The South Australian Government have announced plans to produce zero net emissions by 2050 and focus on renewable energy for the state. The Clean Energy Council has welcomed the commitment and said that it will drive positive change and unlock many economic opportunities over the next 35 years. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, said the South Australian Government […]
Battery storage may not be economically viable or able to manage peak demand, new research suggests. New research from the University of Queensland, commissioned by Ergon Energy, has found that battery storage faces several challenges in the future. The research found that battery storage is not yet at a price point to make it economically viable for mass uptake and […]
The Australian Energy Regulator for Australian Gas Networks and ActewAGL have released draft decisions detailing falling network charges for gas customers in SA and the ACT. Energy Networks Association CEO, John Bradley, said falling gas network charges meant lower retail gas bills for customers using this low-emission energy source. “Falling network costs is good news for customers and it is […]
The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder has sold environmental water allocations for $6.458 million to be used to improve the Murray Darling Basin. Of the 22.864 gigalitres sold, more than 95 per cent was bought by Victorian Goulburn and Murray irrigators. The remaining allocations were sold to primary producers in South Australia. The Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, Mr David Papps, said […]
Horizon Power (WA) has combined with China’s Lishen Power on an industrial battery trial in Carnarvon that aims to lower the cost of energy demand through battery storage. Energy Minister, Mike Nahan, recently announced that two industrial batteries capable of delivering up to two megawatts (MW) of power will be used in the trial at Horizon Power’s Mungullah Power Station, […]
An Australian energy company has been praised for their power restoration efforts in the wake of Queensland’s Tropical Cyclone Marcia in early 2015. Ergon Energy has been recognised at the 2015 Premier’s Awards for Excellence for their work after Cyclone Marcia crossed the coastline between St Lawrence and Yeppoon, in February 2015, affecting hundreds of kilometres of power lines. Ergon […]
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has been inundated with expressions of interest (EOIs) for its $100million large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) funding competitive round. ARENA has already received 77 eligible EOIs for the funding since it was announced in September 2015. ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, said the round is designed to bring down costs through the deployment of 200 MW […]
Owners of home batteries in Western Australia will be able to export electricity to the grid by the end of the year. The Western Australian Government said that consumers will have more power with home batteries and electricity vehicles able to export electricity to the grid from 1 December 2015. WA Energy Minister, Mike Nahan, said he has embraced the […]
The Western Australian Government is inviting investors and community members to provide feedback on the state government’s land tenure policy for irrigated agricultural projects. The government will be holding a series of information sessions about the policy with the first sessions being held in Broome, Derby, Port Hedland, Newman and Gascoyne Junction in November. Other venues, including the Goldfields, will […]
An Australian utility has won an innovation award at the Bentley Systems Be Inspired Awards 2015. SA Water won the “Innovation in Asset Performance Management” award for their work on the Adelaide Metro Water Distribution Network, also known as the North South Interconnection System Project (NSISP). The project aimed to improve water security for Adelaide by linking the city’s separate […]
Hydro Tasmania has successfully supplied King Island in Tasmania with 100 per cent renewable energy for 33 continuous hours. The achievement was part of the King Island Renewable Energy Project which aims to displace the use of diesel fuel to supply energy needs, by using a combination of renewable and enabling technologies. Earlier this year the project achieved a 26 […]
The Clean Energy Council’s Solar Retailer Code of Conduct has been expanded to cover new options for solar power systems. The new code covers solar leasing and ways to make life easier for consumers shopping for the best service and quality when it comes to a new solar power system. Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton, said the Solar […]
Sydney Water is seeking community feedback in order to create a long term strategy for managing wastewater in Picton. Residents of Picton, Camden and Glenfield (NSW) are invited to apply for a spot in a community reference group where they will contribute to a future strategy for managing the wastewater that’s collected and treated in the region. Applications to participate […]
As renewable energy increases in the future, the national transmission network will play a vital role in maintaining a reliable electricity supply across the network. This finding comes from the Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) 2015 National Transmission Network Development Plan (NTNDP). The report found that Australia’s energy sector will soon transforms to support a higher percentage of renewable energy […]
The SA Government is seeking proposals to power up to 100 per cent of the State Government’s electricity usage with low-carbon electricity. SA Premier Jay Weatherill said the State Government was using the power of its energy procurement to drive innovation in low-carbon technologies. “We are determined to make Adelaide a showcase city for low-carbon and clean technologies, to attract […]
TasWater plans to construct a new sewage pump station for George Town (TAS) to replace the existing station due to its high risk of discharging raw sewage. The new pump station infrastructure will also reduce operating costs, improve the reliability of the service and allow for future growth in the catchment. Works are scheduled to begin in 2016 and TasWater […]
The Australian Government is seeking feedback on a new program that will help irrigators modernise their on-farm irrigation infrastructure in the Murray-Darling Basin. The Commonwealth On-Farm Further Irrigation Efficiency (COFFIE) will be rolled out across the Murray-Darling Basin in 2016, and will provide funding to irrigators to improve their infrastructure, while also returning water savings to the environment. Delivery partners […]
City West Water and the Moonee Valley City Council have worked together on a $1million water recycling project in Aberfeldie (VIC). The project, located at the Afton Street Conservation Wetlands, will provide a stormwater for irrigation to support local sport and recreation facilities. This will save up to 20million litres of drinking water every year. State Member for Niddrie, Ben […]
Two Victorian utilities have shared in an award for their joint partnership with the Metropolitan Planning Authority and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. South East Water and Melbourne Water have won the 2015 Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Improving Planning Processes and Practices Award for their work on the Casey Clyde Integrated Water Management project. The team […]
Most of Australia’s urban centres are currently experiencing a population explosion, but infrastructure development is not at all keeping pace. Take Melbourne for example, its population growth is leading to geographic spread and putting pressure on public sector infrastructure. Melbourne has been awarded liveable city again in 2015 (The Economist) but the liveability benefits largely stop at the end of […]
SA Water is seeking proposals for the former site of the Port Adelaide Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in West Lakes (SA). Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being invited from the private sector for the surplus SA Water site on Frederick Road, West Lakes. SA Water’s Chief Executive, John Ringham, said SA Water is seeking proposals that will deliver a suitable […]
Melbourne Water has announced a program aimed at preventing stormwater pollution in the Dandenong Creek region after testing revealed high levels of metal contaminants from stormwater drains. The program will help local businesses understand how their activities may be contributing to stormwater pollution in the local Bayswater industrial area. The industrial pollutants flow from the stormwater drains into Dandenong Creek, […]
An Australian gas company has won a top environmental award for their innovative tunnelling solution for a shore crossing. Chevron Australia (WA) beat eight other finalists to receive the Golden Gecko award for Environmental Excellence by the WA State Government. Mines and Petroleum Minister, Bill Marmion, said the Wheatstone microtunnel linked a 225 kilometre-long offshore gas pipeline to the onshore […]
WA Water Minister, Mia Davies, has announced that the State Government will pursue the development of a single irrigation water supplier for Carnarvon. The announcement is in response to a new Carnarvon Ministerial Advisory Committee (CMAC) report. Ms Davies said that, “Having a single organisation responsible for the governance and management of Carnarvon’s irrigation water infrastructure will lead to a […]
Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, has recently announced a $14.25 million investment for upgrades to Victoria’s irrigation infrastructure. Minister Joyce and the Victorian Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water, Lisa Neville, announced the upgrades as part of the second round of the Victorian Farm Modernisation Project (VFMP). Mr Joyce said the new round of funding would […]
Brookfield Energy Australia (NSW) is conducting a study that could lead to a residential development powered solely by renewable energy. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is investing $442,000 in the $1.1 million study which could see the Huntlee residential development operating off-the-grid. Huntlee, developed by LWP Property Group, will be the first new town in the Hunter Valley in […]
The Power and Water Corporation has conducted inspections on almost 5,000 household water meters in Alice Springs searching for water leaks. The five day event revealed that 972 homes (one in five) in Alice Springs has a suspected leak. This amounts to wasting 286 million litres of water per year, costing homeowners over half a million dollars ($547, 000) collectively. […]
An Australian utility company has won the Award for Excellence in Integrated Stormwater Design at the International Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference. Sydney Water won the award for their project, The Cooks River Naturalisation project. The award recognises the best practice and excellence in sustainable management of stormwater. Bankstown Council was the joint winner for their project “Getting our Ducks […]
The Queensland Government has approved the creation of one of Australia’s largest solar farms in the Burdekin Shire (QLD). Global solar power company FRV plans to invest up to $400 million to develop 238 hectares of photo voltaic panels on 340 hectares of privately held farmland. Construction of the solar farm in Clare will create 200 construction jobs. Deputy Premier […]
Western Water is supporting a project from La Trobe’s Environmental Microbiology Laboratory that studies bacteria in sewer streams to try and combat corrosion. La Trobe University Scientist, Elizabeth Mathews, is conducting the research which is trying to change the respiratory or ‘breathing’ chemistry of bacteria in our waste stream. Ms Mathews said, “A healthy society is built on good sanitation and […]
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