Category: Archive

Environmentalists question Howard’s nuclear inquiry

admin /23 July, 2006

The Chair of the Australian Environment Foundation, Don Burke, has called for the Federal Government’s inquiry into nuclear energy to be expanded, claiming the current review will not produce a sufficiently accurate or useful comparison between the various energy generating options.

Inquiry approach "not valid": Mr Burke said that the inquiry was also only comparing nuclear power generation to existing electricity generation technologies. "In making decisions for power generation in 10 to 20 years time it is not a valid approach to take no account of the likely future costs and benefits of all competing technologies," Mr Burke said.

Questions AEF members would like answered were:

What was the "full cycle" likely cost of all current forms of electricity generation?

What was the "full cycle" likely cost of emerging electricity generation technologies, including alternative forms of nuclear power generation, as well as coal, gas, hydro, solar, tidal, wind, and biomass?

What was the "full cycle" likely carbon balance from each of the current and emerging viable electricity generation technologies?

Erisk Net, 21/7/2006

Hang on a sec: where’s the water to build windfarm?

admin /23 July, 2006

A question from a farmer brought a brief, thoughtful silence to a Palerang Shire Council meeting, called this year to allow residents to raise objections to plans for a $220 million windfarm development near Bungendore, reported The Canberra Times (22 July 2006 pB3). It concerned what is uppermost in farmers’ minds these days.

Back to basics: Others had asked about turbine noise, property values and loss of visual amenity. Typically, the farmer’s question was about water. Where was the developer going to get the estimated 19 million litres of water needed during construction – water to be used to mix and pour the massive concrete footings for the 63 turbines, to clean down site equipment and to be sprayed as a dust suppressant during roadworks?

We’ll probably use yours: The windfarm company’s chief executive said he couldn’t give a specific answer, but the water was “likely to be sourced from bores and local creeks". A barrage of angry comments followed. Bungendore is running out of water, and the town’s future depends on finding clever ways to conserve and use it wisely.

The Canberra Times, 22/7/2006, p. B3

Source: Erisk Net  

UK plans retrofit to reduce CO2

admin /23 July, 2006

A report from the British Sustainable Development Commission identifies existing houses as the primary target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report points out that in fifty years 75% of housing will consist of homes already built. Making these existing homes as efficient as possible is an important component of arresting climate change. "You cannot Continue Reading →

Efficient energy the answer to demand and emissions reduction

admin /22 July, 2006

In an interesting recent paper, Klaus Lackner and Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University argue that even with a 1.5 per cent annual fall in energy use per unit of output, world demand for primary energy might grow 2.8-fold by 2050 and 4.3-fold by 2100, reported Martin Wolf in The Australian (20 July 2006 p28).

Climate "experiment" on doomsday scale: Atmospheric concentrations of C02 could then reach 800 parts per million by 2100, almost three times the pre-industrial level. Humanity would be running a huge and risky climate experiment.

Technology answer to energy vs pollution dilemma: Is it possible to curb such a rise in emissions while still satisfying the energy hunger of the world’s growing population? The answer is: yes, but only up to a point. The International Energy Agency has produced a fascinating new report on the technological possibilities.

Baseline of doubled emissions by 2050: It has a baseline forecast in which emissions more than double by 2050. Rigorous application of what is more or less already known might halve emissions relative to that baseline. But they would still rise by about 6 per cent above current levels.

More efficient energy use the starting point: Only with a further acceleration in technological development might emissions fall 16 per cent below current levels by 2050. Even so, C02 concentrations would then be well above current levels. Almost half of the decline in emissions from application of existing technologies would come from greater efficiency in energy use.

Then CO2 dumps: The second most important source would be carbon capture and storage, which would account for a fifth of the reductions.

Contribution by "minor" players: Use of biomass and other renewables in power generation (wind, solar energy and so forth) would deliver 8 per cent of the decline, while nuclear generation and use of bio-fuels in transport would add 6 per cent each.

The Australian, 20/7/2006, p. 28

Source: Erisk Net  

Toowoomba mayor threatens doubled water rates if recycling rejected

admin /22 July, 2006

Toowoomba Mayor Di Thorley on 19 July warned residents their rates would double if they voted against recycling drinking water at the upcoming referendum on the issue, reported The Courier-Mail (20/7/2006, p. 19).

Wastewater not expensive: Water rates would rise only marginally if the proposal to reuse purified wastewater from the city’s sewage treatment plant got the go-ahead, she said.

Dam pump to push charges up: She produced figures claiming that the next cheapest option to save the drought-stricken city from running dry – pumping water out of Wivenhoe Dam – would mean a jump in access charges from $300 to $485. Even the most frugal water users faced a rise in tariffs of 30c/1000litres on top of the access charges.

Extra 30c for Emu Creek plan: Another proposal to dam Emu Creek – which the State Government opposes along with the plan to pump water out of Wivenhoe – would push access charges up to $555, along with a jump of 30c in the base water tariff.

CSG extraction the most expensive: Piping borewater from farms northwest of the city and extracting water from coal seam gas reserves near Chinchilla would cause water rates to skyrocket even more, she said.

Beattie’s report used: Thorley denied she was trying to scare voters in a desperate last-minute effort to boost the yes vote, which she admitted was running “even stevens” with the no vote. “These costings are based on the Parsons Brinckerhoff report [an engineering report into Toowoomba’s water supply options released by Premier Peter Beattie],” she said. “It was only released last week. We couldn’t have done this any faster.”

The Courier Mail, 20/7/2006, p. 19

Source: Erisk Net

Rising greenhouse gases in China reduce precipitation to feed the waterways

admin /22 July, 2006

Experts have voiced fears that a build-up of greenhouse gases from global warming could significantly reduce the amount of rain ending up in China’s rivers, a vital source of water for the country.

Up to 30pc reduction by mid-century: If greenhouse gases continue to rise as they have been, rain and snowfall in China’s Huaihe, Liaohe and Haihe river regions could decline by 30 percent by 2040, Xinhua news agency quoted a leading Chinese meteorologist saying. Areas that feed China’s second largest river, the Yellow River, could also be affected, said Dong Wenjie, director general of the National Climate Center with the China Meteorological Administration.

Coal combustion the key culprit: The phenomenon is caused by an unnatural concentration of green house gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide – formed by energy generation from coal-fired power plants and deforestation activities – as well as vehicle emissions. China relies on coal for about 70 percent of its energy needs.

Emissions control essential for rainfall increase: If China can effectively control greenhouse gas emissions, precipitation will increase in its major river valleys over the next 60 years, Dong said at a forum sponsored by "Sino-Italian Green Week", which concluded Friday.

Low carbon energy needed … China has a relatively high emission volume of carbon dioxide per unit of gross domestic production. In 2002, China’s carbon dioxide emission totaled 4.08 billion tons, ranking second in the world after the United States. Experts said it was imperative for China to enhance energy efficiency and further develop low-carbon energy resources.

… but country currently locked into coal: However, many experts say China will rely on coal for most of its energy for years to come as it is the most readily available and cheapest source of energy.

Good intentions in 5-year plan priorities: China made "effective control of greenhouse gases" one of the goals of its 11th Five Year Plan, a blueprint for the booming economic giant’s development until 2010. The country is investing in alternative sources of energy, including hydropower plants, and promoting low-emission vehicles.

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

Erisk Net, 13/7/2006