Category: Archive

Clean energy projects across the United States last year attracted $US17billion, almost double the amount invested in the previous year., according to environment news service GristMill. In the same year the carbon trading market grew from zero to $11billion. Some of the fuinds came from ethical investors, but the bulk was mainstream groups such as superannuation funds, venture capital organisations and hedge fund groups. The investors are moving ahead of federal governments in the US, UK and Australia who have ignored calls from state governments and industry bodies to regulate in favour of alternate energy sources and ameliorate global warming.

Oil oligopoly: Nationals Senator Ron Boswell said Prime Minister John Howard’s Energy Statement still allowed the oil companies a stranglehold on fuel supply and distribution in major markets.

Govt inadequacy: Boswell questioned whether the Government had done enough to bring lower cost biofuels to ordinary Australians.

Control of LPG: He criticised the package for its concentration on LPG and accused major companies of "controlling the production and distribution of LPG".

Below biofuels target: He added that the major oil companies were still only accounting for about 10 megalitres of biofuels in the transport fuel mix. "That is a long way from the promised 98 to 124 megalitres," he said.

Paltry ethanol funding: Of the $1.6 billion in the package, just $17.2 million was allocated to further develop the ethanol market he said.

Potential market: Yet ethanol was cheaper than petrol and Australia could be producing 110 megalitres of it if only oil companies would sell it.

Mainly independents: Ethanol was available only at about 260 of the nation’s 6300 outlets, he said, and most of them were independents.

Companies fare poorly: Just 41 of Caltex’s 1790 outlets sold it, 25 of Shell’s 1110 and 50 of BP’s 1300. Mobil did not sell it at all.

20,000ML extra for Snowy: A wall across the swamp means irrigation water can be stored at much greater depth and evaporation slashed. The 20,000 megalitres that used to vanish into the air each year will go back into the suffering Snowy.

Natural wetland to return: It also means about half the swamp can be returned to natural wetland. Decades of inundation by irrigation water has left it for most of the time a carp-infested shallow lake of dead trees.

$28m project: The chair of Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Dick Thompson, said the project had cost $28 million, the same as simply buying the water. He said native vegetation was already returning to the swamp and local Wiradjuri people had been able to find and retrieve important cultural artefacts.

Historically a barren area: Rural communities have been desperate to hold on to their water entitlements. In the early 19th century the explorer John Oxley called the Murrumbidgee "a country which for bareness and desolation has no equal". Thanks to irrigation it is now one of the most agriculturally rich regions of Australia.

2700 farmers entitled to water: These days 2700 Murrumbidgee farmers entitled to almost 1.5 million megalitres of water a year grow an extensive variety of crops. Thompson said too many in the water debate were short sighted and did not realise what could be achieved through savings if they worked with rural communities. Barren Box "marks the beginning of a new era in water management", he said.

Attractive option for Menindee Lakes: The NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, described Barren Box as "one of the great water-saving projects". He said similar schemes could work at other storages where massive volumes were lost to evaporation, such as the Menindee Lakes in far western NSW.

Eco-friendly Britons seeking relief from soaring domestic energy bills can now pop down the high street and pick up solar panels for their homes. Electrical goods group Currys became the first major retailer in Britain to sell the power panels after Britain experienced its hottest month on record in July.

Test market: Currys announced it would stock panels at three stores around south London as part of a test to capitalise on growing environmental awareness of climate change and concerns over energy efficiency.

Cheap: According to Currys, its solar panels, which retail at 1,000 pounds (1,473 euros 1,887 dollars) each, can cut household energy bills by up to 50 per cent and reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by up to two tons.

Rising energy price the driver: "Our customers are becoming more environmentally aware all the time," Currys managing director Peter Keenan said. "But this is far more than a ‘green solution’ for the home, it is also a perfect way of safeguarding against seemingly inevitable energy price rises."

Installation cost a deterrent to date: Since the start of 2006, all major energy providers in Britain have imposed steep price hikes linked to soaring wholesale energy costs. The cost of fitting an average three-bedroom house with enough solar panels to cover half its electrical requirements would be around 9,000 pounds, the company added.

Up to 18 years to recoup: At that price the sales outlook is far from sunny, since an average household could take between seven and 18 years to fully recoup the cost through lower energy bills. Specialist suppliers in Britain currently charge up to 16,000 pounds to kit out a house with solar panels.

Planning restrictions being eased: The move by Currys tallies with British government efforts to ease planning restrictions for the panels’ installation. They are to be manufactured by the Japanese electronics group Sharp at its plant in Wrexham, North Wales and sold at Currys branches in Croydon, Fulham and West Thurrock.

Solar sales can be stimulated by policy: In Germany and Japan, meanwhile, solar panel sales have shot up because households are allowed to sell excess electricity back to the national grid. Last month, the British government set a target of 20 per cent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020, following a long-awaited review of the country’s energy policy.

Reference: World Business Council for Sustainable Development, website: http://www.wbcsd.org

Erisk Net, 11/8/2006