Australia could replace coal energy by solar energy by 2040 – Energy expert
Solar energy growth could drive out coal by 2040, expert says SMH, July 24, 2013 Peter Hannam Carbon economy editor Australia could phase out almost all its fossil-fuel sourced electricity by 2040 if it doubled the current rate of take-up of solar energy and wind energy maintained its current growth pace, said Professor Ken Baldwin, director of ANU’s Energy Change Institute….. to shift the energy sector away from carbon-intensive coal and gas sources to avoid dangerous climate change, renewable energy could provide all but a couple of per cent of Australia’s electricity in under three decades, he said, citing data from ANU’s Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems. Continue reading
Western Australian Goldfields ready to lead on solar thermal energy
Solar Thermal Touted For Western Australia’s Goldfields http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3858 25 July 13, Greens Senator Scott Ludlam was in the gold mining city of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia on Tuesday; convening a meeting to plan the Goldfields’ renewable energy future.
Senator Ludlam says the Australian Greens’Connecting Clean Energy plan (PDF) was a perfect fit for the Goldfields. The plan focuses on the identification and creation of new Renewable Energy Zones to help remove investment and infrastructure barriers.
“The community and business sector in the Goldfields are showing they are ready to take the leadership on solar energy,” said Senator Ludlam. Continue reading
Australian politicians not keeping up with the renewable energy trend
Australia’s large-scale renewables ambition dashed by policy vacuum REneweconomy, By Giles Parkinson on 24 July 2013 If the Australian renewables industry was looking for affirmation from Australia’s two mainstream parties at the industry’s major annual conference this week, then it might have been disappointed. Instead, it appears destined for yet more uncertainty and a less ambitious conclusion.
An industry that is craving some level of “policy certainty” may have to wait another year or 18 months, depending on the result of the upcoming election, and there is growing concern that the ability of Australia to meet its minimum 20 per cent renewable energy target is becoming increasingly difficult. So much so that some in the industry appear ready to accept a delay in the target’s deadline.
Over the next seven years, more than $20 billion is expected to be spent on new wind farms, solar farms and other large-scale renewable energy projects – not counting the billions of dollars that are expected to be invested by households in rooftop solar.
All this was to be built to meet the fixed renewable energy target of 41,000GWh, which is supposedly a bi-partisan goal. Right now, however, while households continue to invest heavily in rooftop solar because it saves them money from their electricity bills, a lot of the large-scale investment is at a standstill.
This is due to the uncertainty created by the upcoming election, the insistence of the Coalition in having yet another review of the renewable energy target in 2014, and the failure of Labor to legislate for that review to be held in 2016 – as was recommended by the Climate Change Authority’s review of the RET, which was completed just seven months ago.
Further adding to the problems for renewables is the decision to move more quickly to an emissions trading scheme, which will result in a higher price for renewable energy certificates, and a complication of the politics around renewables, if the carbon price stays low…….
David Green, the CEO of the Clean Energy Council, said earlier that the two-year review was a recipe for instability for the market. One wonders if the industry regrets not pushing Labor to take on the Opposition and put the four-year review to a parliamentary test, given the uncertainty that is now created, and the growing possibility that a target will be diluted or deferred.
But Green, and Fraser, noted how the energy industry is changing – mostly as a result of the rooftop solar and the growth of “distributed generation”.
“The structure of the energy industry is changing,” Green said. It was moving from large-scale investment in pipes and poles to more active engagement with consumers, and more smaller-scale investments, embedded in the system. “We are beginning to shift the way we use electricity and the other fuels in the industry,” he said.. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/australias-large-scale-renewables-ambition-dashed-by-policy-vacuum-26250
Flat pack modular solar buildings – another Australian first
Australian Flat Pack Solar Buildings http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3852 24 July 13 An Australian company is producing flat pack modular accommodation that incorporates solar power.
Blue Planet Buildings, based in Revesby, New South Wales, manufactures a modular system that in flat-pack configuration sits in its own metal bottom frame with adjustable feet and does not require a concrete slab or brick piers.
Engineered to exceed Category D Cyclone standards, the building’s frame is made from extruded aluminium. Metal wall and roof modules are 80mm thick, the floor 110mm thick and feature injected EPS insulation. All windows in the structure are double glazed to maximize energy efficiency and suppress noise.
Optional fittings include plumbing and provision for a deep cycle battery bank.
2 people can assemble the buildings in as little as an hour; with a crane or forklift required to position the roof section. Assembly is so simple, tradespeople are not needed.
Up to 6 flat packed units can fit in a single shipping container. The demountable buildings are being used across Australia in mining, construction, emergency services, education, transport and infrastructure sectors. Once a project is complete, the units can be disassembled and relocated.
Blue Planet Buildings was the recipient of The Australian Business Award for Best Eco Product in its industry classification for 2013.
South Australian govt considers council rate charges for wind farms on private properties
Council rates bid for wind farm turbines on private property http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-19/council-rates-bid-for-wind-farm-turbines-on-private-property/4830326 Jul 19, 2013
Mr Parnell is on the committee and says farmers pay rates on infrastructure such as sheds, but multi-million-dollar wind farms are currently exempt as they are considered to be plant and equipment.
“A big part of the wind farm debate has been how we share the benefits of renewable energy, so one of the things we have to look at is how do we make sure the returns from wind farms are spread through the community?” he said.
“Rates is one way of doing it, community development funds is another way of doing it. “We’ll see at the end of the day which one the committee recommends.”
New South Wales students taking their zero emissions house to China’s Solar Decathlon
Win or lose, beyond Datong, the long-term plan is to convert the Illawarra Flame into a commercially viable concept that will work at scale, so Australia’s fibros can be cleaned up, revitalised and power on for another lifetime.
Chic shack SUE WHITE ABC Environment 16 JUL 2013 A humble Australian home is an unlikely contender in the ‘energy olympics’ being held in China in a few weeks.
When 33 students from the Wollongong region started packing for their upcoming travels to Datong, China, luggage limits were put to the test. Fifty packets of Tim Tams. Hundreds of koala key rings. At least one cricket set. And oh yes, an entire house.
The “Illawarra Flame” renovated fibro at an open day earlier in the year.Clearly, this was no normal end of semester break. But for the students and their supporters (totalling 51 students, staff and contractors from the University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra Institute), not much is normal about their entry into this year’s Solar Decathlon China.
Even getting in was no small feat. Team UOW, as it’s known, is the first Australian team ever accepted into the prestigious international event. This two-week marathon is the largest sustainable building research and innovation competition in the world. There are 23 teams from around 30 countries entering their eco-friendly houses, and all are hoping to come home as the winner of 2013’s ‘Energy Olympics’.
For Team UOW, it’s been a two-year journey to demonstrate it’s possible to transform a typical uninspiring Aussie fibro house into the Illawarra Flame; a stylish, net zero-emission home powered by the planet and, of course, plenty of student power — of both the brain and brawn varieties. Continue reading
Mildura’s concentrated solar power plant officially launched
Australia’s largest concentrated solar power plant officially launched REneweconmy, By Sophie Vorrath on 17 July 2013 Australia’s largest concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) solar power plant was officially opened today, with the Victorian energy minister joining executives from the plant’s developer, Solar Systems, to cut the ribbon on the 1.5MW demonstration facility in Mildura.
The demonstration of the “dense array” solar technology of parent company Silex Systems is a fore-runner for what is expected to be a 100MW power plant, with construction slated to begin in 2014. Another 1MW demonstration plant is being built in Saudi Arabia, with hopes of further development as that country pushes into the start of a $100 billion solar spending program
The array – whose 40 CPV dishes have been feeding power into the national grid for almost a month, after their successful commissioning began in April – collects sunlight in more than 100 curved mirrors and focuses it onto ultra-high efficiency “mulit-junction” PV cells; technology originally developed by Boeing to power satellites. Silex CEO Michael Goldsworthy says the cells currently boast efficiency rates of around 43 per cent – about double that of today’s best silicon-based cells and up to four times the efficiency of thin film solar cells – but he hopes this can be lifted to more than 50 per cent, or even 60 per cent, with further research.
The technology also uses ‘active cooling’ technology to maximise power output while minimising water consumption and prolonging the technology’s lifespan…….. Continue reading
Victorian and New South Wales wind farms kick-started by Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
Clean Energy Finance Corporation funding two Australian wind farms – K. Jalbuena Eco Sees, 17 July 13, Two major wind farm projects in Australia will be the beneficiaries of the Australian government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The C.E.F.C., a legislated fund dedicated to investing in clean energy, will invest 50 million Australian dollars ($45.94 million) to refinance Macarthur Wind Farm and will provide 37.5 million Australian dollars in senior debt finance to help build the Taralga Wind Farm.
Largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere
The 420 MW Macarthur Wind Farm in south western Victoria is said to be largest wind farm in the southern hemisphere. It is a joint undertaking between Meridian Energy Limited and AGL Energy Limited through AGL subsidiary Macarthur Wind Farm Pty Limited.
Fully operational since January 2013, the Macarthur Wind Farm can generate enough energy to power 220,000 Victorian households and reduce carbon emissions by 1.7 million tonnes a year…….
Australian engineered and sourced
C.E.F.C. will also be providing 37.5 million Australian dollars in senior debt finance for the construction and operation of the Taralga Wind Farm, 45 kilometers of Goulburn in New South Wales…… Continue reading
New South Wales to get advanced wind power turbines with energy storage
So where are these cutting-edge turbines headed? Sixty-seven of them will be built for installation in the mountains of New South Wales in Australia i, with power expected to be flowing into the grid by the end of 2014.
Gamechanger: Next Generation Wind Turbines With Storage Are Cheap, Reliable And Brilliant Climate Progress, By Ryan Koronowski on Jul 14, 2013 What makes a new wind turbine exciting?
Wind companies are always trying to making their next turbine spin more efficiently and generate more power than the last, just as car companies are looking for better fuel efficiency and engine power. Advances usually come in small jumps in both cases, with a single percentage improvement cause for celebration.
GE announced a new line of wind turbines in May that generate between 20 and 24 percent more power than the previous best turbine in its class. It does this through traditional improvements in turbine design, but also through innovations that address one of the main issues that critics of wind power raise: intermittency. Continue reading
Clean Energy Future helping New South Wales’ farmers
A $1 million energy boost for NSW Farmers The Rural, July 15, 2013, NSW Farmers has received funding of $1 million from the Australian Government to deliver an energy innovation program to farmers across the state. Fiona Simson, President of NSW Farmers, said farmers urgently needed support in reducing their energy costs and in making decisions around their investment in energy related equipment.
“Over the past five years energy costs in NSW have risen approximately 60 percent for small to medium sized farming enterprises. Our own surveys and work by our partners in the program showed that farmers can readily achieve savings, but they also need the right advice and technical support,” she said.
Our farm energy innovation program will provide practical tools and advice to help farmers analyse their energy use and identify solutions. In addition, it will conduct pilots across 20 representative farms, involving the development of detailed strategies for intensive and broad acre operations. Continue reading
Sunshine Council – an Australian first – to have council solar farm
Sunshine Coast Council To Go Solar http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3837 14 July 13, Queensland’s Sunshine Coast Council is planning to build a solar farm that would supply half of its electricity needs. Mayor Mark Jamieson says it would be the first council in Australia to have a utility scale solar farm constructed.
“The $24-30m solar farm proposed to be built at Valdora near Coolum would meet half of council’s electricity needs for at least the next 30 years,” he said. “Over the next three decades council is expected to pay in excess of $110m for electricity, and the solar farm would have the potential to reduce that by many millions of dollars.”
Council believes it will save around $10 million over the expected life of the project.
The solar farm project would inject $10 million into the local economy over the next 10 years and create 40 jobs during construction.
One of the reasons Sunshine Coast Council believes now is the right time to invest is energy contract re-negotiation with current retailers is due in 2014. It also recognises solar panel prices are currently very low; something that could change given fluctuations in the Australian dollar and other factors.
The solar farm would help develop the Sunshine Coast’s cleantech industry hub and skills developed during construction could be deployed to similar projects within Queensland and elsewhere in Australia; helping to further diversify the local economy.
“This project has the potential to transform the Sunshine Coast. It would become the embodiment of everything we stand for; a region which is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable,” said Councillor Mark Jamieson. “It would save money, reduce our carbon footprint and take us another step closer to becoming the most sustainable region in Australia”
Council will call for Expressions of Interest to design and build the solar farm in the next few weeks and hopes construction will commence in 2014.
Greens’ Christine Milne strikes a positive note for Australia’s clean energy revolution
Greens urge creation of clean energy map for the community http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/election-2013/greens-urge-creation-of-clean-energy-map-for-the-community/story-fn9qr68y-1226678708055 BY:SID MAHER The Australian July 13, 2013
THE Greens will today propose the creation of new economic zones to speed the development of renewable energy as part of an election campaign roadmap to cut the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.
Greens leader Christine Milne will unveil a policy allocating $2 billion to a task group within the Department of Energy to map Australia’s clean energy resources, involve local communities in planning energy projects and run a competitive tender to link clean energy hotspots to the national energy grid.
The policy argues “where our world-beating clean energy resources and genuine community support align”, renewable energy development zones should be established with quicker approval processes for clean energy projects. Continue reading
Australian Renewable Energy Agency sharing knowledge on industry development
Supporting renewable energy knowledge EcoGeneration — July/August 2013 As the Australian Renewable Energy Agency approaches its one-year anniversary, it is consulting with Australia’s clean energy industry to devise best practices for sharing project knowledge, in order to assist with the overall expansion of the industry.
In November 2012, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) released a consultation paper on its Supporting High-Value Australian Renewable Energy (SHARE) Knowledge Initiative in order to seek input from the clean energy industry in designing and implementing the initiative.
In particular, ARENA sought views on the extent to which project-specific information should be shared for the growth of the sector; the key issues the program should aim to address; and the questions the initiative should aim to answer.
Sharing industry information
SHARE is intended to disseminate knowledge from ARENA projects, and offer funding for strategic knowledge development that addresses key knowledge gaps and increases awareness and acceptance of renewable energy technologies. ARENA hosted one-on-one meetings with companies involved in developing utility- and large-scale projects as part of its consultation on designing and implementing SHARE. The Agency also sought input from stakeholders involved in smaller-scale projects, such as research projects, and noted the importance of information, data and knowledge from these smaller projects.
Its aim is to maximise the value of supporting individual projects, for both industry participants and the general community.
“Given ‘learning by doing’ is a key aspect of many ARENA-funded projects, this additional value can come in the form of information, data and knowledge that can lead to a cascade of new projects,” the Agency said in its SHARE consultation paper
The industry responds…… http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/supporting_renewable_energy_knowledge/082503/
Renewable energy is revolutionising Australia’s power generation sector
Renewable Energy Making Its Presence Felt In Australia http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=3836, 12 July 13 Once disregarded as being any sort of threat to the energy status quo; renewable energy is rapidly changing the power generation sector in Australia.
According to a new report from the Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA), new renewable and gas power stations now account for more than 90 per cent of planned energy investment in the country.
Wind farms made up half of all new large-scale generation investment in 2012-13, compared to just 11 per cent in 2002-03.
The ESAA has acknowledged renewable energy has reined in the average wholesale price of electricity; but believes this isn’t necessarily a good thing. Others might argue the energy gravy train losing a little of its bloat is a very good thing indeed. The number of instances where the wholesale cost of electricity jumped above $300 per megawatt hour have greatly decreased in recent times. The consumer is yet to see any benefit as any savings have been overshadowed by network cost increases.
The ESAA raises the spectre of reliability issues possibly resulting from a sustained lower wholesale electricity price, but it has noted reliability in Australia’s electricity supply improved in 2011/12 according to the Australian Financial Review. The ESAA also says the value of the National Electricity Market has shrunk by more than $4 billion, or 40 per cent, in the last four years.
In its public statement regarding the report, the ESAA has avoided directlydemonising home solar. A previous discussion paper on energy in Australia released by the organisation was criticised as being riddled with myths in this regard.
ESAA’s membership includes AGL, Origin, Energy Australia and other Big Energy participants.
The marked increase in renewable energy in Australia has also played a role in reducing power generation related carbon emissions. The pitt&sherry Carbon Emissions Index indicates electricity generation in the National Electricity Market (NEM) 2011-12 to 2012-13 decreased by 2.2 percent while emissions were down by 12.2 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent -equivalent to just under seven percent for the first full year under the carbon tax.
Planning report recommends go ahead for Western Australian wind farm
Report gives conditional nod to wind farm http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-11/report-gives-conditional-nod-to-wind-farm/4814128 Jul 11, 2013 A planning report, compiled for a panel that will decide whether a Great Southern wind farm proceeds, has recommended it go ahead with strict conditions.
Moonies Hill Energy’s Flat Rock Wind Farms project would create a 150-megawatt facility in the shires of Kojonup and Broomehill-Tambellup.
The company says the project could power 90,000 homes and inject $130 million into the local economy.
However, it hit a snag earlier this year when the Great Southern Joint Development Assessment Panel refused to give planning approval to the part of the development in Broomehill-Tambellup.
The company appealed against that decision and another hearing is scheduled for next Friday, when the panel will decide whether to accept the Broomehill-Tambellup Shire planner’s recommendation to approve it.
That recommendation includes strict conditions, including noise regulations and that the development begins within four years of the issuing of a building permit.
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