Archived News for Energy Sector Professionals - October, 2011
The first Environmental Upgrade Agreement has been signed under the City of Melbourne’s 1200 Building Program, opening the doors for significant investment in retrofitting Melbourne’s commercial building sector.
The signing between the City of Melbourne, Sustainable Melbourne Fund and building owner Varga Brothers will fund a $400,000 retrofit of 460 Collins Street that will result in a reduction of approximately 170 tonnes of CO2-e per year.
The funds will allow for the installation of an energy efficient chiller unit and building management system upgrade.
Clean Energy Finance Corporation review panel appontments announced
Reserve Bank board member Jillian Broadbent will lead an expert review panel to advise the federal government on the design of its $10 billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
Carbon tax passes parliament
The Federal Government’s suite of carbon trading legislation has passed in the House of Representatives following weeks of intensive parliamentary debate.
Government releases solar power discussion paper
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism has published a discussion paper on large-scale deployment of solar power in Australia following a roundtable held earlier in the year.
Hays Quarterly Report finds strong demand for energy professionals
Recruitment specialist Hays has published its Quarterly Report – October 2011, finding that energy professionals with experience in substation design and candidates with experience in the resources industry top the list of skills in demand as job vacancies rise in many areas.
Victoria announces biofuel funding
The Victorian Government has announced a $500,000 grant for the construction of a new bio-energy production in Echuca in the state’s north.
Xstrata dumps CopperString transmission in favour of Diamantina Power Station
Plans for the CopperString 1,000 km transmission line from Townsville to Cloncurry in north-west Queensland have been thrown into doubt by an announcement by Xstrata that it will obtain its power from the new gas-fired Diamantina Power Station under a 17-year contract with the Diamantina consortium.
Energex completes upgrades
ENERGEX has completed its $17 million multi-stage upgrades that will aim to greatly enhance power supplies along the Brisbane River, covering the Australia TradeCoast region.
CBD to acquire energy retailer
Renewable energy company CBD Energy has signed an agreement to acquire energy retailer, Neighborhood Energy, from Alinta Energy for $29.4 million.
Origin raises funds for Australia Pacific LNG project
Origin Energy has taken a further step in securing funding requirements for its APLNG project in Queensland after raising $US500 million ($A513 million) in the US market through a senior unsecured notes offering.
CCS centre gets state funding
The Victorian Government has announced $500,000 in funding for the creation of the new centre for Geological Carbon Storage to support the emerging Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) industry.
Coal drives record Asian exports
Australian exporters have recorded a trade surplus of $3.1 billion in August – the second highest on record – as well as experiencing the highest exports to Asia on record.
Global CSS Institute surveys international projects
Global CCS Institute has published its annual report, titled The Global Status of CCS: 2011, surveying 74 large-scale integrated carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects from around the world.
Wheatstone construction to start immediately
Chevron Australia has announced constriction will begin immediately on the company’s Wheatstone LNG Project at Ashburton North on the Pilbara Coast.
Expressions of interest called for Contract to Close
The Contract for Closure Program aims to support the closure of around 2,000 megawatts of highly emissions-intensive electricity capacity by 2020. Under the scheme, eligible generators can seek payment from the Government as part of a competitive tender process to retire their operations by an agreed date and will remain as a voluntary process.
Ausgrid to trial new technology to reduce power bills
Ausgrid has announced that new technology and pricing trials will be offered to at least 30,000 households in Sydney and the Hunter next year to test whether they make the grid more efficient and reduce household power bills.
NSW announces new pricing trials
New South Wales will commence new technology and pricing trails for at least 30,000 households in Sydney and the Hunter region to test whether they make the grid more efficient and reduce household power bills.
Wind Farm co-op feasibility study launched
Renewable energy specialist Infigen has announced it will seek community feedback on the feasibility of a planned wind-farm co-operative (co-op) as part of its proposed Flyers Creek Wind Farm near Orange, New South Wales.