Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Renewable energy growing more than coal or nuclear

Both the US and Europe added more renewable power capacity in 2009 than they added coal, gas, and nuclear capacity. Globally, 80,000 megawatts of renewable capacity was added, with China adding nearly half the total and nearly three-quarters of the total

Renewable Energy Investment is Growing – 24/7 Wall St., Paul Ausick, 21 Aug 2010, An international policy network called the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, or REN21, has released its global status report for 2010. Continue reading

August 21, 2010 Posted by | energy, uranium | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Both Australian Labor and Liberal would cut renewable energy funding

Australian Greens Blast Gillard For Cutting Solar Power Funding : Renewable Energy News, 20 Aug 2010, The Australian Greens say they are the only party serious about tackling climate change and transitioning Australia into a renewable energy economy. Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has attacked both Labor and the Coalition for cutting $416.5 million out of renewable energy funding. Continue reading

August 20, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics, solar, wind | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Business needs a carbon tax, says Bob Brown

business sees the Greens as being economically responsible, I talked about saving Australia from recession. I talked about our proposal for a carbon tax. I believe it’s that proposal which one of the big parties, the next party in office is going to have to come back to because business wants it, because business is saying we need a carbon signal for investment into the future. Only the Greens are offering it

Greens say business wants carbon tax, Radio Australia:, Linda Mottram interviews  Bob Brown, Australian Greens leader. August 19, 2010 “……..BROWN: The Australian Greens are in favour of transforming our economy from burning coal and forests to renewable energy and energy efficiency, and we have to do it urgently. My colleague Christine Milne has put forward a proposal for Australia to be carbon neutral; that is not putting any further carbon into the atmosphere between 2030 and 2050. Continue reading

August 20, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics, solar, wind | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Renewable energy score – Australia’s election

Here’s how the parties stack up in terms of their major national commitments to renewable energy and climate.

Australia’s Election 2010 – Renewable Energy And Climate Change : Renewable Energy News, 19 August 21 is nearly upon us …Australia’s 2010 Federal Election. While climate change and renewable energy were major platforms in the last election and appeared to have top billing again from the two major parties during the initial stages of the 2010 election campaign; it has somewhat taken a back seat to other issues, leading some to ask – where’s the green? Continue reading

August 18, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, politics, solar, wind | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia’s politicians hold back investment in renewable energy

“Australia has adopted a posture of being a follower rather than a leader,”

Australia’s `Depressing’ Clean Energy Policies Deter Investors – Bloomberg, by : James Paton // Aug 18, 2010 , The Arkx Clean Energy Fund’s managers are Australians who don’t have a dollar invested in Australia, a stance that’s unlikely to change after the Aug. 21 election. Continue reading

August 18, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, politics | , , | Leave a comment

Australian scientist world leader in solar energy research

Professor Green holds the world record for solar cell efficiency – 25%, a level thought to be impossible.

Solar Scientist Takes Out Australia’s Eureka Prize : Renewable Energy News, 18 Aug, 2010, Some have hailed Professor Martin Green as the “father of photovoltaics”. That label has now been justified with Professor Green taking out the 2010 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science. Continue reading

August 18, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, solar | , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia in the round the world electric vehicle race

Zero Race, for electric vehicles powered by renewable energy, will take competitors 30,000km across 16 countries in 80 days of driving…..”We expect our car to be by far the most energy efficient,”

All eyes on Trev in electric-powered race  Jennifer Foreshew: The Australian  August 17, 2010 IT has three wheels and a top speed of 120km/h, and it’s Australia’s entry in the first zero-emission around-the-world electric vehicle race. Continue reading

August 18, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy, solar | , , , | Leave a comment

Feed-in tariffs, tax incentives needed to fire up Australia’s Big Solar

In Spain, Germany and Italy, feed-in tariffs have driven massive growth in big solar. In the United States, loan guarantees coupled with tax incentives and renewable energy targets have driven growth. Along with the exiting renewable energy target (RET), these incentives should be adopted by whoever wins the federal election to ensure Australia meets its solar potential.

CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Big solar’s big potential, Business Spectator. John Grimes, 16 Aug 2010 This week, the Australian Solar Energy Society joined the Australian Conservation Foundation in calling for an additional 5 per cent of Australia’s electricity to come from ‘big solar’ by 2020. Continue reading

August 17, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy, solar | , , , , , | Leave a comment

Huge potential for ocean wave energy in Australia

Ocean Waves Can Power Australia’s Future, Scientists Say – ABC News, 18 Aug 2010, SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Waves crashing on to Australia’s southern shores each year contain enough energy to power the country three times over, scientists said on Tuesday in a study that underscores the scale of Australia’s green energy. Continue reading

August 17, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, energy | , , , , | Leave a comment

Australia left behind in Climate Change action

Abbott doesn’t even accept that climate change is a problem, though there is no evidence he has attempted to understand the work of leading climate scientists.

Sorry state of play when China leaves us for dead on climate, Sydney Morning Herald, Adam Morton, August 18, 2010 tGillard believes and Abbott doesn’t – but neither will do anything anyway………A series of announcements over the past month underlines what Ross Garnaut has been saying for a while – that China is miles ahead of Australia on the path to a greener economy, and the gap is widening……….. Continue reading

August 17, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, solar | , , , , | Leave a comment

The reality of nuclear power decline and falling uranium market

during the past 10 years, only about two-thirds of worldwide demand for nuclear fuel was met from resources obtained from mining. The remaining 20,000 tonnes came from so-called secondary uranium sources – mainly inventories held by utilities and governments, reprocessed nuclear fuel, and stockpiles of depleted uranium……………

The reality of nuclear energy is inconsistent with dreams of a renaissance. Nuclear energy is not on the rise – the hard facts point to a continuing, slow phase-out around the world   Michael Dittmar   guardian.co.uk,  16 August 2010

Repeatedly in recent years there have been calls for a revival of nuclear power. Yet that renaissance never seems to come. Continue reading

August 17, 2010 Posted by | energy, uranium | , , , | Leave a comment

South Australia could be renewable energy hub

According to the Greens South Australian Senate candidate Penny Wright, four potential wind energy projects on the Eyre Peninsula could more than double South Australia’s wind-sourced electricity generation capacity to 7500 megawatts if better transmission infrastructure were available.

Greens Envision South Australia As A Renewable Energy Exporter : Renewable Energy News, 16 AUGUST, 2010, The Australian Greens have proposed upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure across Australia that would see South Australia become a renewable energy exporter. Continue reading

August 17, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, solar, South Australia, wind | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Australian Democrats say nuclear power is no solution to Climate Change

Climate change – Nuclear power still not a solution, Darren Churchill, 16 Aug 2010, Nuclear power still costs the earth and is not a solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions say the Australian Democrats.Australian Democrats’ lead candidate in the ACT, Darren Churchill says that only genuine ecologically sustainable energy sources can make the difference. Continue reading

August 16, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, General News, solar, wind | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

In Brisbane thousands walk against global warming

Walkers send not-too-warm message to pollies on climate, Sydney Morning Herald, Tony Moore and Daniel Hurst, August 15, 2010 Thousands of supporters of the annual Walk Against Warming have wound their way through the streets of Brisbane in a stark reminder that tackling climate change remains a key issue for the 2010 Federal Election. Continue reading

August 16, 2010 Posted by | climate change - global warming, energy, General News, solar, wind | , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Resources ‘boom’ failing Australia’s economic competitiveness

there are the fraught issues of energy and climate change…….The lack of investment [in new renewable energy technology] will only further harm Australia’s competitiveness.

Australia slow to wake up to reality, Stuff.co.nz, By ROD ORAM –  Star Times, 15 Aug 2010, IS THE great Australian boom, the longest in any developed country, over? Yes, said Ross Garnaut, one of the country’s most respected economists, in a seminal lecture last week. Continue reading

August 16, 2010 Posted by | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, business, energy, solar, wind | , , , , , , , | Leave a comment