A positive thought for Australian solar energy industry
”We have got a chance to get in at the start of a major new growth industry, and we have the smarts to make it work if the government signals that it will support local manufacturers.”
Call to foster local solar panel makers, Ben Cubby, Sydney Morning Herald, October 2, 2010 Australian solar panel makers are calling for industry protection to slow down a flood of cheap panels being manufactured in China, as the NSW government reviews its solar tariff scheme. Continue reading
Australian business can reduce costs through energy efficiencies, solar cooling
Such systems are relatively inexpensive (they don’t require large pieces of infrastructure), yet they can realise quite dramatic energy savings, whilst allowing business as usual….Solar cooling using heat from the sun as an energy source which can be used to generate cool air for use in buildings.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESSES Business Review, 1 Oct 10, As well as renewable energy generation, businesses can make dramatic emissions and cost reductions through energy efficiency measures. Continue reading
Developing Renewable Energy in Australia
CSIRO (Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) is developing the next generation of technologies that produce energy from renewables including solar, wind, ocean and geothermal resources
The Future of Renewable Technologies – Business News – Dr Jim Smitham, 1 Oct 10, If Australia is to mitigate climate change, we will need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity and transport fuels by finding ways to harness our clean, renewable resources like the sun and wind. Continue reading
Australian Greens support Aboriginal fight against Muckaty nuclear waste dump
He read a letter from traditional owners to Parliament – “We are the Aboriginal people who own the land and the dreamings you are talking about, we are asking that you reject this bill and scrap Muckaty as a site for the waste dump.”
Greens urge rethink of nuclear dump site – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), By Megan Lewis Sep 29, 2010 The Greens have urged the Federal Government to scrap plans to build a nuclear waste dump at Muckaty Station in the Northern Territory…… Continue reading
Exposing the the LIES of the NUCLEAR LOBBY – October theme
An important nuclear lie is that we’ll need nuclear power to fuel electric cars, and that renewable energy can’t do it.
In fact, electric car batteries can be charged in a variety of ways.
Charging stations can get renewable power from the main grid, or directly from an array of solar panels above the charging station.
As costs come down, and batteries and car designs have improved, good serviceable cars, able to go 100 Km without recharge, are coming at a reasonable price, particularly taking into account the long-term saving in fuel costs.
Today’s batteries last for decades, in fact, for the life of the car itself, thus eliminating the cost of replacing them.
Renewable energy is ideal for electric cars. Over 70% of car travel in Australia involves shorter trips around towns. The Renewable energy car can be ‘topped up’ overnight, in the garage. Its battery stores the renewable energy, for use in daytime – there’s no “baseload power problem” – ( the nuclear lobby would claim ‘baseload” as a problem for electric cars.)
Solutions for the transition period: –
1. hybrid cars having both petrol and electric power
2. people can have solar-powered cars for normal town and city driving, with the second petrol-fuelled car for very long trips.
Large and small solar projects for Victoria, Australia
The government of Victoria has also declared a Solar Hubs Program to encourage community based solar power generations to produce 8.6 MW solar power by the year 2013.
Victorian Government to Invest $100 Million on Solar Projects, CleanTech, 29 Sept 10, The Victorian Government of Australia has kept aside $100 million to develop and construct a solar power producing facility in the North West part of the state. Continue reading
Hydro power giving Tasmania the lead in Australia
the island’s been really fuelled in economic direction by hydro-industrialisation; that is renewable energy.…Tasmania produces some 75 per cent of Australia’s renewable energy right now
Tasmania set to become next Silicon Valley-style tech hub, Sydney Morning Herald, Ben Grubb, September 29, 2010 Continue reading
Geothermal energy project for Western Australia
Australian Government Funds Geothermal Energy Project : Renewable Energy News, 29 Sept, 10 The Western Australia Sustainable Energy Association (WA SEA) has welcomed an announcement by geothermal proponent Green Rock Energy Limited of the receipt of $7 million in federal funding towards its proposed geothermal test well at WA University’s Crawley Campus. Continue reading
Northern Ireland sets 40% Renewable Energy Target by 2020
Northern Ireland aims for 40% renewables by 2020 | Recycle.co.uk, September 29th, 2010 by Lucy Rees Northern Ireland has announced an ambitious new target to reach 40 per cent renewable energy by 2020. Continue reading
The Australian government wants to overrule Northern Territory on nuclear waste dump
The Australian government debates the ACT’s Euthanasia bill. The debate seems to be all about euthanasia. But actually – not so. This debate is about the rights of the ACT”s democratic government to make its laws – or whether the Federal government can overrule them.
This looks like a precursor to the National Radioactive Waste Management Bill, where the same issue will arise, regarding the Northern Territory. Perhaps that’s why we can expect that the Australian Government will not weaken on its over-riding of the ACT’s Euthanasia law.
If the y did weaken, well it might set a precedent that would inconvenience the nuclear/uranium lobby
Australia’s political leaders “timid” on energy debate
Greenpeace International executive director Gerd Leipold told The Australian that he was surprised at the timidity of debate in Australia about energy supply, which has seen Liberal and Labor leaders support a renewed focus on nuclear power
Enthusiasm For Nuclear Power Cooling | Hybrid Auto News – September 27th, 2010 “………If nuclear energy supplied 75 per cent of the world’s electricity, it would result in only a 25 per cent reduction in harmful carbon emissions, the global head of Greenpeace has warned. Continue reading
Carbon tax could fund a renewable energy Australia
by investing the revenue raised by taxing carbon emissions (or fossil fuels) in renewable energy and clean technology research, development, demonstration and deployment…establish a National Clean Technology Fund.
Carbon tax could be the ticket for a greener Australia › (ABC Environment) by Leigh Ewbank. 27 Sept 10, “……The Gillard government’s new cross-party Climate Change Committee aims to spearhead carbon-pricing legislation in the next term. Continue reading
Glowing world forecast from International Renewable Energy Agency
there could be 50 per cent renewable energy in the energy mix by 2050. There were double digit growth rates for photovoltaic and wind over the last years and 60 per cent of new capacity in Europe come from renewable energy. Pelosse said, 85 countries are with policy targets and other 75 countries with feed-in tariffs.
Renewable energy sector may have 20m new jobs, Khaleej Times 28 September 2010 ABU DHABI — Renewable energy sector around the world will have some 20 million new job opportunities by 2030, said Helene Pelosse, interim Director- General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Continue reading
Slowdown in BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam expansion plans
BHP May Consider Phased Olympic Dam Mine Expansion, Review Says By Jacob Greber Sept. 28 (Bloomberg) — BHP Billiton Ltd. told analysts it’s considering a revised expansion of its Olympic Dam copper- uranium mine in South Australia, the Australian Financial Review said. The company is considering a phased expansion, resulting in a slower increase in production than originally anticipated, the newspaper reported, without saying where it got the information. BHP May Consider Phased Olympic Dam Mine Expansion, Review Says – BusinessWeek
Renewable energy growth best for South africa
The report: South African Energy Sector Jobs to 2030, prepared for Greenpeace Africa by the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, and authored by Jay Rutovitz, examined three different energy growth scenarios…..
(South Africa) Renewable energy offers more jobs than coal | West Cape News, 24 Sept 10, Focussing on renewable energy initiatives would not only make South Africa more energy secure, it would create more jobs than alternative coal dependent scenarios and save hundreds of billions of rands over the long term. Continue reading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 