Australia well placed to adopt American solar thermal plants
The International Energy Agency has found that renewable energy like household solar power systems and solar thermal power plants are competitive with traditional forms of power generation in the sunniest parts of the world, but a lack of financing is holding back investment in concentrated solar technologies.
Harness Solar Power To Minimise Coal Electricity Generation Emissions : Renewable Energy News, 14 Aug 2010, American plans to build large-scale solar thermal plants near coal-fired power stations should be duplicated in Australia says a local renewable energy industry figure. Continue reading
Victoria, Australia, to lead the way in wind energy
The wind farm, situated between the towns of Macarthur, Hawkesdale and Penshurst in Victoria, is slated to become the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere
Vestas awarded order for the largest wind power project in Australia Industrial Fuels and Power August 13th, 2010 Denmark-based Vestas has successfully secured the order for the largest wind power projectd in Australia. Continue reading
Scotland to develop huge wave power system
“We are at the start of a new industrial boom, akin to the development of the North Sea oil and gas fields,”
World’s largest tidal turbine unveiled New 1MW marine energy system by Atlantis to be deployed later this summer guardian.co.uk, Rachel Fielding , 13 August 2010 The world’s largest tidal turbine was yesterday unveiled at a facility in Invergordon, Scotland, marking the culmination of a decade of development activity and moving tidal power one step closer to commercial viability. Continue reading
Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan
The price tag may make it sound like a pipedream but the scheme earned the endorsement of the federal Liberal MP Malcolm Turnbull who added his support at a forum at Sydney Town Hall last night.
How to be fully renewable in 10 years, Sydney Morning Herald, BEN CUBBYAugust 13, 2010 AUSTRALIA could switch completely to renewable energy within a decade by building a dozen vast, new solar power stations and about 6500 wind turbines, according to a major new study. Continue reading
Australia could be a world leader, with Danish style renewables systems
Streamline Renewable Energy Policy And Make Australia A World Leader : Renewable Energy News, 11 Aug 2010, By establishing a single governing body to oversee renewable energy projects Australia could leap to the head of the global renewable race. Continue reading
Australia’s Liberal and Labor parties’ backward Climate Change policies
In its report Australia’s Renewable Energy Future, released early this year, the Australian Academy of Science says Australia has the potential to replace coal with renewable energy for its baseload power supply, accelerating the nation’s advance to a low-carbon economy.
Fossilised approach to power, Cheryl Jones, The Australian, August 11, 2010
BOTH Labor and Coalition policy on carbon trading will damage Australia’s emerging renewable energy industry, leading scientists have warned. Continue reading
The coming battle for powering electric cars
I ponder that the nuclear and uranium lobbies are hyping their product in anticipation of fleets of electric cars – powered by their polluting products. They salivate as electric car charging stations are set up in USA.
It ain’t necessarily so!
Electric cars can be charged up by renewable energy.
Do have a listen to Bernie Hobbs’ amusing and enlightening radio interviews on The Science Show and Life Matters – both from ABC radio – see below.
Bernie Hobbs’ zero emissions electric car
ABC Radio National – Life Matters – Home Page
Bernie Hobb’s electric car, ABC Radio National – Life Matters 9 August 2010,
Electric car – Science Show – 7 August 2010 – because the
cars charge overnight when the turbines are going anyway, you’re just using power that’s otherwise just produced for no reason whatsoever. The thing is, if you’re doing it for that reason and if you’re not using green power you’re really defeating the purpose. So you’re pumping just as much carbon dioxide into the air, but you’re not pumping the things that they call Noxs and Soxs, nitrous oxides and sulphur dioxides, which are the things that make the brown colour in smog. So, less of the pollutant, and if you’ve got 100% green power, zero emissions.
Senator Milne puts the case for Australia to boost renewable energy
Labor’s former climate change adviser, Ross Garnaut, warned last week that Australia must accelerate its investment in renewable energy research and development
Greens call for huge boost to renewable energy funds, Sydney Morning Herald, TIM COLEBATCH, August 9, 2010 THE Greens are proposing that the federal government almost quadruple support for large-scale solar, geothermal and other forms of renewable energy by guaranteeing up to $5 billion of loans to new power stations. Continue reading
Australia’s wave energy at Perth, Port Fairy, Port Kembla, San Remo, Moreton Bay
Ocean power – Australia rides the waves EcoGeneration, Rachel Purchase, 4 August 2010 Water covers over 70 per cent of the Earth, and Australia is particularly lucky to be surrounded by a lot of it. However, the ocean power available down under remains a largely unharnessed resource. Continue reading
Solar feed in tariff for Western Australia
The scheme, which will run for 10 years, is available for new and existing solar power systems, wind and micro-hydro systems that are owned by the resident, including those at rental properties that have tenants.
Western Australia Launches Solar Feed In Tariff And Wind Farm : Renewable Energy News, 4 August 2010, Energy Minister Peter Collier announced on Monday the official start of Western Australia’s residential net feed-in tariff. Continue reading
Energy Resources of Australia’s 82% uranium profit loss
….Meanwhile, the net profit after tax declined by 82%,…..the global financial crisis has led to delays in nuclear reactor builds in most regions
ERA profit falls sharply, cuts FY production guidance, MINING WEEKLY, By: Esmarie Swanepoel, 30th July 2010) – ASX-listed uranium-miner Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) on Friday reported an 82% drop in half-year profit and downgraded its production guidance for the 2010 financial year Continue reading
Queensland push for climate change as election issue
Australia’s chief scientist Penny Sackett – Australia was moving too slowly to prevent the impact of climate change……Environment groups across the country agree that the key issues for this election are about effective action on climate pollution and the need to protect our natural environment from increasing threats.
Conservation groups ally for Qld – the green state, Brisbane Times, TONY MOORE, July 31, 2010 – Queensland should pitch itself as the renewable energy state and push to have a price put on carbon in the federal government’s first term, say the state’s conservation groups. Continue reading
Australian government ceases funding for Solar Voltaic Research. WHY?
Pioneering solar photovoltaic centre of excellence loses research funding, Indymedia Australia, 30 July 2010, Why is a ground breaking solar research facility losing research funding at such a crucial time for transitioning from coal fired power stations to renewable energy? Continue reading
AUSTRALIAN ELECTION and the NUCLEAR INDUSTRY – our theme for August 2010
Australia faces an election on August 21. The major political parties are united in one policy – that is –keeping quiet about nuclear power. And Julia Gillard – Labor, and Tony Abbott – Liberal-Coalition, have got plenty to shut up about.
Both Labor and Liberal are beholden to their corporate masters. In the case of Labor, this was shown in a dramatic way, as Prime Minister Julia Gillard kow towed over the planned Super Profit Resources tax. And, with the new, tamed, Resources Rent Tax – uranium mining is exempt even from that one.
The Liberal Coalition used to be blatantly in favour of a nuclear Australia. Now, with the election looming, only a few of their maverick MPs will state this out loud.
Under the radar, the powerful and well-funded nuclear lobby is working away at both parties – for uranium/nuclear policies to be revealed after the election is safely over.
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 