Comments are always welcome!!

Known as the Australia unofficial solar capital, Alice Springs is the second largest city in the Northern Territory of Australia. Alice Springs has an arid environment and is surrounded by several different deserts. Back in 2008, Alice Solar City Consortium was awarded $37 million from the Australian Government to help the local community save energy, money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Australian Government’s Solar Cities program is a partnership approach that involves all levels of the government, private sector and the local communities to rethink the way they produce and use energy.

The next initiative by the Alice Solar City Consortium is to seek proposals from solar technology providers to develop iconic solar projects at the Alice Springs Airport and Ilparpa. The proposals are intended to replace previous plans for both sites. One of Alice Solar City plan is to develop an iconic solar power station in Ilparpa that has a total capacity up to 1MW in size.

Brian Elmer, Alice Solar City General Manager is inviting the wider renewable energy in Australia to express their interest to develop technologies that are technically and economically feasible for Alice Springs. Possible examples are solar concentrating and solar thermal systems. Their intentions are to see that project commissioning through Alice Solar City by the end of 2010.

Solar technology companies are invited to submit proposals for Ilparpa Solar Power Station and Alice Springs Airport iconic projects by Monday 8th June. Funding support for successful proposals will be sought from the Australian Government.

Deadline: Monday 8th June

More Information: Alice Solar City 

References: Alice Solar City Media Release

Picture References: Territory Essence

Since the opening of Cycle2City (C2C) last June (2008), C2C has increase the amount of commuter cycling into the CBD and successfully reduce the overall carbon emissions in Brisbane. Membership of this ‘green’ concept starts from $30 for the five day a week option that effectively cost up to AUD 4 a day (six months membership); a casual daily use and three day a week ‘permanent casual’ option is also available.

C2C is part of Brisbane’s commitment to encourage residents in the nearby suburb areas to replace driving with cycling. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has pledge AUD 100 million to build up to 15 years and 100 kilometres worth of planned bike path projects in the next four years. This is a significant commitment that will ultimately decrease traffic congestions in Brisbane, reduce carbon emissions, improve overall health of the local residents and increase safety around schools.

The transition from four wheels to two has never been easier with this great innovation!

Reference: Cycle2City Website

Picture Reference: Cycle Brisbane

The plans are to build up to four individual solar plants to generate the same amount of energy of a single coal fire power station. An example of the output that a coal power station can produce is about 750 MW (Kogan Creek Coal Fire Power Station, Queensland).

Solar Energy Generating Systems (SEGS) is currently the largest operating solar power plant in the world. It consists of nine solar power plants at California’s Mojave Desert in the United States. The total capacity of the combine power plants is 354MW. SEGS utilises the parabolic through technology to collect solar energy.

The government will receive tenders for the project later this year.

Reference:
ABC News

Picture Reference:
Our Green Community
Power From The Sun

The Australia Federal Government has committed approximately $4.5 billion to clean energy in the latest 2009-2010 budget. The funding will provide $1.6 billion for the solar industry where the government aim is to position Australia back as a global leader in solar energy technology. Australia was previously a world leader in solar technology till the funding dried up in the past few years and some of the local solar entrepreneurs went over to other countries that provide favourable government incentives.

The massive boost in funding will hopefully spark back the green economy in Australia as Australia is blessed with heaps of renewable resources. The government plans to have 20% of energy produced using renewable energy by 2020 seems to be on track. Further breakdown of the budget:-

• $2.4 billion for Low emissions coal technology
• $465 million to establish renewable energy body
• $300 million to be added to Climate Change Action Fund under Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme
• $387.7 million over the next 5 years for climate change infrastructure
• $300 million for on farm irrigation efficiency grant
• $228 million for Adelaide’s desalination plant

Households are not neglected in this budget as the Federal Government will be boosting existing National Building funds of ~$4 billion by $64.6 million. The potential green economy will create local jobs and spark the revival of the current economy.

Reference: ABC News
Picture Reference: Aqua Bumps

No 1:

Maximum Power: 352 MW (Potential – Further Expansion Expected)
Location: Hallett, South Australia
Expected Cost: $805 million (Estimated)
Project Completion Date: 2011 (Projected for Hellet 4)
Company: Suzlon Energy Australia (Hellet 1), AGL Energy (Hellet 2-4)
Technology: Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines
Link: AGL Website

No 2:

Maximum Power: 239.5 MW
Location: Woakwine Range, South Australia
Expected Cost: $557.6 million (Estimated)
Project Completion Date: 2008
Company: Aurecon Energy Group
Technology: Vestas V66 and Vestas 90 turbines
Link: Aurecon Energy Group Website

No 3:

Maximum Power: 195 MW
Location: Cape Bridgewater, Cape Nelson, Cape Sir William Grant and Yambuk, Southwest Victoria
Expected Cost: $330 million
Project Completion Date: 2007-2010
Company: Pacific Hydro
Technology: NEG Micron wind turbines
Link: Pacific Hydro Website

No 4:

Maximum Power: 192 MW
Location: Waubra, Victoria
Expected Cost: $236 million
Project Completion Date: 2009
Company: Acciona Energy
Technology: Acciona Windpower 1.5MW model
Link: Acciona Energy Website

No 5:

Maximum Power: 99 MW
Location: Snowtown, South Australia
Expected Cost: $200 million
Project Completion Date: Expected to be operational by 2010
Company: Trust Power
Technology: Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines
Link: Trust Power Website

Picture Reference:

Clare: http://clare.yourguide.com.au/multimedia/images/full/142157.jpg

Aurecon: http://www.conwag.com/news/news.asp?pgID=65

Pacific Hydro: http://www.pacifichydro.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=134

Waubra Wind Farm: http://www.waubrawindfarm.com.au/

Flickr: flickr.com/photos/daveclarkecb/2717808470/

Google is known as an innovative multinational company worldwide. They have introduced to us numerous products that have become part of our everyday lives. Some of their ground breaking products are:-

• Google web search
• Google Earth
• Google Street
• Android Open Source
• iGoogle

The next in line, is Google Power Meter (Currently in Beta). Google is creating a prototype that will receive information from utility smart meters and provides anyone who signs up with information of their electricity consumption on their iGoogle homepage. 

This great ‘Green’ prototype will identify ‘vampire’ power loads that suck up energy in standby mode and provide the users ways to be more energy efficient. In addition to that, this product is free and has the potential to reduce our energy bills and carbon footprint.

Keep an eye for this product once it is launch!

Link: Google Power Meter

No 1:

Maximum Power: 200 MW (Potential)
Location: Buronga, New South Wales
Expected Cost: N/A
Project Completion Date: N/A
Company: Enviro Mission
Technology: Solar Tower Technology
Link: Enviro Mission Website

No 2:

Maximum Power: 154 MW
Location: Mildura, Victoria
Expected Cost: $420 million
Project Completion Date: Expected power generation by 2010, Completion of plant by 2013
Company: Solar Systems
Technology: Solar Concentrators
Link: Solar Systems Website

No 3:

Maximum Power: 33 MW
Location: Not decided, Australia Capital Territory
Expected Cost: $100 million (Estimated)
Project Completion Date: Proposal
Company: AcetewAGL
Technology: Solar Thermal
Link: AcetewAGL Website

No 4:

Maximum Power: 10 MW
Location: Cloncurry, Queensland
Expected Cost: $31 million (Estimated)
Project Completion Date: Expected to be operational by 2010
Company: Lloyd Energy, Ergon Energy and Department of Mines and Energy Queensland
Technology: Solar Thermal
Link: Lloyd Energy Website

No 5:

Maximum Power: 1 MW
Location: Liddell Power Station
Expected Cost: N/A
Project Completion Date: Completed
Company: Solar Heat and Macquarie Generation
Technology: Solar Thermal (Integrated with Coal Power Plant)
Link:  Macquarie Generation Website

Picture Reference:

Mildura Weekly: www.milduraweekly.com.au/ImageThumbNailer.asp…

EnviroMission Limited: http://www.enviromission.com.au/IRM/content/technology_technologyover.html

CSIRO: www.det.csiro.au/assets/solar_sm.jpg

ABC News: www.abc.net.au/reslib/200711/r197000_750535.jpg

Macquarie Generation:http://www.macgen.com.au/gallery/popup.aspx?albumindex=1&imageid=4

It was revealed by Premier Anna Bligh on 22/4/2009 that Queenslanders can expect to pay approximately 14.5% more in their electricity bill in the next financial year. The justification for the price hike was the increasing cost for infrastructure, construction and maintenance of the transmission lines. The previous increase of electricity price was at mid 2008 where the price of all utilities increased by 6.5%.

Based on early calculations, typical household electricity price in a month will increase from $150 (basis) to $172. Thus, each and every Queenslander household will be $264 worst off when the new price takes place.

Pump hydro energy storage utilizes excess electrical energy to pump water from a lower reservoir to a higher one. The energy will be stored as potential energy. When power is needed, water from the higher reservoir will flow to the lower reservoir through a turbine and thus generate electricity to meet demand.

Typical operating cost for pumped hydro is low, reliable and has a long lifetime. Efficiencies of this system are approximately 75%. Hydro energy plants are usually constructed on specific geological formations and this factor alone will increase the initial capital cost. In addition to that, construction of these plants usually creates large environmental concerns.

Fly Wheels

Flywheels store energy mechanically in the form of kinetic energy. Typical design of flywheels is a mass spinning around an axis. Flywheels convert electrical energy to mechanical energy and back easily with reported efficiencies close to 98%. Friction in the mechanical device can be reduced significantly by the installation of the system in a sealed vacuum chamber with magnetic suspension. The charge/discharge cycle rate of flywheels is usually quite rapid with reported journal article values from seconds to a few minutes.

There are no serious environmental issues with this system. As flywheel is a mechanical device, it requires high maintenance.

Lead Acid Batteries

Lead acid batteries are typical conventional batteries and are widely used in rechargeable electrochemical devices. Lead acid batteries consist of electrodes of lead metal and lead oxide in an electrolyte sulphuric acid.

In the discharge state, both electrodes will turn into lead sulphate and electrolyte loses its dissolve sulphuric acid and becomes primarily water. Production cost of these common batteries is really low but suffers from short cycle life (500-1000 cycles) and environmental concerns about the leakage of lead acid into the ground/water once it is discarded.

Flow Batteries

Flow batteries are a new form of battery which electrical energy is converted to chemical energy and back. Electrolytes in the systems are stored in tanks and pump through the cells of a membrane reactor. In contrast to conventional batteries, flow batteries store energy in electrolyte solutions. Flow batteries can release energy for up to 10 hours and is rechargeable.

Two current demonstration projects are the vanadium redox and zinc bromide batteries. Efficiencies of flow batteries vary from 75-90%.

Supercapacitors

Supercapacitors (or ultracapacitors) provide another method of storing electrical energy in the electric field between two electrodes by applying direct current (DC) voltage. Capacitors have been used traditionally in the electrical industry and the only difference between the traditional capacitors to supercapacitors is the enhancement of the product with modern materials.

Backup time for supercapacitors is generally limited to a few seconds at most. The cycle life of this product is virtually infinite and no maintenance is required. In addition to that, supercapcitors are environmentally friendly. However, the production cost of this product is generally high.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Hydrogen fuel cells stores excess electricity by chemically reacting water to produce hydrogen and oxygen. When demand outstrips supply, hydrogen and oxygen will react to produce electricity and water.

Most of the technology used for these fuel cells is at early stages of development and the typical cost of buying a large scale fuel cell will be astronomical. There are still problems in storing hydrogen safely at room temperature and the local efficiency is approximately 20-50%. Fuel cells are environmentally benign in nature.

References: 

Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), 2009 ‘Flywheel Energy Storage’ www.eere.energy.gov/femp/ viewed 2/3/09

H. Chen et.al, 2009, Progress in electrical energy storage system: A critical review, Progress in Natural Science 19, p291-312, Elsevier

P.J. Hall, E.J. Bain, 2008, Energy-storage technologies and electricity generation, Energy Policy 36, p4352–4355, Elsevier

S. Cole et al., 2009, Energy storage on production and transmission level: a SWOT analysis, Department of Electrical Engineering (ESA), Div. Electa.

Shenzen Blossom Electric Tech. Co. Ltd., 2009 www.made-in-china.com/showroom/blossombattery…, viewed 16/4/09

Super Capacitors, 2009 www.supercapacitors.org/maxwell_boostcap.jpg, viewed 16/4/09

Windows on State Government, 2009 www.window.state.tx.us/…/renewable/hydro.php, viewed 16/4/09