Some surprising trends in Australia’s large scale electricity generation
Australia’s renewable energy map – off-grid, it’s another story By Giles Parkinson on 16 November 2012
The Bureau of Research and Resource Economics this week released an update on Australia’s large scale electricity generation – what has just been built, what is been built, and what’s in the pipeline.
It’s a useful update, but it highlights some surprising trends, and some lost opportunities.
It notes, for instance, that of the 20 large scale plants under construction, all but six are in renewable energy. 
And of those six gas fired and coal fired plants that are being built, only one – Eraring Energy’s 240MW expansion in NSW – is connected to the National Electricity market
The others are located either in WA’s own market, or in off-grid and mini-grid locations around major mining areas – Queensland’s Mt Isa, the Pilbara region in WA, and the Northern Territory. The irony here is that these developments are mostly high-cost and are in areas that should afford renewables such as wind and solar the best chance of deployment on an economic basis. The fact that it hasn’t is one of the main problems that Greg Bourne is trying to address as chairman of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
You’d think that miners – given their profits – and the high cost of energy in remote locations would be enthusiastic supporters, but it seems they need to have a subsidized example before they embrace the idea.
The fossil fuel component of the new build accounts for just less than one third of the 3,017MW of plant under construction, and about a similar share of the cost.
Of the renewables projects, most are in wind (just one in solar), and half are in Victoria, despite that state’s blustering about renewable energy and it’s dangers on health and amenity…. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/australias-renewable-energy-map-off-grid-its-another-story-10111
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) promoting regional renewables
ARENA’s regional outlook; Solar Dawn discontinued, http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/arena/078757/ , 16 November 2012 A new program to increase renewable energy uptake in regional and remote areas of Australia has been announced by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, as part of its inaugural General Funding Strategy and Investment Plan for 2012-15 .
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) also announced that it will no longer pursue development of the 250 MW Solar Dawn project in Queensland.
ARENA Chair Greg Bourne said the General Funding Strategy and accompanying Investment Plan for 2012-15 includes strategic, supporting and complementary initiatives to drive long-term change. Continue reading
Australian govt puts the brakes on rooftop solar, after intense lobbying by fossil fuel utilities
for most Australians from January 1, there will be virtually no additional subsidies for rooftop solar PV installations.
The solar industry was stunned by the move and still had not figured out its implications.
the decision also comes after intense public lobbying from utilities and generators, particularly Origin Energy
Canberra brings early end to rooftop Solar Credits scheme http://reneweconomy.com.au/2012/canberra-brings-early-end-to-rooftop-solar-credits-scheme-97164 By Giles Parkinson 16 November 2012The Federal Government has announced the early closure of its Solar Credits scheme, meaning that rooftop solar PV installations will receive only one renewable energy certificate for every megawatt hour of electricity produced from January 1.
The closure of the scheme, six months early, is the second time the government has intervened in the program, which was originally intended to end in 2015. Last year, it announced that the closure was being brought forward by 12 months. Continue reading
Japanese anti nuclear blogger’s home raided by police
http://enenews.com/report-anti-nuclear-blogger-home-raided-police-computer-equipment-seizedNovember
Title: Anti-nuclear protest blogger’s home raided by police, computer equipment seized Source: Japan Daily Press Author: Adam Westlake November 15, 2012
Anti-nuclear protest blogger’s home raided by police, computer equipment seized
Yuzuru Kaneko, a blogger who has been filming the anti-nuclear protests in Fukui Prefecture, had his home raided by police on October 1st in order to search for evidence of potential demonstrators who had committed crimes. […]
On June 30th [… an] activist there that day was later arrested in September, accused of damaging property, threat and assault at the gate, and causinginjury. In order to gain more evidence, the police searched Kaneko’s home, despite he having no relation to the man arrested, and seized all of his computer equipment, cameras, and memory cards. His property was still un-returned on November 5th when his supporters began pressuring the authorities to return Kaneko’s equipment, which they stated they would on November 8th.
Fukui Prefecture is home to Japan’s only operating nuclear power plant.
Electricity from sugar power at Mackay, Queensland – AUDIO
AUDIO Mackay running on sugar power http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201211/s3633288.htm By Michael Cavanagh, 15/11/2012 From today, 30 per cent of the electricity needs of Mackay on Queensland’s central coast will be supplied by the Racecourse Sugar Mill located on the city’s outskirts.
The bagasse, or sugar waste, has long been used to power the mill’s operations. Now, with the use of more efficient boilers and a newsteam turbine generator, the excess will be pushed into the town’s electricity grid.
Mackay Sugar is one of Australia’s top 500 carbon emitters. Business development manager John Hodgson says this is a further reason to move away from more traditional power.
“So we have a liability for those emissions and we desperately want to get off that list of high emitters so that is another big incentive to displace coal with stored bagasse.”
The Racecourse Mill cogeneration project is costing around $120 million. A small part of this is government funding, with the bulk coming from Mackay Sugar.
The man with his hand on the purse is Mackay Sugar CEO Quinton Hildebrand. He says it’s a “good commercial venture” with an expected “payback” over the next six years. Mackay Sugar receives payments on a monthly basis, which are calculated on the power exported.
Alice Springs water supply from aquifer is dwindling
This is a very bad omen for the water intensive uranium mining industry – C.M.
Talks focus on alternative Alice water supplies http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-15/talks-focus-on-alternative-alice-water-supplies/4373848 By Ruby Jones Nov 15, 2012 The deputy director of the National Centre for Groundwater Research says alternative water supplies need to be found for Alice Springs.
Peter Cook says the aquifer that provides the town’s fresh water supply is being drawn down. Professor Cook says the centre is negotiating with the Northern Territory Government on investigating alternatives.
“We’ve had some very preliminary discussions with the Territory Government about whether we should develop a project to look at the options for future water supplies for Alice Springs because I’m aware that the current aquifer …. [is being] drawn down and there is a need to look for alternative supplies for the future,” he said.
“We’re already doing some work in the Ti Tree [area] and we’re keen to do some more work in Alice Springs and where there might potentially be new supplies.
“We would definitely expect what we learn in Ti Tree would really help us understand better what happens in Alice Springs and other aquifers in central Australia.”
Climate denial, anti wind power zeal, driving Britain’s Conservative Party
Anti-wind zeal already runs through the party…… the objections of many Tories suggest a deeper animus, fuelled by Euroscepticism, climate-change denial
Mr Cameron made a windpower sceptic, John Hayes, energy minister, and appointed yet another, Owen Paterson, as environment secretary.
as turbines get bigger and more efficient, the costs for operating and maintaining them are falling
Wind farms and renewable energy A lot of hot air The government’s energy policy gets mired in politics
http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21566680-governments-energy-policy-gets-mired-politics-lot-hot-air Nov 17th 2012 THE hatred some Conservative MPs feel for windmills is amazing. Continue reading
The economic meltdown of USA’s nuclear industry
Exelon, the largest nuclear plant owner in the US had a disastrous 3rd quarter. The company’s profits dropped a staggering 51%. Even when sales rebounded in 2009 their income continued to drop
Just about every instance involved economics to some extent. The costs to repair and continue running the reactor vs. the profits from selling power became an unprofitable equation
US Nuclear Industry Meltdown, Simply Info November 14th, 2012 The issues have been lining up for a perfect storm of problems for the nuclear industry lately. It wasn’t just Fukushima that turned the industry on it’s head, many other factors have rocked the industry.
Ft. Calhoun nuclear station in Nebraska that has been shut down since April 2011 when a Missouri river flood threatened the safety of the plant. Continue reading
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