who is also professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University, lamented the narrowing of the carbon tax debate. He said it was "naive" to believe putting a price on carbon was the solution to the problem, arguing the carbon price would have to rise to "politically unrealistic" levels if it was to drive the transition away from coal fired power. He said other complementary measures would be needed to encourage renewable energy.
Addressing a conference in Melbourne organised by the academics' union, the National Tertiary Education Union, Professor Lowe called on scientists to become more active in promoting the scientific evidence of human induced climate change. "As a profession who are paid from the public purse, it is a fundamental part of our responsibility to the community to be engaged in the public debate about these issues", he said. He said the evidence for human induced climate change was backed by virtually all scientists. He described the views of climate change skeptics as "illegitimate arguments that you could call scientific bastardly".
yes2renewables.org
yes2renewables.org
29 April 2011
An excellent article that provides some perspective and credible information on wind farms and those who are determined to oppose them.
29 April 2011
An excellent article that provides some perspective and credible information on wind farms and those who are determined to oppose them.
Solar scheme use surges ahead
Canberra Times
5 May 2011, Page: 2
Businesses and households are signing up in droves to the ACT's feed in tariff scheme with 868 new solar panel connections made to the electricity grid during the first quarter of this year. This compares with 485 connections made during the December 2010 quarter. The scheme pays ACT households a premium price for electricity they generate on their rooftop solar panels and divert into the distribution grid and has awarded more than $4.4 million since its inception in March 2009.
The latest Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission report says that interest in renewable generators has ballooned in the ACT since the Federal Government decided to reduce payments made under the Renewable Energy Certificate scheme. During the March quarter ActewAGL Energy received 1552 new applications from households and businesses wanting to connect their solar panels to the electricity grid up from 895 requests the previous quarter.
Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the results highlighted Canberra's strong interest in renewable energy. "We have seen a big surge this quarter and we are looking to see whether this continues", he said. Mr Corbell said the premium rate for micro generation would remain unchanged at 45.7¢ per kW this financial year to ensure stability for consumers and the renewable energy industry.
The average revenue reaped by an ACT resident signed up to the scheme was $407 during the March 2010 quarter which is dramatically higher than the average of $190 received during the June 2009 quarter. There are currently 4404 renewable generators connected to the distribution network. The Clean Energy Council recently issued the top 20 solar postcodes in Australia but no ACT suburbs made the cut. Caloundra City in Queensland took out the top spot. Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said tariffs and rebates had encouraged Australian households to switch to solar.
5 May 2011, Page: 2
Businesses and households are signing up in droves to the ACT's feed in tariff scheme with 868 new solar panel connections made to the electricity grid during the first quarter of this year. This compares with 485 connections made during the December 2010 quarter. The scheme pays ACT households a premium price for electricity they generate on their rooftop solar panels and divert into the distribution grid and has awarded more than $4.4 million since its inception in March 2009.
The latest Independent Competition and Regulatory Commission report says that interest in renewable generators has ballooned in the ACT since the Federal Government decided to reduce payments made under the Renewable Energy Certificate scheme. During the March quarter ActewAGL Energy received 1552 new applications from households and businesses wanting to connect their solar panels to the electricity grid up from 895 requests the previous quarter.
Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the results highlighted Canberra's strong interest in renewable energy. "We have seen a big surge this quarter and we are looking to see whether this continues", he said. Mr Corbell said the premium rate for micro generation would remain unchanged at 45.7¢ per kW this financial year to ensure stability for consumers and the renewable energy industry.
The average revenue reaped by an ACT resident signed up to the scheme was $407 during the March 2010 quarter which is dramatically higher than the average of $190 received during the June 2009 quarter. There are currently 4404 renewable generators connected to the distribution network. The Clean Energy Council recently issued the top 20 solar postcodes in Australia but no ACT suburbs made the cut. Caloundra City in Queensland took out the top spot. Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said tariffs and rebates had encouraged Australian households to switch to solar.
Cuts to solar subsidies to be sped up
Age
5 May 2011, Page: 2
THE government is set to accelerate cuts to subsidies for household solar panels from July under changes to be announced today. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet is expected to announce the changes in response to soaring electricity prices and an overheating renewable energy market. The cuts to solar subsidies are expected to save households up to $35 a year on their power bills.
The changes mean federal subsidies for rooftop solar panels will end in mid 2013, a year earlier than previously promised. Households and businesses who install solar systems will also get fewer extra credits than expected from July this year, with the extra credits phasing out over the next two years. These credits are sold on the renewable energy market. It is the second time in six months Mr Combet has reduced extra credits on offer for solar panels.
"Strong demand for solar panels has continued, fuelled by declining system costs, the strong Australian dollar and economy, as well as incentives such as solar credits and the state and Territory feed in tariff schemes", Mr Combet will say. Some energy market experts, including government climate change adviser Rod Sims, have blamed rising power bills on the massive increase in rooftop solar panel installations. The sale of solar panels in effect floods the power market with extra renewable energy credits, which has an inflationary effect on electricity bills.
Under the current federal subsidy households are getting five times more renewable energy credits than they otherwise would have been entitled to for the power generated by their solar systems, with the number of extra credits reducing over a number of years. Under the today's changes, from July 1 extra credits will reduce to three times what would have been offered, rather than a reduction to four times more as previously promised. In July next year the extra credits will be reduced to two times what they would have otherwise. The extra credits will then end in July 2013.
5 May 2011, Page: 2
THE government is set to accelerate cuts to subsidies for household solar panels from July under changes to be announced today. Climate Change Minister Greg Combet is expected to announce the changes in response to soaring electricity prices and an overheating renewable energy market. The cuts to solar subsidies are expected to save households up to $35 a year on their power bills.The changes mean federal subsidies for rooftop solar panels will end in mid 2013, a year earlier than previously promised. Households and businesses who install solar systems will also get fewer extra credits than expected from July this year, with the extra credits phasing out over the next two years. These credits are sold on the renewable energy market. It is the second time in six months Mr Combet has reduced extra credits on offer for solar panels.
"Strong demand for solar panels has continued, fuelled by declining system costs, the strong Australian dollar and economy, as well as incentives such as solar credits and the state and Territory feed in tariff schemes", Mr Combet will say. Some energy market experts, including government climate change adviser Rod Sims, have blamed rising power bills on the massive increase in rooftop solar panel installations. The sale of solar panels in effect floods the power market with extra renewable energy credits, which has an inflationary effect on electricity bills.
Under the current federal subsidy households are getting five times more renewable energy credits than they otherwise would have been entitled to for the power generated by their solar systems, with the number of extra credits reducing over a number of years. Under the today's changes, from July 1 extra credits will reduce to three times what would have been offered, rather than a reduction to four times more as previously promised. In July next year the extra credits will be reduced to two times what they would have otherwise. The extra credits will then end in July 2013.
Industry’s 50-50 bet on carbon price
Summaries - Australian Financial Review
3 May 2011, Page: 3
Analysis from the Clean Energy Council has found that the energy market is anticipating that there is only a 50% chance of a carbon price being established by the middle of 2012 ANZ global head of energy trading Gary Wyatt said wholesale power market players believe that there is a 25% chance that prices would exceed $15 a tonne for carbon emissions. The analysis coincided with figures from Bloomberg New Energy Finance which showed that the Renewable Energy Target would deliver at least $36 billion from investment during the next decade. Elsewhere Pacific Hydro chief executive Rob Grant believes the clean energy sector has become a major contributor to the way the economy will be shaped. Meanwhile a Newspoll survey has found that there has been a 5% decline in the number of people prepared to pay more to tackle climate change.
3 May 2011, Page: 3
Analysis from the Clean Energy Council has found that the energy market is anticipating that there is only a 50% chance of a carbon price being established by the middle of 2012 ANZ global head of energy trading Gary Wyatt said wholesale power market players believe that there is a 25% chance that prices would exceed $15 a tonne for carbon emissions. The analysis coincided with figures from Bloomberg New Energy Finance which showed that the Renewable Energy Target would deliver at least $36 billion from investment during the next decade. Elsewhere Pacific Hydro chief executive Rob Grant believes the clean energy sector has become a major contributor to the way the economy will be shaped. Meanwhile a Newspoll survey has found that there has been a 5% decline in the number of people prepared to pay more to tackle climate change.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Rein on solar panel credits sours business
Australian
2 May 2011, Page: 8
WHEN Tony Pecora and his electrician mate started a solar power company four years ago, they ploughed their savings into the venture with the expectation that federal moves towards reducing fossil fuel use would spark a clamour for solar panels. Instead, stock is sitting idle on the shop floor after changes in the federal government's management of solar credits flooded the market. "It's complete incompetence,' Mr Pecora said. "If you want business to actually have faith in what's going on and have confidence to invest money, there must be stability".
The number of solar installations supported by the renewable energy target scheme has blown out from fewer than 15,000 systems in 2008 to more than 120,000 last year. Until July, the solar credits scheme will provide eligible householders with an upfront payment worth five times the value of certificates their solar panels would produce. The multiple of five will then be reduced to four, and lowered each year after that to rein in the support mechanism.
The move came after the huge take up caused by the original generous subsidies flooded the system with Renewable Energy Certificates, causing their value to plummet and sparking an investment freeze among big energy investors in major projects such as wind farms.
The government moved early last year to rescue the system, splitting Renewable Energy Certificates into large scale and small scale markets, and in January the government opened an online clearing house for small scale technology certificates (STCs), where sellers offer them at the fixed price of $40 each. Then it wound back the subsidies to solar panel installations in a bid to stop the flood of new Renewable Energy Certificates.
There is still a surplus of 796,100 certificates, with figures from the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator showing only 78,016 have been bought so far this year. Mr Pecora's company in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs employs 15 electricians and three sales staff, and is finding it difficult to manage monthly overheads of $100,000. Each container of stock ordered from overseas is an additional $250,000.
Mr Pecora said he was negotiating with customers who had ordered solar panels, but feared jobs would be cancelled if the quoted prices rose. "People aren't going to fork out another $1500", he said. "The only way it's going to work is if they do a carbon tax and tax people for what they pump into the air".
2 May 2011, Page: 8
WHEN Tony Pecora and his electrician mate started a solar power company four years ago, they ploughed their savings into the venture with the expectation that federal moves towards reducing fossil fuel use would spark a clamour for solar panels. Instead, stock is sitting idle on the shop floor after changes in the federal government's management of solar credits flooded the market. "It's complete incompetence,' Mr Pecora said. "If you want business to actually have faith in what's going on and have confidence to invest money, there must be stability".The number of solar installations supported by the renewable energy target scheme has blown out from fewer than 15,000 systems in 2008 to more than 120,000 last year. Until July, the solar credits scheme will provide eligible householders with an upfront payment worth five times the value of certificates their solar panels would produce. The multiple of five will then be reduced to four, and lowered each year after that to rein in the support mechanism.
The move came after the huge take up caused by the original generous subsidies flooded the system with Renewable Energy Certificates, causing their value to plummet and sparking an investment freeze among big energy investors in major projects such as wind farms.
The government moved early last year to rescue the system, splitting Renewable Energy Certificates into large scale and small scale markets, and in January the government opened an online clearing house for small scale technology certificates (STCs), where sellers offer them at the fixed price of $40 each. Then it wound back the subsidies to solar panel installations in a bid to stop the flood of new Renewable Energy Certificates.
There is still a surplus of 796,100 certificates, with figures from the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator showing only 78,016 have been bought so far this year. Mr Pecora's company in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs employs 15 electricians and three sales staff, and is finding it difficult to manage monthly overheads of $100,000. Each container of stock ordered from overseas is an additional $250,000.
Mr Pecora said he was negotiating with customers who had ordered solar panels, but feared jobs would be cancelled if the quoted prices rose. "People aren't going to fork out another $1500", he said. "The only way it's going to work is if they do a carbon tax and tax people for what they pump into the air".
The magnificent power of three
www.smh.com.au
April 29, 2011
Sydney is a step closer to reducing its reliance on coal powered energy, with the launch of Australia's first commercial trigeneration network. The project, which links the energy use of two buildings across the harbour, uses natural gas to produce electricity on site, capturing any waste heat to provide heating and air conditioning. Electricity generated at Coca Cola Place, a high rise office building in North Sydney, is also provided to Deutsche Bank Place in the CBD Energy. Trigeneration can be up to three times more efficient than coal fired power stations, where the waste heat escapes into the atmosphere.
The lord mayor, Clover Moore, said: ''This is Australia's first open commercial trigeneration precinct, delivering a more efficient way to generate power, heat and cooling.'' As part of its Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan, Sydney City Council aims to produce 70% of the city's energy needs locally from trigeneration systems within the next 20 years. Although the complex is not in the City of Sydney, Cr Moore said it showed the viability of larger scale trigeneration.
''We must look at trigeneration and we must start to show just how effective it is in terms of saving costs, saving carbon. Eighty% of emissions are in our cities predominantly from our commercial buildings.'' The NSW Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, said medium scale projects like trigeneration plants were more efficient than rooftop solar panels. ''We are not going to allow programs like the present Solar Bonus Scheme,.. to continue,'' Mr Hartcher said. ''But we are going to encourage a sensible attitude towards,.. energy efficiency in the community. That's why we look very much to business to set the example.'' The operators expect the plant to prevent the release of about 1000 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
April 29, 2011
Sydney is a step closer to reducing its reliance on coal powered energy, with the launch of Australia's first commercial trigeneration network. The project, which links the energy use of two buildings across the harbour, uses natural gas to produce electricity on site, capturing any waste heat to provide heating and air conditioning. Electricity generated at Coca Cola Place, a high rise office building in North Sydney, is also provided to Deutsche Bank Place in the CBD Energy. Trigeneration can be up to three times more efficient than coal fired power stations, where the waste heat escapes into the atmosphere.The lord mayor, Clover Moore, said: ''This is Australia's first open commercial trigeneration precinct, delivering a more efficient way to generate power, heat and cooling.'' As part of its Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan, Sydney City Council aims to produce 70% of the city's energy needs locally from trigeneration systems within the next 20 years. Although the complex is not in the City of Sydney, Cr Moore said it showed the viability of larger scale trigeneration.
''We must look at trigeneration and we must start to show just how effective it is in terms of saving costs, saving carbon. Eighty% of emissions are in our cities predominantly from our commercial buildings.'' The NSW Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, said medium scale projects like trigeneration plants were more efficient than rooftop solar panels. ''We are not going to allow programs like the present Solar Bonus Scheme,.. to continue,'' Mr Hartcher said. ''But we are going to encourage a sensible attitude towards,.. energy efficiency in the community. That's why we look very much to business to set the example.'' The operators expect the plant to prevent the release of about 1000 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
Falklanders to reap wind energy - with their car batteries
www.thisismoney.co.uk
24 April 2011
The Falkland Islands could become the world's first territory to be mainly powered by a revolutionary combination of wind power and electric car batteries. Seven wind turbines already provide the islands with more than half of their electricity needs. The rest is generated by costly diesel imported to power generators. But because the South Atlantic winds often gust well above the average of 10mph, the manager of the wind farm, Glenn Ross, has adapted the pitch of the blades so that they provide a constant flow of electricity rather than providing occasional excess energy.
Levelling the output means less diesel is needed to balance the wind power output, but the islands still want to store surplus wind power. And in a groundbreaking move, the government in the capital Port Stanley has given the go-ahead to investigate using electric cars to store excess energy in their batteries, effectively creating one of the world's first independent smart grids.
Ross said: 'We are looking at distributed storage in electric cars. At times of high wind we could dial a number and get people to switch on their chargers.' At times of low wind the 3,000 or so islanders could plug their car batteries into the grid to power general usage. Combining the fixed wind power output with electric storage is a model that could be exported to other islands similarly dependent on imported diesel, said Ross. 'This could work on a Scottish island - we share similar weather,' he added.
24 April 2011
The Falkland Islands could become the world's first territory to be mainly powered by a revolutionary combination of wind power and electric car batteries. Seven wind turbines already provide the islands with more than half of their electricity needs. The rest is generated by costly diesel imported to power generators. But because the South Atlantic winds often gust well above the average of 10mph, the manager of the wind farm, Glenn Ross, has adapted the pitch of the blades so that they provide a constant flow of electricity rather than providing occasional excess energy.
Levelling the output means less diesel is needed to balance the wind power output, but the islands still want to store surplus wind power. And in a groundbreaking move, the government in the capital Port Stanley has given the go-ahead to investigate using electric cars to store excess energy in their batteries, effectively creating one of the world's first independent smart grids.
Ross said: 'We are looking at distributed storage in electric cars. At times of high wind we could dial a number and get people to switch on their chargers.' At times of low wind the 3,000 or so islanders could plug their car batteries into the grid to power general usage. Combining the fixed wind power output with electric storage is a model that could be exported to other islands similarly dependent on imported diesel, said Ross. 'This could work on a Scottish island - we share similar weather,' he added.
Council outlines roles for new body
Australian
2 May 2011, Page: 8
THE peak clean energy group has taken up calls for an independent body similar to the Reserve Bank to be launched with next year's carbon tax. In a discussion paper released today, the Clean Energy Council outlines possible roles for the proposed agency including administering an emissions trading scheme and setting targets, allocating revenue from the carbon tax and issuing loans to fund green investments.
The body, which would operate at arm's length from the federal government, would constantly review projects and cut off funds to those that fail to prove themselves. Speaking ahead of this week's green energy conference in Melbourne, CEC chief executive Matthew Warren said borrowing from future carbon revenue to support green developments would enable quicker transition to low emissions technology.
"It seems insane that you would simply spend the money as it comes in the door, if the hardest part of the transformation is in the first five to 10 years", he said. "If you borrow against the future income stream and spend it now, then you will presumably make it much easier for businesses and households to cope with the scheme so you don't have to keep paying compensation".
The Clean Energy Council is an industry association representing renewable energy companies. Government adviser Ross Garnaut has previously recommended creating a carbon bank to administer carbon reduction measures, while outgoing RBA board member and economist Warwick McKibbin has suggested it set and adjust emissions targets.
Mr Warren said it would be challenging for an independent body to set the carbon price. Britain plans to establish a green investment bank next year to spur investment in low emissions technology. Coordinated funding would make it easier to monitor different projects and pull their funding if necessary. "You've got to keep delivering in order to keep getting funded. There's competition between the sectors but equally there's accountability so we don't get the feeling we're just doing stuff because the money was allocated".
Mr Warren said projects deemed too risky by traditional lenders needed an influx of capital now, pointing to geothermal and ocean wave energy as areas where public funding should step in. "The funds at the cutting edge of the most risky private investments, their basic view is we need to get our money back plus something in five years or we're not going to do it", he said. "The geothermal industry or the ocean industry aren't going to give you a payback in five years. It doesn't mean it's bad technology, it's just going to need some help".
2 May 2011, Page: 8
THE peak clean energy group has taken up calls for an independent body similar to the Reserve Bank to be launched with next year's carbon tax. In a discussion paper released today, the Clean Energy Council outlines possible roles for the proposed agency including administering an emissions trading scheme and setting targets, allocating revenue from the carbon tax and issuing loans to fund green investments.The body, which would operate at arm's length from the federal government, would constantly review projects and cut off funds to those that fail to prove themselves. Speaking ahead of this week's green energy conference in Melbourne, CEC chief executive Matthew Warren said borrowing from future carbon revenue to support green developments would enable quicker transition to low emissions technology.
"It seems insane that you would simply spend the money as it comes in the door, if the hardest part of the transformation is in the first five to 10 years", he said. "If you borrow against the future income stream and spend it now, then you will presumably make it much easier for businesses and households to cope with the scheme so you don't have to keep paying compensation".
The Clean Energy Council is an industry association representing renewable energy companies. Government adviser Ross Garnaut has previously recommended creating a carbon bank to administer carbon reduction measures, while outgoing RBA board member and economist Warwick McKibbin has suggested it set and adjust emissions targets.
Mr Warren said it would be challenging for an independent body to set the carbon price. Britain plans to establish a green investment bank next year to spur investment in low emissions technology. Coordinated funding would make it easier to monitor different projects and pull their funding if necessary. "You've got to keep delivering in order to keep getting funded. There's competition between the sectors but equally there's accountability so we don't get the feeling we're just doing stuff because the money was allocated".
Mr Warren said projects deemed too risky by traditional lenders needed an influx of capital now, pointing to geothermal and ocean wave energy as areas where public funding should step in. "The funds at the cutting edge of the most risky private investments, their basic view is we need to get our money back plus something in five years or we're not going to do it", he said. "The geothermal industry or the ocean industry aren't going to give you a payback in five years. It doesn't mean it's bad technology, it's just going to need some help".
Coles ordered to use green power
Courier Mail
29 April 2011, Page: 17
A MULTIMILLION dollar Coles development on the Sunshine Coast will have to source at least half its power from climate safe, renewable sources under council stipulated conditions. It is believed to be the first such demand for a large scale development by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, which has foreshadowed similar conditions for future projects. It means the Nambour supermarket will be largely powered by renewable energy, including solar or wind farms.
Coles spokesman Jim Cooper said he was not aware of any other local authority raising the issue of climate safe energy sources for a Coles facility, or if any facility now used a significant amount of green power. "We'll go through the (approval) documents when we receive them and consider those in due course", Mr Cooper said.
The council said the energy condition, which Coles could meet via buying green energy or building on site generation, was a chance for Coles to show it was a "good corporate citizen". Cr Vivien Griffin said: "I added the condition because this council has adopted some fairly serious approaches to the issue of climate change and we are a region very subject to the impacts of climate change. "CO₂, emissions from electricity consumption are an off site impact just as filling in a floodplain is,.. so this is about coming back to basic planning principles that any new development should not have those off site impacts".
In the US, a federal program to encourage use of green energy has led big companies to slash their greenhouse gas emissions. Intel, the world's largest chip maker, now derives 88% of its power from solar and wind farms. Australia's reliance on coal for 80% of its power makes it the developed world's worst per capita CO₂, emitter. Renewable energy companies say the Federal Government's weak emission reduction targets and the lack of a national feed in tariff for renewable energy mean Australia is still lagging other major economies including China, India and the US in adopting clean energy.
29 April 2011, Page: 17
A MULTIMILLION dollar Coles development on the Sunshine Coast will have to source at least half its power from climate safe, renewable sources under council stipulated conditions. It is believed to be the first such demand for a large scale development by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, which has foreshadowed similar conditions for future projects. It means the Nambour supermarket will be largely powered by renewable energy, including solar or wind farms.
Coles spokesman Jim Cooper said he was not aware of any other local authority raising the issue of climate safe energy sources for a Coles facility, or if any facility now used a significant amount of green power. "We'll go through the (approval) documents when we receive them and consider those in due course", Mr Cooper said.
The council said the energy condition, which Coles could meet via buying green energy or building on site generation, was a chance for Coles to show it was a "good corporate citizen". Cr Vivien Griffin said: "I added the condition because this council has adopted some fairly serious approaches to the issue of climate change and we are a region very subject to the impacts of climate change. "CO₂, emissions from electricity consumption are an off site impact just as filling in a floodplain is,.. so this is about coming back to basic planning principles that any new development should not have those off site impacts".
In the US, a federal program to encourage use of green energy has led big companies to slash their greenhouse gas emissions. Intel, the world's largest chip maker, now derives 88% of its power from solar and wind farms. Australia's reliance on coal for 80% of its power makes it the developed world's worst per capita CO₂, emitter. Renewable energy companies say the Federal Government's weak emission reduction targets and the lack of a national feed in tariff for renewable energy mean Australia is still lagging other major economies including China, India and the US in adopting clean energy.
Solar coup for ANU
Canberra Times
29 April 2011, Page: 2
A new project aimed at driving down the cost of renewable energy is expected to attract millions of dollars in licensing fees for the Australian National University. The world's largest manufacturer of solar cells, Trina Solar, and researchers at the ANU will work to increase the efficiency of solar cells during the ANU Solar project. The $10.7 million project, launched at the ANU yesterday, aims to keep Australia at the forefront of solar research. A Federal Government grant of $3.3 million from the Australian Solar Institute will go towards the project. The ANU will also work with the University of New South Wales during the project.
29 April 2011, Page: 2
A new project aimed at driving down the cost of renewable energy is expected to attract millions of dollars in licensing fees for the Australian National University. The world's largest manufacturer of solar cells, Trina Solar, and researchers at the ANU will work to increase the efficiency of solar cells during the ANU Solar project. The $10.7 million project, launched at the ANU yesterday, aims to keep Australia at the forefront of solar research. A Federal Government grant of $3.3 million from the Australian Solar Institute will go towards the project. The ANU will also work with the University of New South Wales during the project.
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