New player joins fracking in Beetaloo
The Lawler Labor Government says it is continuing to back the industries that get the Territory working, with a new company entering the onshore gas industry. Top End Energy is the newest explorer to enter the highly prospective McArthur Basin, parent basin of the Beetaloo Sub-basin which is worth an expected $17 billion dollars to the Territory’s economy, joining global energy players Tamboran Resources, Empire Energy and Santos.
Australia’s first crowdfunded solar farm powers up at Grong Grong
The Grong Grong solar farm powered up last week and is now operational, providing proof that community-owned renewables projects can get off the ground. The 1.5 megawatt (MW) project was officially launched a month ago, a celebration of a four year endeavour by Komo Energy to build the country’s first crowdfunded solar farm.
CCS banned in Queensland GAB
Future water security has been ensured in the Queensland portion of the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), with Premier Steven Miles banning carbon capture and storage last week. Clifton and Pittsworth currently draw their town water from the Basin. Greenhouse gas storage activities, including carbon capture and storage projects, will be permanently prohibited in the basin as part of the move to protect the critically important resource.
Community-first: a gust of fresh air
The process of community consultation undertaken in a Tasmanian renewable energy zone has been praised for its commitment to listening to the community. The lack of community consultation was a big sticking point for residents of the East Greenmount/Ramsay area when they heard, through neighbours, that there were plans to construct a wind farm in their neighbourhood.
James Lister speaks out: wind farms blow the seeds of community division
James Lister MP. Recent talk of more wind farm developments in our electorate of Southern Downs has stirred up all kinds of anger and ill feeling in the community. The fundamental problem is the exclusion of local input from state government level decisions over where wind and solar farms should be.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) opportunities on horizon for Australian agriculture: Rabobank
Growing global and local demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) could spell good news for Australian agriculture, with the country’s farmers well placed to provide low- emissions feedstock to be used in future production, according to new industry research ... the largest contribution to cutting aviation emissions over the next decade will come from transitioning to the use of sustainable aviation fuel, which is commonly produced from agricultural products and by-products.
Need a business? Build it and they will come
Don’t have a plumber, electrician, aircon mechanic, car mechanic, tyre shop, independent ag mechanic, hydraulic shop etc in your town? Then do something about it. The council or a group of farmers should get together to buy an industrial lot, build a lock up shed, offer it out for $1 a year then stand back and watch the rush.
Forestry awards investigation permits for renewable energy opportunities: FCNSW
Forestry Corporation has today reached an important milestone to explore the potential for windfarms within public pine plantations to contribute to the NSW transition to renewable energy … Neoen, Iberdrola Australia, TagEnergy and Mainstream Renewables Power and Someva Renewables joint venture have been awarded permits to investigate wind farm opportunities in some pine plantations…
CSIRO releases 2023-24 GenCost report
Shaped by the highest volume of feedback since its inception in 2018, the 2023-24 annual GenCost report has been released ... GenCost is a leading economic report by CSIRO ... in collaboration with AEMO on the cost of building future electricity generation, storage and hydrogen production in Australia. The latest report introduces a range of changes in response to stakeholder feedback, most significantly, the inclusion of large-scale nuclear for the first time.
GSC councillors clash over VNI West sellout
The proposed Victorian New South Wales Interconnectors 500kv overhead transmission lines and towers that can reach almost 80 metres in height, is once again under the spotlight. The VNI project will carve a path through farmland and across communities on the journey from Bulgana in Victoria to the substation at Dinawan, near Jerilderie in NSW. Last week, Gannawarra Shire’s Cr Garner Smith put forward a motion that Council oppose the construction of VNI West through Gannawarra...
Budget 2024: What does it mean for you?
When Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Albanese government’s 2024 budget last week it was touted as a ‘cost-of-living budget’, aimed at relieving the pressure of everyday costs. Member for Farrer and Opposition Party Deputy Leader, Sussan Ley is concerned at the lack of money for the bush. “My key concern is the $315 billion in new spending by Labor risks adding further to inflation and keeping interest rates higher for longer,” Ms Ley told The Riverine Grazier.
AgZero – The Power Shift: WA Farmers
Tickets are officially on sale for The Power Shift: Transitioning Farm Communities to Renewables ... Supported by Western Power and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, AgZero 2030 is bringing together a range of quality speakers to cover all topics of the energy transition and how it impacts farms, agriculture and our communities.
Hydrogen Jobs Plan to power up in the nick of time for energy security: Koutsantonis
The electricity generator being built as part of the Hydrogen Jobs Plan is critical to energy supply in South Australia, a new Australian Energy Market Operator report on energy reliability reveals. The State Government-owned generator being built in Whyalla must connect to the grid as soon as possible to counterbalance the impacts of early closures of privately operated gas-fired generators...
More power pain for SA as major projects delayed: Patterson
South Australians face increased risk of power blackouts over the next decade despite paying some of the highest electricity prices in the world, according to a new report. The Australian Energy Market Operator report shows increased power grid reliability risks across the country over the coming years due to delays in major energy projects such as the SA-NSW interconnector...
Urgent investment needed for electricity reliability: AEMO
AEMO has today published an update to the 2023 Electricity Statement of Opportunities (ESOO) report, the 10-year reliability outlook for the National Electricity Market (NEM). The update was triggered due to material changes impacting reliability risks since the 2023 ESOO was published last August, including new commissioning dates for Project EnergyConnect, and mothballed gas and diesel generators in South Australia.
Australian farmers unite on new farm access code: TasFarmers
Representatives from Australia’s peak farming bodies have backed the adoption of the Farm Access Code of Conduct this week, marking a significant step forward in ensuring the respectful treatment of farmers across the nation ... "Farmer groups who met … will play a crucial role in working closely with the Australian Government and infrastructure developers to ensure widespread adoption and adherence to the Code”: Ian Sauer President of TasFarmers.
Frack free NT brings Water of Life tour to Peko Park
Peko Park was lively as Mudburra musician Ray Dimaakarri Dixon and Jingili musician Stuart Joel Nugget, along with other musicians, performed at the Tennant Creek stop of the Water of Life Tour ... In addition to the music, there were discussions about the effects of fracking in the Barkly region and how the community can collaborate to prevent it.
TCV’s new approach to Land Access Payments
Transmission Company Victoria. Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) has actioned stakeholder feedback on Land Access Agreement (LAA) payments, increasing the payment to landholders who provide larger areas for survey areas. Landholders can discuss land access agreements for VNI West, which start at $10,000 to a maximum $50,000, with their dedicated landholder liaison officers. TCV spokesperson, Claire Cass, said the change in the LAA payment reflects the project’s ongoing engagement with landholders who communicated the potential impost of survey access on their time.
Investment to deliver a future made in Australia: King, McBain, Brown, Chisholm
The Albanese Government’s reforms to the Infrastructure Investment Program, to make it more sustainable, mean we can invest in new projects around the nation. This Budget provides $16.5 billion for new and existing projects across Australia over ten years to improve productivity, liveability, and sustainability.
Fortescue’s dual-fuelled ammonia-powered vessel, the Green Pioneer, named a winner at World Hydrogen 2024 Awards in Rotterdam
The Green Pioneer, Fortescue’s world-leading, dual-fuelled ammonia-powered vessel has been awarded the Hydrogen Transport award at the World Hydrogen 2024 Awards ... Sustainable Energy Council Hydrogen Advisory Board recognised Fortescue for its significant achievements in the transport sector and outstanding work over the past 12 months to advance hydrogen technologies...
Transmission lines and turbines – how will they affect you?
Quill. A meeting was held at Birchip Leisure Centre ... Anne Webster, Gerald Feeny, Glenden Watts, Barry Batters and Di Lehmann attended to discuss the issue of renewables coming into the area, the construct company Cubico moving into Curyo West with idea of developing 100 to 200 wind turbines and the ramifications it might have on landholders and the community, should it go ahead.
Northern Grampians Shire Council concern with VNI West Geotech drilling communication and council’s role in renewable energy developments
Field surveys along the proposed VNI West draft corridor have begun, with Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) initiating a Geotech drilling program in Northern Grampians Shire in May. Drilling was halted in early May and is due to restart on 13 May. According to documents provided to the public, the Geotech drilling program will assist TCV to develop a comprehensive understanding of environmental factors such as flora and fauna, as well as geological characteristics within the area.
