Hydrogen in the gas grid is a great idea – if you own the gas grid
Some of us learned in chemistry class that hydrogen molecules can spin. But our teachers never told us how much spin we’d see, and how much energy it would take not to fall for it.
Energy
On why we still want to pull up stumps and move to New Zealand
News from the Front Desk, Issue 497: The release of Australia’s “gas-fired recovery” plans this week – topped off with new rules to allow government clean energy finance to flow towards carbon capture and storage –should hardly come as a surprise.
Hobsons Bay rolls out first virtual power plant
Hobsons Bay City Council has taken a big step towards its net zero carbon ambitions with a large-scale roll out of its Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and the installation of new solar panels across more than 40 council-owned buildings.
The thermal energy brick that promises to end our grid stability woes
Storage remains the pain point in the renewables transition so it’s no surprise a cheap, clean and scalable energy storage technology invented by Australian scientists is attracting attention. Researchers from the University of Newcastle have been developing the energy storage technology called “miscibility gap alloy” for nine years and are now scaling it up for […]
Haystack solar garden could spur a solar gardening revolution in Australia
Community solar group Pingala has teamed up with the Community Power Agency and Komo Energy on Australia’s first major offsite solar garden project. And there could be more if we can overcome the financial hurdles such as lumping solar co-operatives in with corporate investment schemes. Common in the US and parts of Europe, solar gardens […]
Nikola Tesla dreamed of free electricity; what happened?
Have you ever wondered what the world would be like if electricity was free? Tesla is the well-known trademark of entrepreneur extraordinaire Elon Musk and his electric cars, but what about Tesla, the man? More than 100 years ago, Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) invented alternating current (AC), the polyphase alternating current system, which laid the foundation […]
What the gas industry is up to in Australia and the US
If you caught a glimpse of the ABC’s QandA on Monday night you’d see the Coalition government is hellbent on supporting the gas industry, such as proposing a gas pipeline from Western Australia to the eastern states regardless of what the science says or what the last fire season made abundantly clear. So we’re taking […]
Federal government sending mixed messages on gas
The federal government has been hinting that they will announce significant investment into natural gas to drive down prices and create jobs.
Tim Forcey on how to beat the winter gas blues and save money and health
There’s a simple and highly effective solution that will save you dollars and health this winter. It’s simple: switch your split reverse-cycle airconditioner to “heat” and turn off the gas. Australians living in the cooler climates burn a lot of gas in winter. If we burn less, we can save money on our household budgets, […]
Carbon’s capture is not of emissions but the political status quo
Carbon capture and storage technology as an emissions reduction strategy is like slapping a band-aid over the fossil fuels industry – a last ditch attempt to keep coal-fired generation alive.
How Covid is changing the way we use energy
As response to Covid-19 becomes the “new normal”, lots of people are predicting what will happen beyond the immediate crisis. The obvious answer is “it depends”. It depends on how governments, business and households react. The reality is there will be powerful competing forces.
Next generation fault detection throws away the rule book
Imagine a self-learning or machine-learning system for fault detection. One where algorithms find patterns and correlations between a range of data sources to work out the most efficient order for fixing faults. A major data science research program on this by Buildings Alive has produced some promising results. Over time, buildings have become complex creatures […]
There are ways to beat the big energy bill shocks in September
Many households are bracing for enormous energy bills in September thanks to the Covid lockdown. It’s no wonder the residential solar industry is booming.
Yes, Mr Cummings, energy efficiency is boring – if you have a one inch deep mind
The evil gnome who has taken up permanent residence on the shoulder of British prime minister Boris Johnson and whispers dark instructions into his ears, last week pronounced energy efficiency as “boring“. His name is demonic comings. I’m sorry, that was a mistaken auto-correction by my dictation software; it should have read Dominic Cummings, who […]
Multi million dollar renewable energy deals for Australia’s biggest cities
Australia’s two largest cities and Adelaide City Council are stepping out in front with major renewable energy commitments starting this month. The City of Sydney announced that starting 1 July, all of the city’s operations — including streetlights, sportsfields, buildings and city hall — will be powered entirely by renewable energy. The city’s $60 million […]
Alan Pears: Submission on the federal government’s Technology Investment Roadmap
The Technology Investment Roadmap discussion paper provides a useful review of a range of technologies that could contribute to management of Australia’s climate impact. But this is just one (important) element of the actions required for Australia to build a successful clean energy-based economy.
Green gigs and government tenders: Affordable housing in ACT, sustainable tourism and more
The Fifth Estate’s weekly guide to green business opportunities around the country.
Gas is not the solution for our clean energy future
Say it with me: gas is not a transition fuel. COVID-19 could be the trigger for the much-needed step change in our clean energy transition. But the Morrison government has stacked the National COVID-19 Coordination Committee with oil and gas sector representatives, pushing for fossil fuel lobby-led economic recovery. It looks like gas is tipped […]
Mr Morrison, you can cut ‘green tape’ without harming nature – but it’ll take money and gumption
Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week announced environmental approvals for 15 major infrastructure projects will be fast-tracked to accelerate investment as Australia emerges from the COVID-19 lockdown.
The electricity market is about to turn upside down – in a good way
On 31 August 2018, three public advocacy groups wrote to the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) asking it to change the rules governing how the Australian electricity market works. Their request? Allow consumers to be paid for electricity they avoid using.
Amory Lovins and Alan Finkel in free live-streamed webinars
Rocky Mountain Institute guru Amory Lovins is a household name in climate and sustainability circles. He’s renowned as a leader in super-efficient buildings, factories and vehicles. And he advocates for integrative design as the new normal for investments in energy efficiency that yield expanding rather than diminishing returns. Next week Australians will get a chance […]
Power purchase agreement whiz Jackie McKeon joins Renewable Energy Hub
Jackie McKeon, who has just taken on a new role as director, energy services at Renewable Energy Hub, knows a thing or two about renewable power purchase agreements (PPAs) and says now is the perfect time to make the switch – even if it may not look like it.
On how the all-electric, net zero horse has already bolted
News from the front desk, Issue 483: Last week, the Morrison government unleashed its technology roadmap on Australia, starring natural gas in a leading role. It didn’t take long for people to start protesting the pro-gas sentiment pushed by the government and its friends in the gas industry. Atlassian chief executive and renewables advocate Mike […]
Aquatic centres and heat pumps: Why they are a good match
Interest in heat pumps – a lower cost, lower emissions alternative to gas boilers in aquatic centres – is growing.
Energy retrofits in community housing are tough, but there is a way
There are many barriers to energy retrofits in the community housing sector – which needs them most – but here’s a thought: what about combining government funding with private impact-linked private capital to kickstart the economy post-Covid at the same time?
Will renewable energy be a winner in global post-pandemic recovery programs?
The renewable energy industry has weathered the effects of the pandemic according to the Financial Times of London, which reports one industry insider saying, “the pandemic does not affect whether the sun shines or the wind blows”.
Looking for savings? Energy efficiency is the best place to start
It’s great to see property companies setting themselves ambitious emissions reduction targets, says Buildings Alive chief executive officer Craig Roussac, but are they making the most of the easiest, cheapest tactic to cut emissions: using less energy?
ARENA opens funding round for renewable hydrogen and other energy news
The Australia Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) launched its $70 million Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round on Wednesday to accelerate renewable hydrogen development in Australia.
Australian cleantech startup accelerator receives federal funding
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is looking to support renewable energy startups by awarding $480,000 in federal funding over the next 12 months to EnergyLab Australia, the nation’s largest cleantech startup acceleration program.
Great building managers are making the most of a bad situation
If a building’s occupancy drops by 50-80 per cent, by how much should its energy use go down?