Low Emissions Distributed Energy Could Save Australia $130 Billion

 

Broad adoption of clean distributed energy production technology including residential solar power systems could reduce the cost of Australia evolving into to a low-carbon country by as much as $130 billion by 2050, according to a new report released by CSIRO.

CSIRO's research has also found that water used for electricity generation can be reduced by as much as 75 per cent through a combination of distributed energy technology and large-scale renewable energy such as solar farms.

Unlike CCS (Carbon Capture and Sequestration) technology that is still many years away from being commercially viable, CSIRO project leader Anthony Szatow points out that clean distributed energy technologies are available now and these options offer an immediate and cost effective response to climate change
 
The CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship report outlines the potential contribution distributed energy can make to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and how it can be achieved. The report is the result of the Flagship’s three year project focusing on smart grids and examined the social, technological, environmental and economic value of widespread distributed energy use in Australia.

Distributed systems have the advantage of creating power closer to where it is consumed, minimizing line loss and reducing the need for power line infrastructure associated with electricity generating plants. The further the distance from the point of generation to the point of consumption, the more electricity is lost; usually as heat. Transmission and distribution losses in the USA and UK are around 7%. Decentralised power generation also offers advantages in relation to national security.

Australia Kicks In And Gets Kicked At Copenhagen Climate Conference

 

Yesterday at the Copenhagen climate conference, U.S Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the launch of a program to promote clean energy technologies in developing countries; an initiative that Australia will also be financially contributing to.
  
The new initiatives, part of Climate REDI (Renewables and Efficiency Deployment Initiative) will speed up deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology in developing nations.
  
One aspect is the Solar and LED Energy Access Program that will accelerate deployment of affordable home solar power systems and LED lanterns to people who do not have access to mains electricity. The program will provide households with low-cost and quality-assured solar alternatives to expensive and polluting kerosene.
  
The combined budget for the Climate REDI programs is $350 million over five years.  Funding for three of the initiatives, including the Solar and LED Energy Access Program,  will total USD $100 million.  The United States intends to contribute $35 million, with the balance from Italy, Australia and other partners.  
  
Also yesterday at Copenhagen was the announcement of ten Technology Action Plans developed under the Global Partnership. Australia will be one the lead countries involved with the Carbon capture, use and storage plan.
  
While Australia has put its hand up to take an active role in assisting developing countries, it has by no means been the darling of negotiations. Developing nations staged a two-hour walkout talks yesterday, accusing countries including Australia of attempting to "kill the Kyoto Protocol".
  
Australia has also been accused of "cooking the carbon books" after it was revealed while counting carbon sequestered by through modified farming and forestry strategies, it did not include high emissions aspects like bushfires (increasing due to climate change) and clearfell logging.
  

News for Monday 14 December, 2009

 

• REC Achieves 17% Polycrystalline Solar Panel Efficiency
  


• 1.3 Million Panel Solar Farm For Canada
  

View all news for Monday 14 December, 2009 on one page

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