Archived News for Energy Sector Professionals - July, 2011
Shadforths Civil Engineering Contractors on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is trialling B20 soy biodiesel in 20 machines at the Sunshine Coast Council’s new Nambour landfill site.
Fleet and environment manager Greg Jenkyns said the feedback from operators had been promising.
‘‘We’ve been speaking to our fitters on site and they haven’t had any problems since we’ve been using it,’’ he said.
AER releases metering draft
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has released its Advanced Metering Infrastructure draft determination for consideration and comment by interested parties.
Government seeks input on clean energy legislation
The Federal Government is seeking comment from the public, stakeholders and legal experts on the details of its Clean Energy Legislative Package.
Biggest solar power station opens
Australia’s largest solar power station has begun to supply power to Alice Springs and surrounding communities.
New funding for plastic solar cells
The Australian Federal and Victorian State Governments are jointly providing funding of $3.5 million to further develop plastic solar cells currently being produced in Victoria.
Ferguson promises green compensation for states
Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson has promised that states stand to benefit directly from the carbon policies.
Low Carbon Australia and Wagga Wagga City Council announce energy efficiency partnership
Low Carbon Australia and Wagga Wagga City Council, NSW are to cooperate on energy efficiency in the first agreement of its kind for regional Australia in the second major agreement for the new agency.
AEMC releases draft Rule for the Application and Operation of Administered Price Periods Rule Change Proposal
The Australian Energy Market Commission has released its draft Rule determination for the Application and Operation of Administered Price Periods Rule Change Proposal.
Research challenges conventional approaches to wind farm design
California Institute of Technology researchers have revisited some of the fundamental assumptions that have guided the wind industry for the past 30 years, and now believe that a new approach to wind farm design -- one that places wind turbines close together instead of far apart -- may provide significant efficiency gains.
$66.5 million for solar research
The Federal Government has announced a $66.5 million grant under the Education Investment Fund (EIF) to fund ‘world-leading’ research that will assist in the construction of one of the largest solar power plants in the world.
Queensland Government to expedite sustainable infrastructure projects
The Queensland Government has released its Green Door policy which will see the state government agencies work with local government and referral agencies to accelerate the development assessment of projects that that demonstrate exemplary sustainability performance.
Woodside gas project in doubt
Woodside Petroleum’s planned floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project in the Timor Sea is under threat from a dispute with partners and the East Timorese Government.
Santos to acquire Eastern Star Gas
Santos has purchased 100 per cent of Eastern Star Gas (ESG) shares, and has subsequently sold a 20 per cent working level interest in ESG's permits in the Gunnedah Basin, northern New South Wales, to TRUenergy.
Mining and energy companies buy up labour
Mining and energy companies are hiring labour well before needed in an attempt to stave off effects of expected future skills shortages later in the year.
Research explores graphene for energy storage systems
Researchers at Monash University are investigating the use of a material called graphene, which could form the basis of the next generation of ultrafast energy storage systems.
Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources launched
The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) has been officially opened at the University of Newcastle.
EnerNOC acquires EnergyResponse
Electricity demand response company Energy Response has been acquired by US-based Enernoc for $28 million.
Solar roundtable focuses on large-scale projects
A roundtable day has been held in Canberra by the Federal Department of Energy, Resources and Tourism to discuss the future deployment of large-scale solar projects in Australia.
Queensland launches largest solar array
The Queensland State Government has announced the opening of Australia’s largest flat panel photovoltaic (PV) solar array.
SA geothermal project takes next step
Petratherm and its joint venture partners Beach Energy and TRUenergy Geothermal have begun fracture stimulation of the deep well at the Paralana 2 geothermal energy project in South Australia, a key step in proving that a geothermal reservoir can be created at deep levels.