Posts Tagged ‘renewable energy’
Australian Stationary Energy Plan: 100% Renewable Energy in 10 Years
Posted in Events, Research by Mark Ogge on July 9th, 2010
Please join us for the launch of the Stationary Energy Plan, the culmination of over 12 months and thousands of hours of pro bono work by engineers, scientists and postgraduate students. The plan is a collaboration between the climate solutions think tank Beyond Zero Emissions, and the University of Melbourne Energy Institute. This plan is unique in Australia. It has been put together in a collaborative way involving over 50 technical experts.
It is a detailed and costed blueprint for transitioning our stationary energy sector to 100% renewable energy in ten years. The technologies utilised in this plan are commercially available now.
This free public lecture will cover the details of the plan as well as the state of renewable energy in Australia more broadly. A panel discussion will follow the presentations.
Wednesday 14 July, 6-8pm
Basement Theatre, The Spot
198 Berkeley St, Carlton
Speakers:
John Daley (CEO, Grattan Institute)
Keith Lovegrove (Solar Thermal Group Leader, ANU)
Lane Crockett (General Manager, Pacific Hydro)
Matthew Wright (Director Beyond Zero Emissions)
The full report will be made available for the first time on 14 July, free to download from the Beyond Zero Emissions website or hard copy for purchase. A flyer for the lecture is available here.
For further information contact the Melbourne Energy Institute:
T: +61 3 8344 3519
F: +61 3 8344 7761
E: mei-info@unimelb.edu.au
W: www.energy.unimelb.edu.au
We hope you can join us for this important event. No RSVP required.
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Renewable Energy Strategy
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on April 27th, 2010
A monthly discussion group hosted by Beyond Zero Emissions focusing on energy solutions to climate change, held on the first Monday of every month.
May’s guest speaker: Hans-Josef Fell
Hans-Josef Fell is a Green party member of German Parliament who has been one of the driving forces behind establishing the German renewable energy Feed-in-tariff. He drafted the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG in German), and its subsequent amendments, which has led to a dramatic rise in the development and implementation of renewables such as wind and solar power within Germany. The EEG has since provided a model for other countries pursuing renewable energy and emissions reductions. For his efforts he has been awarded numerous environmental and industry prizes in Germany.
Hans-Josef Fell has also founded the Energy Watch Group an association of independent researchers and economics experts who are in the process of developing sustainable concepts to secure our global energy supply. Energy Watch Group research concluded that the world had passed global Peak Oil several years ago.
Mr Fell will be discussing his advocacy, lobbying and policy work, with a focus on the development of his new climate change strategy. Hans-Josef Fell will be appearing via Skype. Special thanks to University of Melbourne, Office of Environmental Programs for supporting us in bringing you this event.
Date: 6.30pm, Monday 3 May 2010
Event location: Sunderland Theatre, MEDICAL BUILDING-Rm:C216-Flr:2, University of Melbourne.
http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/events/discussion-group
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Proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Target: Advocacy update
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on April 9th, 2010
Source: Zero Carbon Moreland
Image: richardmasoner via flickr CC
The Federal Government has recently announced proposed changes to the national Renewable Energy Target (RET). Those changes are aiming to provide more support to Australia’s fledgling wind energy industry and also address issues with the existing Solar Credits Scheme. MEFL has expressed concerns with the current Solar Credits Scheme, and therefore we welcome these proposed changes.
The proposal removes small-scale renewable energy, such as roof-top solar electricity and solar hot water, from the main RET. Instead all small renewables will become part of the Small Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). For homeowners, the SRES provides greater certainty as well as ensuring that your investment in renewable energy is additional to the national target, which is a very good thing! For more information on the changes, visit MEFL’s Advocacy Blog.
Zero Carbon Australia: Stationary Energy Plan
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on February 26th, 2010
Beyond Zero Emissions Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan (ZCA 2020)
Preview presentation of our work detailing how Australia could go to 100% renewable electricity by 2020. ZCA 2020 is a project to develop a blueprint for the transition to a decarbonised Australian economy by 2020. It is a costed, detailed plan that utilises only existing, proven, commercialised technologies. The Stationary Energy Sector plan is the first sector plan of ZCA 2020. The Project draws on the enormous wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise in the community and has been a collaborative effort. ZCA 2020 shows that the technology to achieve zero emissions already exists, we just need to get on with it! Come along for an opportunity to discuss this inspiring and empowering project.
When: 6.30pm, Monday 1 March
Cost: Gold coin donation
Event location: 2nd Floor, Kindness House, 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, VIC.
http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/events/discussion-group
NSW Payment for solar: collective climate-change action
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on November 17th, 2009
Source: Alternative Technology Association
Image: Jeff Kubina via flickr CC
From “NSW solar homes to receive generous payment for generating solar electricity“
The NSW government has introduced one of Australia’s most progressive payments for household solar power. The NSW government’s shift away from previous plans for a net feed-in tariff, in line with other states, is a clear signal the Rees government is committed to building a green collar workforce in NSW, says Damien Moyse, ATA’s Energy Policy Manager. “We welcome the decision to pay households for all the clean energy they contribute to the state’s electricity supply. It is a win for families who are taking action on climate change and for green jobs in NSW” says Mr Moyse.
The feed-in tariff will pay solar households 60 cents per kilowatt hour for the clean energy they generate, on systems up to 10kw. Other states opted to minimise the cost of their schemes by only paying solar homes for the energy they feed back to the grid after subtracting the household’s electricity use. Mr Moyse says NSW and the ACT have shown real leadership in the move to a low carbon economy.
“This feed-in tariff recognises that solar households, irrespective of whether the electricity they generate is being used in their own home or powering the neighbour’s air conditioner, can make a significant contribution to reducing the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.”
“With a significant amount of additional investment in small-scale solar likely under this scheme, we now look to the Rudd Labour Government to ensure that the emissions saved by each of these new solar installations is accounted for under his Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.” Mr Moyse says the announcement also highlights the importance of getting the design right for new smart electricity metering technology being developed under the National Smart Meter Project. “With both NSW and the ACT now committed to gross feed-in tariff schemes, and other states opting for net feed-in tariffs, electricity metering technology that can facilitate gross tariffs will need to be deployed in these jurisdictions. We also call on the Federal Government to assist this process and harmonise the nation’s feed-in tariffs to a single, gross feed-in tariff scheme that will make conversion to solar simpler for installers, households and electricity retailers,” says Mr Moyse.
Read the full article.
Simon Holmes a Court, Sustainable Cities Round Table – The Energy to Change, 20 May 2009
Posted in SCRT Videos, Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Virginia on June 10th, 2009
Simon Holmes a Court showcases the Hepburn Wind farm project which came into fruition due to the community’s desire to establish a community owned wind farm that would help match the electricity needs of the Hepburn Shire, and thus the Hepburn Wind Farm Project was born. Since then the project has progressed through the necessary stages of development, from preliminary site analysis through the Council planning process and now has a secure planning permit. And during the course of the project, the Wind Park has gained increasing support in the Hepburn Shire community.
TONIGHT – THE SUSTAINABLE CITIES ROUND TABLE – The Energy to Change
Posted in Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Ferne Edwards on May 20th, 2009
When: 6-8pm, Wednesday 20 May 2009
Where: Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, La Trobe Street, State Library of Victoria
In this Sustainable Cities Round Table we will consider energy – such as renewable energy types, their distribution and systems alternatives. Well also take it further to consider how we can mitigate energy losses, implement greater uptake of more sustainable options and ultimately conserve the energy within ourselves to make sure that these changes take place!
Speakers are:
Brad Shone, Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd – The Solar Cities project
Ralph Horne, RMIT University – Home energy efficiency – why havent we fixed it yet?
Faye Adams, Manningham City Council – Harnessing community passion
Michael Ambrose, CSIRO – The Zero Emissions Home project
Read the rest of this entry »
Launch of the Clean Energy Revolution with Nobel Laureate Prof Peter Doherty
Posted in Events by Virginia on May 12th, 2009
Join Ben McNeil leading climate scientist and economist for the launch of his book The Clean Energy Revolution in Melbourne this Thursday with Nobel Laureate, Prof Peter Doherty. The book is an Australian roadmap for cleantech and business sustainability with very little mention of climate science!
When: Thursday 14th May, 2009, 6.30pm-7pm
Where: Sputnik Agency, Level 1, 116-122 Chapel Street, Windsor
Numbers are limited so please RSVP to thecleanrevolution @gmail.com.
Sustainable Cities Round Table – The Energy to Change – RSVP today!
Posted in Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Ferne Edwards on April 28th, 2009
What: SUSTAINABLE CITIES ROUND TABLE – The Energy to Change
When: 6-8pm, Wednesday 20 May 2009
Where: Village Roadshow Theatrette, Entry 3, La Trobe Street, State Library of Victoria
How: RSVP essential – email rsvp@sustainablemelbourne.com by 15 May.
Proudly presented by the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab and the State Library of Victoria
In this Sustainable Cities Round Table we will consider energy – such as renewable energy types, their distribution and systems alternatives. Well also take it further to consider how we can mitigate energy losses, implement greater uptake of more sustainable options and ultimately conserve the energy within ourselves to make sure that these changes take place!
Mountain Goat Brewery
Posted in Models, RDAG by Virginia on April 28th, 2009
The Mountain Goat Brewery is a microbrewery based in Richmond, Melbourne. Microbreweries are typically small industrial operations that craft unique beer – more than twenty microbreweries exist in Victoria. Microbreweries consume a lot of power and water and often have significant levels of emissions yet their range of sizes and diversity creates potential for new, more sustainable products, production processes and distribution methods.
The Mountain Goat Brewery is a successful example producing 400,000 litres of beer per year with an annual sales growth of approximately twenty percent. Mountain Goat goes beyond simple carbon offsetting to incorporate many other sustainable techniques such as choosing an existing building with north-facing solar orientation to allow winter sunlight and to fuel the nine solar panels and installing an 11,000 litre tank for drinking and toilet flushing. Mountain Goat adheres to localism values by retaining eighty percent of their beer within a twenty-kilometre radius of the brewery and strives to purchase local, good quality ingredients. They also consider social sustainability with the company encouraging their employees to ride to work. To find out more about the Mountain Goat Brewery visit their website at www.goatbeer.com.au.
This is from “Social Innovations of Victorian Food Systems’ case studies by Ferne Edwards.