South Australia calls for Federal Govt loan for Port Augusta solar plant
Premier Jay Weatherill calls on Federal Government to provide $110m loan for $650m Port Augusta solar plant, Adam Langenberg, Luke Griffiths, The AdvertiserAugust 23, 2017 PREMIER Jay Weatherill has dared the Federal Government to block a $110 million loan banked on to finance Port Augusta’s $650 million solar thermal plant……
Mr Frydenberg was in Whyalla on Wednesday as he launched a $30 million battery storage facility on the Yorke Peninsula, as revealed by The Advertiser yesterday.
He said it would play an important role in securing South Australia’s electricity network.
Less than two months after the State Government announced its deal with US billionaire Elon Musk’s Tesla, Mr Frydenberg unveiled plans that would see the Federal Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency fund up to 40 per cent of a 30MW, 8MW/h battery.
Electranet will design and build the battery before leasing out its commercial operation to a yet-to-be-decided energy retailer.
To be located at Dalrymple — one of the electricity network’s “weak points”, according to Mr Frydenberg — it is expected to be connected to the grid by February 2018.
The Tesla battery, to be located in Jamestown, will be 100MW, 129MW/h.
“We don’t claim to have the biggest battery or the biggest system, what we do claim is to be putting in place practical, cost-effective, needed policy solutions and practical solutions to the challenges SA faces,” Mr Frydenberg said prior to presenting at the Global Maintenance Upper Spencer Gulf conference in Whyalla…….
In his speech, Mr Koutsantonis declared the Upper Spencer Gulf an economic participation region under the State Government’s industry participation policy.
Local businesses will now be given a 20 per cent weighting when vying for public project work.
“We have seen how successful this policy has been since it was implemented in northern Adelaide and now we want to replicate those achievements in the Upper Spencer Gulf,” he said. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/premier-jay-weatherill-calls-on-federal-government-to-provide-110m-loan-for-650m-port-augusta-solar-plant/news-story/40c4bb6cffce77e1c2cf0f5816fd1334
Victoria’s smart renewable energy policy
Victorian government generates smart policy to drive surge in renewable energy, http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/victorian-government-generates-smart-policy-to-drive-surge-in-renewable-energy-20170823-gy2he1.html The transition from coal-generated electricity to renewable energy is inevitable and crucial. Science has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that carbon emissions from coal and gas are a primary cause of dangerous global warming and climate change.One of the main financial burdens on Australian families and businesses in recent years has been the sharp increase in the price of electricity, which has been driven by a surge in gas prices, and, many contend, by over-investment in transmission infrastructure – poles and wires – by power companies. Another key reason is the lack of investment in renewable energy, which is becoming increasingly competitive even with the cheap coal that still provides most of our baseload electricity.
The main reason investment in renewable energy has slowed is political; a lack of policy consistency and the perplexing anti-renewables stance of former Coalition prime minister Tony Abbott undermined confidence by generating uncertainty. Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions rose in the March quarter by 1.6 per cent, the biggest rise in almost a decade, making it all the more difficult for the country to meet its international commitments.
So the Victorian government’s decision to provide some certainty is welcome, and should help lead to affordable, reliable renewable energy. The government is asking green energy companies to tender for a contract to supply 650 megawatts of power, which is sufficient to meet the demand of every household in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and the Latrobe Valley. The move comes a month after the government announced new battery storages that can deliver four hours of power to two regional Victorian towns of 100,000 people, and two solar farms to power Melbourne’s entire tram network, the world’s biggest.
The measures are fundamental to achieving the state government’s renewable energy targets of 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025. At the moment, about a 10th of the state’s power comes from renewable sources. The policy is all the more necessary following the recent closure of the Hazelwood coal-fired power station, which provided more than a fifth of Victoria’s electricity.
Enough renewable power for Victoria’s 4 biggest regional cities
Renewable energy boost to power Victoria’s four biggest regional cities, The Age, Adam Carey, 23 Aug 17, In a huge boost to Victoria’s electricity supply, renewable energy companies will compete to supply Victoria with 650 megawatts of power – enough for the energy needs of every household in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and the Latrobe Valley.
The competitive “reverse auction” will be the biggest of its kind in Australia, as corporations tender for the contracts to power 389,000 households. This is expected to trigger investment of about $1.3 billion in renewable projects such as construction of wind and solar farms.
Expressions of interest will open in October.
The projects are critical to the government’s target to increase Victoria’s renewable energy level to 40 per cent by 2025.
The government will seek to lock in its renewable energy target – 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025 – by tabling legislation today. Currently about 10 per cent of the state’s power needs are met with renewable sources.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was confident the legislation would pass…….
Energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio said modelling indicated households would save $30 a year on energy bills on average, and large companies would save $140,000 a year, over the life of the renewable energy target scheme.
“We know for a fact that more supply, in a pure economics 101 sense, means cheaper prices and that’s what we’ll be delivering,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“We are getting solar projects built, we’ve already got two wind farms under way … so the sooner we can get that in there, the sooner people will see that flow through their energy bills,” she said…..
Kane Thornton, chief executive of the Clean Energy Council, said the government’s move to legislate its “ambitious” 40 per cent target would give the renewable energy industry more confidence to invest in Victoria.
“It will deliver billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs into regional and rural parts of this state and help to put Victoria back on the map in terms of attracting investment back into this sector,” Mr Thornton said.
He predicted renewable energy would “ultimately replace coal-fired generation” in Victoria, although Ms D’Ambrosio said coal would continue to help power the state for “many years to come”…..http://www.theage.com.au/business/energy/renewable-energy-boost-to-power-victorias-four-biggest-regional-cities-20170822-gy22gs.html
25 August REneweconomy news
- 100% renewable energy for 139 nations detailed in new Stanford report
Mark Z. Jacobson and 26 of his colleagues have compiled a report that shows exactly how 139 nations could transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 without throwing millions of people out of work.
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Australia urged to aim for 100% renewables by 2030sAs climate impacts mounts, there is a growing push for a 1.5°C target. This would mean reaching 100% renewable energy within 20 years. Australia could lead, and reap enormous economic benefits.
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Neoen may expand Vic solar farm to 126MW after tram tender winNeoen says it may treble size of its Nurmukah solar project off back of Victoria government tender win.
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Infigen eyes commercial and industrial sector for new renewablesInfigen Energy reports a jump in profit for FY2107, as the company continues its transformation into an “active energy markets participant.”
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Victoria leads, Federal government leans on energy transitionYesterday was an historic day for Victoria’s energy future. And there’s more good news on the way. Not that you would know it from listening to federal energy minister.
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AEMC suggests new body to decide on battery storage standardsAs industry rejects Standards Australia home battery ban proposal, AEMC calls for new body to govern standards for distributed energy market.
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Windlab to receive $10 million milestone success payment in respect of the Coopers Gap Wind FarmWindlab has become entitled to receive a milestone success payment of just over $10 million in respect of the Coopers Gap Wind Farm.
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Rethinking the grid: Changes in power sector are an opportunity, not a threatThe Department of Energy’s study on grid reliability and resilience offers an incomplete picture of our grid’s transformation.
23 August More REneweconomy news
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Origin Energy faces three shareholder resolutions on climateCoordinated by environmental finance group Market Forces, shareholders in Origin Energy have filed a series of resolutions with the oil and gas major.
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Graph of Day: How solar tower and storage sailed through eclipseMurdoch media’s “Monkey’s uncle” thinks solar towers and storage are intermittent. But its performance during eclipse shows otherwise.
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CEFC backs waste management sector with $90m Cleanaway loanCEFC extends $90m corporate loan to Cleanaway, its first major transaction with a leading Australian waste management company.
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30MW battery to create renewables-based mini grid in South Australia
http://reneweconomy.com.au/30mw-battery-to-create-renewables-based-mini-grid-in-south-australia-63304/, By Giles Parkinson on 23 August 2017 The Australian Renewable Energy Agency says it is providing $12 million towards the $30 million cost of a major battery storage installation to be located on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and close to the Wattle Point wind farm.
The 30MW/8MWh large scale battery will deliver both network services and market services, and is the result of a lengthy study begun in 2014 called ESCRI (Energy Storage for Commercial Renewable Integration) by local grid operator ElectraNet, Worley Parsons and AGL.
It is designed principally to provide fast frequency response and help balance the local network, but it will also help reduce congestion on the Heywood interconnector with Victoria, because its placement means more power can be transported over the line. This should relieve constraints imposed by the market operator.
It will also have the ability to “island” the local network – pairing with the local 90MW Wattle Point wind farm and local rooftop solar PV as a local micro-grid to ensure grid security and so keep the lights on in case the network failures elsewhere in the state.
ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht says having a series of mini-grids across the state would help ensure grid security. If more were added, “it means over the longer term that state wide blackouts will be a think of the past,” he told Reneweconomy.
Indeed, AGL – which will operate the battery – said last year after the state-wide blackout that renewable-based micro-grids were the best way to ensure grid security. Continue reading
23 August REneweconomy news
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BOC to collaborate with CSIRO on revolutionary $3.4m hydrogen projectBOC will support CSIRO during its $3.4 million ammonia to hydrogen cracking and membrane purification project that is set to revolutionise the global supply chain for hydrogen.
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Know your NEM: Wind output and “baseload” renewablesAre Australia’s wind farms living up to expectations? Why the market preferred Origin’s results to AGL’s; and a dive into the Windlab prospectus and its “busload” wind and solar plant.
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Battery install standard needs to change, not be thrown on scrapheapChanges to the draft Australian Standard for installing home battery units are essential, but it is also important to ensure appropriate technical standards are in place to ensure consumers are protected, the Clean Energy Council said today.
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Victoria to unveil wind and solar tenders in push for 40% renewablesMajor renewable energy tender announcements expected from Victoria, along with more details of state renewable energy target architecture.
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California grid survives solar eclipse, as Australia prepares for 2028California’s solar-centric grid manages eclipse without a hitch. In Australia, preparations already being made for 2028 eclipse.
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Super cheap solar – and why that’s good for Australia’s mining sectorSolar pioneer Martin Green says solar PV will fall to $US10/MWh within a few years, but this will be good news for Australia’s mining industry because the fall in Australia’s thermal coal exports will be offset by a factor of more than 5 by demand for other resources.
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AEMC backs down on rooftop “solar tax” proposalEnergy market rule maker backs down on proposal to charge solar households to export excess PV generation back to the grid.
- Why solar towers and storage plants will reshape energy markets,
More details emerge of the contract for the Port Augusta solar tower and storage project, and why it means huge change for energy markets, and a shift of focus from “base-load” fossil fuel to clean, flexible capacity built around “base-cost” renewables.
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“Unaccredited” rooftop solar installer nabbed by Clean Energy RegulatorClean Energy Regulator continues rooftop solar crack-down, this time taking action against “unaccredited” individual installer.
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Aurora: What you should know about Port Augusta’s solar power-towerMuch has been written about the $650m Aurora project, and I set out here to collect together what is known and fill in some of the gaps.
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By train or by ship, transporting coal causes troubleDerailment of 30 coal wagons is just latest in long list of coal transport accidents which highlight risks from shipping fossil fuels long distances to markets.
Malcolm Turnbull in Tasmania – praising wind and solar power!
Turnbull trumpets Tasmania’s ability to lead the country in renewable energy, ETHAN JAMES, AAP, Mercury, August 18, 2017 Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has trumpeted Tasmania’s ability to lead the nation in renewable energy at the state’s Liberal Party council meeting.Mr Turnbull today addressed 250 delegates at the annual conference in Launceston, the party’s final gathering before a state election in March. He praised Liberal Premier Will Hodgman’s economic management in a speech that touched on energy, terrorism and mental health.
Community energy in Canberra – backing a solar energy future
Investing in a brighter energy future for Australia http://www.examiner.com.au/story/4860382/investing-in-a-brighter-energy-future-for-australia/?cs=97, 20 Aug 2017, We’re backers, not bystanders. Like many, we’re concerned about climate change – and want to play our part. That’s why we’re among the 867 people who invested in what will be Australia’s largest, community-owned solar farm.
SolarShare is building its flagship project, a one-megawatt solar farm that shares land with a vineyard, in the Majura Valley in Canberra.
It’s the first of hopefully many solar farms and projects owned by the community.
SolarShare has been funded by people like us, who will receive a good return on our initial investment as the electricity it generates from the sun is sold. At the same time, the farm will power 260 homes, reducing our reliance on polluting fossil fuels.
While governments can be slow to act, individuals, communities and businesses across Australia are finding their own solutions.
The transition to renewable energy has started – and it’s exciting. But it needs to happen faster if we are to leave this place better, cleaner and safer for our grandchildren. None of us can do everything, but we can all do something.
As soon as we could, we put solar panels on our roof making our house somewhat of a novelty in the neighbourhood. These days, solar covers 21 per cent of Australia’s suitable rooftops.
A couple months ago we bought an electric car, which we fuel for free with the rooftop panels. We were amazed to see that India, Britain, France and Norway have announced plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.
Until governments pick up the pace, individuals will have to work together. Being part of a larger project, like a community solar farm, is a great way to be part of an exciting new vision. David and Lainie Shorthouse are SolarShare investors, and Canberra residents.
Australia’s clean energy wave now an $11b tsunami
AGL Energy wind farm helps turn clean energy wave into tsunami, http://www.afr.com/news/agl-energy-wind-farm-helps-turn-clean-energy-wave-into-tsunami-20170818-gxzbmm The wave of wind, solar and battery energy investments across Australia is becoming a tsunami, with $11 billion of projects under way or set to begin construction this calendar year.
AGL Energy and QIC’s blockbuster 453-megawatt Cooper’s Gap wind farm in north Queensland won financial close on Thursday, pushing the combined power of projects in the pipeline to 5661 MW, the Clean Energy Council says.
That’s close to the 5900MW that Bloomberg New Energy Finance says is needed to meet the federal Renewable Energy Target of about 23 per cent of total generation by 2020.
“There’s no question that 2017 has been a game-changing year for the industry, with record investments being made in renewable energy projects across the country,” said Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton.
Cooper’s Gap will cost the $2-3 billion Powering Australian Renewables Fund (PARF) – backed by AGL, QIC and the Future Fund – $850 million, and deliver electricity and renewable energy credits to AGL for below $60/MWh.
Low-cost energy
It’s the latest in a series of big wind and solar projects to promise energy at lower prices than a new high-tech coal-fired power station of the kind promoted by former Prime Minister Tony Abbottcould manage commercially.
On Monday US company Solar Reserve said it would build a 150MW solar thermal power plant near Port Augusta, South Australia, for $650 million, and sell the power to the SA government for $78/MWh or less.
Earlier this year Origin Energy sold its 530MW Stockyard Hill wind farm in Victoria to China’s Goldwind with a deal to buy the power and renewable energy credits for about $52/MWh, and AGL sold its Silverton wind farm in NSW to PARF with a power and credits purchase deal at $65 /MWh.
According to figures compiled by the Clean Energy Council and AFR Weekend, 2600MW of wind and solar projects are under construction or have already been commissioned in 2017 at a cost of $4.6 billion. Another 3190MW of projects worth $$6.35 billion are committed or expected to begin construction this year or in January.
More conservatively, Bloomberg New Energy Finance counts about $3.7 billion of renewable energy investment commitments for the first half of the year, and $1.1 billion for the September quarter to date – or nearly $5 billion.
Post-2020 challenge
Smaller-scale solar rooftop installations are not included in these figures and are also running at record levels for the first half of the year, with more businesses installing panels as the price drops. But the boom in large-scale renewables may not continue after 2020 if the Finkel energy review’s proposal to extend the Renewable Energy Target into a Clean Energy Target is not adopted.
Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s Kobad Bhavnagri said that from 2020 to 2025 not much new capacity will be needed, because rooftop solar installations by households and businesses will continue to grow and “crowd out the need for large scale” wind and solar.
He expects the installed base of rooftop solar to jump from 6400MW by end of this year to 16,100MW by end 2025.
“Without further policy we think there’ll be a large-scale downturn from 202 to 2025,” Mr Bhavnagri said.
19 August REneweconomy News
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Researchers one step closer to efficient, colorful solar panelsResearchers at Netherlands’ AMOLF Institute develop method to make solar panels green. Next stop, red and blue – and maybe even white.
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Higher wind output in SA correlates with lower wholesale priceUnlike yesterday’s chart on gas, today’s graph shows wind has the opposite effect – more output takes power prices lower.
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Pic of the Day: Old meets new at solar-powered antique shopWe love this winter-time image of the solar powered Smythesdale Antique shop – and the message that it sends.
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Windlab’s 1200MW Kennedy Energy Park set for construction, after IPO windfallCSIRO spin-off raises $50m in IPO, taking its world-leading wind, solar, storage project in Queensland closer to financial close.
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Australian wind delivers more record low prices, as private sector piles inAGL Energy secures PPA of below $60/MWh for 453MW Coopers Gap Wind Farm, to be built in Queensland by 2019 after reaching financial close Thursday. AGL chief says deal signals private sector’s readiness to invest in Australian renewables – but warns policy certainty still vital.
18 August More REneweconomy news
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CEFC backs IoT tech to help consumers control energy use, costsClean Energy Finance Corporation makes two new investments in companies focused on one of the easiest ways to reduce consumer power bills.
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Australia’s coal problem is also its mercury problemAnalysis of toxic emissions from Australia’s coal plants has revealed our per capita mercury emissions are roughly double the global average.
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Tasmania talks up renewables, ignores battery storage, gets stuck on gasTasmanian Energy Security report reasserts the importance of more diverse renewable energy supply. But ignores battery storage.
Standards Australia to ban home energy storage batteries!
Warnings of energy storage market chaos, as industry unites against home battery ban http://reneweconomy.com.au/warnings-energy-storage-market-chaos-industry-unites-home-battery-ban-71889/By Sophie Vorrath on 17 August 2017 One Step Off The Grid
The potentially industry crippling home battery installation safety guideline proposed by Standards Australia has again been slammed by the industry, as fundamentally flawed and – if passed – certain to throw the energy storage industry into chaos, both in Australia and overseas.
In a newsletter to members on Tuesday, Australia’s Energy Storage Council said that the current Draft Battery Standard ASNZ5139 – which effectively bans the installation of lithium-ion battery storage systems inside homes and garages on the basis that they are a fire risk – needed to be completely re-written.
“The draft Standard is not evidence-based and has enormous implications for the Australian and global battery storage industry,” the ESC said. Continue reading
18 August REneweconomy news
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Graph of the Day: South Australia’s wholesale price changes in 2017SA chart paints a picture of how power prices were higher when gas dominated the fuel mix in the state.
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Origin to add “a Hazelwood” of renewables by 2020, but says CET remains “critical”Despite an upbeat renewables outlook, Origin Energy CEO says the market is not out of the woods yet, and that for investment to keep up momentum, policy stability remains at a premium, and the introduction of a Clean Energy Target is critical.
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Jay Weatherill on hydrogen, load-shedding, community activism and his criticsThe SA Premier talks eggs, sausages, solar thermal, battery storage… and why the federal Clean Energy Target still matters.
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Origin FY17: Revenue up, margins up, customers downOrigin Energy lost electricity customers but grew revenue, price and margin for the full-year 2017. Overall the result was strong at virtually every line.
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Chinese climate impacts will hit Australian economyHow hard will climate impacts in China hit Australia’s economy? It’s a question for the Senate inquiry into national security implications of climate change.
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AGL launches free rooftop solar energy monitoring serviceAGL is offering households with rooftop solar systems a free service to help them protect potential savings by monitoring their systems.
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Origin rides high power price wave – but says it has to stopOrigin results show its retail division made the most of a “transitioning energy market.” But CEO says further power price rises “bad for everyone.”
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New Energy Solar recognised as an ABA100 winnerNew Energy Solar has today been recognised as an ABA100 Winner in The Australian Business Awards 2017.
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New Secretary appointed for DELWPThe Andrews Labor Government has today appointed Mr John Bradley as the new Secretary of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).
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South Australian Premier announces Solar thermal power plant for Port Augusta
Solar thermal power plant announced for Port Augusta ‘biggest of its kind in the world’, ABC, 15 August 17, A 150-megawatt solar thermal power plant has been secured for Port Augusta in South Australia, State Premier Jay Weatherill has announced.
Construction of the $650 million plant will start in 2018.
Concentrated Solar Power Simple Explanation
Aurora facts:
- 150-megawatt solar thermal power with eight hours of storage
- Plant will deliver 495 gigawatt hours of power annually, or 5 per cent of SA’s energy needs
- Equivalent to powering more than 90,000 homes
- Located 30 kilometres north of Port Augusta
- Company says it is “completely emission free”
Mr Weatherill said the Aurora Solar Energy Project would be ready to go in 2020 and would supply 100 per cent of the State Government’s needs.
The Government will pay a maximum of $78 per megawatt hour.
Mr Weatherill said the solar thermal plant was “the biggest of its kind in the world”.
“Importantly, this project will deliver more than 700 jobs, with requirements for local workers,” he said…….
A 150-megawatt solar thermal power plant has been secured for Port Augusta in South Australia, State Premier Jay Weatherill has announced.
Construction of the $650 million plant will start in 2018.
Mr Weatherill said the Aurora Solar Energy Project would be ready to go in 2020 and would supply 100 per cent of the State Government’s needs.
The Government will pay a maximum of $78 per megawatt hour.
Mr Weatherill said the solar thermal plant was “the biggest of its kind in the world”.
“Importantly, this project will deliver more than 700 jobs, with requirements for local workers,” he said.
Mirrors to direct sunlight onto tower
Solar thermal uses heliostats, or mirrors, to concentrate sunlight onto a tower that heats molten salt. The heat created is then used to generate steam.
Solar Reserve said the plant will be able to provide between eight and 10 hours of storage and had no requirement for gas or oil generated electricity as a backup.
It is expected to employ 50 full-time workers on an ongoing basis once it is operational.
The company said the power station will operate in a similar fashion to a coal or gas station, meaning many of the jobs would “require the same skill sets”.
Mr Smith said he looked forward to supporting “federal and state renewable energy targets”. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-14/solar-thermal-power-plant-announcement-for-port-augusta/8804628
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