Antinuclear

Cairns Evolve Energy has evolved a renewable energy + jobs plan for Far North Queensland

The Tropical North Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan developed strategies to see 2500 people employed in the industry by 2020.

Cairns energy costs could be lowered the natural way, Cairns, Caitlin Guilfoyle , June 8, 2013  SUGAR cane, wind and sunshine – it sounds more like a weekend away but experts reckons these natural resources could pull the Far North out of an electricity crisis…… experts say theFar North should take advantage of the region’s natural surrounds to harness renewable energy and ultimately cut back on spending.

Cairns’ Evolve Energy prepared the Tropical North Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan for the State Government last year, which detailed strategies to ramp up renewable energy use in the region.

Evolve Energy director David Smyth said increasing renewable energy
such as biomass would benefit the Far North in many ways but it would
rely on community and Government support.

“We think there is definitely an opportunity for different renewable
energy to reduce electricity prices,” he said……. The problem with
Queensland is the existing electricity utilities are Government-owned
corporations so they are not in favour of people producing their own
energy.”
James Cook University associate professor in power engineering Ahmad
Zahedi said it would be viable for consumers to install their own
solar systems at home but the current electricity network could not
support a large-scale farm.
“The state of Queensland must be number one in turning sun energy into
electricity and with the price drop of solar panels, which is
one-fifth compared to ten years back, it makes sense to generate your
own electricity,” he said.
“The problem in Queensland is if you build a wind or solar farm, the
electricity network is not able to absorb the power. The network is
weak and upgrading it would cost billions of dollars.”
Professor Zahedi said he thought installing a wind-farm would be more
effective toward the Cape instead of on the Tablelands.
“I have visited a wind farm on the Tablelands but if you want to make
it economical you need to move a little bit further up, you would find
a windier site toward the Cape,” he said.
More than 700 people currently work in the renewable energy industry
in this region.
pi1154 en The Tropical North Queensland Renewable Energy Industry Development Plan developed strategies to see 2500 people employed in the industry by 2020.
Quick facts
-About 5800 residents in the Cairns region have solar at home.
-People with solar receive either a 44c or 8c per kilowatt hour rebate
from the Government, depending on when they applied for installation.
-The Barron Gorge hydroelectric power station saves about 260,000
tonnes of greenhouse gas per year, the equivalent of 660,000 light
bulbs.
-A wind farm is proposed at Mt Emerald.
http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2013/06/08/243598_local-news.html

June 8, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | energy, Queensland