Solar plant construction in Victoria moves on
Solar plant work heats up with latest funding http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-05/waste-dump-to-top-agenda-at-anti-nuclear-forum/4297944 Oct 5, 2012 Victoria’s Energy Minister has launched the second funding round for a new 1.5 megawatt solar power plant near Mildura.
Work started on the $400 million Solar Systems power station at Carwarp, south of Mildura, earlier this year.
The latest round of $10 million in funding from the State Government will allow the plant’s construction to begin in earnest.
Minister Michael O’Brien says he expects the project to showcase solar energy.
“This new 1.5 megawatt power plant will really demonstrate its scale – that large scale solar can work, the technology works and establishing these plants is actually proving on the ground that they work,” he said.
“[It] is really a massive step forward towards creating a new solar industry for that part of Victoria.”
The Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, has welcomed the announcement and says it is a milestone in the plant’s development.
“Part of that development that makes it so critical at this stage is that they are now getting ready to start construction in Mildura,” he said.
“Those who have been out will see that it’s fenced, there’s a road area, there’s loading bays – there’s a whole lot of work being done but now you’ll start to see the parabolic dishes being assembled on site, as it now starts to move into that larger scale project.”
Business Council , Australian Industry Group,Origin, TRUenergy and AGL all now support Renewable Energy Target
The renewable energy target may be breaking our fossil-fuel path dependence, The Conversation, Neil Perry, 2 Oct 12 Submissions to the Climate Change Authority’s Issues Paper for the renewable energy target (RET) review have thrown up a few surprises. The renewable energy target ensures that 20% of Australia’s electricity supply comes from renewable sources by 2020. It does this by requiring electricity retailers to purchase renewable energy certificates which are created when clean generators, such as wind and solar farms, produce power.
In its submission, the Business Council of Australia (BCA) reverses its long-held objection to the target, citing the need for investment certainty. The Australian Industry Group (AIG), whose members now include renewable energy providers and equipment makers, also reverses its position, held only three years ago, that the target should be scrapped. Several energy companies with significant investments in fossil-fuel based energy supply, such as Origin, TRUenergy and AGL, also continue to support the target.
This could be evidence that the RET is successfully working to break the path-dependence and carbon lock-in in our energy-supply sector…… Continue reading
$Multi million sale of Australia’s biggest solar power plant in Alice Springs
Australia’s biggest solar power station sold http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201210/s3604021.htm By Allyson Horn, 04/10/2012 Australia’s largest solar power plant has been sold in what’s believed to be a multi-million dollar deal.
The Uterne power plant in Alice Springs began operating last year. It was developed in partnership between internationally-based SunPower Corporation and the Northern Territory’s electricity provider, Power and Water Corporation, at a cost of $6.6 million.
It’s been sold to Australian-based alternative energy company Epuron for an unknown price. The terms of the deal are not yet known. Under a new arrangement, Power and Water will continue to buy electricity generated by the plant at an agreed rate for the next 20 years.
SunPower will continue to provide operational and maintenance services in conjunction with Ogden Power, which is based in Alice Springs. The venture was financed by the Commonwealth Bank, making it Australia’s first major bank to support a solar project of this size.
Epuron executive director Andrew Durran said the acquisition made the company one of the largest solar project owners and asset managers in Australia.
The solar station produces about 1 per cent of Alice Springs’ electricity a year and can meet 2 per cent of peak demand on a sunny day. Epuron, which was founded in 2003, has also been involved in the development of a large number of power-generating wind farms, particularly in NSW.
No 21st Century medical isotope production for Australia: it’s “On with the nuclear!”
Australia to expand isotope production World Nuclear News 03 
October 2012 The Australian government is expanding the country’s production of medical radioisotopes and constructing a demonstration waste treatment plant for managing the subsequent radioactive by-products.
Minister for science and research Chris Evans recently announced a A$168 million ($172 million) investment plan to construct a nuclear medicine manufacturing plant at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation’s (Ansto’s) Lucas Heights site near Sydney, where the low-enriched uranium Open Pool Australian Lightwater (Opal) reactor is in operation.
The nuclear medicine manufacturing plant will mainly produce molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), the source of technetium-99 (Tc-99), which is used for diagnosis of heart disease, cancers, and kidney and gastrointestinal tract disorders…… Continue reading
Cancer in Australia’s soldier witnesses of Monte Bello atomic bomb tests
AUDIO: Atom bomb veterans mark anniversary (PM)
Atom bomb veterans remember life-changing blast ABC News Radio 4 Oct 12, PM By Brendan 
Trembath Sixty years since Britain tested its first atom bomb in Australia, those who witnessed the blast – many who now have cancer – have reunited to talk about how it changed their lives. The veterans are still seeking an apology from the Federal Government and appropriate health care for them and their children.
Official records say those serving on the HMAS Murchison on October 3, 1952, were 70 miles away when Britain successfully detonated an atomic bomb on the Monte Bello islands, off the coast of the Pilbara in Western Australia.
But to this day, many who were there say they were much closer.
Michael Rowe was on board the ship and remembers the moment the bomb went off.
“We were told to face east, which we did, and then we were told we could turn around and face west and we saw the first British atom bomb go off,” he said…… “We were clothed to protect ourselves in a pair of shorts and sandals. That’s all,” he said.
Mr Rowe is also among those who say they were much closer to ground zero than what is officially recorded and he has photos which he says proves it. “There’s been big arguments over the years about how far away the Murchison was from the actual bomb site, but I had a little tiny camera that I had hidden down inside my shorts and I took a photograph of that bomb going off, a very clear photograph of the bomb going off,” he said.
“All the records show that we were 70 miles away and there was no way in the world you could’ve taken this photograph from 70 miles.”
Mr Rowe says he and others onboard the ship think they were about 12 to 15 nautical miles east of the blast site. I’ve had a great life. Done lots of things, been lots of places but I always seem to have something wrong with me and it was only on September 19 that I was diagnosed with multiple cancers, terminal cancers. He is one of the 23 known surviving national servicemen from HMAS Murchison.
But like many who were there that day, Mr Rowe now has cancer. “I’ve had a great life. Done lots of things, been lots of places but I always seem to have something wrong with me and it was only on September 19 that I was diagnosed with multiple cancers, terminal cancers,” he said.
Fellow crew member Ken Palmer was not well enough to attend the lunch but his wife Robyn came in his place.
“He has secondaries from thyroid cancer as a result of the blast. They were exposed to the radiation, but he’s doing well, yes, he’s doing well,” she said….. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-03/atom-bomb-veterans-remember-blast-that-changed-lives/4294276
South Australian govt to strengthen mining companies’ power over Aboriginals
Mine project appeals set to be scrapped BY:MICHAEL OWEN The Australian October 04, 2012 MINING companies are being promised speedy Aboriginal heritage approvals on new projects under a plan by the South Australian Labor government.
Mineral Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis said the Aboriginal Heritage Act needed to be “freshened up” because red tape and legal challenges by indigenous groups were delaying important mining projects…. subscription only
Gillard to India, to QUIETLY arrange uranium sale deal: uranium industry to lobby opponents
Uranium controls point to India deal, Financial Review, 4 Oct 12 “…..When she visits India in a fortnight, Prime Minister Julia Gillard will hold top level discussions that are expected to open the way to a uranium safeguards agreement that would contain strict requirements on the safe use of the fuel.
The strategy is intended to neutralise opponents who highlight that India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The final safeguards agreement will take some time but sources close to the negotiations said it was expected to boast the same regulations as the NNPT as well as strict rules on access to nuclear facilities in the world’s biggest democracy…….
Australia has previously refused to sell the nuclear fuel to India because the South Asian country hasn’t signed the treaty. Resource Minister Martin Ferguson in February 2011 opened up political debate on India uranium sales, saying Australia should be able to negotiate on a country by country basis rather than have a blanket ban on those who hadn’t signed the treaty.
That paved the way for Ms Gillard to prevail at Labor’s December national conference to overturn the party ban, amid opposition from cabinet ministers, including Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, Schools Minister Peter Garrett and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese…..
Ms Gillard will travel to India from October 15-17 and is expected to meet the government’s most senior officials about energy, trade and economic ties. Australia is going into its fourth round of negotiations on the Closer Economic Cooperation Trade Agreement…..
A final uranium safeguards agreement with India would first be analysed by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties, which can make recommendations to the government. “Once the government puts the treaty to parliament the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties will have a certain amount of time look at it,” said committee chair and Labor MP Kelvin Thomson.
“On a contentious issue like this there would be public hearings before we make recommendations to the government and 
the parliament.
“Generally, I think it is important we promote the nuclear non proliferation treaty, Australia is of course a signatory to that.”….
Mr Angwin said. “I think the implication between any agreement between Australia and India is to put pressure on those governments and political parties which have so far have not given their support to the expansion of the uranium industry.”
City of Sydney acting to develop locally produced energy
City Of Sydney: Locally Produced Energy The Smartest Investment http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3408 by Energy Matters, 3 Oct 12 Regulation should be reformed to encourage locally produced energy says the City of Sydney. The City has lodged a submission to the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) review of electricity network companies.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore points out consumers were bearing the brunt of costly upgrades to aging and inefficient network infrastructure that transmits coal-fired electricity all the way from the Hunter Valley to the middle of Sydney.
“The smartest investment we can make is in generating electricity close to where it is used,” said the Lord Mayor.
The City of Sydney is demonstrating leadership on this issue with a plan to boost the energy efficiency of its buildings and produce energy locally with solar, wind and trigeneration technology; which will drive down costs and environmental impact.
“But to make them a reality we need the government to get the regulation right,” says Lord Mayor Moore.
A media statement issued by the City of Sydney says network charges make up the lion’s share of electricity bills and are expected to account for 60 per cent of the average bill by 2014. In 2009. the AER approved spending of $17.4 billion on electricity network infrastructure in NSW over five years, representing $2,400 per person. The City says average electricity prices in the Sydney electricity distribution network area are expected to increase by a massive 83 per cent during this period.
According to a study from the University of Technology, Sydney, the City’s proposed $440 million trigeneration network could save electricity consumers $1.5 billion in avoided spending on network upgrades and new power stations by 2030.
The City has also called for electricity bills clearly detail the costs for peak, shoulder and off-peak, network and retail charges so consumers can see the contribution of each component and adjust their consumption to reduce costs.
According to solar solutions provider Energy Matters, households don’t have to wait for government to act in order to rein in electricity bills. A 4kW solar panel system installed in Sydney can generate electricity bill savings of over $1,000 a year. Factoring in the cost of a system from the company, such a system will produce electricity at a cost as little as 5.5c per kilowatt hour.
Cairns to host renewable energy session on report on Queensland’s Far North energy potential
a renewable energy information session would be held in Cairns within weeks to discuss the report, plan and the next steps.
Far North could be capital for renewable energy http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/10/03/234605_local-news.html Nick Dalton October 3, 2012, The Cairns Post A MOVE to make the Far North the renewable energy capital of Australia has been backed by a new State Government report which shows the sector has the potential to be worth $750 million a year and employ more than 2500 people within 10 years.
The report and a development plan commissioned by the State Government showed the industry, which includes solar, wind, biomasse and biodiesel, is currently worth $100 million a year involving 108 businesses which employed 700 people. The detailed strategy and action plan called for the employment of a full-time project officer to
implement the recommendations to grow the industry.
Report authors David Smyth and Grant Behrendorff, of Evolve Energy in Cairns, said a steering committee involving more than 12 people from the industry as well as Cairns Regional Council, Advance Cairns, Ergon Energy, the State and Federal governments was already working to implement the recommendations. Continue reading
South Australia energy prices cut by renewable energy
Wind, solar force energy price cuts in South Australia REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson 3 October 2012 The rules of Australia’s energy markets continue to be redrawn after the South Australian pricing regulator on Tuesday cut its calculation of wholesale energy costs and recommended that retail electricity prices be cut by 8.1 per cent. Continue reading
Glencore, world’s most notorious compnay, taking over Xstrata ?
Analyst says Xstrata could lose control of Australian operations http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201210/s3603009.htm By Virginia Tapp 03/10/2012 A resource analyst says the merger of commodity trading house Glencore with global mining company Xstrata could put the control of its Australian operations at risk.
Matthew Trivett, of Patersons Securities, says the new company, valued at around $70 billion, would become one of the largest and most powerful in the mining industry.
Xstrata backed the merger on Monday, and the deal is now waiting for approval from 75 per cent of shareholders.
Mr Trivett says the new company would review all of its Australian operations, which means some could be held back.
“The real risk for Xstrata shareholders is that Xstrata are widely held as some of the best mining operators globally and it’s the way they can treat each country and each operation by its own particulars, so they’re not overly controlled,” he said.
“It would be a shame if that changed for Xstrata operations.”
South Australian government CLAIMS it will not kow tow to BHP Billiton
Weatherill again sounds BHP mine caution http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-28/weatherill-again-sounds-bhp-mine-caution/4285794 South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has given a guarded response on whether the SA Government will be prepared to extend BHP Billiton’s indenture agreement for mining expansion.
He said the Government was yet to be persuaded of the merits of granting an extension to the current indenture, which expires in mid-December.
BHP Billiton has written to the SA Government seeking to extend the agreement until October 2016, after shelving its current Olympic Dam mine expansion plans recently, citing economic conditions.
Mr Weatherill said the company disappointed many people when it delayed the proposed expansion of underground mining to an open pit operation.
He again made it clear the Government would take its time to consider the request.
USA Green Party joins with Australian, Canadian, New Zealand Greens to oppose Trans-Pacific Partnership
US Green Party signs international Green statement against “secret” Trans-Pacific Partnership pact October 1, 2012 WASHINGTON, DC — The Green Party of the United States has joined Green Parties of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand in a “Joint Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement” that strongly criticizes the proposed international trade pact.
The text of the Joint Statement, which the Green Party of the United States has endorsed, is appended below.
“The Trans-Pacific Partnership, which was negotiated in secret by the Obama Administration, is meant to privilege corporate profits and enhance corporate power in the nations that rim the Pacific, including the U.S. This pact is a threat to jobs in the U.S. It contradicts claims by both President Obama and Gov. Romney that they want to put Americans back to work,” said Cheri Honkala, the Green Party’s vice-presidential nominee (http://www.jillstein.org).
“Every voter should know about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Unfortunately, both Obama and Romney support it, which means it won’t be discussed in the presidential debates. Only Green candidates, including my running mate, Jill Stein, are talking about the Trans-Pacific Partnership publicly. This is why it’s so crucial that Dr. Stein participate in the debates,” added Ms. Honkala. Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Joint Statement on Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
http://www.greenparty.ca/statement/2012-08-21/joint-statement-trans-pacific-partnership-agreement
Australia’s top solar suburbs are low to medium income areas, not rich
Australia’s Top 6 Solar Suburbs http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3403 by Energy Matters, 2 Oct 12 The mortgage belt suburbs and the bush are where solar power truly shines. REC Agents Association (RAA) has expanded on an earlier submission prepared for the Climate Change Authority in relation to Australia’s Renewable Energy Target review that conclusively busted the myth ofsolar being the realm of rich city dwellers.
In its geographical analysis of solar energy systems under the Renewable Energy Target, RAA states suburbs with the highest penetration were typically in the outer metropolitan mortgage belt.
The RAA lists the 6 top solar suburbs as being:
Coodanup, Western Australia – 30% (9,463 systems)
Abbotsford, Queensland – 26% of houses (9,029 systems)
Booral Queensland – 34% of houses (8,823 systems)
Cocoroc Queensland – 29% of houses (8,426 systems)
Hoppers Crossing, Victoria – 34% of houses (8,138 systems)
Bentley, New South Wales – 39% of (7,763 systems)
The organisation notes some houses may have solar panels and solar hot water systems installed, meaning the penetration rate could be slightly lower
The average annual gross income of solar households across Australia is estimated to be $60,216 a year.
The full report includes a table of the top 20 solar PV and solar hot water suburbs by state. In a related research note, RAA says the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) has resulted in 1.5 million solar systems being installed by Australian families up until June 30 this year. Of this number, 753,844 were solar panels systems and 743,842 were solar hot water systems.
It says the cost impact of the SRES will drop to less than 1% of residential electricity prices when the Solar Credits multiplier is totally phased out in 10 months from now
The REC Agents Association (RAA) was established in late 2011 and acts on behalf of agents registered with the Clean Energy Regulator (CER).
Solar Trivia: Only 118 households had installed solar panel systems 2001.
Federal government commissions scenarios for 100% renewables SBS World News, 1 OCT 2012 The federal government has given the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) the job of coming up with a 100 percent renewable energy scenario for 2030 and 2050, By Roger Dargaville , University of MelbourneThe Federal Government has given the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO ) the job of coming up with a 100% renewable energy scenario for 2030 and 2050.
The market operator is working with a consulting company and CSIRO to provide information and data on renewable resources, storage technologies and demand-side response. It will combine the input data with its transmission modelling capability to find the least-cost combination of technologies to achieve a 100% renewable energy system for the National Electricity Market.
On Friday, the government hosted a meeting to discuss the data and modelling assumptions with various stakeholders and interested parties.
The data have all been made freely available on the Department of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency’s website . The government and the market operator are to be commended on this open and transparent approach to their modelling work. They have committed to also making the models available at the completion of the study in May next year…… http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1697647/Federal-government-commissions-scenarios-for-100-r
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