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.
Nhill’s solar farm takes the next step
The first stage of construction at the Nhill Renewable Energy Facility is due to begin in May 2024. GWMWater awarded a contract to Next Generation Electrical for the works. The facility is GWMWater’s first venture into large scale energy generation with direct connection into the local electricity grid.
Environment Effects Statement required
TCV (Transmission Company Victoria). The Victorian Minister for Planning has confirmed that Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) is required to prepare an Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the VNI West project ... In her reasons for the decision under the Environment Effects Act 1978, the Minister noted that the EES process would provide a “robust, integrated and transparent assessment through which the potential environmental effects can be rigorously assessed”.
Council reaffirms support for HESC
Latrobe City Council has reaffirmed its strong support for the Japanese hydrogen HESC project, stressing the vital role it can play in the Latrobe Valley’s economic future, after a visit to the proponent’s industry hub in Japan. “The visit was successful in reinforcing the support from Latrobe City to be a hub for hydrogen manufacturing and the HESC project... "
Emissions from local power stations decreased
Emissions from Latrobe Valley brown coal power stations have fallen in the past year, continuing the trend of the past five and 10 years, the latest release of data from the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) has found. Mercury emissions from the Valley's power stations fell ... noxious oxide emissions were down ... These results continued a long-term decline in Victorian emissions.
How feasible is nuclear power for Australia?
Nuclear remains a topical and contentious issue for Australia, with Labor firmly opposed to this form of energy while the Coalition wants to build nuclear power stations on the sites of existing coal fire stations. Alan Finkel, former Chief Scientist of Australia believes it is worth removing the legislated ban on nuclear power. “Nuclear power is a credible source of abundant zero-emissions electricity, but it would take 20 years to commence operations from a standing start in Australia,” Dr Finkel said.
Geelong’s regional airport under threat: McArthur
Concerned residents protesting a controversial new windfarm recently met at Lethbridge Airport to oppose a proposal which will see sixty 270 metre high wind towers of skyscraper proportions placed in an area northwest of Geelong. Local residents, farmers and the communities of Bannockburn, Lethbridge, Teesdale, Meredith and Shelford are being left in the dark as to the exact location and impact of this vast renewables project.
Push to streamline EV charging zones
Cracking down on people parking in designated electric vehicle charging station spaces is one focus of a range of new road rule changes. Two new offences have been brought in to stop non-electric cars from parking in EV parking areas, and stop EVs parking in a charging area when not being charged.
“Farmers grow food – not power lines”
Jenny Pollard. The message was clear as farmers from around the Charlton district greeted representatives from the Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) with farm machinery bearing signs of dissatisfaction, as last Wednesday’s meeting about the Victoria to NSW Interconnector West (VNI West) at the Charlton Shire Hall opened to the public.
In-depth discussions with TCV”ˆspecialists: Communities “drop-in”
More than 120 landholders and community members “dropped in” to Transmission Company Victoria’s (TCV) community information sessions last week for one-on-one discussions on all aspects of the VNI West project. Held in Kerang, Charlton and Stawell, the informal five-hour sessions were a direct response to community feedback...
Atherton Tablelands community triumphs against international big business: Knuth
State Member for Hill Shane Knuth welcomed the news that South Korean-owned Ark Energy has withdrawn its proposal to add another wind farm near the small tablelands community of Ravenshoe. Mr Knuth said the company had embarked on an intense campaign last year, including renaming the project from Chalumbin to Wooroora Station Windfarm and reducing the project from 200 to 86, then to 42 turbines.
Banana waste tech offers ‘golden’ opportunity for Australian distilling industry: AgriFutures Australia
UK biotech startup, LyteGro’s solution converts the pulp of waste bananas into a proprietary liquid supplement to turbocharge metabolic processes offering high-value for Australia’s distilling industry. An exciting joint venture opportunity now exists for Australian investors, banana growers and authorities to scale production plants.
Beetaloo gas to ‘change NT forever’
The Territory’s $40 billon economy by 2030 “won’t happen without the growth of this sector” said NT Minister Mark Monaghan, addressing more than 300 members of the extractive industry ... Mr Monaghan said gas from Beetaloo is “on the cusp of changing the Territory forever” as Empire Energy and Tamboran Resources are expected to make their final investment decision on pilot production activities this year.
Power pole may be linked to transmission tower incident
A forward command vehicle will be near the intersection of Wandoo and Neaves roads in Pinjar this morning as police seek information about a transmission tower that was tampered with in April last year, which may be linked to another incident in the same location at the time.
Coal cancellation
A drive to establish new industry and jobs using Latrobe Valley's brown coal in non-energy ways is effectively dead after the state government stopped funding research into the work, a decision denounced as "folly" and "ideological madness" by local leaders. Australian Carbon Innovation at Federation University, which since 2011 has been researching the non-energy use of brown coal that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, will close on June 30 after the government pulled the plug on funding.
