Renewable Energy News- Australia-wide, and Victorian
100% Renewable Energy For Australia By 2020? : Renewable Energy News 16 Feb 2010 Beyond Zero Emissions, a climate change solutions research group, yesterday released details of its Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Project (ZCA2020). The Project is a costed, detailed blueprint for a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy in ten years using proven, commercialised technology. Continue reading
Australia: 100% renewable energy: expensive, but do-able
Zero emissions possible – at $40bn a year The Age ADAM MORTON February 15, 2010 AUSTRALIA could move to 100 per cent renewable energy within a decade if it spent heavily on cutting-edge solar thermal and wind technology, according to an analysis released as part of a community bid to redirect the flailing climate policy debate. Continue reading
Nuclear giant Areva claims to be committed to Australian solar energy project
“Australia is definitely part of our strategy to become a world leader in concentrated solar power.”
New French owner committed to Ausra’s solar plans |
The Courier-Mail Kerrie Sinclair February 14, 2010
FRENCH nuclear company Areva has secured a deal to take over US-Australian solar power plant company Ausra and says it is committed to Ausra’s local Australian project pipeline.
Ausra and Queensland state-owned utility CS Energy six months ago applied for federal funding for a portion of a $200 million solar thermal generator in addition to the 750-megawatt Kogan Creek coal-fired power plant, near Chinchilla. Continue reading
Areva losing faith in ‘nuclear renaissance’ ?
French energy company Areva (best known for its nuclear power business) has purchased solar thermal power company Ausra – yet another example of a promising Australian technology company ending up with foreign ownership.
One possible positive interpretation of the news is that Areva are losing faith in the oft-predicted but unrealised “nuclear renaissance” and now see the real future growth opportunities in large scale solar power, with nuclear power (at best) a legacy business……………. Continue reading
Australian govts not promoting solar power industry
the government is clearly more focused on supporting “clean coal” technology in order to protect coal and gas exports.
New French owner committed to Ausra’s solar plans | The Courier-Mail Kerrie Sinclair 14 Feb 2010 While European solar plant companies look to expand into Asia, Australian peers struggle. Continue reading
China takes the lead in renewable energy jobs
James M. Gentile: Who Will Win The Race For Jobs In Renewable Energy? THE HUFFINGTON POST February 8, 2010 When it comes to renewable energy innovation and equipment manufacturing, China is challenging the West, and the outcome will decide where millions of jobs go in the future. Continue reading
Western Australia makes modest start on promoting renewable energy
WA Gov puts up $10m in funds for green energy tech Third round of funding to encourage the development of sustainable, low-emission technologies Computerworld Staff * 10 February, 2010 Continue reading
Canada developing renewable energy, leaving nuclear to languish
This gives the government a chance to ramp up efforts to have green energy replace nuclear, which now accounts for about half of Ontario’s power,
Nuclear industry left hanging
Rob Ferguson Queen’s Park Bureau With files from Tanya Talaga thestar.com 10 Feb 2010
The McGuinty government is leaving Ontario’s nuclear industry “drifting in the wind” after handing foreign-based Samsung a $7 billion deal to develop green power, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak charges. Continue reading
Review: AREVA, Climate Policy, Iran’s uranium enrichment
Au
stralia. Areva takes over Australian solar company. Continuing chaos on Australia’s Climate Change policy, as Rudd dithers over the Greens’ modest carbon tax plan, and Abbott is encouraged, as media publicises cranky extremist views of Lord Monckton. Sustainable Northern Australia report raises debate. W.A. govt refuses to hold public inquiry into uranium industry’s impact.
International: Obama appoints nuclear lobbyist as nuclear safety regulator. France’s AREVA joins powerful Korean nuclear industry competitor, while acquiring several solar companies. Iran ramps up uranium enrichment, while U.S and Israeli hawks preach war. Continuing anxieties over overuse of medical radiation – the week that has been
Can nuclear giant AREVA be trusted with solar energy industry?
There are two ways of looking at the French nuclear company AREVA taking over an Australian solar company.
1. Areva’s resources, financial and expert, can bring the necessary push to really make this solar industry happen. And, with the financial mess that is developing in AREVA’s nuclear industry, this solar move could herald a very positive transition away from nuclear, and to renewables.
2. In Australia, we have a sad history of fossil fuel interests buying up solar industry initiatives precisely for the purpose of killing them off. AREVA has just joined forces with its powerful Korean nuclear competitor, KEPCO. Can corporations like Areva be trusted to really develop renewable technologies – or are they out to suppress them so as to promote their nuclear power empire?
I would like to think that Areva is truly diversifying, and promoting renewable energy technologies. I bear in mind the work of people like Ralph Nader, who has always been willing to talk with polluting corporations, and work for improvements.
Nevertheless, the fear remains.
Australian solar companies taken over by multinationals
Local solar power leaders taken over by Areva and Silex THE AUSTRALIAN, Giles Parkinson February 10, 2010 TWO of Australia’s most promising solar energy technologies changed hands yesterday, with the world’s largest nuclear energy group Areva buying Ausra and Silex Systems acquiring the assets of the collapsed Solar Systems. Continue reading
Australian govt pursues ‘clean coal’, while missing solar opportunity
the Rudd Government’s actions indicate it now aims to keep Australia locked into using coal and gas for the vast bulk of electricity and to protect its coal and gas exports at the expense of new clean energy.
Government neglect turns lights out for solar power industry, The Courier-Mail, Kerrie Sinclair, February 07, 2010 Continue reading
Climate Policy: Rudd’s and Abbott’s not all that different
….It’s time that Australian politicians realised that the clean-energy revolution is the equivalent to a modern-day space race. The winners get to take all. The losers get to clean the dishes and sweep the floor. Or drive a ploughless tractor.
Carbon copy Giles Parkinson Business Spectator 3 Feb 2010 The climate change policies of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition have more in common than you might think.For a start, both studiously ignore the need for the Australian economy to make any sort of transition, despite the clear global trend. Continue reading
Australia missing the bus on renewable energy
the opportunities for jobs, export earnings, energy security and zero-emissions electricity on offer in the renewable sector. Failure to act means Australians will remain stuck in the coal pit while the world prospers from the renewable energy boom.
Australia blown away on renewable energy Sydney Morning Herald MATTHEW WRIGHT February 3, 2010
RENEWABLE energy is the world’s fastest-growing power source. It is already generating baseload electricity at utility scales. Large solar thermal plants with heat storage can dispatch power whether or not the sun is shining, and make handsome profits during demand peaks. Wind power is being installed at scales that dwarf Australian grid requirements. These and other clean-energy technologies are replacing coal on modern energy grids.
Queensland could lead the renewable energy revolution
“New technologies include a solar thermal storage technology pilot, which captures heat from the sun and stores it for future electricity generation…..
Queensland bid for smart grid dollars (Media-Newswire.com) 30 Jan 2010 -A Queensland Government consortium has today launched a bid for $100 million in federal funds to build a demonstration smart electricity grid for Australia. Continue reading
1 This month
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