Renewable Energy - Australia's 2010/11 Budget Update

 

As mentioned in our report last night,  The 2010/2011 Federal Budget saw the Australian government committing a further $652.5 million over four years to establish a Renewable Energy Future Fund; to support small and large scale clean energy and energy efficiency initiatives.
   
The Renewable Energy Future Fund will form part of the Government’s expanded $5.1 billion Clean Energy Initiative and complement the existing support provided through the Government’s expanded Renewable Energy Target of 20 per cent by 2020. This additional funding brings the Government’s total investments in renewable and clean energy and energy efficiency to over $10 billion. 
  
Details of the specific commitments under the Renewable Energy Future Fund will be announced shortly.
  
The Government also announced a further $110.5 million from existing renewable energy programs in the following projects:
  
- $32 million for  a 23MW solar boost system for coal fired turbines at Kogan Creek, near Chinchilla in western Queensland.
  
- $60 million  to build a 40MW concentrated solar thermal demonstration plant at Whyalla, South Australia, using home grown "Big Dish" technology.
  
- $5.0 million for a University of New South Wales project improve performance of commercial solar cells.
   
- $2.25 million for a project to improve the performance of photovoltaic manufacturing.
  
- $4.95 million for an Australian National University led project to help develop the next generation of solar cells.
  
- $2.25 million for a project to develop a high-efficiency, integrated solar panel on a transparent substrate.
  
- $4.0 million for a CSIRO/Australian National University to develop advanced solar thermal energy storage technologies.
  
Also announced were eight projects that have progressed to the second stage of assessment for Round One of the $1.5 billion Solar Flagships Program. Each will share up to $15 million in feasibility funding for the next stage. The projects are:
  
PV/Solar Panels
  
-  AGL Energy : thin film cadmium telluride solar photovoltaic technology to generate up to150MW at multiple sites across Australia 
  
- TRUenergy : thin film cadmium telluride solar panels to generate up to 180MW at a solar farm near Mildura
  
-  Infigen/Suntech: crystalline silicon solar panels would be deployed at up to three sites in New South Wales or Victoria to generate up to 195MW
 
- BPSolar: single axis tracking photovoltaic system to generate 150MW from solar farm constructed at several locations in New South Wales.
 
Solar Thermal
 
- ACCIONA Energy Oceania : 200MW facility using solar thermal parabolic trough technology in either Queensland or South Australia
 
- Parsons Brinckerhoff : 150MW solar thermal parabolic trough power station at Kogan Creek in Queensland
 
- Wind Prospect CWP : 250MW linear fresnel facility at Kogan Creek in Queensland 
 
- Transfield : conversion of Collinsville coal-fired power station in Queensland into a 150MW solar thermal linear fresnel system.
 
The Government intends to announce the two final successful applicants - one solar thermal and one solar photovoltaic - for Round One of the Solar Flagships Program in the first half of 2011.
. 

Australia's Budget - Renewable Energy Future Fund Announced

 

The Australian Federal Government handed down its 2010/2011 budget a short time ago, a pre-election budget that Treasurer Swan said prior would be a "no-frills" affair.

Leading up to the Budget, Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the Government should take the money saved from the ill-fated emissions trading scheme and funnel it into projects that reduce carbon emissions - including solar power and other forms of renewable energy.
 
In relation to renewable energy, in his Budget speech Mr. Swan announced the following:
 
"As we continue to work to build the necessary domestic and international consensus for carbon markets, we will roll out the most substantial renewable energy plan this country has seen - consistent with our decision to increase the renewable energy target to 20 per cent by 2020.
 
We have already committed support for energy efficiency, renewable technologies and clean coal of over $10 billion.
 
Tonight I announce the next step - a new $652 million Renewable Energy Future Fund, which will be part of an expanded $5.1 billion Clean Energy Initiative.
 
This Fund will leverage private sector investment to support renewable energy projects, and the development and deployment of low-emissions technologies.
 
It will also be used to enhance Australia’s take-up of energy efficiency, including helping households and businesses reduce their energy consumption."
  
According to follow-up commentary and analysis just released by the Clean Energy Council (CEC), $42m will be allocated to Renewable Energy Future Fund for 2010-11, with the majority earmarked for 2011-12.
   
The CEC says the aims of the Renewable Energy Future Fund are to leverage private venture capital by encouraging partnerships between the Government and the private sector in the commercialisation of new renewable technologies and to encourage energy efficiency measures to help businesses and households reduce their energy consumption.
   
The Government also announced  $200 million to establish a Critical Skills Investment Fund, providing up to 10,000 training places per year to be created with an initial focus on industries including renewable energy. 
 
An additional $102.7 million will also provide an added 600,000 home sustainability assessments under the now rather unusually named "Green Loans" program - unusually named in the sense that the Green Loans component is no longer offered after it was axed in February this year.
  
This news item will be updated as additional information about the Renewable Energy Future Fund becomes available.
  

Survey: Australians Want Solar Power Mandatory On New Houses

 

In recent research released by SilexSolar and conducted by Galaxy Research, 83% of Australian home owners indicated they believe solar power systems should be installed on all new houses in Australia by 2015.
  
The national study of Australian homeowners  was conducted in April 2010 with 1,274 respondents and weighted to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics population figures. The survey determined 83% said that they either 'definitely' or 'probably'  believe that by 2015 all new Australian houses should have in-built solar power systems.
  
According to SilexSolar CEO Dr Michael Goldsworthy, "This supports our belief that state and local government should ensure building codes mandate installations of solar PV power in all new homes and offices."
  
Dr. Goldsworthy said that while the cost of solar power is projected to reach grid parity by around 2013, it was critical that governments further close the financial gap for consumers and industry with feed in tariffs based on a similar model to what the NSW Government is providing for consumers under its Solar Bonus Scheme.
  
New South Wales' scheme differs from most other states, with the exception of the ACT, in that it pays a under a "gross" arrangement; that is, the premium rate is paid on all electricity produced by a solar power system, rather than just the surplus exported to the mains grid. 
  
Silex Solar is Australia's only manufacturer of solar panels for the local general market. The company acquired BP's solar panel manufacturing facilities at Sydney Olympic Park last year and recently commenced production.
  

News for Monday 10 May, 2010

 

• Small Scale Clean Power Generation Encourages Energy Efficiency
  


• Bladeless, Practically Silent Fuller Wind Turbine
  

View all news for Monday 10 May, 2010 on one page

Recent News

 

• Sunday 09 May, 2010
  


• Thursday 06 May, 2010
  


• Wednesday 05 May, 2010
  


• Tuesday 04 May, 2010
  


• Monday 03 May, 2010
  

News archive