The Australian Energy Regulator has recently released its 2014-19 Revenue Determination for TasNetworks, showing Tasmanian transmission charges are likely to fall. The AER’s decision fully accepts TasNetworks’ revised revenue proposal. As a result, customers directly-connected to the transmission network, including major industrial customers, will see reductions to transmission charges again in 2015-16, on top of the reductions already passed through […]
Electricity
The latest project news, developments and opinion pieces from industry experts from Australia’s electricity industry.
Energex field staff and emergency equipment has left Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast to help restore power supplies after wild weather lashed Sydney and the Central Coast and Hunter districts. Heavy rain and cyclonic wind gusts of up to 135 km/h cut power to more than 200,000 properties while flash flooding destroyed homes and caused traffic chaos across the region. […]
Allan Badke, Powerlink Queensland’s longest serving employee, has been congratulated by Energy Minister, Mark Bailey, for his dedication to the energy industry. “I’m very pleased to personally acknowledge Allan Badke’s long and significant career,” Mr Bailey said. “This is a particularly important milestone as Allan is also officially the longest serving employee of all three government owned network businesses here […]
The Australia Pacific LNG project has successfully begun receiving power from the first of seven gas turbines entering operation. While the majority of the natural gas arriving at the facility will be processed and exported as LNG, a small amount will be used to power the gas turbine generators to generate the electrical power required to operate the two LNG […]
Six new power stations for WA’s Mid-West
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Projects 0Energy Minister for WA, Mike Nahan, has announced the construction of six new power stations in the towns of Cue, Meekatharra, Yalgoo, Wiluna, Sandstone and Mount Magnet. These towns in the Mid-West region will soon benefit from a reliable new power supply which Horizon Power forecasts will save millions of dollars over the life of the contract. This follows the […]
Peak versus average demand loads: managing the load
Utility Journalist Asset management, Electricity 0Across Australia, there is considerable fluctuation in the peak loads placed on electricity networks, as opposed to the average load, with considerably increased demand in extreme heat. Here, Energy Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) Data and Statistical Analyst Nick Cannard provides a comprehensive overview of the variation in load different states face in peak versus average conditions. There has been […]
Incentivising innovation, encouraging demand management
Utility Journalist Demand management, Electricity, Policy 0As the demands placed on Australia’s energy grids continue to evolve, demand management activities play an increasingly important role in ensuring a reliable supply of electricity, without the need to build costly additional infrastructure that will only be required at times of peak demand. In the wake of the Australian Energy Market Commission’s (AEMC’s) Power of Choice review, various changes […]
The changing face of energy networks
Utility Journalist Electricity, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0by David Leitch, Utilities Analyst, UBS David Leitch spends his days analysing trends in utility markets and forecasting the impacts of new technologies on the sector. Here, he shares his thoughts on how the energy sector will respond to the challenges new technologies, such as solar and storage, present those who manage networks and distribution. The history of the electricity […]
Ergon Energy has developed a new strategy to support an expected increase in customer electric vehicle (EV) uptake, with EVs having the potential to provide significant benefits to both customers and utilities. Ergon’s innovative EV trial found high participant acceptance of EVs, lower running costs than petrol or diesel vehicles and even a reluctance to hand them back at the […]
Queensland wind farm approved
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Sustainability 0The Queensland government has approved the development of the Mount Emerald Wind Farm, south of Mareebaa. The farm has the potential to power 75,000 homes a year and create up to 200 construction jobs on the Atherton Tablelands. Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Jackie Trad, said her decision to approve the development application for the […]
Tender: PV Solar Systems
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Open tenders and opportunities, Renewable Energy, Solar 0Clarence Valley Council (NSW) is seeking tenders for the construction of four PV solar generating systems across various Clarence Valley Council sites. The council has identified four of its water and sewage facilities where solar generated power could be used to offset mains power usage. A minimum 30kw PV solar generation system at each of the four facilities is required. […]
An interim Senate Inquiry Report, Performance and management of electricity network companies, proposing a range of regulatory changes to the electricity industry, has been met with criticism from the Energy Networks Association (ENA). The Interim Report recommends an expert review of regulation to allow network assets to be written down. But ENA CEO, John Bradley, said the committee had provided no analysis of […]
Bechtel, downstream contractor for Santos GLNG, has announced that the first of six gas turbine generators at the LNG plant on Curtis Island, QLD has become operational. The gas turbine generator (GTG) has produced power to the site, a critical step toward LNG production. While the GTGs vary in size, each will be able to produce about 12 megawatts of […]
Inaugural Energy Storage Council Conference
Utility Journalist Batteries & Storage, Electricity, News 0In just three weeks, the inaugural Energy Storage Council Conference will be held alongside the Solar 2015 Conference & Exhibition on the 13 – 14 May in Melbourne. Featuring a free to attend two day program with over 30 speakers focusing on technology integration, current market developments and trends, policy making and industry case studies. View the full Energy Storage […]
Powerlink high voltage electricity networks in Central Queensland will be patrolled by helicopters over the coming weeks. Powerlink Chief Executive, Merryn York, said the patrols, taking place during April, were essential to Powerlink’s ongoing maintenance program, and completing this work with minimum disruption to local residents and communities was a key focus. “Our aim is to be as quick and […]
$20million ARENA funding round opens
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Projects, Renewable Energy 0A new $20million funding round has been announced by ARENA, open for industry-partnered projects that seek to develop and commercialise renewable energy technologies. ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht was joined by founder of Suntech Power, Dr Zhengrong Shi, to officially open the new funding round at an event held at RMIT University in Melbourne. “I am pleased to announce up to […]
As the energy industry continues to undergo major changes, the ENA is bringing together key stakeholders to discuss how we can best manage and adapt to the changes that are currently sweeping through the industry. Globally, energy businesses are responding to the disruptive potential of a range of converging forces and energy networks, from electricity to gas, are evolving to […]
John Bradley, Chief Executive Officer – Energy Networks Association As American comedian John Oliver, the host of Last Week Tonight, said recently: “The problem is when our infrastructure is not being destroyed by robots and/or saved by Bruce Willis, we tend to find it a bit boring.” Oliver bemoaned America’s lack of interest in an infrastructure maintenance backlog, wondering if it […]
Nyngan solar PV plant now complete
Utility Journalist Civil Construction, Electricity, News, Renewable Energy, Solar, Sustainability 0The Southern Hemisphere’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Nyngan, NSW is now complete, with ARENA, AGL and First Solar joining the NSW minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, Anthony Roberts, and NSW Minister for the Environment, Mark Speakman, to celebrate. ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, congratulated AGL and First Solar on the project’s progress, which has been several years in […]
Tender: overhead transmission line construction
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Open tenders and opportunities, Renewable Energy 0Ararat Wind Farm, (VIC) is seeking tenders to construct 33kv overhead transmission lines at the site. The wind farm will comprise of 75 wind turbines and will be located 10km north east of Ararat in Victoria. The project is expected to enter into construction in Q3 2015.The expected completion date will be in 2017. The project includes 52km of internal […]
Tender: overhead transmission line design
Utility Journalist Electricity, News, Open tenders and opportunities, Renewable Energy 0Ararat Wind Farm, (VIC) is seeking tenders to design 33kv overhead transmission lines for the site. The farm will comprise of 75 wind turbines and will be located 10km north east of Ararat in Victoria. The project is expected to enter into construction in Q3 2015. The expected completion date will be in 2017. The project includes 52km of internal […]
After having participated in a LED streetlight trial across regional Queensland, Ergon Energy has decided to play a role in promoting a wider adoption of the technology. While all the indications are for a LED future, there’s still a lot of work to do from a technological and regulatory perspective says Ergon Innovation Engineer and Project Manager Jenny Gannon. When […]
TasNetworks’ transmission and distribution revenue determinations will be announced together following a rule change by The Australian Energy Market Commission. The final rule will lead to more efficient investment and operational decisions by allowing both the transmission and distribution networks to be considered together when TasNetworks plans expenditure on its network and when the Australian Energy Regulator makes the associated […]
As part of the shared connection between Santos Gladstone LNG and Australia Pacific LNG, the first section of a new, high voltage transmission line supply at Wandoan, QLD is now powering gas processing facilities in the North West Surat. Energy Minister, Mark Bailey, said a 28-kilometre section from Powerlink’s transmission network at Wandoan is now energising a new substation at […]
Connection to the NBN is now available to more than 4,500 homes and businesses in parts of Wollongong and Corrimal, NSW. The announcement was made at an official switch-on event held in digital specialist agency Internetrix, one of the first small businesses in Wollongong to connect to a service over the NBN and was attended by local industry, community and […]
As the energy industry continues to undergo major changes, the ENA is bringing together key stakeholders to discuss how we can best manage and adapt to the changes that are currently sweeping through the industry. Globally, energy businesses are responding to the disruptive potential of a range of converging forces and energy networks, from electricity to gas, are evolving to […]
United Energy and Multinet Gas CEO resigns
Laura Harvey Electricity, Gas, News, People and appointments 0After eleven years as CEO, Hugh Gleeson has resigned from United Energy and Multinet Gas (UE & MG). He will leave the business at the end of September. Mr Gleeson joined UE’s leadership team when the business was privatised in 1994. As CEO of both UE & MG since 2003, Mr Gleeson has been instrumental in guiding the evolution of […]
Tree replacement to secure power supply
Utility Journalist Electricity, Maintenance, News, Powerlines 0To help protect the safety of the power supply and electricity network, Ausgrid and Waverley Council will replace three trees along Busby Road Bronte, NSW next month. Trees growing under powerlines on parts of Busby Road will be removed and replaced with more appropriate native species. Ausgrid horticulturalist Paul Holmes said the replacement of these trees was a good outcome […]
The Australian Government has released its Energy White Paper, detailing its approach to energy policy framework, which has been met by a largely positive response from energy industry groups. The Energy White Paper outlines three main outcomes it seeks to achieve: Increasing competition between generators and retailers Increasing energy productivity and efficiency Increasing infrastructure investment for the energy sector, including […]
10,000 primary-school students will be visited by TasNetworks this year as part of the company’s Safety in Schools Program, TAS. The education program is a free service which aims to reduce the risk of electrical incidents and prevent tragic accidents by educating Tasmanian children about electrical dangers, as well as energy efficiency messages. TasNetworks team members are trained as presenters […]
Balancing act: future-proofing Australia’s electricity network
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