Watershed Moment for Solar in Australia
With more than two million solar panels (2,044,140) now feeding power into the national electricity grid, AGL Energy Limited and First Solar have successfully completed Australia’s two largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plants at Nyngan and Broken Hill with $166.7 million support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). ARENA’s acting CEO Ian Kay today joined AGL Managing Director and CEO Andy Vesey, Federal Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt, NSW Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy Anthony Roberts…
Broken Hill Plant Hits Full Generation
The Broken Hill Solar Plant in western New South Wales has ramped up to full generation for the first time, sending 53 MW of renewable energy into the National Electricity Market. This latest milestone, which was the result of pre-commissioning activities and more than 300,000 hours of onsite work, came a few days after ARENA, AGL and First Solar joined the NSW Government at a ceremony to install the plant’s final panels. Acting ARENA CEO Ian Kay congratulated AGL and First Solar on the significant achievement.
ISF New Maps Show Renewable Opportunities
The Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) at the University of Technology Sydney has released its first set of maps showing opportunities for renewable energy as part of its ARENA supported mapping project. The new maps draw on sample data from electricity Network Service Providers to show network constraints and planned investment. They are hosted on the Australian Renewable Energy Mapping Infrastructure (AREMI) platform, which is also being developed with ARENA funding support. Acting ARENA CEO Ian Kay said…
Why the Commodity Mega-Projects Era is Over
Want a snapshot of the problems facing natural resource companies and why the era of big projects is over? Consider the recent dilemmas of Chevron, Adani and Fortescue Metals in Australia. The first is battling cost overruns and combative unions in trying to get a multi-billion dollar project ready. The second is facing yet another delay to the world's biggest coal-mining development, with a court victory by environmentalists adding to financing challenges amid deteriorating economics. The third is playing coy about a possible rescue by a Chinese white knight…
Adani's Australia Coal Mine Hits Environmental Snag
Environment approval pulled pending gov't resubmission. An Australian court on Wednesday revoked the government's environmental approval for one of the world's biggest coal mines under construction in the Australian outback by Indian conglomerate Adani Mining. Environmentalists hailed the ruling against the controversial Carmichael mine as another setback for the project, estimated to cost up to $16 billion, which they say threatens two vulnerable species and will endanger the Great Barrier Reef. Adani, which recently suspended work in a number of areas on the mine as it awaits government approvals…
Australia Reveals Barrier Reef Protections
UNESCO's World Heritage Committee is due to decide in June whether to put the reef on its "in danger" list because its corals have been badly damaged and some of its animal species, including dugong and large green turtles, are threatened. Such a listing could lead to restrictions on shipping and port expansions that could hit Australia's trade in commodities and energy. Environment Minister Greg Hunt issued proposed changes to regulations to carry out the ban, which he announced in November, barring sea dumping of dredged soil in the 345,000 sq km Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The park is under federal government control.
Australia Approves Adani's $16 bln Carmichael Coal Project
The Australian government on Monday approved Indian firm Adani Mining Pty Ltd's controversial A$16.5 billion ($15.5 billion) Carmichael coal and rail project in Queensland, subject to strict conditions to protect groundwater. The Carmichael mine, which could become Australia's largest coal mine at 60 million tonnes a year, has sparked protests from green groups and marine tour operators worried about carbon pollution and export of the coal from a port near the Great Barrier Reef. Greenpeace said the conditions imposed…
Coal Export Facility to be Built at Bunbury Port
Western Australia's Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, has approved plans to build a $500 million coal export facility at Bunbury Port. Construction is expected to start in mid-2015, with the first exports planned for 2017. Coal for exports will travel to the port by rail. The facility will require dredging up to 1.9 million cubic metres at the port and blasting 20,000 cubic metres of rock. Approval was given with a number of conditions, including a requirement to monitor dolphin populations and not conduct blasting activities during dolphin calving periods from October to May each year.
