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Archive for the ‘Australia & Oceania’ Category

US DoE loans USD 117 million to Hawaii wind energy project

March 9th, 2010 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

The US Department of Energy is conditionally loaning USD 117 million to an "innovative" wind energy project on Hawaii. The island state is going to get a wind farm with 30 MW of capacity, using 2.5 MW wind turbines, but with an additional component which will ensure electricity load stability – batteries for storing produced energy. The Kahuku wind farm, to be developed by Kahuku Wind Power, will be receiving the 117 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Once completed, the Kahuku wind farm will output electricity estimated to be enough to supply about 7700 average homes on the island state with clean electricity. The construction of the wind farm will provide about 200 jobs.

The Kahuku wind farm will be located on the island of Oahu. Hawaii has set a very high goal for renewable energy, which is to achieve 70% of electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2030. At the moment, each of the islands is using its own separate power grid, mostly using fossil fuels to produce electricity. The company sponsoring the project is First Wind Holdings.

[source: US DoE, image: Hawaii State]

Australian RET revised, wind energy market expected to grow

March 1st, 2010 | Posted in General Wind | No Comments

The Australian government has recently introduced reforms into the country's legislation to support the newly set renewable energy target (RET) of 20% renewable energy by 2020.

The new reforms make a distinction between small scale solar PV and solar water heating technologies and large scale renewable energy projects. It is these large scale RE projects that are expected to allow the country to reach the set renewable energy goal set for 2020.

One of the major global renewable energy companies, Vestas, expressed great content over the Australian government's announcement about the reforms, stating the changes will give investors confidence to invest into the Australian renewable energy sector, emphasizing large wind energy projects, being first and foremost a wind energy development company.

The revised legislation is not yer in effect, as it needs to appear before the Australian parliament in winter (June/July). Vestas is working with the Australian government on the details of the revised legislation, hoping to achieve a start of major wind energy developments in Australia during 2010.

Other renewable energy developments in Australia include geothermal and solar energy. The country also has significant marine energy resources as well, and with the development of this renewable energy sector, we may be seeing marine energy harvesting technology installed in Australia soon.

[image: Cristina Archer (Stanford University)]

Geodynamics and Origin to form joint venture for exploring shallow geothermal potential

February 24th, 2010 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

Geodynamics and Origin Energy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for exploration of geothermal potential in shallow geothermal resources in license areas that already exist for the joint venture, in Eromanoga Basin in South Australia.

The new MoU is a separate document from the already existing joint venture between the two companies, which has been referred to as Innamicka Joint Venture. This JV has now been renamed to Innamicka Deeps Joint Venture.

The new JV, dubbed Innamicka Shallows Joint Venture, is split right down the middle in terms of ownership. Origin Energy will assume the role of JV operator. The new project will focus on exploration at depths of about 3000 meters, where lower temperature reservoirs are expected to exist.

Both companies are hoping to achieve diversification in supplies of geothermal energy, providing investors with access to an extended geothermal portfolio.

[source: Geodynamics, image: Geodynamics]

Solar EnerTech enters into 15 MW sales contract with Australia's Aussie Solar Installations

February 6th, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Solar EnerTech has entered into a 15 MW contract with Aussie Solar Installations, a division of Carbon Management Solutions, to distribute the company's solar panel modules in Australia.

Aussie Solar is a prime PV system integrator and over the years, has grown into one of the largest solar power installers in New South Wales, Australia. Since 2009, Aussie Solar has had the exclusive right to distribute Solar EnerTech's solar panels in Australia. Under the contract, Solar EnerTech's total shipment to Aussie Solar amounts to approximately US$26 million, which the company plans to deliver in separate shipments before the end of 2010…

[source: Solar EnerTech]

Trina Solar commences module supply to Australia's RF Industries

January 22nd, 2010 | Posted in Solar | No Comments

Trina Solar - RF Industries

Trina Solar has made initial shipments to Australia's RF Industries (RFI) as part of its intention to finalize the national distribution agreement with RFI to supply up to 10 MW of PV modules in 2010…

And that's about all we got from the press release. Plus we have a quote from Trina Solar's CEO, who said: "We are excited to partner with RFI, Australia's largest distributor of solar modules to supply the market with best-in-class products from Trina Solar. This partnership will bring Trina's high performing modules to the promising new Australian market while enhancing Trina Solar's brand and presence in the region."

[source: Trina Solar]

Australian geothermal industry getting a AUD 35 million boost from the government

December 16th, 2009 | Posted in Geothermal | Comments (1)

The Australian Ministry of Resources and Energy has set aside AUD 35 million for geothermal "proof of concept" projects in order to boost the geothermal sector in the country. The amount is part of round 2 of Geothermal Drilling Program which will introduce AUD 50 million as aid for the developing industry.

It is expected that the Geothermal Drilling Program will support almost AUD 180 million worth of investments in this sector of the energy industry, with estimates that just 1% of Australia geothermal potential could supply the continents total energy requirements for 26,000 years! (Geoscience Australia)

The trick is to find a way to harness this potential in an economical and technologically feasible way. This problem has been recognized by the Australian government, so it is actively pursuing a supportive effort aimed at pulling through geothermal energy.

Here's a list of the Second Round AUD 7 million each recipients:

Hot Rock – Koroit in the Otway Basin, Victoria
Geodynamics – near Bulga in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales
GRE Geothermal WA1 – Perth metro area, Western Australia
Greenearth Energy – near Geelong, Victoria
Torrens Energy – Parachilna, South Australia

One of the locations for future geothermal development.

The Australian government is trying to meet three major energy goals, for which geothermal energy development will play an important part. These are diversification of energy supplies, redicing Australia's CO2 emmissions by 60% from 2000 levels by 2050, and finally to produce at least 20% of energy from renewable energy sources by 2020.

[source: Geodynamics, image: Geodynamics]

Valero Energy and Mission NewEnergy sign biofuel deal

December 13th, 2009 | Posted in Biomass | Comments (1)

Jatropha tree "fruit" from which biodiesel can be made - it seems fuel really does grow on trees...

Valero Energy (US) has signed a five-year deal with Mission NewEnergy (Australia), worth USD 3.5 billion, under which Valero will buy biofuel from Mission. According to the deal, Valero has the option to purchase a 25% stake in Mission.

Beginning Q2 2010, Mission will be supplying Valero with up to 200,000 tons of biodiesel per year. This amount can be doubled, and extended in term by an additional five years.

Mission will supply biodiesel made from palm oil, but the company plans to eventually move over to biodiesel derived from Jatropha plant feedstock. Jatropha is an inedible perennial oil seed plant, growing on marginal soil, without the need to displace any agricultural land, which makes it a non-competitive crop with the food industry.

[source: Financial Times]

Australia offers geothermal exploration permits in the Northern Territory

December 3rd, 2009 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments

With the official start of the Geothermal Energy Act in Australia, developers have been invited to bid for exploration permits for geothermal projects in the Northern Territory. The region is believed to have significant geothermal energy potential, with more than two thirds of the territory having a higher than average heat flow below the surface.

heatmap-australia-geothermaresources According to analyists, there is potential for generating renewable power from hot rocks. The McArthur River area has been emphasized as the area with higher temperatures than normal, and it is expected this area will attract the most interest from geothermal developers. One of the obstacles for geothermal development is the inability for geothermal power producers to export generated power to the national grid.

[source: ABC.net.au, via: Think Geoenergy, image: Geothermal Resources]

Siemens to supply wind turbines for wind farm in New Zealand

November 27th, 2009 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

New Zealand is going to get a new 64 MW wind farm – the Te Uku – located near Hamilton. The wind farm is going to be using 28 Siemens SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines. Te Uku is scheduled to be completed in 2011, and will be able to generate enough clean electricity for about 30,000 average homes in the area. The developer of the Te Uku wind farm, and Siemens' partner in the supply agreement is Meridian Energy.

Photo simulation of the Te Uku wind farm (wind turbines visible at the upper edge of the hills in the background).

According to the agreement, Siemens will provide delivery and installation of the turbines. Additionally, Siemens has entered into a two-year service and maintenance contract as well. This is not the first wind energy project between these two companies. In October, Siemens commissioned another Merdian Energy owned wind farm, the 143 MW West Wind wind farm, now supplying about 70,000 homes with clean electricity.

New Zealand has abundant wind energy resources, with consistent strong wind speeds, making the country an ideal wind energy development region.

[source: Siemens, image: Meridian Energy]

Suzlon gets repeat order for 42 MW from Infigen Energy

November 26th, 2009 | Posted in Wind | No Comments

s88 Suzlon Energy Australia, Suzlon Energy's subsidiary "down under", just received a repeat order to supply Infigen Energy with 42 MW worth of S88 wind turbines, each with 2.1 MW of capacity.

The wind turbines are going to be installed on one of Infigen's wind farms, currently in early development, in New South Wales. This is the second order from Infigen, which now brings the total capacity ordered from Suzlon to 183 MW.

[source: Suzlon]