Archived News for Energy Sector Professionals - November, 2013
State governments will be eligible for massive incentives to sell-off their assets, under a new scheme announced by Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey this week.
Boom enters calmer phase, some look for new fields
A key government authority has said for the first time that the resources boom is winding down, at the same time as a new study says most Australians did not benefit from it.
CEFC points to high cost of collapse, no returns
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) has defended its own existence, as the Federal Government continues its plan to shut-down the renewable-energy investor.
Office model to take the heat off commercial bills
A new system developed by University of Adelaide engineers can model and predict temperatures within a building, promising significant reductions in commercial energy use.
Santos spreads wells for knowledge
Australian oil and gas company Santos Ltd. is sinking eighteen water monitoring bores around its operations in New South Wales – saying that if water tables are diminished or damaged, they will know about it.
Study seeks to unpick conflicts, cut to core of land issues
A new project has been launched to find out exactly how the values of people in rural areas are affected by land use conflicts caused by CSG drilling, wind farms, irrigation and agriculture.
Board bid harpooned, point still made
A former industry executive has made the remarkable call for energy giant BHP to move toward environmentally sustainable technology and processes, while also trying to get a job on BHP’s executive board.
Path clear but no big steps taken in Warsaw
Industry insiders reporting from the UN-sponsored climate change talks in Warsaw say the solutions to the energy market’s effect on the environment are already here.
Polls show direct action as popular as inaction
According to recent polls, the Federal Government’s plan to replace the carbon tax with a direct action policy has been as well-received as having no policy at all.
Process cut to get gas freely floating
The Australian Government is continuing its pledge to dissolve approval processes it deems unnecessary or duplicative, this week announcing a new ‘one-stop-shop’ environmental process for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities.
Suppliers say Australia has room for more wells
The chief executive of a major mine pumping equipment supplier says Australia needs to ignore the concerns of environmentalists and other residents, and surge full-steam into coal seam gas extraction.
Tech stepped-up to see X-ray scans of unknown proteins
Researchers have come up with an astounding new technique; using X-ray lasers to determine the molecular structure of proteins – without any prior knowledge of what they look like.
Chevron funds Barrow Island bug book
A new book has added 25 species to the thousands which inhabit a small island area off the north west of Australia.
Hyundai's hydro debut set
For years people have said that the only real replacement for internal combustion engines would be a hydrogen-driven motor, but that is too far off. Not anymore.
Deal reached after Yallourn year of dispute
An industrial dispute lasting more than a year of back-and-forth is over, with workers at the Yallourn power station in the Latrobe Valley accepting a final wage agreement.
New search to single-out solar improvements
Cambridge researchers have gone back to the drawing board for solar cells, looking to redesign the entire system to allow better efficiency with cheaper materials.
Streets packed to keep the tax
Tens of thousands of Australians took to the streets over the weekend, speaking out about the need to fight climate change with realistic methods.
Uni helps herald hybrid age for old coal-burner
University authorities have been working to find the best way to convert the coal-fired Collinsville Power Station into a hybrid solar-thermal and gas-power station.
Law change moves favour to the miners, locals say
A quietly introduced piece of mining legislation has created concern from communities in Victoria.
Pleas for action before more deadly effects
The chairman of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has spoken out, calling on individuals, grassroots and community groups to push for real action on climate change.
Indicoal eyes new Tasmanian dig
An Indonesian mining company is looking for approval on a plan to start a new open-cut coal mine in Tasmania.