www.abc.net.au
24 Feb 2012
Plans are advancing by ElectraNet to boost the capacity for electricity flows between South Australia and Victoria. The company has sought public feedback on options including an upgrade to the Heywood substation in Victoria and sites in south-east South Australia, which would increase capacity by 40%.
Rainer Korte from ElectraNet says an upgrade of the system could boost power supplies from Victoria to South Australia when demand is high, and into Victoria when too much wind power is produced for SA demand. "Those inter-regional links or interstate links impact on the operation of the market and the power system with the whole state impacted", he said. "People in the south-east should benefit, so should everyone else".
Thursday, 1 March 2012
U.S. grid energy-storage market strong and poised for exponential growth
www.windpowerengineering.com
22 Feb 2012
A vigorous U.S, energy storage market offers good potential for growth over the next five years, according to a study sponsored by the Copper Development Association (CDA) and conducted by KEMA, Inc. The study, Market Evaluation for Energy Storage in the United States, determines the current market for grid energy storage in the U.S, and the associated copper demand in storage applications over the next five years. thermal energy storage, pumped-hydroelectric power, compressed-air-energy storage (CAES), and distributed applications constitute most of the energy-storage market. These can support the integration of renewables, such as wind and solar power.
Read more…
22 Feb 2012
A vigorous U.S, energy storage market offers good potential for growth over the next five years, according to a study sponsored by the Copper Development Association (CDA) and conducted by KEMA, Inc. The study, Market Evaluation for Energy Storage in the United States, determines the current market for grid energy storage in the U.S, and the associated copper demand in storage applications over the next five years. thermal energy storage, pumped-hydroelectric power, compressed-air-energy storage (CAES), and distributed applications constitute most of the energy-storage market. These can support the integration of renewables, such as wind and solar power.
Read more…
Siemens blindsided by China wind boom plans ‘massive’ investment
www.bloomberg.com
23 Feb 2012
Siemens AG (SIE), the world's largest maker of offshore wind turbines, said it underestimated the pace of growth in the Chinese wind market and will ramp up spending to catch up as local competitors increase their lead.
"We're investing massively in research and development and to make use of economies of scale in production", Felix Ferlemann, head of Siemens's wind-power business, said in response to e-mailed questions. "We were somewhat taken by surprise by the strong growth of the Chinese market".
China led the world in installing wind-power capacity last year. Munich-based Siemens is working to keep pace in the country, where it's lagging behind suppliers such as Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS), while competition puts pressure on prices. Profitability at Siemens's renewable-energy unit was wiped out last year, calling into question Chief Executive Officer Peter Loescher's strategy of focusing more on green technologies.
Siemens maintains its goal of becoming "a leading company in wind power", while it's not important if this takes two years or five, Ferlemann said. The company set a goal in 2009 to rank this year among the world's top three wind-power companies by installed generating capacity.
Turnover at the Top The target was issued by Andreas Nauen, who ran the wind-power operation until he left in March 2010 to become CEO at a German unit of Indian wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SUEL) Nauen was succeeded by Jens-Peter Saul, who led the business for less than 19 months before Ferlemann took over.
Siemens ranked ninth in 2010 among wind turbine makers by annual installed capacity, according to estimates by Eduardo Tabbush, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, who said the German company may climb to fifth place by 2015. Vestas and Chinese producers Sinovel Wind Group Co. (601558) and Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. (002202) will remain the top three manufacturers for the near future, in terms of MWs sold, he said.
The renewable-energy division, previously among Siemens's best performers, had an operating loss of 2 million euros ($2.65 million) for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30 on excess capacity in countries including the US, and price pressure in China. The company does not break out profit for the wind unit.
Earnings Decline Vestas, based in Aarhus, Denmark, posted an annual loss for the first time in six years in 2011. Sinovel forecast on Jan. 30 that its 2011 earnings probably fell by more than 50% because of lower prices. The 10 orders that Siemens won worldwide in 2011 for wind farm equipment included one from China, according to data collected by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. That compares with at least seven contracts from China that Vestas (VWS) announced.
The German company aims for its wind-power operations to return to a profit margin of at least 10% of revenue by cutting costs and streamlining operations, Michael Suess, the head of Siemens's energy businesses, said in September. Profitability will drop to about 6.5% of sales this year from 8.5% in 2011, according to estimates by Michael Busse, an analyst at Silvia Quandt Research in Frankfurt.
Siemens is sitting on a record backlog of almost 12 billion euros worth of wind-power orders, including its first from China for offshore equipment. The company said in December it will expand wind turbine manufacturing, sales and service units in China through two ventures with Shanghai Electric Group Co. (601727) "With our planned joint ventures in China, we'll soon also have a good position there and benefit from growth in the world's largest wind market", Ferlemann said.
23 Feb 2012
Siemens AG (SIE), the world's largest maker of offshore wind turbines, said it underestimated the pace of growth in the Chinese wind market and will ramp up spending to catch up as local competitors increase their lead.
"We're investing massively in research and development and to make use of economies of scale in production", Felix Ferlemann, head of Siemens's wind-power business, said in response to e-mailed questions. "We were somewhat taken by surprise by the strong growth of the Chinese market".
China led the world in installing wind-power capacity last year. Munich-based Siemens is working to keep pace in the country, where it's lagging behind suppliers such as Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS), while competition puts pressure on prices. Profitability at Siemens's renewable-energy unit was wiped out last year, calling into question Chief Executive Officer Peter Loescher's strategy of focusing more on green technologies.
Siemens maintains its goal of becoming "a leading company in wind power", while it's not important if this takes two years or five, Ferlemann said. The company set a goal in 2009 to rank this year among the world's top three wind-power companies by installed generating capacity.
Turnover at the Top The target was issued by Andreas Nauen, who ran the wind-power operation until he left in March 2010 to become CEO at a German unit of Indian wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy Ltd. (SUEL) Nauen was succeeded by Jens-Peter Saul, who led the business for less than 19 months before Ferlemann took over.
Siemens ranked ninth in 2010 among wind turbine makers by annual installed capacity, according to estimates by Eduardo Tabbush, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, who said the German company may climb to fifth place by 2015. Vestas and Chinese producers Sinovel Wind Group Co. (601558) and Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. (002202) will remain the top three manufacturers for the near future, in terms of MWs sold, he said.
The renewable-energy division, previously among Siemens's best performers, had an operating loss of 2 million euros ($2.65 million) for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30 on excess capacity in countries including the US, and price pressure in China. The company does not break out profit for the wind unit.
Earnings Decline Vestas, based in Aarhus, Denmark, posted an annual loss for the first time in six years in 2011. Sinovel forecast on Jan. 30 that its 2011 earnings probably fell by more than 50% because of lower prices. The 10 orders that Siemens won worldwide in 2011 for wind farm equipment included one from China, according to data collected by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. That compares with at least seven contracts from China that Vestas (VWS) announced.
The German company aims for its wind-power operations to return to a profit margin of at least 10% of revenue by cutting costs and streamlining operations, Michael Suess, the head of Siemens's energy businesses, said in September. Profitability will drop to about 6.5% of sales this year from 8.5% in 2011, according to estimates by Michael Busse, an analyst at Silvia Quandt Research in Frankfurt.
Siemens is sitting on a record backlog of almost 12 billion euros worth of wind-power orders, including its first from China for offshore equipment. The company said in December it will expand wind turbine manufacturing, sales and service units in China through two ventures with Shanghai Electric Group Co. (601727) "With our planned joint ventures in China, we'll soon also have a good position there and benefit from growth in the world's largest wind market", Ferlemann said.
Monday, 27 February 2012
Vic wind farm scramble
www.weeklytimesnow.com.au
22 Feb 2012
WIND farm companies are scrambling for finance and to begin work on proposed projects before a Victorian planning deadline. Sources have told weeklytimesnow the number of projects "in the gun" range from 10 to 20 proposals across the state due to the Victorian Government's changed planning policy. The Baillieu Government last year declared no-go zones, including Macedon, 5km buffer zones around regional towns like Mildura and Shepparton and gave power to residents to veto projects that had homes within 2km of turbines.
Under the changes companies with permits due to expire could apply for an extension on the condition they start work by March 15. A Clean Energy Council spokesman said the council would be contacting members in the next few days to gauge the situation. Friends of the Earth national campaign co-ordinator Cam Walker said the government "killed off" projects last year worth about $500m and the March deadline was the "second round".
"People don't want to lose their projects", he said. He predicted about 20 projects were dependent on meeting construction requirements before the deadline but said he'd be surprised if half got off the ground. "Companies are in a mad rush to get finance,,, there's a number of smaller operators,,, that are on the hunt for money", Mr Walker said.
He called for the government to re-consider the policy because it was driving an entire sector out of the state. "It was a policy they formed while in Opposition and it was not very well thought out. It's pushing an industry and jobs out of the state". He said the no-go zones and 5km buffers from regional centres were the biggest problems which were killing off community wind projects like the now defunct Castlemaine proposal.
Greens MP Greg Barber said companies were working to a tight deadline after the government's changes. He said he had a list of nine projects, several in south-west Victoria, which would be racing to meet the deadline. "Even if the nine wind farms come under the wire a third of all remaining permits will expire by 2013 and that's about 11,000 turbines. All other turbine permits will expire in 2014 and probably will never get permits back under the new rules", Mr Barber said.
22 Feb 2012
WIND farm companies are scrambling for finance and to begin work on proposed projects before a Victorian planning deadline. Sources have told weeklytimesnow the number of projects "in the gun" range from 10 to 20 proposals across the state due to the Victorian Government's changed planning policy. The Baillieu Government last year declared no-go zones, including Macedon, 5km buffer zones around regional towns like Mildura and Shepparton and gave power to residents to veto projects that had homes within 2km of turbines.
Under the changes companies with permits due to expire could apply for an extension on the condition they start work by March 15. A Clean Energy Council spokesman said the council would be contacting members in the next few days to gauge the situation. Friends of the Earth national campaign co-ordinator Cam Walker said the government "killed off" projects last year worth about $500m and the March deadline was the "second round".
"People don't want to lose their projects", he said. He predicted about 20 projects were dependent on meeting construction requirements before the deadline but said he'd be surprised if half got off the ground. "Companies are in a mad rush to get finance,,, there's a number of smaller operators,,, that are on the hunt for money", Mr Walker said.
He called for the government to re-consider the policy because it was driving an entire sector out of the state. "It was a policy they formed while in Opposition and it was not very well thought out. It's pushing an industry and jobs out of the state". He said the no-go zones and 5km buffers from regional centres were the biggest problems which were killing off community wind projects like the now defunct Castlemaine proposal.
Greens MP Greg Barber said companies were working to a tight deadline after the government's changes. He said he had a list of nine projects, several in south-west Victoria, which would be racing to meet the deadline. "Even if the nine wind farms come under the wire a third of all remaining permits will expire by 2013 and that's about 11,000 turbines. All other turbine permits will expire in 2014 and probably will never get permits back under the new rules", Mr Barber said.
More on the Heartland Institute revelations…
Confessions of a climate gate-opener
www.bbc.co.uk
22 Feb 2012
(UK) I don't normally do requests, as they say-but I've a lot of messages via emails, blog comments and Twitter asking for a follow-up post on the Heartland Institute, and am happy to oblige. Many thanks for all your messages-nice to know one's thoughts are in such demand!
So what's happened since last week's post, flagging up and analysing the contents of documents obtained through subterfuge from the leading US climate sceptic lobby group? First, we saw a request from the institute that all media organisations who'd covered the story should take their articles down and issue retractions, with a vague threat of legal action.
As far as I can see, few complied-and why would they?
Read more…
Behind the controversy, an effort to rewrite curriculum on climate change
green.blogs.nytimes.com
23 Feb 2012
Focus on the contents of the internal documents leaked last week from the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit known for attacking climate science, has been largely lost in the wake of the revelation of the leaker's identity: Peter Gleick, a scientist. But beyond the controversy and the confession is the fact that Heartland does not deny what the two authentic documents obtained by Dr. Gleick reveal: that the institute is working to influence climate education in the schools.
In its 2012 fund-raising plan, Heartland said that an "anonymous donor" had pledged the first $100,000 toward this end and that it hoped to use that gift to develop matching funds. Heartland is soliciting contributors for a "global warming curriculum" developed by a part-time Department of Energy consultant, David Wojick, which in Heartland's estimation "appears to have great potential for success."
Read more…
John Moore: A peek into the climate denier industry
fullcomment.nationalpost.com
23 Feb 2012
The curtain has been drawn back on the professional denier industry, and its media enablers are frantically crying "there is nothing to see here". Leaked documents from the Chicago-based Heartland Institute expose the efforts of the conservative "research organization" to sow doubt about climate change. The documents also reveal information about donors--including a mysterious unnamed individual who provided more than $14-million dollars to Heartland. The information was obtained by an environmentalist posing as someone else online, which has prompted laughable squawks about ethics from the very denier crowd that fed like zombies on the hacked "Climategate" emails of 2009.
Read more…
And closer to home,
The shadowy world of IPA finances
www.abc.net.au
24 Feb 2012
Last week's revelations about the Heartland Institute, probably the most important climate science denying organisation in the United States, raise some questions about the murky influence of think tanks on the climate debate in this country. Confidential documents from the Heartland Institute reveal how wealthy individuals have actively promoted the campaign to attack the credibility of the world's top climate scientists and create the impression that there is a controversy about the main propositions of global warming science. In fact the bulk of Heartland's climate science denial campaign-which includes plans to promote anti-science in schools-has been funded by one donor, whose name did not appear in the purloined documents.
There is a direct Australian link in the Heartland Institute files. Bob Carter, an adjunct research professor at James Cook University, has a long-standing record of denying climate science. Now it is revealed that he is on the payroll of the Heartland Institute, to the tune of $1,667 per month for unspecified work. On his personal webpage, Carter declares that "he receives no research funding from special interest organisations such as environmental groups, energy companies or government departments", a claim that on the scale of truth matches his reporting of climate science.
Read more…
www.bbc.co.uk
22 Feb 2012
(UK) I don't normally do requests, as they say-but I've a lot of messages via emails, blog comments and Twitter asking for a follow-up post on the Heartland Institute, and am happy to oblige. Many thanks for all your messages-nice to know one's thoughts are in such demand!
So what's happened since last week's post, flagging up and analysing the contents of documents obtained through subterfuge from the leading US climate sceptic lobby group? First, we saw a request from the institute that all media organisations who'd covered the story should take their articles down and issue retractions, with a vague threat of legal action.
As far as I can see, few complied-and why would they?
Read more…
Behind the controversy, an effort to rewrite curriculum on climate change
green.blogs.nytimes.com
23 Feb 2012
Focus on the contents of the internal documents leaked last week from the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit known for attacking climate science, has been largely lost in the wake of the revelation of the leaker's identity: Peter Gleick, a scientist. But beyond the controversy and the confession is the fact that Heartland does not deny what the two authentic documents obtained by Dr. Gleick reveal: that the institute is working to influence climate education in the schools.
In its 2012 fund-raising plan, Heartland said that an "anonymous donor" had pledged the first $100,000 toward this end and that it hoped to use that gift to develop matching funds. Heartland is soliciting contributors for a "global warming curriculum" developed by a part-time Department of Energy consultant, David Wojick, which in Heartland's estimation "appears to have great potential for success."
Read more…
John Moore: A peek into the climate denier industry
fullcomment.nationalpost.com
23 Feb 2012
The curtain has been drawn back on the professional denier industry, and its media enablers are frantically crying "there is nothing to see here". Leaked documents from the Chicago-based Heartland Institute expose the efforts of the conservative "research organization" to sow doubt about climate change. The documents also reveal information about donors--including a mysterious unnamed individual who provided more than $14-million dollars to Heartland. The information was obtained by an environmentalist posing as someone else online, which has prompted laughable squawks about ethics from the very denier crowd that fed like zombies on the hacked "Climategate" emails of 2009.
Read more…
And closer to home,
The shadowy world of IPA finances
www.abc.net.au
24 Feb 2012
Last week's revelations about the Heartland Institute, probably the most important climate science denying organisation in the United States, raise some questions about the murky influence of think tanks on the climate debate in this country. Confidential documents from the Heartland Institute reveal how wealthy individuals have actively promoted the campaign to attack the credibility of the world's top climate scientists and create the impression that there is a controversy about the main propositions of global warming science. In fact the bulk of Heartland's climate science denial campaign-which includes plans to promote anti-science in schools-has been funded by one donor, whose name did not appear in the purloined documents.
There is a direct Australian link in the Heartland Institute files. Bob Carter, an adjunct research professor at James Cook University, has a long-standing record of denying climate science. Now it is revealed that he is on the payroll of the Heartland Institute, to the tune of $1,667 per month for unspecified work. On his personal webpage, Carter declares that "he receives no research funding from special interest organisations such as environmental groups, energy companies or government departments", a claim that on the scale of truth matches his reporting of climate science.
Read more…
Hepburn Wind to feature on stamps
www.hepburnadvocate.com.au
22 Feb 2012
Hepburn Wind has put its stamp on 2012. The community-owned wind farm was one of nine Australian cooperatives selected to be on Australia Post stamps commemorating the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives. President of the International Cooperative Alliance, Dame Pauline Green, visited Australia this week and said co-operatives were generating profits for members and creating jobs in just about every sector of the economy.
"In the wake of the GFC, the world is looking for alternative business models to strengthen economies, generate jobs and support communities and the cooperative model is that alternative. It's viable, strong and growing," Dame Pauline said. "Running a profitable business and caring for people does not need to be a trade off, in co-operative businesses they sit comfortably side by side. "They have come through the GFC stronger than ever and, internationally, the top 300 cooperatives are worth more than US$1.6 trillion. These are serious businesses with scale.
"In Australia the economy is not just run by big corporations and big not-for-profits there is a dynamic and successful third force that could be making an even bigger contribution to the complex and pressing economic issues of our time. "Indeed cooperative businesses in Australia have more than 7.5 million customer owners and generate more than $15 billion in annual turnover. "Governments across the world need to be looking at how they can reduce red tape and ensure that taxation and accounting regimes allow shared equity to be better managed.
"For example, in Australia, the regulation of cooperatives is state-based, creating duplications and unnecessary regulatory burdens for your large national cooperative businesses," Dame Pauline said. As part of her visit, Dame Pauline launched a set of commemorative stamps in Melbourne last week, which feature nine Australian cooperative businesses. She also met with business leaders.
Cooperatives featured on Australia Post's stamps included:
22 Feb 2012
Hepburn Wind has put its stamp on 2012. The community-owned wind farm was one of nine Australian cooperatives selected to be on Australia Post stamps commemorating the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives. President of the International Cooperative Alliance, Dame Pauline Green, visited Australia this week and said co-operatives were generating profits for members and creating jobs in just about every sector of the economy.
"In the wake of the GFC, the world is looking for alternative business models to strengthen economies, generate jobs and support communities and the cooperative model is that alternative. It's viable, strong and growing," Dame Pauline said. "Running a profitable business and caring for people does not need to be a trade off, in co-operative businesses they sit comfortably side by side. "They have come through the GFC stronger than ever and, internationally, the top 300 cooperatives are worth more than US$1.6 trillion. These are serious businesses with scale.
"In Australia the economy is not just run by big corporations and big not-for-profits there is a dynamic and successful third force that could be making an even bigger contribution to the complex and pressing economic issues of our time. "Indeed cooperative businesses in Australia have more than 7.5 million customer owners and generate more than $15 billion in annual turnover. "Governments across the world need to be looking at how they can reduce red tape and ensure that taxation and accounting regimes allow shared equity to be better managed.
"For example, in Australia, the regulation of cooperatives is state-based, creating duplications and unnecessary regulatory burdens for your large national cooperative businesses," Dame Pauline said. As part of her visit, Dame Pauline launched a set of commemorative stamps in Melbourne last week, which feature nine Australian cooperative businesses. She also met with business leaders.
Cooperatives featured on Australia Post's stamps included:
- CBH Group a farmed owned co-operative in Western Australia with a turnover of $1.3 billion in 2011.
- Capricorn Society a family of 14,500 small business automotive repair shops in Western Australia with turnover of nearly $1 billion in 2011.
- Norco Cooperative a large dairy business providing products to thousands of Australian families, with a turnover of over $350 million in 2011.
- The Community Mutual Group a financial services provider to 70,000 member/owners in regional NSW.
- West Belconnen Health Co-op Australian's newest co-operative GP and health practice with 2150 local family owners providing health care to 10,500 people.
- Hepburn Wind Park Cooperative Australia's first community-owned wind farm that is expected to produce enough electricity to power 2300 local homes.
- Common Equity Housing Ltd which provides affordable housing to 5000 low income Victorians.
- Fitzroy & Carlton Community Credit Co-op which has a long history of providing local residents with banking services and help with budgeting and financial planning.
- Barossa Community Store owners of the retail precinct in Barossa providing the local community with a supermarket, hardware, department store, toys and electrical goods.
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Ramsay’s wind farm demands fail, but he still faces questions
www.standard.net.au
22 Feb 2012
A PROMINENT state Liberal MP is facing a parliamentary grilling after he threatened to lobby against a wind farm project unless the energy company bought his family's south-west farm. Upper House member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay made the demands in an October letter to wind power company ACCIONA Energy over the company's plan to erect 116 turbines at Birregurra near Colac as part of its Mount Gellibrand wind project.
Mr Ramsay confirmed that he spoke to planning minister Matthew Guy about the Mt Gellibrand project. He also admitted lobbying the department of planning for changes, including the re-siting of turbines away from his property. Mr Ramsay's campaign appears to have fallen on deaf ears with both ACCIONA Energy and the government.
ACCIONA Energy resisted the demands and Mr Guy and his department last month signed off on the detailed plan for the company's turbines. Work is set to commence soon. Yesterday Mr Ramsay said that if anything, his position as a Coalition MP had worked against him. "I can assure you I got no more favourable treatment than anyone else; I haven't won any concessions", he said. However, his lobbying has triggered allegations that he sought to use his political access for personal gain and failed to adequately notify Parliament of his interest during key debates on new wind farm rules last year.
"The opposition will leave no stone unturned to get a full public investigation by referring Mr Ramsay to the privileges committee, moving to set up a parliamentary committee or referring his behaviour to any other body that may have jurisdiction", opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee said yesterday. Mr Ramsay's letter, obtained by The Age from a government source, followed months of negotiations involving Mr Ramsay and the Spanish-based ACCIONA Energy.
The discussions occurred over a period when State Parliament was dealing with the Coalition's plan to ban wind farms in some areas and to give individual residents veto over turbines within two km of any dwelling in the state. In the letter, the MP insists the wind turbines would damage amenity at his family farm and interrupt his "iconic views" to the Otway Ranges. The letter demands a string of concessions including that the company pay him $66,000 to grow trees as a noise and visual screen, scrap all turbines within two km of his home, and pay for works including the sealing of the local gravel road.
Writing on a personal letterhead, Mr Ramsay also requests that the company "enter into bona fide discussions to purchase my property at current market value" by December 31. He then notes that he intends to "make representations" to the department of planning to press for changes to the final detailed plans for the wind farm, including scaling back the number or turbines and their re-siting.
Yesterday, Mr Ramsay's confirmed he did in fact lobby an officer of the planning department seeking changes to the Mt Gellibrand wind farm plan. He also confirmed that he had spoken in general terms to Planning Minister Matthew Guy about Mt Gellibrand but denied he had asked the minister to intervene on his behalf. Mr Ramsay insisted he had made the necessary declarations to Parliament acknowledging his interest in being a neighbour to a wind farm.
But Greens wind spokesman Greg Barber said revelation of Mr Ramsay's lobbying throughout last year, including the letter to ACCIONA Energy, raised serious questions about whether he had adequately declared his interest ahead of voting on the Coalition's new rules. "He never disclosed to the Parliament that he was in negotiations with the wind farm developer over money or to buy his property. If he had, I would have moved that he was ineligible to vote under the Parliament's rules". Nor has Mr Ramsay's handling of the Mount Gellibrand matter been well received by all his neighbours.
In the mid-2000s, then farmer Ramsay was a champion of wind farms. At the time his property had been earmarked for about eight turbines under the same planning permit he is now campaigning against. The change of heart coincided with him selling the parcel of land--with the turbine permits--to a neighbour, making him a neighbour to a wind farm rather than a wind farmer. Since his early enthusiasm for wind farms he sold a parcel of land to neighbouring property owner Duncan Barber. Now he is seeking to have the same turbines moved.
Yesterday, Mr Barber (no relation to the Greens MP) said he paid a premium for the property because of the turbines for which he will be paid about $7000 each a year. "At the beginning he (Ramsay) was very pro the wind farm", Mr Barber said. "He was going to do everything in his power to get the government behind it; to support it". Mr Ramsay defended his change of attitude to the Mount Gellibrand wind farm as a result of increased knowledge about the health and visual impacts of wind farms. "We didn't know a lot about wind farming eight years ago", Mr Ramsay said. "We were all pretty raw about it. It was all pretty new".
Yet another example of Liberal Party ideology and selfishness trumping reason, honesty, openness and a cleaner future. - Blair
22 Feb 2012
A PROMINENT state Liberal MP is facing a parliamentary grilling after he threatened to lobby against a wind farm project unless the energy company bought his family's south-west farm. Upper House member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay made the demands in an October letter to wind power company ACCIONA Energy over the company's plan to erect 116 turbines at Birregurra near Colac as part of its Mount Gellibrand wind project.Mr Ramsay confirmed that he spoke to planning minister Matthew Guy about the Mt Gellibrand project. He also admitted lobbying the department of planning for changes, including the re-siting of turbines away from his property. Mr Ramsay's campaign appears to have fallen on deaf ears with both ACCIONA Energy and the government.
ACCIONA Energy resisted the demands and Mr Guy and his department last month signed off on the detailed plan for the company's turbines. Work is set to commence soon. Yesterday Mr Ramsay said that if anything, his position as a Coalition MP had worked against him. "I can assure you I got no more favourable treatment than anyone else; I haven't won any concessions", he said. However, his lobbying has triggered allegations that he sought to use his political access for personal gain and failed to adequately notify Parliament of his interest during key debates on new wind farm rules last year.
"The opposition will leave no stone unturned to get a full public investigation by referring Mr Ramsay to the privileges committee, moving to set up a parliamentary committee or referring his behaviour to any other body that may have jurisdiction", opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee said yesterday. Mr Ramsay's letter, obtained by The Age from a government source, followed months of negotiations involving Mr Ramsay and the Spanish-based ACCIONA Energy.
The discussions occurred over a period when State Parliament was dealing with the Coalition's plan to ban wind farms in some areas and to give individual residents veto over turbines within two km of any dwelling in the state. In the letter, the MP insists the wind turbines would damage amenity at his family farm and interrupt his "iconic views" to the Otway Ranges. The letter demands a string of concessions including that the company pay him $66,000 to grow trees as a noise and visual screen, scrap all turbines within two km of his home, and pay for works including the sealing of the local gravel road.
Writing on a personal letterhead, Mr Ramsay also requests that the company "enter into bona fide discussions to purchase my property at current market value" by December 31. He then notes that he intends to "make representations" to the department of planning to press for changes to the final detailed plans for the wind farm, including scaling back the number or turbines and their re-siting.
Yesterday, Mr Ramsay's confirmed he did in fact lobby an officer of the planning department seeking changes to the Mt Gellibrand wind farm plan. He also confirmed that he had spoken in general terms to Planning Minister Matthew Guy about Mt Gellibrand but denied he had asked the minister to intervene on his behalf. Mr Ramsay insisted he had made the necessary declarations to Parliament acknowledging his interest in being a neighbour to a wind farm.
But Greens wind spokesman Greg Barber said revelation of Mr Ramsay's lobbying throughout last year, including the letter to ACCIONA Energy, raised serious questions about whether he had adequately declared his interest ahead of voting on the Coalition's new rules. "He never disclosed to the Parliament that he was in negotiations with the wind farm developer over money or to buy his property. If he had, I would have moved that he was ineligible to vote under the Parliament's rules". Nor has Mr Ramsay's handling of the Mount Gellibrand matter been well received by all his neighbours.
In the mid-2000s, then farmer Ramsay was a champion of wind farms. At the time his property had been earmarked for about eight turbines under the same planning permit he is now campaigning against. The change of heart coincided with him selling the parcel of land--with the turbine permits--to a neighbour, making him a neighbour to a wind farm rather than a wind farmer. Since his early enthusiasm for wind farms he sold a parcel of land to neighbouring property owner Duncan Barber. Now he is seeking to have the same turbines moved.
Yesterday, Mr Barber (no relation to the Greens MP) said he paid a premium for the property because of the turbines for which he will be paid about $7000 each a year. "At the beginning he (Ramsay) was very pro the wind farm", Mr Barber said. "He was going to do everything in his power to get the government behind it; to support it". Mr Ramsay defended his change of attitude to the Mount Gellibrand wind farm as a result of increased knowledge about the health and visual impacts of wind farms. "We didn't know a lot about wind farming eight years ago", Mr Ramsay said. "We were all pretty raw about it. It was all pretty new".
Yet another example of Liberal Party ideology and selfishness trumping reason, honesty, openness and a cleaner future. - Blair
Mainstream, Goldwind to build 70 MW Chile wind farm
www.reuters.com
20 Feb 2012
Feb 20 (Reuters)-Ireland's Mainstream Renewable Power and Chinese wind turbine maker Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co, have formed a 50-50 joint venture to build a 70 MW wind farm in Chile, the firms said on Monday. Construction of the first 70 MW phase of the Ckani wind farm in northern Chile should start by the end of this year, and it has the potential to have a capacity of 240 MW capacity on stream by 2015, the companies said in a statement. The value of the whole project is $480 million, while the first phase is worth $140 million.
Under the terms of the deal, Goldwind's Chicago-based subsidiary will supply 47 1.5 MW wind turbines. Goldwind is China's second-largest maker of wind power equipment, and the deal is its second with Mainstream in Chile. Goldwind also secured a deal to supply turbines to a 16.5 MW wind project in Ecuador in late 2011. China's top wind turbine makers are increasingly looking to export their equipment overseas to boost sales amid sliding turbine prices and challenging market conditions at home.
"Strategic collaboration with China is core to Mainstream's global strategy", said Mainstream Chief Executive Eddie O'Connor. "Mainstream has over 15,000 MW of wind and solar projects globally, and our Chinese partners have the world-leading technology, which is ready to deploy cost-effectively and at scale".
20 Feb 2012
Feb 20 (Reuters)-Ireland's Mainstream Renewable Power and Chinese wind turbine maker Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co, have formed a 50-50 joint venture to build a 70 MW wind farm in Chile, the firms said on Monday. Construction of the first 70 MW phase of the Ckani wind farm in northern Chile should start by the end of this year, and it has the potential to have a capacity of 240 MW capacity on stream by 2015, the companies said in a statement. The value of the whole project is $480 million, while the first phase is worth $140 million.
Under the terms of the deal, Goldwind's Chicago-based subsidiary will supply 47 1.5 MW wind turbines. Goldwind is China's second-largest maker of wind power equipment, and the deal is its second with Mainstream in Chile. Goldwind also secured a deal to supply turbines to a 16.5 MW wind project in Ecuador in late 2011. China's top wind turbine makers are increasingly looking to export their equipment overseas to boost sales amid sliding turbine prices and challenging market conditions at home.
"Strategic collaboration with China is core to Mainstream's global strategy", said Mainstream Chief Executive Eddie O'Connor. "Mainstream has over 15,000 MW of wind and solar projects globally, and our Chinese partners have the world-leading technology, which is ready to deploy cost-effectively and at scale".
German offshore wind-energy delays threaten energy overhaul
www.bloomberg.com
21 Feb 2012
Germany's offshore wind parks, being built to replace most of the nuclear reactors closing in the next decade, are headed to miss construction targets because of delays in connecting turbines to the power grid. E.ON AG (EOAN) and RWE AG (RWE), the country's biggest utilities, have threatened to halt investment in wind projects unless obstacles are removed, which RWE blames mainly on slow permitting and problems with acquiring cables and transformer stations.
The difficulties undermine the government's aim to have 10 GWs of sea-based turbines, or the equivalent of about nine atomic plants, installed by the end of this decade, according to the wind industry's main lobby group. About 0.2 GWs were in place at the end of last year. "We won't reach 10 GWs by 2020, and everyone in the industry knows that", Hermann Albers, the head of the BWE wind-energy lobby, said in an interview in Berlin. Grid operators, which are responsible for the connections, and their suppliers have underestimated the challenges of connecting projects that can cost upward of 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion), he said.
The sluggish start to Germany's offshore wind expansion is a setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel's plan to transition to a nuclear-free energy mix based on 80% renewable sources by 2050. It signals greater reliance on other energy sources and delays for wind-project suppliers including Siemens AG (SIE), Europe's biggest engineering company, and ABB Ltd. (ABBN) of Switzerland, the largest maker of power-distribution equipment.
'Not in Danger'
The German government says the delays won't affect its goal of shutting all nuclear reactors by 2022 and raise the share of renewables to 35% of the total installed capacity from about 20% last year. "The energy overhaul is not in danger", as installations of land-based turbines and solar panels exceed expectations and "overcompensate" for the offshore wind delays, Juergen Maass, a spokesman for the German Environment Ministry, said by phone.
The government's longer-term target of 25 GWs of offshore wind generators by 2030 "will be met, just the curve to get there may look different", he said. The utilities say the delays may affect longer-term commitments. Fritz Vahrenholt, chief executive officer of RWE's Innogy unit for renewable energy, predicted a possible "collapse in investment activities" in German offshore wind farms unless the issues are resolved. Grid Delays Grid operator TenneT TSO GmbH told RWE that hooking the utility's 1 billion-euro Nordsee Ost wind farm up to the grid will take 12 months longer than expected, Vahrenholt said last month in Essen, Germany, where RWE has its headquarters.
E.ON's Amrumbank West project in the North Sea will be delayed by about 15 months, said Carsten Thomsen-Bendixen, an E.ON spokesman. The Dusseldorf-based utility said it can't make an investment decision on two other projects in planning in Germany because of the problems. The utilities are concerned about who will compensate them for the delays, which in the case of RWE's Nordsee Ost farm may cause damages in the "three-digit million-euro range", Vahrenholt said. They also want to cut red tape in permitting wind farms.
German Developer Windreich AG rejected the utilities' warnings as "doom-mongering". TenneT will connect "nearly on time" Windreich's Global Tech I, MEG 1 and Deutsche Bucht projects with a combined capacity of about 1 GW, Chief Executive Officer Willi Balz said in a statement late yesterday.
'Exceeding Projections'
Germany's environment and economy ministries last month set up a group that will also include grid operators, regulators and industry officials to discuss issues including permitting and liability to speed up grid connection. The group will make recommendations to Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen at the end of next month, said Thorsten Falk of the Offshore Stiftung, a group that promotes offshore wind power.
"The 10 GWs can be reached in principle if a broad solution for the grid connection issue can be brought on its way quickly", Falk said in e-mailed remarks. "Whether this will be a precision landing or delayed by two years doesn't matter for the overhaul of the electricity supply. The actual power output is what matters, not the MW figures. Initial experience shows that those are exceeding projections".
TenneT has earmarked 5.5 billion euros for nine grid connection projects, Ulrike Hoerchens, a spokeswoman, said by phone. Two projects, HelWin 1 and BorWin 2, which are each able to connect several wind farms, are delayed by eight months and three months, respectively, she said. As much as 55 additional wind farms may ask for approval in TenneT's grid in the coming months, Hoerchens said. "That shows the kind of challenges we as a grid operator are facing", she said.
Siemens Setback
The start of construction of the HelWin 1 converter platform will be delayed by about a year to May 2013 as the licensing and permitting process "turned out to be more complex than planned", Torsten Wolf, a spokesman for Siemens, the main contractor for both projects, said by phone. Siemens, which booked 203 million euros in charges in the first quarter on the delays, is "pulling out all the stops" to start construction for BorWin 2 in September, about three months later than planned, he said.
German authorities should draft a long-term offshore grid development plan and clarify who's legally responsible to compensate for grid connection delays, TenneT said in a statement posted on its website yesterday. It suggested forming a "German direct-current network operator" that would plan, finance, build and run power lines to connect the wind farms and bring their output south, where companies including Daimler AG and BASF AG run factories. "The current structure is not suitable to accomplish the ambitions of the energy transition", it said.
21 Feb 2012
Germany's offshore wind parks, being built to replace most of the nuclear reactors closing in the next decade, are headed to miss construction targets because of delays in connecting turbines to the power grid. E.ON AG (EOAN) and RWE AG (RWE), the country's biggest utilities, have threatened to halt investment in wind projects unless obstacles are removed, which RWE blames mainly on slow permitting and problems with acquiring cables and transformer stations.
The difficulties undermine the government's aim to have 10 GWs of sea-based turbines, or the equivalent of about nine atomic plants, installed by the end of this decade, according to the wind industry's main lobby group. About 0.2 GWs were in place at the end of last year. "We won't reach 10 GWs by 2020, and everyone in the industry knows that", Hermann Albers, the head of the BWE wind-energy lobby, said in an interview in Berlin. Grid operators, which are responsible for the connections, and their suppliers have underestimated the challenges of connecting projects that can cost upward of 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion), he said.
The sluggish start to Germany's offshore wind expansion is a setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel's plan to transition to a nuclear-free energy mix based on 80% renewable sources by 2050. It signals greater reliance on other energy sources and delays for wind-project suppliers including Siemens AG (SIE), Europe's biggest engineering company, and ABB Ltd. (ABBN) of Switzerland, the largest maker of power-distribution equipment.
'Not in Danger'
The German government says the delays won't affect its goal of shutting all nuclear reactors by 2022 and raise the share of renewables to 35% of the total installed capacity from about 20% last year. "The energy overhaul is not in danger", as installations of land-based turbines and solar panels exceed expectations and "overcompensate" for the offshore wind delays, Juergen Maass, a spokesman for the German Environment Ministry, said by phone.
The government's longer-term target of 25 GWs of offshore wind generators by 2030 "will be met, just the curve to get there may look different", he said. The utilities say the delays may affect longer-term commitments. Fritz Vahrenholt, chief executive officer of RWE's Innogy unit for renewable energy, predicted a possible "collapse in investment activities" in German offshore wind farms unless the issues are resolved. Grid Delays Grid operator TenneT TSO GmbH told RWE that hooking the utility's 1 billion-euro Nordsee Ost wind farm up to the grid will take 12 months longer than expected, Vahrenholt said last month in Essen, Germany, where RWE has its headquarters.
E.ON's Amrumbank West project in the North Sea will be delayed by about 15 months, said Carsten Thomsen-Bendixen, an E.ON spokesman. The Dusseldorf-based utility said it can't make an investment decision on two other projects in planning in Germany because of the problems. The utilities are concerned about who will compensate them for the delays, which in the case of RWE's Nordsee Ost farm may cause damages in the "three-digit million-euro range", Vahrenholt said. They also want to cut red tape in permitting wind farms.
German Developer Windreich AG rejected the utilities' warnings as "doom-mongering". TenneT will connect "nearly on time" Windreich's Global Tech I, MEG 1 and Deutsche Bucht projects with a combined capacity of about 1 GW, Chief Executive Officer Willi Balz said in a statement late yesterday.
'Exceeding Projections'
Germany's environment and economy ministries last month set up a group that will also include grid operators, regulators and industry officials to discuss issues including permitting and liability to speed up grid connection. The group will make recommendations to Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen at the end of next month, said Thorsten Falk of the Offshore Stiftung, a group that promotes offshore wind power.
"The 10 GWs can be reached in principle if a broad solution for the grid connection issue can be brought on its way quickly", Falk said in e-mailed remarks. "Whether this will be a precision landing or delayed by two years doesn't matter for the overhaul of the electricity supply. The actual power output is what matters, not the MW figures. Initial experience shows that those are exceeding projections".
TenneT has earmarked 5.5 billion euros for nine grid connection projects, Ulrike Hoerchens, a spokeswoman, said by phone. Two projects, HelWin 1 and BorWin 2, which are each able to connect several wind farms, are delayed by eight months and three months, respectively, she said. As much as 55 additional wind farms may ask for approval in TenneT's grid in the coming months, Hoerchens said. "That shows the kind of challenges we as a grid operator are facing", she said.
Siemens Setback
The start of construction of the HelWin 1 converter platform will be delayed by about a year to May 2013 as the licensing and permitting process "turned out to be more complex than planned", Torsten Wolf, a spokesman for Siemens, the main contractor for both projects, said by phone. Siemens, which booked 203 million euros in charges in the first quarter on the delays, is "pulling out all the stops" to start construction for BorWin 2 in September, about three months later than planned, he said.
German authorities should draft a long-term offshore grid development plan and clarify who's legally responsible to compensate for grid connection delays, TenneT said in a statement posted on its website yesterday. It suggested forming a "German direct-current network operator" that would plan, finance, build and run power lines to connect the wind farms and bring their output south, where companies including Daimler AG and BASF AG run factories. "The current structure is not suitable to accomplish the ambitions of the energy transition", it said.
Labor pulls plug on energy role
www.adelaidenow.com.au
21 Feb 2012
THE State Government has ended Renewable Energy Commissioner Tim O'Loughlin's position more than a year before his contract was due to expire. Mr O'Loughlin was appointed in mid-2009 with some fanfare by then Premier Mike Rann. His contract was meant to run until 2013. A spokesman for Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said he would not be replaced.
Yesterday's Budget and Finance select committee heard Mr O'Loughlin's job ends about 18 months short of his contract by "mutual agreement", and that there had been a payout. Opposition sustainability and climate-change spokesman Steven Marshall branded the decision a waste of taxpayer money. "This shows a Premier who doesn't have the same focus on renewables as the former premier and a department that is in complete disarray, that is paying out contracts that are not completed", Mr Marshall said.
Questions about the payout amount were taken on notice by Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy Department chief executive Geoff Knight; the "functions" of RenewablesSA have been moved to the department. Mr Koutsantonis's spokesman has confirmed that Mr O'Loughlin "has left to pursue other interests". "I'm unable at this time to provide you with details of the terms of his termination package", he said. The move follows a budget decision late last year to scrap the $11.7 million remaining in the $20 million Renewable Energy Fund.
This fund was overseen by RenewablesSA, and industry said there were now no state funding support avenues available for renewable energy. The South Australian branch of the Australian Solar Energy Society and the Australian Geothermal Energy Association have raised concerns that the State Government had lost interest in renewable energy. "It makes a complete mockery of the fact that in the last week of Rann being premier, he released a new renewable statement for South Australia", said Mr Marshall. "It's clear the new Premier has no interest in this sector whatsoever".
21 Feb 2012
THE State Government has ended Renewable Energy Commissioner Tim O'Loughlin's position more than a year before his contract was due to expire. Mr O'Loughlin was appointed in mid-2009 with some fanfare by then Premier Mike Rann. His contract was meant to run until 2013. A spokesman for Energy Minister Tom Koutsantonis said he would not be replaced.Yesterday's Budget and Finance select committee heard Mr O'Loughlin's job ends about 18 months short of his contract by "mutual agreement", and that there had been a payout. Opposition sustainability and climate-change spokesman Steven Marshall branded the decision a waste of taxpayer money. "This shows a Premier who doesn't have the same focus on renewables as the former premier and a department that is in complete disarray, that is paying out contracts that are not completed", Mr Marshall said.
Questions about the payout amount were taken on notice by Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy Department chief executive Geoff Knight; the "functions" of RenewablesSA have been moved to the department. Mr Koutsantonis's spokesman has confirmed that Mr O'Loughlin "has left to pursue other interests". "I'm unable at this time to provide you with details of the terms of his termination package", he said. The move follows a budget decision late last year to scrap the $11.7 million remaining in the $20 million Renewable Energy Fund.
This fund was overseen by RenewablesSA, and industry said there were now no state funding support avenues available for renewable energy. The South Australian branch of the Australian Solar Energy Society and the Australian Geothermal Energy Association have raised concerns that the State Government had lost interest in renewable energy. "It makes a complete mockery of the fact that in the last week of Rann being premier, he released a new renewable statement for South Australia", said Mr Marshall. "It's clear the new Premier has no interest in this sector whatsoever".
Thursday, 23 February 2012
NSW govt criticised over wind farm audit
news.ninemsn.com.au
20 Feb 2012
The NSW government has been accused of waging a "holy war" on the renewable energy sector after ordering a noise audit of three wind farms because of complaints by residents. NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard on Monday announced the independent audit of three government-approved wind farms near Canberra, saying the Capital, Cullerin Range and Woodlawn facilities were the subject of ongoing complaints from locals. Mr Hazzard said previous investigations by his department found the farms were complying with noise limits but an independent noise consultant would determine the issue.
"The audit will also provide information on low-frequency noise from these wind farms to provide input into the finalisation of statewide wind farm guidelines", Mr Hazzard said. "wind farms will play an important part in the state's energy future. However, it is important the community has confidence these installations are operating in line with their consent conditions and they are not diminishing a local community's lifestyle". The planning department would also assess visual issues and the impact of the wind farms on flora and fauna, he said.
NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the government was "continuing its holy war against renewable energy". "On behalf of the loudest voices, the O'Farrell government is victimising wind farms that are a crucial component of the solution to the state's 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions", Dr Kaye said. Opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley accused the government of "pandering to flat-earthers" opposed to wind power. "All the signals the government is sending out are hostile to the development of wind power in this state", Mr Foley said.
Origin Energy, the owners of Cullerin Range, said it welcomed the audit and any objective view it would provide on noise. "We take noise conditions very seriously and are pleased that the minister has reaffirmed that the Cullerin Range Wind Farm is compliant with noise limits", an Origin Energy spokesperson said. Infigen Energy, which owns the Capital and Woodlawn farms, also supported the audit, but questioned the need for another assessment.
"Given that these wind farms have already passed the most stringent noise assessments, we can only assume that there must be some political motivation to undertake further testing", a spokesman for the company said. The audit is set to be completed by August.
20 Feb 2012
The NSW government has been accused of waging a "holy war" on the renewable energy sector after ordering a noise audit of three wind farms because of complaints by residents. NSW Planning Minister Brad Hazzard on Monday announced the independent audit of three government-approved wind farms near Canberra, saying the Capital, Cullerin Range and Woodlawn facilities were the subject of ongoing complaints from locals. Mr Hazzard said previous investigations by his department found the farms were complying with noise limits but an independent noise consultant would determine the issue.
"The audit will also provide information on low-frequency noise from these wind farms to provide input into the finalisation of statewide wind farm guidelines", Mr Hazzard said. "wind farms will play an important part in the state's energy future. However, it is important the community has confidence these installations are operating in line with their consent conditions and they are not diminishing a local community's lifestyle". The planning department would also assess visual issues and the impact of the wind farms on flora and fauna, he said.
NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the government was "continuing its holy war against renewable energy". "On behalf of the loudest voices, the O'Farrell government is victimising wind farms that are a crucial component of the solution to the state's 60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions", Dr Kaye said. Opposition environment spokesman Luke Foley accused the government of "pandering to flat-earthers" opposed to wind power. "All the signals the government is sending out are hostile to the development of wind power in this state", Mr Foley said.
Origin Energy, the owners of Cullerin Range, said it welcomed the audit and any objective view it would provide on noise. "We take noise conditions very seriously and are pleased that the minister has reaffirmed that the Cullerin Range Wind Farm is compliant with noise limits", an Origin Energy spokesperson said. Infigen Energy, which owns the Capital and Woodlawn farms, also supported the audit, but questioned the need for another assessment.
"Given that these wind farms have already passed the most stringent noise assessments, we can only assume that there must be some political motivation to undertake further testing", a spokesman for the company said. The audit is set to be completed by August.
UK must not lose lead in marine renewables drive
www.reuters.com
18 Feb 2012
LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters)-Britain must not lose its lead in the development of marine energy like it did with wind power, and should focus on reducing costs and setting ambitious deployment targets beyond 2020, a report by a parliamentary committee said on Sunday. Seven out of the eight large-scale prototype wave and tidal devices installed worldwide are in the UK but are not expected to make a large contribution to its energy mix before 2020.
"Britannia really could rule the waves when it comes to marine renewable energy", said Tim Yeo, chairman of the energy and climate change committee which produced the report. "In the eighties the UK squandered the lead it had in wind power development and now Denmark has a large share of the worldwide market in turbine manufacturing. "It should be a priority for the government to ensure that the UK remains at the cutting edge of developments in this technology and does not allow our lead to slip", he added.
Marine renewables are seen providing 20% of current UK electricity demand and the government is targeting 200 to 300 MWs ( MW) of marine capacity by 2020, 1-2 GWs ( GW) less than its forecasts in 2010. The government revised its figures based on what it said was realistically obtainable by industry but RenewableUK, the voice of the marine and wind industry, said 300 MW is achievable by 2017 and utility SSE alone expects to commission 200 MW of projects around 2020.
Being overly cautious could negatively impact market confidence about the long-term future of the industry in the UK and allow other countries to steal the lead, the report warned. It said the government should not rule out setting an ambitious deployment target for marine renewables beyond 2020 if cost reductions until 2020 remain on track.
Hurdles
Several firms are exploring marine energy's potential. Alstom and SSE Renewables formed a joint venture to develop a wave energy installation in Scotland and other demonstration projects are gaining momentum. But marine technologies are still in the early stages and are a costly way to make electricity compared to other sources. Baseline costs are likely to be 38 to 48 pence per kW ( kW) for the first wave farms and 29-33 pence/ kW for the first tidal farms, compared to 9-10.5 pence/ kW, according to the Carbon Trust. The committee said the government should adopt a formal cost of energy target of 14 pence/ kW by 2020 to give a clear signal of its expectations to industry.
In terms of finance for projects, the costs and risks to private investors of the technology are currently too big for them to shoulder alone. As project costs are set to rise to tens of millions of pounds from just millions in the next stages of development, the UK and Scottish governments' combined 38 million pound funding will not be not enough, though it may be possible to get extra cash from a reserve fund of EU carbon permits (NER300) and from the UK's Green Investment Bank, the report said.
To help bring down costs, the UK plans to raise revenue support to wave and tidal deployed before 2017 but more clarity is needed as soon as possible on support levels after 2017. "We welcome the (...) commitment to provide absolute certainty on this issue by 2013-14. We will monitor whether (the government) keeps to this timetable and urge the department to deliver its decision in 2013 rather than 2014", the report said.
As the scale of deployment increases, inadequate grid connection access, slow planning and consent processes, impacts on wildlife and public opposition all have the potential to derail marine development. UK marine technology firm Ocean Power Technologies said it welcomed the report, which makes a "timely and strong case" for further action if the UK is to get the industry to commercial scale and retain its leadership.
18 Feb 2012
LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters)-Britain must not lose its lead in the development of marine energy like it did with wind power, and should focus on reducing costs and setting ambitious deployment targets beyond 2020, a report by a parliamentary committee said on Sunday. Seven out of the eight large-scale prototype wave and tidal devices installed worldwide are in the UK but are not expected to make a large contribution to its energy mix before 2020.
"Britannia really could rule the waves when it comes to marine renewable energy", said Tim Yeo, chairman of the energy and climate change committee which produced the report. "In the eighties the UK squandered the lead it had in wind power development and now Denmark has a large share of the worldwide market in turbine manufacturing. "It should be a priority for the government to ensure that the UK remains at the cutting edge of developments in this technology and does not allow our lead to slip", he added.
Marine renewables are seen providing 20% of current UK electricity demand and the government is targeting 200 to 300 MWs ( MW) of marine capacity by 2020, 1-2 GWs ( GW) less than its forecasts in 2010. The government revised its figures based on what it said was realistically obtainable by industry but RenewableUK, the voice of the marine and wind industry, said 300 MW is achievable by 2017 and utility SSE alone expects to commission 200 MW of projects around 2020.
Being overly cautious could negatively impact market confidence about the long-term future of the industry in the UK and allow other countries to steal the lead, the report warned. It said the government should not rule out setting an ambitious deployment target for marine renewables beyond 2020 if cost reductions until 2020 remain on track.
Hurdles
Several firms are exploring marine energy's potential. Alstom and SSE Renewables formed a joint venture to develop a wave energy installation in Scotland and other demonstration projects are gaining momentum. But marine technologies are still in the early stages and are a costly way to make electricity compared to other sources. Baseline costs are likely to be 38 to 48 pence per kW ( kW) for the first wave farms and 29-33 pence/ kW for the first tidal farms, compared to 9-10.5 pence/ kW, according to the Carbon Trust. The committee said the government should adopt a formal cost of energy target of 14 pence/ kW by 2020 to give a clear signal of its expectations to industry.
In terms of finance for projects, the costs and risks to private investors of the technology are currently too big for them to shoulder alone. As project costs are set to rise to tens of millions of pounds from just millions in the next stages of development, the UK and Scottish governments' combined 38 million pound funding will not be not enough, though it may be possible to get extra cash from a reserve fund of EU carbon permits (NER300) and from the UK's Green Investment Bank, the report said.
To help bring down costs, the UK plans to raise revenue support to wave and tidal deployed before 2017 but more clarity is needed as soon as possible on support levels after 2017. "We welcome the (...) commitment to provide absolute certainty on this issue by 2013-14. We will monitor whether (the government) keeps to this timetable and urge the department to deliver its decision in 2013 rather than 2014", the report said.
As the scale of deployment increases, inadequate grid connection access, slow planning and consent processes, impacts on wildlife and public opposition all have the potential to derail marine development. UK marine technology firm Ocean Power Technologies said it welcomed the report, which makes a "timely and strong case" for further action if the UK is to get the industry to commercial scale and retain its leadership.
Siemens to buy U.K. tidal turbine maker in next few weeks
www.bloomberg.com
18 Feb 2012
Siemens AG (SIE), the largest engineering company in Europe, will buy the shares it doesn't already own in U.K, tidal technology developer Marine Current Turbines Ltd. Siemens has raised its stake in the Bristol-based company to more than 90% from 45% and plans to acquire the remaining shares "in the next few weeks", said Eva-Maria Baumann, a Siemens spokeswoman. The price wasn't disclosed.
"We're convinced of the technology and the market potential for tidal energy, especially in the U.K"., Baumann said today in a phone interview. "Tidal energy is a perfect match for the fluctuating wind power as you know hundreds of years in advance how the tides will be". Energy from the waves and tides has the potential to meet as much as 20% of current U.K, electricity demand, according to the government. The country is aiming for 15% of its energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. No commercial marine tidal project is operating now.
The turbine maker at the end of 2010 had 3.4 million pounds ($5.4 million) cash and a loss of 675,678 in the year, according to the company's most recent accounts filed on Sept. 6 on the UK's Companies House website. Siemens bought the shares from a "large majority" of shareholders, Andrew Tyler, MCT's chief executive officer, said today by e-mail.
Blow to the UK
"The takeover of MCT by Siemens will be seen in the U.K, as a blow to the country's hopes of building a domestically owned marine energy industry", said Angus McCrone, senior analyst at London-based researcher Bloomberg New Energy Finance. "MCT has been the frontrunner in the tidal stream sector worldwide in terms of having a project of more than 1- MW operating throughout the year and generating electricity". "Siemens has taken a view that MCT's technology could be one of the eventual winners, but there are still plenty of rival firms nursing the hope that their own devices will end up as the industry standard", he said.
Morgan Stanley (MS) is working with International Power Plc and tidal turbine maker Atlantis Resources Corp, to develop a 400- MW project off the coast of Scotland. Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc owns turbine maker Tidal Generation Ltd. DCNS SA, the French engineering company, owns a stake in Irish tidal energy business OpenHydro Group Ltd., and Andritz AG owns a share of Norway's Hammerfest Stroem SA. Acquisitions Ahead New Energy Finance last year predicted more technology developers will be acquired by bigger companies.
MCT's SeaGen demonstration project in Northern Ireland has fed more than 3 GW-hours of electricity into the grid since it began operating in 2008, Baumann said. Siemens plans two additional projects totaling 18 MWs in Scotland and Wales. The company said Oct. 21 it was looking for as much as 100 million pounds for these. It's now seeking capital investment from "major companies" with an interest in tidal power projects, Tyler said.
The U.K, and Scottish governments in October increased support for marine energy by proposing to raise the number of so-called Renewable Obligation Certificates to five. This is up from the previous two offered in England and three offered in Scotland and means tidal energy generators may be eligible from 2013 to receive about 229 pounds a MW-hour of electricity at current prices. MCT said in April any sale of the company was dependent on U.K, subsidies. The latest estimates from New Energy Finance show tidal stream power costs about $402 a MW-hour. In comparison, coal-fired power costs $57 a MW-hour.
18 Feb 2012
Siemens AG (SIE), the largest engineering company in Europe, will buy the shares it doesn't already own in U.K, tidal technology developer Marine Current Turbines Ltd. Siemens has raised its stake in the Bristol-based company to more than 90% from 45% and plans to acquire the remaining shares "in the next few weeks", said Eva-Maria Baumann, a Siemens spokeswoman. The price wasn't disclosed.
"We're convinced of the technology and the market potential for tidal energy, especially in the U.K"., Baumann said today in a phone interview. "Tidal energy is a perfect match for the fluctuating wind power as you know hundreds of years in advance how the tides will be". Energy from the waves and tides has the potential to meet as much as 20% of current U.K, electricity demand, according to the government. The country is aiming for 15% of its energy to come from renewable sources by 2020. No commercial marine tidal project is operating now.
The turbine maker at the end of 2010 had 3.4 million pounds ($5.4 million) cash and a loss of 675,678 in the year, according to the company's most recent accounts filed on Sept. 6 on the UK's Companies House website. Siemens bought the shares from a "large majority" of shareholders, Andrew Tyler, MCT's chief executive officer, said today by e-mail.
Blow to the UK
"The takeover of MCT by Siemens will be seen in the U.K, as a blow to the country's hopes of building a domestically owned marine energy industry", said Angus McCrone, senior analyst at London-based researcher Bloomberg New Energy Finance. "MCT has been the frontrunner in the tidal stream sector worldwide in terms of having a project of more than 1- MW operating throughout the year and generating electricity". "Siemens has taken a view that MCT's technology could be one of the eventual winners, but there are still plenty of rival firms nursing the hope that their own devices will end up as the industry standard", he said.
Morgan Stanley (MS) is working with International Power Plc and tidal turbine maker Atlantis Resources Corp, to develop a 400- MW project off the coast of Scotland. Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc owns turbine maker Tidal Generation Ltd. DCNS SA, the French engineering company, owns a stake in Irish tidal energy business OpenHydro Group Ltd., and Andritz AG owns a share of Norway's Hammerfest Stroem SA. Acquisitions Ahead New Energy Finance last year predicted more technology developers will be acquired by bigger companies.
MCT's SeaGen demonstration project in Northern Ireland has fed more than 3 GW-hours of electricity into the grid since it began operating in 2008, Baumann said. Siemens plans two additional projects totaling 18 MWs in Scotland and Wales. The company said Oct. 21 it was looking for as much as 100 million pounds for these. It's now seeking capital investment from "major companies" with an interest in tidal power projects, Tyler said.
The U.K, and Scottish governments in October increased support for marine energy by proposing to raise the number of so-called Renewable Obligation Certificates to five. This is up from the previous two offered in England and three offered in Scotland and means tidal energy generators may be eligible from 2013 to receive about 229 pounds a MW-hour of electricity at current prices. MCT said in April any sale of the company was dependent on U.K, subsidies. The latest estimates from New Energy Finance show tidal stream power costs about $402 a MW-hour. In comparison, coal-fired power costs $57 a MW-hour.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Clean energy cut carbon emissions in 2011
www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au
20 Feb 2012
Renewable energy has helped Australia to cut its total carbon emissions for the second year running, according to figures published by the Federal Government. Clean Energy Council acting Chief Executive Kane Thornton said analysis from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts showed that overall greenhouse emissions had dropped about 1% in the year to September 2011, largely led by the electricity sector.
"Electricity emissions dropped 3.2% during this period. Hydroelectric power was up just over 10% due to the excellent rainfall in key hydroelectric areas, while coal and gas generation both dropped", Mr Thornton said. "Better energy efficiency and the increased use of technologies such as solar power, wind power and solar hot water were some of the factors that the government said contributed to the strong result.
"Australia's bipartisan 20% Renewable Energy Target is starting to work, even though it is still in its early stages. The industry looks forward to working with all sides of politics to accelerate the roll out of clean energy across the country", he said. The drop in emissions is a significant one, as it came at a time of economic growth as Australia emerged from the global economic crisis. Although emissions fell in the previous year as well, this was largely attributed to reduced productivity as a result of the economic downturn.
Mr Thornton said developing clean energy also made economic sense for Australia. "It has the potential to generate thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in investment, much of which will be in regional areas of the country", he said. "Renewable energy such as solar and wind power is falling rapidly in price and will help to provide an insurance policy against the rising fuel costs of coal and gas as we are increasingly exposed to international markets".
Click here to access the latest update of the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts.
20 Feb 2012
Renewable energy has helped Australia to cut its total carbon emissions for the second year running, according to figures published by the Federal Government. Clean Energy Council acting Chief Executive Kane Thornton said analysis from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts showed that overall greenhouse emissions had dropped about 1% in the year to September 2011, largely led by the electricity sector."Electricity emissions dropped 3.2% during this period. Hydroelectric power was up just over 10% due to the excellent rainfall in key hydroelectric areas, while coal and gas generation both dropped", Mr Thornton said. "Better energy efficiency and the increased use of technologies such as solar power, wind power and solar hot water were some of the factors that the government said contributed to the strong result.
"Australia's bipartisan 20% Renewable Energy Target is starting to work, even though it is still in its early stages. The industry looks forward to working with all sides of politics to accelerate the roll out of clean energy across the country", he said. The drop in emissions is a significant one, as it came at a time of economic growth as Australia emerged from the global economic crisis. Although emissions fell in the previous year as well, this was largely attributed to reduced productivity as a result of the economic downturn.
Mr Thornton said developing clean energy also made economic sense for Australia. "It has the potential to generate thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in investment, much of which will be in regional areas of the country", he said. "Renewable energy such as solar and wind power is falling rapidly in price and will help to provide an insurance policy against the rising fuel costs of coal and gas as we are increasingly exposed to international markets".
Click here to access the latest update of the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts.
German experience: clean energy requires subsidies
www.theage.com.au
18 Feb 2012
AN ARCHITECT of Germany's rapid growth in clean energy-it has nearly half the world's rooftop solar power-has warned that Australia's climate policies will not alone drive a switch to greenhouse-gas-free electricity. Germany reached its 2020 target of generating a fifth of its electricity from renewable sources nine years ahead of schedule, largely through feed-in tariffs that guarantee new power forms an inflated rate for the power they use to make them competitive.
It installed 3 GWs of solar photovoltaic panels in December alone-roughly enough for 1.5 million homes. Australia has less than half this in total. Hans-Josef Fell, an author of the German Renewable Energies Act introduced in 2000 and a Greens MP, backed the Australian carbon price as a positive step that would start to factor in the cost of burning fossil fuels to the climate and people's health. But he said the experience of the European emissions trading scheme suggested Australia's laws alone would not trigger the uptake of clean energy.
Speaking in Melbourne, he said feed-in tariffs were needed to help solar, wind, biomass and geothermal power overcome barriers that made them more expensive than fossil fuel energy. He cited International Energy Agency data that found global subsidies for fossil fuel energy increased to $US409 billion in 2010 ($A380 billion), compared with $US64 billion for renewable energy.
''In the beginning, all new technologies are more expensive than existing technologies, so we must help them,'' Mr Fell said. ''We must make money available for renewables and lower the tax subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear power.'' The Australian laws-dubbed the ''clean energy future package'' by the government-include a carbon price of $23 a tonne charged to about 500 big emitting companies. It starts in July and will evolve into an emissions trading scheme in 2015.
The package also includes a $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in and underwrite the development of fledgling technologies. But the government opposes feed-in tariffs and is reducing a national solar incentive scheme. State solar feed-in tariffs have been wound back. In Germany there is a debate over how quickly to reduce its solar tariff given the cost of panels is falling rapidly. It installed 7.5 GWs last year. Renewable energy increased German power prices by about 10%. Mr Fell said analyses showed the rise would have been greater without investment in clean sources.
18 Feb 2012
AN ARCHITECT of Germany's rapid growth in clean energy-it has nearly half the world's rooftop solar power-has warned that Australia's climate policies will not alone drive a switch to greenhouse-gas-free electricity. Germany reached its 2020 target of generating a fifth of its electricity from renewable sources nine years ahead of schedule, largely through feed-in tariffs that guarantee new power forms an inflated rate for the power they use to make them competitive.
It installed 3 GWs of solar photovoltaic panels in December alone-roughly enough for 1.5 million homes. Australia has less than half this in total. Hans-Josef Fell, an author of the German Renewable Energies Act introduced in 2000 and a Greens MP, backed the Australian carbon price as a positive step that would start to factor in the cost of burning fossil fuels to the climate and people's health. But he said the experience of the European emissions trading scheme suggested Australia's laws alone would not trigger the uptake of clean energy.
Speaking in Melbourne, he said feed-in tariffs were needed to help solar, wind, biomass and geothermal power overcome barriers that made them more expensive than fossil fuel energy. He cited International Energy Agency data that found global subsidies for fossil fuel energy increased to $US409 billion in 2010 ($A380 billion), compared with $US64 billion for renewable energy.
''In the beginning, all new technologies are more expensive than existing technologies, so we must help them,'' Mr Fell said. ''We must make money available for renewables and lower the tax subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear power.'' The Australian laws-dubbed the ''clean energy future package'' by the government-include a carbon price of $23 a tonne charged to about 500 big emitting companies. It starts in July and will evolve into an emissions trading scheme in 2015.
The package also includes a $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in and underwrite the development of fledgling technologies. But the government opposes feed-in tariffs and is reducing a national solar incentive scheme. State solar feed-in tariffs have been wound back. In Germany there is a debate over how quickly to reduce its solar tariff given the cost of panels is falling rapidly. It installed 7.5 GWs last year. Renewable energy increased German power prices by about 10%. Mr Fell said analyses showed the rise would have been greater without investment in clean sources.
Transforming King Island’s power station for increased renewable energy use
prwire.com.au
16 Feb 2012
Logica Australia, a leading IT and business services provider has partnered with Cisco to upgrade the communications network at Tasmania's King Island power station. The upgrade is a key component of Hydro Tasmania's $46 million King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP).
David Brown, Project Manager Hydro Tasmania, explains: "We selected Logica and Cisco because they offered a robust, state-of-the-art, reliable communications system for a very complex power station operating in harsh environmental conditions, combined with a good commercial outcome. They helped us deliver a key aspect of the King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project".
The King Island project will see 65% of the island's energy needs supplied from renewable sources. It will combine wind, solar, storage technology and smart grid management systems while also trialling biodiesel. If the biodiesel trial is successful, CO₂ emissions will be reduced by up to 95%.
As part of the communications network upgrade, Logica installed thirteen Cisco 2520 Connected Grid switches and two Cisco 2010 Connected Grid routers, which are specially designed for use in transmission and distribution power substations. Electrical contractors replaced copper wire with fibre optic cabling. Network routers and switches have recently been tested and installed.
Wayne Usher, Project Manager Logica, explained: "We're helping Hydro Tasmania integrate new technologies into their network, with the intelligence needed to provide a reliable, stable and renewable electricity supply. Logica is pleased to have partnered with Cisco to deliver a highly secure network that enables two-way communication for substation automation".
Sara Adams, director of the Partner Business Group for Cisco Australia and New Zealand, said: "In partnership with Logica, Cisco is proud of the successful implementation of its Connected Grid solution at Hydro Tasmania's King Island power station. Purpose-built for utility substations to improve grid reliability and cost savings, the solution is highly secure and compliant with regulatory mandates and industry standards such as IEC 61850 and IEEE 1613".
As an accredited Cisco Gold Certified Partner, Logica has a highly specialised local team with the qualifications required to successfully implement Cisco Connected Grid technologies which offer integrated, industry leading security, extensive instrumentation and remote diagnostic capabilities.
The Cisco Connected Grid range of products is specifically designed for the energy utility industry as part of an end-to-end smart grid strategy that envisions a ubiquitous IP data network to meet the growing requirements in the energy utility sector. Logica was the first Cisco partner in Australia to achieve Cisco Substation Automation ATP specialisation.
16 Feb 2012
Logica Australia, a leading IT and business services provider has partnered with Cisco to upgrade the communications network at Tasmania's King Island power station. The upgrade is a key component of Hydro Tasmania's $46 million King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project (KIREIP).
David Brown, Project Manager Hydro Tasmania, explains: "We selected Logica and Cisco because they offered a robust, state-of-the-art, reliable communications system for a very complex power station operating in harsh environmental conditions, combined with a good commercial outcome. They helped us deliver a key aspect of the King Island Renewable Energy Integration Project".
The King Island project will see 65% of the island's energy needs supplied from renewable sources. It will combine wind, solar, storage technology and smart grid management systems while also trialling biodiesel. If the biodiesel trial is successful, CO₂ emissions will be reduced by up to 95%.
As part of the communications network upgrade, Logica installed thirteen Cisco 2520 Connected Grid switches and two Cisco 2010 Connected Grid routers, which are specially designed for use in transmission and distribution power substations. Electrical contractors replaced copper wire with fibre optic cabling. Network routers and switches have recently been tested and installed.
Wayne Usher, Project Manager Logica, explained: "We're helping Hydro Tasmania integrate new technologies into their network, with the intelligence needed to provide a reliable, stable and renewable electricity supply. Logica is pleased to have partnered with Cisco to deliver a highly secure network that enables two-way communication for substation automation".
Sara Adams, director of the Partner Business Group for Cisco Australia and New Zealand, said: "In partnership with Logica, Cisco is proud of the successful implementation of its Connected Grid solution at Hydro Tasmania's King Island power station. Purpose-built for utility substations to improve grid reliability and cost savings, the solution is highly secure and compliant with regulatory mandates and industry standards such as IEC 61850 and IEEE 1613".
As an accredited Cisco Gold Certified Partner, Logica has a highly specialised local team with the qualifications required to successfully implement Cisco Connected Grid technologies which offer integrated, industry leading security, extensive instrumentation and remote diagnostic capabilities.
The Cisco Connected Grid range of products is specifically designed for the energy utility industry as part of an end-to-end smart grid strategy that envisions a ubiquitous IP data network to meet the growing requirements in the energy utility sector. Logica was the first Cisco partner in Australia to achieve Cisco Substation Automation ATP specialisation.
Monday, 20 February 2012
Heartland Institute strategy and funding details exposed
For those who have yet to hear the news, the Heartland Institute, an infamous US think tank (now there's an oxymoron) had their climate change denialism programme exposed recently when blogger DeSmogBlog received (from a third party) then posted documents produced by the Heartland Institute.
Among the documents were details relating to strategy and funding, including a list of donors and a breakdown of the funding of some well-known climate denialists such as Fred Singer, Robert Carter and others.
Rather than repeat all the evidence here, the full story can be found at DeSmogBlog. The Heartland Institute has threatened legal action against at least two bloggers to date.
As developments occur in coming weeks I will post updates.
Latest developments from Crikey
Among the documents were details relating to strategy and funding, including a list of donors and a breakdown of the funding of some well-known climate denialists such as Fred Singer, Robert Carter and others.
Rather than repeat all the evidence here, the full story can be found at DeSmogBlog. The Heartland Institute has threatened legal action against at least two bloggers to date.
As developments occur in coming weeks I will post updates.
Latest developments from Crikey
Weighty wind power takes off from Geelong port to Tarrone
www.geelongadvertiser.com.au
16 Feb 2012
The power transformer was en route to Tarrone from Korea and took about eight hours to move from Geelong Port, in what was a massive task for local movers Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift and Shift. Weighing 580 tonne-about the weight of 100 elephants-and measuring the length of a footy field, the transformer will convert power generated from the wind turbines at the Macarthur wind farm.
The $1 billion renewable energy project at Macarthur was announced in 2010 by AGL Energy and Meridian Energy energy companies. It is expected to be the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere when it's completed next year. Macarthur wind farm project manager Jeff Trompf said this phase of the project was a "significant milestone". "We are still taking daily escorted deliveries of tower sections, wind turbine blades and nacelles and the project is still on schedule", Mr Trompf said. He thanked the community for its patience during the massive construction.
16 Feb 2012
The power transformer was en route to Tarrone from Korea and took about eight hours to move from Geelong Port, in what was a massive task for local movers Tutt Bryant Heavy Lift and Shift. Weighing 580 tonne-about the weight of 100 elephants-and measuring the length of a footy field, the transformer will convert power generated from the wind turbines at the Macarthur wind farm.The $1 billion renewable energy project at Macarthur was announced in 2010 by AGL Energy and Meridian Energy energy companies. It is expected to be the largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere when it's completed next year. Macarthur wind farm project manager Jeff Trompf said this phase of the project was a "significant milestone". "We are still taking daily escorted deliveries of tower sections, wind turbine blades and nacelles and the project is still on schedule", Mr Trompf said. He thanked the community for its patience during the massive construction.
New Orkney wave devices set to power 1,000 homes via National Grid
www.bbc.co.uk
14 Feb 2012
(UK) Wave energy converters which can power more than 1,000 homes have been approved in Orkney by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing. Aquamarine Power's Oyster project is at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). The two new devices will be connected to the National Grid. Mr Ewing said: "I am delighted to grant consent to these devices, the first nearshore wave array in Scotland to feed in to the National Grid".
He added: "Scotland has unparalleled natural resources, with a tenth of Europe's wave energy, and these new devices will help us to fully harness the huge energy resources around our own coast and contribute to global efforts to expand clean, green electricity generation. "Scotland is in the midst of a renewables revolution, and it is innovation and creativity such as that behind the Oyster device which will help us meet our ambitious renewable electricity targets and help us reindustrialise Scotland.
14 Feb 2012
(UK) Wave energy converters which can power more than 1,000 homes have been approved in Orkney by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing. Aquamarine Power's Oyster project is at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). The two new devices will be connected to the National Grid. Mr Ewing said: "I am delighted to grant consent to these devices, the first nearshore wave array in Scotland to feed in to the National Grid".
He added: "Scotland has unparalleled natural resources, with a tenth of Europe's wave energy, and these new devices will help us to fully harness the huge energy resources around our own coast and contribute to global efforts to expand clean, green electricity generation. "Scotland is in the midst of a renewables revolution, and it is innovation and creativity such as that behind the Oyster device which will help us meet our ambitious renewable electricity targets and help us reindustrialise Scotland.
Germany powers France in cold despite nuclear u-turn
www.reuters.com
14 Feb 2012
PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters)-Germany came to the rescue of France during last week's cold snap by massively exporting electricity to its neighbour, silencing critics who slammed Berlin last year for abruptly shutting down 8 nuclear reactors after the Fukushima disaster. Critics said such a decision would put Europe's electricity supply balance at risk and waved the possibility of widespread blackouts as a result.
"The cold snap was a situation most experts feared and we managed without bigger problems", said Stephan Schnorr, German power trader at utility DONG Energy. Instead, it was France which suffered from supply tightness last week, pushing prices to two-year highs and prompting the grid to issue warnings urging the public to refrain from using electrical equipment, such as washing machines or coffee makers. France, Europe's biggest electricity exporter, reverts to imports during peak demand periods.
France heavily relies on electric heating developed by successive governments to meet supplies generated by the country's 58 nuclear power reactors. Germany, however, uses a variety of heating methods including gas and fuel oil heaters. This means that during cold snaps, French electricity demand goes through the roof, forcing the country to import at full capacity from its neighbours during peak demand.
When French demand reached a new all-time high last Wednesday, the country imported from Germany at full capacity in nearly all hourly blocks, grid operator data showed. French electricity demand rises by 2,300 MW, or the equivalent of two nuclear power reactors, per one degree Celsius drop in temperatures, double the demand surge seen 20 years ago.
Price spikes in France
While France was struggling with high demand, Germany, which houses 37% of the world's solar plants, relied on its growing renewable energy output and resurrected idled coal-fired plants to cover a rise in electricity demand. A spokesman for Amprion, Germany's largest high-voltage network, said the situation on the network was very tense. "Our colleagues are intervening on the network much more than usually, but everything is under control", he said.
By contrast, France, the world's most nuclear dependent nation which faces presidential elections in April, last week experienced supply tightness which led to dreaded price spikes predicted by experts. French day-ahead power for peakload delivery, the 0800-2000 CET period when demand is highest in the day, rose as high as 628 euros per MW ( MW) on the EPEX Spot electricity exchange on Feb. 9, more than four times higher than the previous day.
France's electricity demand has been reaching new record highs nearly every winter as 30% of homes use electric heaters and as many as 65% of new homes are heated using electricity. "One million mobile electric heaters are sold in France every year, give or take, especially in large spaces", said Jean Bergougnoux, a former chief executive of French energy giant EDF Energy, "Many of them are used during cold periods, in poorly heated locations and/or poorly insulated ones", he added. The government has defended high use of power for heating by arguing its nuclear power plants provide steady supply, but record prices have put this in doubt.
Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande has vowed to cut France's dependence on nuclear power and to shut down its oldest nuclear plant on the German border if elected, making nuclear power one of the main issues of the election campaign. In contrast, President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right government is trying to convince voters that nuclear power plants should run as long as possible nearly a year after the Fukushima disaster in Japan shook the world. The government on Monday published a report saying electricity bills would rise less in the years to come if the country prolongs the lifespan of its ageing nuclear reactors.
14 Feb 2012
- Renewables, idled coal plants help Germany meet demand
- France sees price spikes as nuclear insufficient
- French nuclear future big debate point in elections
PARIS, Feb 14 (Reuters)-Germany came to the rescue of France during last week's cold snap by massively exporting electricity to its neighbour, silencing critics who slammed Berlin last year for abruptly shutting down 8 nuclear reactors after the Fukushima disaster. Critics said such a decision would put Europe's electricity supply balance at risk and waved the possibility of widespread blackouts as a result.
"The cold snap was a situation most experts feared and we managed without bigger problems", said Stephan Schnorr, German power trader at utility DONG Energy. Instead, it was France which suffered from supply tightness last week, pushing prices to two-year highs and prompting the grid to issue warnings urging the public to refrain from using electrical equipment, such as washing machines or coffee makers. France, Europe's biggest electricity exporter, reverts to imports during peak demand periods.
France heavily relies on electric heating developed by successive governments to meet supplies generated by the country's 58 nuclear power reactors. Germany, however, uses a variety of heating methods including gas and fuel oil heaters. This means that during cold snaps, French electricity demand goes through the roof, forcing the country to import at full capacity from its neighbours during peak demand.
When French demand reached a new all-time high last Wednesday, the country imported from Germany at full capacity in nearly all hourly blocks, grid operator data showed. French electricity demand rises by 2,300 MW, or the equivalent of two nuclear power reactors, per one degree Celsius drop in temperatures, double the demand surge seen 20 years ago.
Price spikes in France
While France was struggling with high demand, Germany, which houses 37% of the world's solar plants, relied on its growing renewable energy output and resurrected idled coal-fired plants to cover a rise in electricity demand. A spokesman for Amprion, Germany's largest high-voltage network, said the situation on the network was very tense. "Our colleagues are intervening on the network much more than usually, but everything is under control", he said.
By contrast, France, the world's most nuclear dependent nation which faces presidential elections in April, last week experienced supply tightness which led to dreaded price spikes predicted by experts. French day-ahead power for peakload delivery, the 0800-2000 CET period when demand is highest in the day, rose as high as 628 euros per MW ( MW) on the EPEX Spot electricity exchange on Feb. 9, more than four times higher than the previous day.
France's electricity demand has been reaching new record highs nearly every winter as 30% of homes use electric heaters and as many as 65% of new homes are heated using electricity. "One million mobile electric heaters are sold in France every year, give or take, especially in large spaces", said Jean Bergougnoux, a former chief executive of French energy giant EDF Energy, "Many of them are used during cold periods, in poorly heated locations and/or poorly insulated ones", he added. The government has defended high use of power for heating by arguing its nuclear power plants provide steady supply, but record prices have put this in doubt.
Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande has vowed to cut France's dependence on nuclear power and to shut down its oldest nuclear plant on the German border if elected, making nuclear power one of the main issues of the election campaign. In contrast, President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right government is trying to convince voters that nuclear power plants should run as long as possible nearly a year after the Fukushima disaster in Japan shook the world. The government on Monday published a report saying electricity bills would rise less in the years to come if the country prolongs the lifespan of its ageing nuclear reactors.
Concerns new guidelines are forcing wind farms out of Victoria
www.abc.net.au
17 Feb 2012
Six months after the Victorian Government brought in strict rules on wind farms, there are warnings the laws are forcing the industry out of the state. Since the guidelines were introduced no new wind farm energy projects have been proposed and the future of several existing projects is in doubt. There are fears Victoria will miss out on billions of dollars in investment and potentially force up the price of electricity.
Read more…
17 Feb 2012
Six months after the Victorian Government brought in strict rules on wind farms, there are warnings the laws are forcing the industry out of the state. Since the guidelines were introduced no new wind farm energy projects have been proposed and the future of several existing projects is in doubt. There are fears Victoria will miss out on billions of dollars in investment and potentially force up the price of electricity.
Read more…
Friday, 17 February 2012
ACT Govt starts solar farm process
www.canberratimes.com.au
27 Jan 2012
The process to choose a company to build a large solar-farm to generate electricity for the ACT has begun. The territory government has asked for tenders in an effort to select a power producer to build and operate the power station either in or near the territory. Environment Minister Simon Corbell said today that he expected the tender process would attract bids from companies who had the ability to deliver on the government's plans to create large-scale solar at the lowest cost.
"Companies will be able to submit proposals to establish solar facilities to support the development of up to 40 MWs of large-scale solar generation capacity", Mr Corbell said. "The request for proposal has been facilitated by the Electricity Feed-In (Large Scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011, enacted in December 2011, and allows for 40 GWs of generating capacity to be established in the first auction".
Potential producers would eventually vie to put together offers that would generate the 40 MWs of power to be fed into the territory's power grid at the lowest cost. But the first round of tenders would produce a shortlist of companies deemed to be capable of delivering the facility based on their expertise and their records in the industry. "This process will make sure Canberrans get the best value investment in renewable technology, but also see more than one large scale facility being established", the minister said.
27 Jan 2012
The process to choose a company to build a large solar-farm to generate electricity for the ACT has begun. The territory government has asked for tenders in an effort to select a power producer to build and operate the power station either in or near the territory. Environment Minister Simon Corbell said today that he expected the tender process would attract bids from companies who had the ability to deliver on the government's plans to create large-scale solar at the lowest cost.
"Companies will be able to submit proposals to establish solar facilities to support the development of up to 40 MWs of large-scale solar generation capacity", Mr Corbell said. "The request for proposal has been facilitated by the Electricity Feed-In (Large Scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011, enacted in December 2011, and allows for 40 GWs of generating capacity to be established in the first auction".
Potential producers would eventually vie to put together offers that would generate the 40 MWs of power to be fed into the territory's power grid at the lowest cost. But the first round of tenders would produce a shortlist of companies deemed to be capable of delivering the facility based on their expertise and their records in the industry. "This process will make sure Canberrans get the best value investment in renewable technology, but also see more than one large scale facility being established", the minister said.
Green groups fear wind rules are too restrictive
www.abc.net.au
14 Feb 2012
An environment group in central west New South Wales says proposed new rules for the development of wind farms in the state could be too restrictive. The state government held a meeting in Bathurst to brief residents about its draft planning guidelines, which are on public exhibition until March. Bob Hill from the Bathurst Community Climate Action Network was at the forum, and says there needs to be a balance between community concerns and the needs of the industry.
He says if the guidelines discourage wind companies it may affect renewable targets. "The government has goals of bringing 20% of energy from renewables by 2020 and if they're going to do that, I think they've got guidelines that are going to be too restrictive", he said. "There will be some discussion and debate and I hope that the department's open to that but at least they've put them out there, everybody can see them, everybody can comment".
He says it's imperative the guideline offer green companies some stability, rather than stifling investment in wind power. "It would be a real pity in New South Wales if they killed off one of the most important renewable industry's we've got", he said. "In South Australia at the moment for instance, 20% of the energy's generated by wind farms. "That's fantastic and it's the sort of thing that NSW should be aiming to do, but doing it in a way that made sure it respected the communities where those wind farms are placed.
14 Feb 2012
An environment group in central west New South Wales says proposed new rules for the development of wind farms in the state could be too restrictive. The state government held a meeting in Bathurst to brief residents about its draft planning guidelines, which are on public exhibition until March. Bob Hill from the Bathurst Community Climate Action Network was at the forum, and says there needs to be a balance between community concerns and the needs of the industry.
He says if the guidelines discourage wind companies it may affect renewable targets. "The government has goals of bringing 20% of energy from renewables by 2020 and if they're going to do that, I think they've got guidelines that are going to be too restrictive", he said. "There will be some discussion and debate and I hope that the department's open to that but at least they've put them out there, everybody can see them, everybody can comment".
He says it's imperative the guideline offer green companies some stability, rather than stifling investment in wind power. "It would be a real pity in New South Wales if they killed off one of the most important renewable industry's we've got", he said. "In South Australia at the moment for instance, 20% of the energy's generated by wind farms. "That's fantastic and it's the sort of thing that NSW should be aiming to do, but doing it in a way that made sure it respected the communities where those wind farms are placed.
Thousands march against nuclear power in Japan
www.cbsnews.com
11 Feb 2012
(AP) TOKYO--Thousands of Japanese people marched against nuclear power Saturday, amid growing worries about the restarting of reactors idled after the March 11 meltdown disaster in northeastern Japan. Holding "No Nukes" signs, people gathered at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo for a rally Saturday, including Nobel Prize-winning writer Kenzaburo Oe. The protesters then marched peacefully through the streets demanding Japan abandon atomic power.
"I'm worried there could be more nuclear accidents", said Misako Terada, a 54-year-old housewife. Last year's tsunami in northeastern Japan destroyed backup generators at Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, causing multiple meltdowns and setting off the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Protesters held a banner that said in Japanese, "Goodbye to nuclear power, call for 10 million people to act".
11 Feb 2012
(AP) TOKYO--Thousands of Japanese people marched against nuclear power Saturday, amid growing worries about the restarting of reactors idled after the March 11 meltdown disaster in northeastern Japan. Holding "No Nukes" signs, people gathered at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo for a rally Saturday, including Nobel Prize-winning writer Kenzaburo Oe. The protesters then marched peacefully through the streets demanding Japan abandon atomic power.
"I'm worried there could be more nuclear accidents", said Misako Terada, a 54-year-old housewife. Last year's tsunami in northeastern Japan destroyed backup generators at Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant, causing multiple meltdowns and setting off the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. Protesters held a banner that said in Japanese, "Goodbye to nuclear power, call for 10 million people to act".
www.bloomberg.com
10 Feb 2012
Japan's power sector will buy an additional 465,000 barrels of oil a day this year if all of its nuclear plants are idle after April, offsetting declines elsewhere in the nation, the International Energy Agency said. Total demand for oil in Japan may rise 0.9% this year to 4.5 million barrels a day, with the power sector consumption growing by an average of 320,000 barrels daily, the Paris-based IEA said in its monthly report. Japan's oil demand increased by 9.5% in December.
"The Japanese oil demand outlook remains highly uncertain, and the possibility of a 'no nuclear' capacity profile, at least for 2012, remains a real one", according to the report. "The incremental need for oil in the power sector offset contracting demand elsewhere in the economy and led to Japanese oil demand rising overall in 2011". Japan has three nuclear reactors operating with a capacity of 3,138 MWs, or 6.4% of the total, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News on Jan. 27.
10 Feb 2012
Japan's power sector will buy an additional 465,000 barrels of oil a day this year if all of its nuclear plants are idle after April, offsetting declines elsewhere in the nation, the International Energy Agency said. Total demand for oil in Japan may rise 0.9% this year to 4.5 million barrels a day, with the power sector consumption growing by an average of 320,000 barrels daily, the Paris-based IEA said in its monthly report. Japan's oil demand increased by 9.5% in December.
"The Japanese oil demand outlook remains highly uncertain, and the possibility of a 'no nuclear' capacity profile, at least for 2012, remains a real one", according to the report. "The incremental need for oil in the power sector offset contracting demand elsewhere in the economy and led to Japanese oil demand rising overall in 2011". Japan has three nuclear reactors operating with a capacity of 3,138 MWs, or 6.4% of the total, according to data compiled by Bloomberg News on Jan. 27.
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Australian company seeks to expand geothermal energy in Chile
www.santiagotimes.cl
9 Feb 2012
(Chile) Hot Rock has invested US$50 million over the past five years for exploration, development. A belt of active and dormant volcanoes in Chile has become a hot spot for foreign investment from Australia in clean geothermal energy. "In this emerging industry we see it as very exciting, we are very pleased to be in Chile and we can see geothermal energy here moving forward to generation within the next five years", Mark Elliot from Australian geothermal company Hot Rock said.
Hot Rock, in a joint venture with Energy Development Cooperation (EDC), has invested over US$50 million in the last five years in future projects, and that figure is set to rise. Historically, the Chilean power market has been well supplied with electricity from hydroelectric power and imported natural gas from Argentina. However, Chile has had to deal with less hydroelectric resources recently due to the drier weather conditions. There have also been interruptions in natural gas supplies from Argentina to Chile due to Argentina's own shortage of gas.
"This has put the local market in a power crisis and made the Chilean government understand the importance of energy security", Elliot said. "When you consider that Chile has a large number of volcanoes, which are essential to forming geothermal power, it´s an opportunity that is sitting in front of them to use clean base load energy".
Geothermal energy is recognized as a renewable energy source with little greenhouse emissions capable of base load power, meaning it operates continuously. Hot Rock has identified 300 potential geothermal areas, including areas southeast of Santiago and northeast of Antofagasta. These areas show Chile has huge potential in developing volcanic geothermal resources for electricity generation. They started exploring for geothermal projects in Chile in 2008 and now with EDC are planning to complete exploration within the next three to four years and start construction in the fourth year.
Elliot said 200 jobs would be created for Chileans to work in the plant construction process alone. "We have employed people to work for us in Chile and can employ a further 20 to 30 people per plant after construction is finished", he said. "Secondary businesses can be set up as spin offs from geothermal projects, as the fluid used in the process can be recycled later in the agricultural industry to create more jobs".
Juan Pablo Orrego from Ecosistemas, an environmental NGO in Chile, said geothermal energy is good but should be combined with other sources of energy. "Geothermal energy plays an important role in a country full of volcanoes, but we want to see it on a smaller scale combined with solar and wind-producing energy", he said. Elliot, however, said geothermal energy is more efficient compared to other renewable energy sources. "Geothermal can be operated 24 hours a day 7 days a week as opposed to solar power, which operates 25% of the time due to its reliance on the sun", Elliot said. "Wind power only operates at 30%".
Geothermal energy is produced extracting the natural internal heat of the earth to create electricity. The volcanoes in Chile heat ground water to more than 392° Fahrenheit. This water can be used as an energy source and is fed from drill holes into a power plant to drive a steam turbine and generator to produce electricity. The growth of this industry has not been without its growing pains. Elliot said some local landowners and some politicians have presented obstacles. "Some politicians are not totally committed. In some cases the landowners are not allowing us to explore and the Chilean government is aware of this and we hope they will do something about it", Elliot said. "Otherwise it will be a lot slower getting this energy into the grid".
Orrego said many locals distrust authorities and resist change. If the companies investing in the area want respect, then Orrego believes that the locals need to be involved. Often times they have not benefited from large power plants. "By instinct these people are in opposition to other ways of providing energy. The system is bias toward hydroelectric energy", Orrego said. Elliot said the locals would not be overlooked in the operation of the plants. "We feel the local people are important to our projects. We want to involve them and let them know what is happening in their country", he said.
Meanwhile, Elliot hopes that Chilean authorities and landowners see the potential geothermal energy has in Chile. "The government can lose some of the investment and interest that is going on in Chile because there are other countries such as Kenya and Peru which have potential and are keen to see it developed", Elliot said. Hot Rock completed a due diligence report in January 2011 to show the relevancy for geothermal power plants in these regions. The report says the company is the largest holder of volcanic geothermal projects in Chile and Peru.
Two of the places it lists as potential areas for future projects are the Puntas Negras Volcono, Antofagasta, North of Santiago and the Villarica Volcano in the lakes district in Southern Chile. According to Hot Rock, no other geothermal prospects have yet been developed for electricity use in Chile. "The international geothermal exploration community have recognized the potential in Chile, and have wanted to take up projects to explore to help them with that development so we will be carrying out drilling and anticipating discovery of geothermal resources there", Elliot said.
9 Feb 2012
(Chile) Hot Rock has invested US$50 million over the past five years for exploration, development. A belt of active and dormant volcanoes in Chile has become a hot spot for foreign investment from Australia in clean geothermal energy. "In this emerging industry we see it as very exciting, we are very pleased to be in Chile and we can see geothermal energy here moving forward to generation within the next five years", Mark Elliot from Australian geothermal company Hot Rock said.Hot Rock, in a joint venture with Energy Development Cooperation (EDC), has invested over US$50 million in the last five years in future projects, and that figure is set to rise. Historically, the Chilean power market has been well supplied with electricity from hydroelectric power and imported natural gas from Argentina. However, Chile has had to deal with less hydroelectric resources recently due to the drier weather conditions. There have also been interruptions in natural gas supplies from Argentina to Chile due to Argentina's own shortage of gas.
"This has put the local market in a power crisis and made the Chilean government understand the importance of energy security", Elliot said. "When you consider that Chile has a large number of volcanoes, which are essential to forming geothermal power, it´s an opportunity that is sitting in front of them to use clean base load energy".
Geothermal energy is recognized as a renewable energy source with little greenhouse emissions capable of base load power, meaning it operates continuously. Hot Rock has identified 300 potential geothermal areas, including areas southeast of Santiago and northeast of Antofagasta. These areas show Chile has huge potential in developing volcanic geothermal resources for electricity generation. They started exploring for geothermal projects in Chile in 2008 and now with EDC are planning to complete exploration within the next three to four years and start construction in the fourth year.
Elliot said 200 jobs would be created for Chileans to work in the plant construction process alone. "We have employed people to work for us in Chile and can employ a further 20 to 30 people per plant after construction is finished", he said. "Secondary businesses can be set up as spin offs from geothermal projects, as the fluid used in the process can be recycled later in the agricultural industry to create more jobs".
Juan Pablo Orrego from Ecosistemas, an environmental NGO in Chile, said geothermal energy is good but should be combined with other sources of energy. "Geothermal energy plays an important role in a country full of volcanoes, but we want to see it on a smaller scale combined with solar and wind-producing energy", he said. Elliot, however, said geothermal energy is more efficient compared to other renewable energy sources. "Geothermal can be operated 24 hours a day 7 days a week as opposed to solar power, which operates 25% of the time due to its reliance on the sun", Elliot said. "Wind power only operates at 30%".
Geothermal energy is produced extracting the natural internal heat of the earth to create electricity. The volcanoes in Chile heat ground water to more than 392° Fahrenheit. This water can be used as an energy source and is fed from drill holes into a power plant to drive a steam turbine and generator to produce electricity. The growth of this industry has not been without its growing pains. Elliot said some local landowners and some politicians have presented obstacles. "Some politicians are not totally committed. In some cases the landowners are not allowing us to explore and the Chilean government is aware of this and we hope they will do something about it", Elliot said. "Otherwise it will be a lot slower getting this energy into the grid".
Orrego said many locals distrust authorities and resist change. If the companies investing in the area want respect, then Orrego believes that the locals need to be involved. Often times they have not benefited from large power plants. "By instinct these people are in opposition to other ways of providing energy. The system is bias toward hydroelectric energy", Orrego said. Elliot said the locals would not be overlooked in the operation of the plants. "We feel the local people are important to our projects. We want to involve them and let them know what is happening in their country", he said.
Meanwhile, Elliot hopes that Chilean authorities and landowners see the potential geothermal energy has in Chile. "The government can lose some of the investment and interest that is going on in Chile because there are other countries such as Kenya and Peru which have potential and are keen to see it developed", Elliot said. Hot Rock completed a due diligence report in January 2011 to show the relevancy for geothermal power plants in these regions. The report says the company is the largest holder of volcanic geothermal projects in Chile and Peru.
Two of the places it lists as potential areas for future projects are the Puntas Negras Volcono, Antofagasta, North of Santiago and the Villarica Volcano in the lakes district in Southern Chile. According to Hot Rock, no other geothermal prospects have yet been developed for electricity use in Chile. "The international geothermal exploration community have recognized the potential in Chile, and have wanted to take up projects to explore to help them with that development so we will be carrying out drilling and anticipating discovery of geothermal resources there", Elliot said.
New battery could lead to cheaper, more efficient solar energy
www.physorg.com
9 Feb 2012
A joint research project between the University of Southampton and lithium battery technology company REAPsystems has found that a new type of battery has the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power.
The research project, sponsored by REAPsystems, was led by MSc Sustainable Energy Technologies student, Yue Wu and his supervisors Dr Carlos Ponce de Leon, Professor Tom Markvart and Dr John Low (currently working at the University's Research Institute for Industry, RIfI). The study looked specifically into the use of lithium batteries as an energy storage device in photovoltaic systems.
Student Yue Wu says, "Lead acid batteries are traditionally the energy storage device used for most photovoltaic systems. However, as an energy storage device, lithium batteries, especially the LiFePO4 batteries we used, have more favourable characteristics". Data was collected by connecting a lithium iron phosphate battery to a photovoltaic system attached to one of the University's buildings, using a specifically designed battery management system supplied by REAPsystems.
Yue adds, "the research showed that the lithium battery has an energy efficiency of 95% whereas the lead-acid batteries commonly used today only have around 80%. The weight of the lithium batteries is lower and they have a longer life span than the lead-acid batteries reaching up to 1,600 charge/discharge cycles, meaning they would need to be replaced less frequently".
Although the battery will require further testing before being put into commercial photovoltaic systems the research has shown that the LiFePO4 battery has the potential to improve the efficiency of solar power systems and help to reduce the costs of both their installation and upkeep. Dr Carlos Ponce de Leon and Dr. John Low now plan to take this project further with a new cohort of Masters students.
Dr Dennis Doerffel, founder of REAPsystems and former researcher at the University of Southampton, says: "For all kinds of energy source (renewable or non-renewable), the energy storage device-such as a battery-plays an important role in determining the energy utilisation. Compared with traditional lead acid batteries, LiFePO4 batteries are more efficient, have a longer lifetime, are lighter and cost less per unit. We can see the potential of this battery being used widely in photovoltaic application, and other renewable energy systems".
9 Feb 2012
A joint research project between the University of Southampton and lithium battery technology company REAPsystems has found that a new type of battery has the potential to improve the efficiency and reduce the cost of solar power.
The research project, sponsored by REAPsystems, was led by MSc Sustainable Energy Technologies student, Yue Wu and his supervisors Dr Carlos Ponce de Leon, Professor Tom Markvart and Dr John Low (currently working at the University's Research Institute for Industry, RIfI). The study looked specifically into the use of lithium batteries as an energy storage device in photovoltaic systems.
Student Yue Wu says, "Lead acid batteries are traditionally the energy storage device used for most photovoltaic systems. However, as an energy storage device, lithium batteries, especially the LiFePO4 batteries we used, have more favourable characteristics". Data was collected by connecting a lithium iron phosphate battery to a photovoltaic system attached to one of the University's buildings, using a specifically designed battery management system supplied by REAPsystems.
Yue adds, "the research showed that the lithium battery has an energy efficiency of 95% whereas the lead-acid batteries commonly used today only have around 80%. The weight of the lithium batteries is lower and they have a longer life span than the lead-acid batteries reaching up to 1,600 charge/discharge cycles, meaning they would need to be replaced less frequently".
Although the battery will require further testing before being put into commercial photovoltaic systems the research has shown that the LiFePO4 battery has the potential to improve the efficiency of solar power systems and help to reduce the costs of both their installation and upkeep. Dr Carlos Ponce de Leon and Dr. John Low now plan to take this project further with a new cohort of Masters students.
Dr Dennis Doerffel, founder of REAPsystems and former researcher at the University of Southampton, says: "For all kinds of energy source (renewable or non-renewable), the energy storage device-such as a battery-plays an important role in determining the energy utilisation. Compared with traditional lead acid batteries, LiFePO4 batteries are more efficient, have a longer lifetime, are lighter and cost less per unit. We can see the potential of this battery being used widely in photovoltaic application, and other renewable energy systems".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)