Renewable energy project a practical community plan for Newcastle region
Council briefed on potential renewable energy projects http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-11/council-briefed-on-potential-renewable-energy-projects/4122744/?site=newcastle July 11, 2012 Australian Community Energy says a community renewable energy project is achievable in the Hunter. Newcastle Councillors have been told a community renewable energy project is achievable with as little as 1,000 people investing.
Dr Richard Finlay-Jones from the Hunter-based company Australian Community Energy briefed Councillors last night on the potential for community owned and managed wind and solar projects. Dr Finlay-Jones says such a project is already running near Daylesford in Victoria where just over 1,000 people invested to get the development off the ground.
He says a similar project would work in the Hunter. “Imagine if we could all invest $100 and be owners of an energy
company,” he said. “I think there would be a lot of people who would be receptive to that and it might not all be in the same location. “It might be disparate, it might be more regionalised.”
Big solar panel company opening in Sydney, sees great future for solar power in Australia
GREEN DEALS: Australia’s new solar player, Climate Spectator, 11 Jul 2012 Daniel Palmer Yingli Green Energy The world’s third largest solar manufacturer is setting up shop in Australia. China-based and NYSE-listed Yingli Green Energy has said it will open an office in Sydney to serve as its regional headquarters. With the unique claim to fame of being the first renewable energy company to sponsor the FIFA World Cup, the company sees Australia as a great place to further boost its global market share.
“Australia is one of the most promising markets in the solar industry,” Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli, said. “We are happy to enhance our local presence by establishing this subsidiary, which will enable us to provide more convenient products and services to Australian customers.” The new branch will also be looking at selling panels in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands…… http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/green-deals-australia-s-new-solar-player
Sydney hospitals’ dangerous dumping of radioactive materials
Toxic health dumping scandal, SMH, July 8, 2012 Natalie O’Brien The dangerous disposal of hazardous substances including liquid uranium and contaminated objects, the dumping of the confidential records of patients and the mishandling of asbestos have exposed a culture of mismanagement in Sydney hospitals. : http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/toxic-health-dumping-scandal-20120707-21nqp.html#ixzz204LVGURR
A New South Wales City Council sets up Australia’s largest solar powered streetlighting project
Shining light in renewable energy Goulburn Post, 22 Jun, 2012 GOULBURN Mulwaree Council is leading the way when it comes to combining renewable energy and street safety by installing more than 50 solar powered streetlights along Marys Mount Road.
The 3km stretch of road is believed to be the single largest solar powered streetlighting project for a councilowned and maintained road in Australia. The solar powered streetlights took three weeks to install, with local tradespeople contracted to assist with the project……..
Each stand-alone system comprises primarily the three major electronic
components, all working in unison.
1) Solar Panels – Absorbed radiation sent to through the controller to the batteries. The Solar Panels are monocrystalline and generally do not require maintenance.
2) Sealed Batteries – Supplying daily stored power. The batteries are sealed and require no regular maintenance.
3) Controllers – The Control Centre (operating, monitoring, regulating).
The controller automatically adjusts for the daylight savings throughout the entire year, and no manual adjustment is required.
The Cost of Life Analysis included the poles, solar panels, batteries, controller and fittings. This worked out to be $400 per pole/annum or approx five per cent of the Total Project value.
Goulburn Mulwaree Council has also installed solar panels at its Visitor Information Centre (installed by Ingenero Pty Limited), and is currently investigating options to install panels at its Aquatic Centre. Stage 1 of this process is now complete, with local company Sunup Solar and LED Lighting Systems installing the systems. Council is investigating the possibility of tendering for Stage 2 of an additional 5KW. http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/news/local/news/general/shining-light-in-renewable-energy/2598968.aspx
New South Wales govt wants Aborigines to get into the uranium business
Land council looks to far west uranium exploration, Margaret Paul,ABC News, June 15, 2012 The State Government is encouraging the Broken Hill Aboriginal Land Council to apply for uranium exploration licences.
Applications for exploration licences open yesterday, after the government lifted a decades-old ban on uranium exploration earlier this year.
The Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, says it is very likely large deposits of uranium exist around Broken Hill…… He says he has met with the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, and encouraged them to formally apply for an exploration licence. Continue reading
NSW govt excited about uranium exploration only, but oh no, not uranium mining?
Map shows the potential uranium mining area in NSW (yellow)
Search for uranium looms closer, SMH, June 15, 2012 THE Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, has called for
a ”rational debate” about uranium while saying the decision to lift the ban on exploration in NSW was not about providing an alternative energy source for electricity generation.
In February the Premier, Barry O’Farrell, announced the state government would overturn a 26-year-old ban on uranium exploration….
Mr Hartcher told a uranium conference in Adelaide yesterday the decision ”presents an exciting opportunity for NSW” and that the government looked forward to ”a vibrant uranium exploration industry”……
When the legislation is proclaimed, companies will have 60 days to seek consent from Mr Hartcher to apply for a uranium exploration licence. Applications will be assessed by a government ”technical panel” overseen by a probity auditor and those who are successful will be invited by Mr Hartcher to apply for an exploration licence for uranium or thorium in the same manner as other minerals. The system mirrors the one in place for companies wishing to apply for coal exploration licences in NSW……
The Greens MP Jamie Parker said the NSW public did not support the government’s decision.
: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/search-for-uranium-looms-closer-20120614-20d68.html#ixzz1xtHOy27X
New solar project for Broken Hill will be operational by 2015
Silver city becomes solar city ABC Broken Hill, By Noah Schultz-Byard, June, 2012 Broken Hill will host one half of the largest solar energy project in the southern hemisphere, it was announced today. The $450 million project will have an ultimate output of 159 megawatts, enough to power 33,000 homes, and will be constructed across two sites; Broken Hill and Nyngan.
The Broken Hill site will consist of nearly a million solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) panels and will be built to the west of the
city. Construction is hoped to begin in 2014 and is expected to bring 150 jobs to Broken Hill and a further 300 to Nyngan.
The solar farm is expected to be operating by 2015 and is a joint venture between the Federal and State Governments and Australian energy company AGL…. Continue reading
Energy research in Australia welcomes the carbon tax
The real cost of carbon-based fuels needs to become apparent and with the carbon tax that will be so. When you see that real cost of carbon then other renewable energy projects like solar or wind or geothermal, they can now become a lot more competitive.
having a background like a carbon tax and all that will definitely help and assist these newer technologies to get to
maturity.
Carbon tax powers energy innovators ABC Radio AM Adam Harvey , June 9, 2012 ELIZABETH JACKSON: At least one person in New South Wales’s mining heartland is looking forward to the carbon tax kicking in. Newcastle University professor Behdad Moghtaderi is developing new technology to cut power bills.
He’s working on ways to use the earth’s heat to power mines and he’s helped devise an ingenious system to warm the university’s swimming pool. He hopes that rising power prices, sparked by the carbon tax, inspires businesses to follow his lead….. Continue reading
Wind farms supported by majority of people in South Australia, Victoria and NSW
those who opposed wind power were “out of step with community thinking”.
Two-thirds (67 per cent) of people believed a farmer’s right to generate income from their land was more important than a resident’s right to a view clear of wind turbines.
‘People worrying themselves sick’ over windfarms http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/people-worrying-themselves-sick-over-windfarms/story-e6frea83-1226388175640 Political Reporter Lauren Novak June 07, 2012 MORE than 80 per cent of people believe health concerns about wind farms will “turn out to be nothing to worry about”, a survey commissioned by the Clean Energy Council says. Continue reading
New South Wales government policies stifle wind energy development, promote coal and gas
Concern over State Government’s wind farm guidelines, ABC News June 06, 2012 The State Opposition says the O’Farrell Government’s planning guidelines for wind farms is putting potential investment in the Hunter at risk. The guidelines include a two-kilometre exclusion zone between homes and wind turbines.
Energy spokesman Luke Foley says planning charges are set to prohibit investment in the industry. He says developers could be paying more than $1 million in planning fees compared to $15,000 in Victoria.
Mr Foley says the planning guidelines for wind energy are much stronger than for the coal and gas industry.
“If a single landholder, one landholder out of hundreds objects to a wind farm proposal the proposal then has to go through all sorts of hoops, that doesn’t apply to coal seam gas or coal or our extractive industries,” he said.
Newcastle based, wind energy consultant Richard Finlay-Jones says the planning guidelines could put local projects at risk…. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-06-06/concern-over-state-government27s-wind-farm-guidelines/4056328
A climate-friendly urban renewal
Barangaroo will have big impact but no footprint SMH, June 3, 2012 IT IS the biggest urban renewal project since the Olympic site was built at Homebush Bay, but Barangaroo is also likely to be the greenest.
The Barangaroo Delivery Authority’s goal is to make the precinct the first of its size in the world to be ”climate positive”. That means the site will generate more renewable energy than it uses, it will recycle and export more water than it uses and recycle more waste than it generates.
The Green Building Council of Australia expects the $6 billion Lend Lease development will be the benchmark by which similar projects could be measured in the future…… It will generate enough solar energy to serve the public areas of the site. There will be a recycled water service and a waste recycling service. Only recycled water will be used for flushing toilets, irrigation and fire sprinklers.
Conventional cars will be discouraged with electric car power stations in the car parks, walking and cycling networks through the precinct and strong public transport links…….. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/barangaroo-will-have-big-impact-but-no-footprint-20120602-1zohp.html#ixzz1wr0vpgxT
Who is lying about uranium ? New South Wales Resources Minister, or Queensland Premier
Who is telling the truth? New South Wales Minister for Resources, Mr Hartcher? or the Queensland government?
In fact, both States prohibit uranium mining. New South Wales has recently allowed uranium exploration only.
THE HINDU 4 May 2012, reports that New South Wales Minister for Resources and Energy and Central Coast Christopher Peter Hartcher announced on Friday that both New South Wales and Queensland State governments in Australia had changed their laws which prohibited mining and sale of uranium.
Also Mr Hartcher is quoted “We also respect India’s decision on not signing the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT)” http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3384772.ece
See this article – No plans for uranium mining ban rethink http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-02/no-plans-for-uranium-mining-ban-rethink/3984350?section=business By Stephen Smiley ABC News May 02, 2012 “The State Government says it has no plans to revisit Queensland’s ban on uranium mining.”
Queensland Premier Newman has recently reiterated the position that uranium mining is banned in Queensland.
And as for Mr Hartcher “respecting” India’s decision on the NPT, he is in the minority. Most Australians are appalled at the idea of selling uranium to a country that won’t sign the NPT.
Bega, New South Wales, getting very Smart about Solar Energy
the stored energy can also be fed back into the network at peak demand times – say, at night when people come home and cook dinner, watch television or play computer games, or use their hot water systems for things like showers and washing up
The battery banks can also be configured to be charged from the network, creating a micro-grid
Bega library’s bright future Eden Magnet, BY BEN SMYTH 03 May, 2012 The roof of the Bega library is sporting a new look this week. On Friday, a network of solar panels was installed as part of a project that will see considerable savings for the Bega Valley Shire Council and, in turn, ratepayers.
In a first for regional NSW, Essential Energy is constructing an “intelligent” solar energy system, which will showcase the benefits of community-based renewable energy solutions and effectively make the library self-sufficient in regards to its electricity consumption. According to Essential’s regional general manager south eastern, Phillip Green, who was on hand to launch the project with Member for Bega Andrew Constance, the library’s system is the third phase of the energy company’s “Intelligent Network”. Continue reading
Sutherland Shire Mayor the last to be told of nuclear waste plan
from our Sutherland Shire correspondent , 2 May 12, ANSTO did not even bother to let the local council, Sutherland Shire Council , know this was occurring [ ABC Illawarra , 97.3fm, 2.5.2012 , 7.36 to 7.40am , Peter Reily, breakfast announcer and Station Manager]. Naturally , this basic lack of common decency and lack of professional coutesy , boardering on arragoncy, did not go down well with the Mayor. She vowed to let ANSTO have a piece of her mind today at a hastily arranged meeting .
Australia should not be involved in any aspect of the nuclear cycle ; yet if we are ,ANSTO and government policy should be consultative and up-front with all members of community before we are forced to consider the policy with the nuclear waste on its way back to us.
This is the problem with this industry : some profit , while the rest of the community pays the price.
No nuclear waste store for Shire, says mayor, SMH, Matthew Moore, David Wroe May 2, 2012 SUTHERLAND Shire Council says a ”people power” campaign by residents might be the only way to stop plans by the nuclear agency to build a nuclear waste storage facility at Lucas Heights….. ANSTO said it wants to build an interim facility to store about 13 cubic metres of waste from 2015 until 2020 while a permanent facility is built, because Australia is required to repatriate its waste under the terms of an agreement made when it sent the material overseas…
. Thefederal government passed legislation earlier this year to set up a single nuclear waste dump in the Northern Territory. Its preferred site is Muckaty Station, a former cattle station that is now Aboriginal freehold land under control of the Northern Land Council. However the site’s use is strongly opposed by green groups and faces a
Federal Court challenge by local Aborigines.
The temporary storage of the waste in Sydney has been welcomed by Greens and anti-nuclear campaigners. Greens senator Scott Ludlam described it a sensible way to store the waste while a longer-term solution could be found, pointing out that the Lucas Heights site already stored about 15 times as much radioactive waste. : http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/no-nuclear-waste-store-for-shire-says-mayor-20120501-1xx6w.html#ixzz1tkDWwgEQ
Australia’s Renewable Energy Target driving new wind farm projects in S.A. and NSW
the first major PPA for new build wind farm for several years that has been driven by the renewable energy target
Wind energy finally taking off again in Australia, REneweconomy, By Sophie Vorrath 2 May 2012 The Australia wind energy industry looks set to end its near three-year hiatus, as Origin Energy signed its largest ever power purchase agreement, Thai group Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding said it would be adding 200 megawatts of wind turbine capacity in Australia (to its existing 100MW) over the next few years, and REpower Australia prepared to launch a scaled-down version of a new wind farm in NSW. Continue reading
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