Category: Australia & Oceania


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 EnerTechSolar 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.

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...

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-geothermaresourcesAccording 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).

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

s88Suzlon 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]

Ocean Power Technologies wins funding from the Australian Federal Government

November 9th, 2009 | Posted in Hydro | No Comments
OPT's PowerBuoy deployed on open sea.

OPT's PowerBuoy deployed on open sea.

The Australian subsidiary of Ocean Power Technologies – Ocean Power Technologies (Australasia) announced it has received a AUD 66.5 million award from the Australian Federal Government to build a 19 Mw wave power project to be located off the coast of Victoria, Australia.

OPT is one of the four companies to be awarded funding from the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program. The company will build the 19 MW power plant in collaboration with Leighton Contractors. Construction will happen in three phases. Once completed, the wave power plant will produce enough clean electricty to supply about 10,000 average homes in Portland, and the surrounding area.

The project is going to be developed by a special purpose company – Victorian Wave Partners – formed by OPT (Australasia) and Leighton after the signing of an agreement last December. The special purpose company will pursue wave power project development off the east and south coasts of Australia, where there are favorable conditions for harnessing marine energy. Work on the first project will begin in Q2 2010.

This will be a great opportunity for the company to implement its PowerBuoy technology in a commercial scale power project.

Cooper Basin geothermal project gets AUD 90 million from Australian Government

November 9th, 2009 | Posted in Geothermal | No Comments
Image: Geodynamics

Image: Geodynamics

Geodynamics announced their Cooper Basin geothermal power project is getting AUD 90 million in funding from the Federal Government. The funding comes from the Renewable Energy Demonstration Program (REDP).

The awarded sum is part of a larger amount of AUD 235 million, to be awarded to four renewable energy demo projects covering a broad range of emerging renewable energy technologies.

Geodynamics will receive the funding over the life of the project with the final payment scheduled after the commissioning of a 25 MW geothermal power plant in the Cooper Basin. The commissioning is expected to happen in 2013.

The purpose of the Cooper Basin geothermal power plant is to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of this technology at a commercial scale. This will hopefully give further confidence to lenders to finance the commercial implementation of subsequent geothermal power units and transmission lines.