Canberra’s drive for 100% renewable energy by 2020
Canberra Shooting For 90% Renewable Energy By 2020 http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3387 by Energy Matters, 19 Sept 12 The ACT Government has set a goal of 90% of the Territory’s electricity being sourced from renewables by 2020.
The Government has also set the most ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets in Australia, committing to a goal of zero net emissions by 2060 and a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.
An updated paper detailing the plans, Weathering the Change – ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2025, details 18 actions to be undertaken. Among them is an increased focus on renewables; including wind and solar power.
The plan states a major barrier to deployment of renewables in the ACT currently is a lack of publicly accessible information on the ability of the Territory’s electricity distribution network to cope with additional generation capacity. One the first steps needed in order for Canberra to attain its lofty goal is for the government to develop detailed mapping of these resources.
Making a significant contribution to the target will be the recently announced 20MW Royalla FV Solar Farm, a facility that will consist of approximately 83,000solar panels; and other similar projects are expected to be constructed between now and 2020.
Should Canberra reach its goal, the impact on carbon emissions will see a reduction of 1,471,000 tonnes of carbon equivalent in 2020. Canberra already has a healthy show of solar in the form of home solar panel systems, with uptake being supported by a feed in tariff incentive. Owners of systems are paid the same rate as their electricity supply tariff for surplus power exported to the mains grid.
According to Energy Matters, a 4kW system installed in Canberra can generate electricity bill savings exceeding $1,000 a year.
The updated Weathering the Change – ACT Climate Change Strategy 2007 – 2025 paper can be viewed here (PDF).
Australian Capital Territory leads with big solar, AND decentralised solar energy
Canberra Goes Solar In A Big Way http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_pag news_article&article_id=3371 by Energy Matters, 6 Sept 12, Spanish company FRV has been awarded a project to develop a 20MW solar panel based electricity generation facility in the Australian Capital Territory.
The FRV Royalla Solar Farm will be constructed 23 kilometres south of Canberra’s CBD and will consist of approximately 83,000 solar panels – the largest facility of its kind to date in Australia. Royalla Solar Farm will generate enough electricity to supply the power needs of around 4,500 homes and avoid over half a million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions during its serviceable life.
Country Manager of FRV Australia said the project represents an important step in the company’s long term commitment in Australia. The Australian Solar Council welcomed the announcement by the A.C.T. Government.
“This is a landmark day for Big Solar in Australia”, said John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Australian Solar Council.
“Australia’s clean energy future has arrived in Canberra…Solar is increasingly taking on coal-fired power on price.”
“Big solar plants will increasingly meet Australia’s peak power energy needs, and today’s announcement by the A.C.T. Government is a window into Australia’s solar future.”
Mr. Grimes also congratulated the ACT Government for “delivering Big Solar at low cost and at breakneck speed.”
ACT Environment Minister Simon Corbell said the project would make Canberra the solar capital of Australia – and at a low cost. “The Government’s reverse auction process is about getting the cheapest price for the best amount of renewable energy generation, and today we’ve delivered on that,” he said.
Construction is due to begin in 2013 and is expected to be finished in 2014, subject to relevant approvals. FRV states it has fully developed more than 360 MW of renewables capacity globally and has participated in the development of over 2,750 MW at different stages.
Bidding for the ACT project occurred under a reverse auction model. According to RenewEconomy’s Giles Parkinson, reverse auctions are already being deployed successfully in some of the world’s biggest energy markets, including India.
In addition to support for Big Solar, the ACT also encourages home solar power through a feed in tariff incentive. Surplus electricity generated by home systems is purchased by ActewAGL Retail at the customer’s electricity tariff rate.
According to national solar solutions provider Energy Matters, a 3kW solar panel system installed in Canberra can generate a financial benefit of nearly $800 a year.
Wind farm at Collector supported, despite one small “astroturf” group’s opposition
Wind farm claims local supporters, Canberra Times, July 27, 2012, John Thistleton Proponents of a $400 million, 68-turbine wind farm at Collector say most of the village residents support the project, which has moved a step closer to approval.
RATCH-Australia is expected to take two years building the region’s latest wind farm near the Federal Highway at Collector. It will generate up to 228 megawatts of electricity, or enough energy to power around 80,000 homes annually.
Chief executive Steve Loxton said the 60-day public exhibition period represented the culmination of years of research.
”Our surveys of local Collector residents confirm that there is strong support for renewable energy Continue reading
Lest we forget – the history of Australia’s Aboriginal tent embassy
Lease of ‘own land’ was impetus for campaign, Canberra Times, BY BREANNA TUCKER 28 Jan, 2012 It was pitch black in the earliest hours of the morning the minute the tent embassy was born.
About 1am on January 26, 1972, four Aboriginal men from Sydney had pitched a beach umbrella on the lawns of Old Parliament House and waited for the sun to rise so they could declare a new ”embassy” for Canberra.
The Koori men – Billie Craigie, Tony Coorie, Michael Anderson and Bert Williams – claimed to be ”aliens in our own land” after the federal government of the day announced a land rights policy suggesting Aboriginal people take out 50-year leases on land parcels they believed already belonged to them. A mate of the crew, Aboriginal activist Chicka Dixon, later said the men decided that if their country would not treat them fairly, they would establish an embassy to fight for their rights as foreigners.
”I … joined them on the Friday. The Member for the ACT, Kep Enderby, informed me that there was no legislation under the federal Act to remove campers, so we put up eight tents and gave ourselves portfolios,” he said. ”A dear, kind lady from Canberra gave us a big blue tent which became the official tent embassy.
”Like all embassies we needed a flag, so Harold Thomas, [designer of the Aboriginal flag] from Adelaide, gave us his flag to fly.” The creation of the tent embassy became the trigger for what would become a controversial 40-year campaign for Aboriginal rights…
.. The embassy was pulled down by authorities and re-established by demonstrators time and time again, moving from Old Parliament House to an army corporal’s home in Red Hill, across to Capital Hill and back to its roots at Old Parliament House.
The tent embassy has recorded several victories with the creation of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, the negotiation of an Aboriginal rights treaty and a National Heritage Listing that made the camp the only nationally recognised site for the political struggle of Aboriginal people. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/lease-of-own-land-was-impetus-for-campaign/2435783.aspx
Australia Day fracas: police violence rather than Aboriginal “riot”?
“[One officer] can be seen in footage that has now emerged attacking at least two different protesters, none of whom were aggressive towards him. He also uses foul language, including using the c-word at a cameraman and telling media to f— off. That is not the actions of a professional police officer. “Indeed Aboriginal people are arrested for that sort of conduct every
single day.”
Call to investigate police after tent embassy protest, SMH, Saffron Howden January 31, 2012 Indigenous groups are calling for an independent investigation into the “violent” conduct of police officers during last week’s tent embassy protest. The NSW Aboriginal Land Council asked the Human Rights Commission to investigate as new video footage emerged today depicting federal police officers yelling, swearing and using physical force after Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott were rushed from The Lobby restaurant in Canberra last week. Continue reading
Australian media distorts Aboriginals’ peaceful protest – what a load of anti-Aboriginal spin!
Gillard and Abbott were never really threatened by aboriginal protestors, Independent Australia, 26 Jan 2012 The official account portrays Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott as being attacked by violent aboriginal demonstrators today in Canberra. Present at the demonstrations was John Passant — who paints a rather different picture of events. Lunching at the appropriately named Porkbarrel Café for an awards ceremony, Gillard and Abbott became the target of a large crowd of demonstrators from the nearby Tent Embassy 40th year commemoration. Earlier that morning, 2,000 of us had gathered at the Australian National University for a welcome, some talks, rap and dancing before marching up to Parliament House and then on to the Tent Embassy at Old Parliament House….. Soon about 200 of the demonstrators moved from the Tent Embassy commemoration to the café to tell Abbott what they thought of him.
There was a bit of banging on the glass walls. The chants started as “Shame, shame!” and “Racists, racists” and then became a steady “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.” This is a truth the one per cent and their paid mouthpieces, Gillard and Abbott, cannot acknowledge, let alone address.
The cops reacted as they always do when confronted by angry Aboriginal people. The riot squad and the Prime Minister’s protection unit brutalised the crowd to clear a path for Gillard and Abbott, ….
Then the cops tried to wreak their vengeance on the crowd – an Aboriginal crowd and their supporters – for having dared to protest against these two representatives of the mining companies that are stealing Aboriginal land. Together in a line, they walked slowly towards the protestors chanting ‘Move, move, move’ and in one case, shoved a pepper spray bottle into a demonstrators’ face….. The demonstration was a reminder that polite conversation isn’t going to shift entrenched capitalist interests and their representatives in the Parliament. It might give you fake constitutional changes but not land rights, not sovereignty, not a treaty…. http://www.independentaustralia.net/2012/politics/gillard-and-abbott-were-never-really-threatened-by-aboriginal-protestors/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=IA+Newsletter
Tent Embassy spokesman Pal Coe made a point largely lost in the media coverage today, which is that Warren Mundine and Mick Gooda don’t speak for those involved, much less for Aboriginal Australia as a whole
The Mob Violence That Wasn’t New Matilda.com, By Ben Eltham , 28 Jan, 12, The media has framed it as violent but the tent embassy protest was basically peaceful. It’s this gross distortion – and the heavy-handed response of the AFP – that warrant criticism, writes Ben Eltham
Somehow, with the strange alchemy that the media seems to summon, the dominant angle of reporting about yesterday’s Australia Day kerfuffle involving the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition has been to condemn it as a violent protest.
“Indigenous leaders condemn ‘disgraceful’ protesters” is how the ABC has beendescribing it and much of the Fairfax press has carried similar stories. The television networks have, of course, reveled in the dramatic footage. Channel 9’s news report from last night, which carried the inside-the-restaurant footage of the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader conferring on whether to evacuate, repeatedly framed the protest in emotive terms like “violent”, “raging”, “angry mob”, under siege” and so on.
Few media outlets seem to have asked whether there was in fact any violence from protesters. The available video and eyewitness evidence suggests that the violence came mainly from police and security staff. Yes, there was chanting, Yes, there was banging on the windows of local restaurant The Lobby.
But were the protesters really “violent”? Continue reading
Australia’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy – a renewed drive for Aboriginal rights
Michael Anderson is preparing to launch a legal campaign to overturn the lie of peaceful British colonial settlement of Australia. This legal action will establish beyond dispute that Aboriginal people never ceded our sovereign rights over this land.
This legal challenge will be taken to the international community. We need to seek a binding treaty to fully recognise our rights. This will recognise our demands for comprehensive land rights and an end to mining on our land…..
Aboriginals of Australia: Tent Embassy Celebrates 40 – Year Anniversary Unrepresented Nations and people’s Organisation (UNPO) 16 Jan 12, On January 16, Activists and supports came together to celebrate the achievements of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
Few Australian political protests can claim to have made an impact as great or as lasting as the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. First set up on the lawns of Old Parliament House in January 1972, the embassy has been a focal point for the struggle for Aboriginal rights.
Four Aboriginal men, Michael Anderson, Billie Craigie, Tony Koorie and Bertie Williams, launched the embassy in response to then-prime minister Billy McMahon’s refusal to grant Aboriginal land rights. Instead, McMahon had offered to lease stolen land back to Aboriginal people. Continue reading
Australian Capital Territory legislates for solar feed in tariff
ACT passes large solar scheme, ABC News, By Kathleen Dyett December 09, 2011 The ACT Government has passed legislation to set-up Australia first large-scale solar feed-in tariff scheme. It will support renewable energy projects with a total capacity of up to 210 megawatts, with the first 40 megawatts to be allocated via an auction.
Large solar facilities that generate 2 megawatts or more will be the first to take part in the auction. The Liberals have slammed the scheme as costly and ineffective. But the Greens negotiated some changes before backing the bill.
Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury says he is happy with the outcome. “The two amendments we’ve agreed with the Government are to first of all ensure that the developments take place within the Australian capital region,” he said.
“The second is to open it up to systems above 200 kilowatts which will predominantly go on rooftops. “We want to make the most of the many rooftops around Canberra that could be used to generate clean, green energy.” http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-09/act-large-solar-tariff-scheme/3721884?section=act
Australian Capital Territory will have solar feed in tariff for both small and commercial systems
Small scale solar power in Canberra is also still being supported through a 1:1feed in tariff. Solar households in Canberra and the A.C.T are rewarded for any surplus electricity generated by their systems; which is purchased by ActewAGL Retail at the customer’s electricity tariff rate.
Big Solar To Benefit From Feed In Tariffs In Canberra, by Energy Matters, 17 Nov 11 The ACT Labor Government will today table legislation in the Territory’s Legislative Assembly to support development of large scale solar power facilities in Canberra. Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development Simon Corbell says the Electricity Feed In (Large Scale Renewable Energy Generation) Bill 2011 is the first time a feed in tariff for commercial scale solar power has been proposed by an Australian government.
“The Bill establishes the framework for a feed in tariff ‘reverse auction’ to award support for at least two large scale solar generation plants capable of powering 7000 Canberra homes. This reverse auction process will require companies to provide a detailed proposal to the ACT Government about how they can provide the greatest amount of renewable energy at the lowest cost to Canberrans.” Continue reading
Electric cars will boost Australia’s renewable energy development
Australia group says Electric Vehicles charging can help jump-start renewables, Recharge,by Oliver Wagg, 13 june 11A nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network roll-out can act as a significant driver of renewable energy demand, says Better Place Australia after unveiling a landmark supply deal with the Australian Capital Territory’s utility ActewAGL. Continue reading
Renewable energy, electric cars,it’s all happening in Australian Capital Territory
….. Canberra is also expected to become home to electric cars, with charging points to be installed around the ACT, ActewAGL and Better Place Australia signed an agreement worth about $60 million over 10 years during the week, sealing the largest renewable energy deal of its kind in Australia. The energy will be drawn from generation sources such as wind, hydro and solar.
Boom in renewable energy, Waste management World, The Canberra Times (Australia), June 12, 2011 The ACT region is leading the way in innovative power generation, JULIEANNE STRACHAN and MICHAEL INMAN write, CANBERRA has the potential to claim the crown as the renewable energy capital of Australia, but the rewards will need to be there for consumers and big businesses to make it happen, industry experts say. Continue reading
Australia’s Parliament House going solar
Solar power plan for Parliament House, Canberra Times, BY DANIELLE CRONIN, 17 Jan, 2011 Solar panels will be installed on Parliament House’s roof as part of an effort to find long-term solutions to the building’s energy needs, according to a senior official.Parliament’s cooling and heating systems were 22 years old and would need to be replaced in a few years, Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Alan Thompson said.At the same time, the department was looking at alternative energy sources such as wind and solar…..Solar power plan for Parliament House – Local News – News – General – The Canberra Times
Variety of renewable energy growing in regional Australia
In the past year, wind power generated almost 5000 GWh of electricity enough to power more than 700,000 homes.
Clean energy powers up in ACT region, waste-management-world, John Thistleton; Business EditorCanberra Times (Australia)December 23, 2010 From mini-hydro power stations on our water storages to $100million wind turbines, the ACT region is making a growing contribution to the nation’s clean energy industry. Continue reading
Australian National University research- Climate Change + Renewable Energy
Competitive Solar Feed-In Tariff – Australian Capital Territory
The territory will be the first to implement the FiT for commercial premises (warehouse and office buildings), and anticipates that up to 240MW of solar could be installed, generating the equivalent of 25 per cent of its total energy consumption.
Solar’s western promise Business Spectator Giles Parkinson , 20 Sep 2010 “……Feed in tariffs for small-scale solar average around 45c per kilowatt hour (more expensive in some states), but the solar industry estimates competitive large-scale solar would only need a tariff of around 20c/kwh, decreasing over time. Continue reading
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