Mark McHenry – Putting energy into things that matter
Mark McHenry is a physicist, an innovator and an explorer of clean energy solutions. He’s worked on research projects in America, the Philippines and Mozambique and is an Associate Professor at Murdoch Uni’s Harry Butler Institute ... Mark is currently putting his physics knowledge into numerous food and energy projects and one of his studies involves truffles.
Cheap power push watered down
Touted as the biggest thing since irrigation by Gannawarra Shire Council mayor, Charlie Gillingham, the VNI West project is set to stamp its 70-metre-high 500KV power lines across the landscape and skyline. One of the project’s biggest advocates has been Gannawarra Shire Council (GSC) itself with a transmission company spokesperson confirming the only reason the project is “this far west” has been the Council’s push for a terminal station to sprout an explosion in wind and solar farm.
Future for hydrogen in Gippsland
Solar, wind and battery storage will not be enough for Australia to meet its net zero emissions target by 2050, according to a senior CSIRO researcher – and using fossil fuels to produce hydrogen is still much cheaper than using renewable energy. Dr Vicki Au, from the CSIRO’s hydrogen industry mission, with 20 years’ experience in research and development, said other solutions, including hydrogen, were part of the energy mix required to achieve the net zero target.
Greenhouse credentials of Australia’s canola industry recognised by the European Commission: CSIRO
New analysis from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, has led to the European Commission’s recognition of the Australian canola industry’s low-emissions credentials for the second time, enabling local canola growers continued access to lucrative international markets. Australia is a major supplier of canola to the European Union (EU) biodiesel market, with over 1.8 million tonnes exported annually to European countries.
Moah Creek Wind Farm reaches key development milestones: Energy Estate
The Moah Creek Wind Farm project has recently reached two development milestones. Firstly, it has been granted planning approval from the Queensland State Assessment and Referral Agency ... consent from the Queensland Government under the Planning Act 2016 for the construction of the wind farm and its associated vegetation clearing.
Remote indigenous community Irrkerlantye welcomes sustainable drinking water solution after years of campaigning: SOURCE Global
SOURCE Hydropanel technology is bringing reliable drinking water to the underserved community, Irrkerlantye (White Gate), in the Northern Territory. Children’s Ground – a First Nations community-led organisation – is working in partnership with SOURCE to improve drinking water access in remote communities.
Farmers welcome new powerline inquiry: NSW Farmers
The state’s peak farming body has welcomed a new Parliamentary Committee to re-examine underground transmission lines following strong community outrage. A recent government-dominated review into undergrounding high-voltage transmission lines ignored community concerns and strong opposition from the farming sector, recommending enormous above-ground towers and powerlines...
Mount Isa to host nuclear power forum: Katter
Mount Isa will next month host a first of its kind, community-led event discussing Australia’s energy future, with a particular focus on nuclear power technology. The Mount Isa Nuclear Power Forum: “What if we went nuclear?” is being staged by Katter’s Australian Party Leader (KAP) and Traeger MP Robbie Katter, who has promised a “frank discussion around the possibilities of nuclear power production in outback Australia”.
Investors visit solar farm
The Grong Grong Solar Farm team hosted crowd equity investors and other stakeholders onsite last Thursday ... The Grong Grong Solar Farm team showed them through the site, and took time to explain how bifacial solar panels work...
Lessons from Germany’s industry
Germany's brown coal industry in the famous Rhineland region, which inspired Sir John Monash to build the State Electricity Commission using Latrobe Valley coal, still packs some punch, despite the drive towards more renewables. And the carbon dioxide being produced by the region’s modern brown coal power stations can be redirected into a number of industrial uses.
Floating sea farms – an ingenious solution to feed the world and ensure freshwater by 2050: UniSA
The sun and the sea – both abundant and free – are being harnessed in a unique project to create vertical sea farms floating on the ocean that can produce fresh water for drinking and agriculture. In what is believed to be a world first, UniSA researchers have designed a self-sustaining solar-driven system that evaporates seawater and recycles it into freshwater, growing crops without any human involvement.
Abandoned wind farms going cheap
What would it cost? And what is the carbon footprint of the physical effort to remove the footing of one of the many 200m tall wind turbine towers soon to be seen scattered across the Wheatbelt? ... I wonder how many of the Greenpeace activist types have watched the doco Thrown to the Wind about the whale deaths off the East Coast of the United States?
Statement from AEMO
In last Tuesday’s edition, the “Buloke Times” published a report from a reader, critical of the visit by Transmission Company Victoria to the area of the VNI West. Subsequently, the “Times” received the following statement from a spokesperson for Australian Energy Market Operator, AEMO: “The landholder liaisons were on their way to an appointment with a local landowner, who had spoken with them the previous day and agreed to meet and receive some information on the project ..."
Backing Portland as a renewable fuel manufacturing hub: Shing
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing announced the new study for a renewable fuel manufacturing hub in the portside city ... The feasibility study will be led by Portland H2 – a subsidiary of HAMR Energy - – towards establishing a plant converting plantation forestry residue to green methanol.
Regional Victorian Power Alliance visits Murrabit
It was a full house as Victorian and NSW community members gathered in the Murrabit Hall to hear from Vicki Johnson and Gavin Ronan from the Regional Victorian Power Alliance (RVPA). The RVPA was created in May 2023 after communities who had been battling the Western Renewables Link … expanded to include VNI West impacted communities.
Undergrounding report released
As state and federal governments continue their push to renewables, the mad scramble to build 10,000 kilometres of new power lines by 2030 has rural communities across the eastern seaboard not only gravely concerned about the social and environmental impacts, but also methodology. Last week, the NSW parliamentary inquiry into the feasibility of undergrounding HumeLink was released...
Marinus Link cable agreement another significant step forward: Barnett
…Marinus Link has agreed to a capacity reservation agreement for a high-voltage direct current cable with Prysmian Powerlink … “This agreement ensures production and offshore installation capacity for one cable of the Marinus Link project, a 750MW cable system, with negotiations continuing for the second 750MW phase": Minister for Energy and Renewables, Guy Barnett.
Labor have lost their way on energy: Young
Liberal Member for Franklin, Dean Young, said Labor’s thought bubble of a price cap is a dangerous threat to our energy security. “Labor talks up supply issues but want to interfere in the market with price caps, damaging competition and causing supply to drop,” Mr Young said.
Showdown at farms along VNI West
Jacinta O'Sullivan. Wednesday, August 30, Transmission Company Victoria ran into approximately 30 farmers and local supporters as they continue to stealthily door knock landowners in the area of the VNI West. Several pensioners, isolated and absent landowners have been targeted by the state appointed company Transmission Company Victoria in an attempt to blindside locals who will live with the 80-metre transmission lines in their local community.
Premier Cook addresses WA-Indonesia Energy Forum: Cook, Johnston
The Western Australia-Indonesia Energy Forum held in Jakarta is a timely opportunity for both regions to collaborate and support future energy transition. The forum also offers a chance for WA energy delegates and Indonesian stakeholders to discuss each market's capabilities in new and renewable energies and critical minerals.
Sustainable aviation fuel opportunities for Australia: CSIRO
With the rest of the world transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels to meet their own net zero goals, how can Australia develop its own successful sustainable aviation fuel industry? Aviation is one of the most challenging industries to decarbonise, contributing 2.5% of the world’s total carbon.
Country concerns ignored in power tower push: NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers has accused the state government of ignoring the concerns of regional communities, with the Premier reportedly vowing to build enormous overhead powerlines across the state. Media reports on Thursday revealed the Premier told a Business Sydney event that overhead powerlines were the only option...
