Home: Renewable Energy News: Monday 18 May, 2009

Renewable Energy News

MONDAY 18 MAY, 2009 |

Solar Gross Feed In Tariff For Western Australia

WA solar gross feed in tariff
Announced last week and in meeting the Western Australian Government’s election commitments, $13.5 million will be allocated over four years to introduce a gross feed-in tariff for home solar energy energy systems in Western Australia. The state's program will be one of the most generous in Australia.

According to Dr Ray Wills, Chief Executive of WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc (WA SEA), the gross feed in tariff of 60 cents per kilowatt hour, which WA SEA understands is only available only if homes also take on 100% green power supply, will apply to residential grid connect solar power systems up to 10 kilowatt capacity.

Coupled with the current federal $8,000 solar rebate, soon to be replaced by the Solar Credits scheme, smaller systems can be paid off in a very short period, with payback of larger systems less than nine years according to Dr Wills.

While the recent announcement appears to apply only to residential grid connect systems, it seems the Barnett Government is open to explore an appropriate renewable energy buyback scheme for small to medium businesses also.

With the Western Australia announcement, New South Wales is now the only state not to offer some form of feed in tariff. Western Australia's generous program has now raised the bar for all other states, particularly those only offering a net feed in tariff. The current wide variation between state-run schemes will also increase the call for a national, uniform solar gross feed in tariff system.

In other Western Australia budget related solar news, a further $6.5 million will be available over the next three years for the expanded solar schools program.

World's Largest Solar Farm Project For Australia

Australa - world's largest solar farm
Perhaps still stinging from criticism on coal receiving the lion's share of clean energy funding in the budget last week, the Australian Government has highlighted a lofty goal - to build four solar farms that generate three times as much power as the world's current largest project based in California. The Rudd Government says it remains committed to ensuring 20 per cent of Australia's electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.

Under the Government's $1.365 billion Solar Flagships plan, such a project would see the farms generating a combined 1 gigawatt of renewable energy generated electricity; the equivalent of an average sized coal fired power station.

The new solar farms will be built via a tender to be called later this year. The farms may consist of both solar thermal and solar panel (solar photovoltaic) technologies.

The successful companies and technologies chosen will be based on a competitive assessment, with an important criteria of industry development, including capacity to boost domestic manufacturing and future export potential.

In related news, the Government has also announced Australia will become a member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Launched in January this year; Bonn, Germany based IRENA works on behalf of the renewables sector to promote the acceleration of renewable energy uptake worldwide. The organisation provides advice and support for countries, assists in the development of regulatory frameworks and the building of capacity. IRENA currently has 80 members.

The Rudd Government sees the membership of IRENA as a strengthening of Australia's role as a global leader in tackling climate change and the knowledge gained from operating the Solar Flagships program will contribute to the worldwide fight against carbon pollution.

Taller Wind Turbine Towers Boost Power Generation

Taller wind turbines
In the world of wind power, bigger turbines have been the trend for increased power generation, but a Netherlands based company believes that taller turbines may be the better way to go.

Usually hub heights for land based wind turbines are around the 100 meter mark. Advanced Tower Systems (ATS) claims an additional yield of 20 percent or more is possible by increasing tower heights, particularly in inland locations with lower wind speeds.

Obstructions from land forms, trees and buildings within an area can cause substantial wind intensity decreases and a buffeting effect with wind direction varying. While the breeze may feel strong, it also needs to be the right kind of breeze for a turbine to be its most effective. This buffeting effect provides even bigger challenges in built up areas, particularly for residential wind power systems in cities.

A system using the hybrid tower is installed at Germany’s Windtest test field at Grevenbroich, near Cologne and set to start working this week. The lower section of the tower is made of concrete pre-fabricated parts and the upper section of conventional steel A Siemens SWP 2.3 megawatt wind turbine with a 93 meter diameter rotor sits atop the tower. With its hub height of 133 meters, the system has an overall height of 180 meters.

According to ATS, the higher tower cost should be recouped in approximately four years and the maintenance costs are very low.

Source

Related: Is wind power right for you?