Australia well placed to be hub of renewable energy export industry
Could Australia be the hub of a renewable energy export industry powering the homes, industry and electric car fleets of our region? In fact, our proportion of the global renewable energy resource is much higher than it is for coal.
Do renewable energy by the numbers, and it all adds up, Sydney Morning Herald, MIKE SANDIFORD June 24, 2010 “………..Geographically dispersed production – spreading out renewable energy farms so as not to rely on weather conditions in one area – is one way to improve energy stability and security. And our nation-continent, stretching across climate and time zones, appears ready-made for that.
Two new studies published by the Melbourne Energy Institute look at just these issues. Continue reading
New hope for Australia to get real Climate Change policy
That [lack of a carbon tax] may change after the election if the Greens hold the balance of power in their own right.
Wong negotiates renewable energy plans, Sydney Morning Herald, June 23, 2010 The Rudd government is preparing to unveil a new climate action policy ahead of the next federal election, likely in a few months. Continue reading
Agreement on Australia’s renewable energy scheme
Review: Resources tax, GNEP to IFNEC, Renewables
Australia: Mainstream media continues to publicise the billionaires’ revolt against Resources Super Profit Tax – as though it’s going to end Australia’s resources industries. (At the same time, China signing up for long term resources buying). Uranium market remains in the doldrums. ERA’s annual profit halved. Moves in Parliament to get REAL renewable energy legislation. Victorian Labor opposing uranium sales to Russia. Senator Scott Ludlam keeps asking those awkward nuclear questions.
International: USA gets new renewable energy coalition. GNEP rises up again under a new name – International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC). South Africa abandoning Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactor project. China selling nuclear reactors to Pakistan, seeing that USA is selling them to India. USA’s proposed Climate Bill is in fact a massive bailout for nuclear industry. Punjab children retarded due to uranium contamination. Anti nuclear protest at APEC. – the week that has been.
Greens and Liberal Senators push for Solar and Wind Power
Solar, wind power may meet 2020 energy use, Sydney Morning Herald, TOM ARUP, June 22, 2010 A MASSIVE introduction of solar-thermal power plants and wind farms would allow Australia to generate all its energy needs from renewable technologies by 2020, research shows.The report, to be announced today by the retiring Liberal Victorian senator Judith Troeth, the Greens senator Christine Milne and the Independent Nick Xenophon, finds a 100 per cent renewable plan by 2020 would cost $37 billion a year, in public and private money – or 3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. Continue reading
Tim Flannery goes anti nuclear?
Time Flannery, previous darling of the Australian nuclear lobby – seems to have got off his pro nuclear horse – well – to some degree anyway. He’s just against it for Australia.
But – that’s incurred the wrath of quite a few pro-nuclear columnists – he seems to be out of favour now
Flannery, quoted 20 June 2010, “Why should we take the most expensive option in this country, which has always been recognized as having the most expensive and difficult option.
We are going to see a whole lot of other technologies and innovations which are now well under way which we could use instead of nuclear power……. Such as concentrated PV technology, geothermal technology, wave power, wind power.”
Renewable energy, Australian media, and BHP Billiton
Across the world’s media – so much about oil spill, about wonderful nuclear power, about soccer … but also quite a lot about Renewable Energy. Yes, renewable energy is happening, and it deserves more coverage.
Of course, in Australia, the news is all about the dreaded super profit resources tax, and how awful our P.M is supposed to be. They’ve done a good job – the corporate-dominated media.
Meanwhile –
BHP Billiton are probably finding this whole tax saga quite convenient, as there are several other factors holding up the expansion of Olympic Dam. China is cutting down on energy use. Uranium prices in the doldrums.
Apart from the serious legal and environmental concerns about Olympic Dam, there’s the unmentioned issue of seismic activity.
Last year’s incident that paralysed the main shaft activity is still a mystery. It could turn out the the whole expansion operation is unsafe and unviable, and BHP can conveniently blame the Australian government, when it abandons the project
Australian govt wimping out on renewable energy legislation?
Several sources are reporting the Federal Government has withdrawn legislation related to a revamp of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target (RET) and that it may not be presented again until after the next Federal election.
Reports : Renewable Energy Target Legislation Stalled : Renewable Energy News June 18: A Revised Draft Legislation Program for the Senate released last night shows the RET vote will be going ahead, but rescheduled Continue reading
Decentralised solar power an energy answer for remote and urban areas
Solar PV systems provide environment-friendly power generating solution for electrifying remote rural areas where it is neither technically nor economically feasible to extend grid coverage across vast territories
Australia & New Zealand solar PV market report, Renewable Energy Focus, 17 June 2010 In Australia and New Zealand, solar photovoltaic (PV) market trends indicate burgeoning demand Continue reading
Australian media publicising mining billionaires’ cheating message
On Australian TV we witness the unappetising vision of a bunch of billionaires looking like feral hippies – protesting against the government’s proposed super profit resources tax.
Well, of course – these impoverished underprivileged citizens want to have their 15% minimum profit, pretty much untrammelled by letting us – the great unwashed, and our descendants, get some benefit from this greed and environmental destruction.
It is sad that the Australian public can be conned in this way, due to media that is either bowing to its corporate ownership, or just too stupid or slack to see what is happening.
No wonder BHP, Rio Tinto etc are scared that other governments might get the idea of acting in the interests of their people, rather than of corporations. And it’s happening – – in the nuclear industry, as Germany is about to ring in a similar tax on nuclear power.
W.A. Premier threatens compulsory Aboriginal land acquisition – gas now, uranium later?
Gas hub land may be compulsorily acquired ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 15 June 2010, The Premier Colin Barnett has again foreshadowed compulsorily acquiring land north of Broome to build a Kimberley gas hub. Continue reading
Wind power now rivalling gas in Europe
Europe’s New Wind Power Rivals Gas, NYTimes.com, By JAMES KANTER, June 14, 2010 The amount of power generated by new wind turbines in the European Union this year will be about the same as the amount from new gas plants, Continue reading
W.A. way behind in clean energy, despite its renewable resources
Perth comes last for sustainability, ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), 15 June 2010, Perth has been ranked the least sustainable city in an assessment of the carbon footprint of Australia’s 20 largest cities….. Continue reading
Call to limit consumption, energy and water use
….“This reckless use of energy resources also leads to depletion of natural resources, the capabilities and budgets of the countries at the expense of social spending..”
(Bahrain) Reckless energy waste must stop’ Gulf Daily News, By MANDEEP SINGH , June 15, 2010 RECKLESS consumers are wasting Bahrain’s power and water supplies because heavy subsidies make them so cheap, a minister declared yesterday. Continue reading
Smart grid – Australia’s opportunity to develop efficient renewable energy
Australia going smart-grid | Green Tech – CNET News, by Candace Lombard, 9 June 2010, Newcastle, in the state of New South Wales, will be the first Australian city to move onto a smart grid in what the government says could be a nationwide change……. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
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