Category: Archive

50MW wind farm can cut emissions by 115,000 tonnes a year: A typical wind turbine could meet the energy needs of up to 1000 homes. A typical 50 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Australia could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 65,000 and
115,000 tonnes a year.

Capacity around 640MW, with 250MW under construction: Wind energy capacity in Australia had increased from 2.7MW in 1996, to 10MW in 2000 and to around 640MW in early 2006, with another 250MW under construction.

Capacity likely to plateau around 1000-1600MW: This capacity represented about 1 per cent of all electricity produced in Australia each year. With no additional incentives, installed capacity was expected to plateau between 1000MW and 1600MW.

1.2 per cent of generation in 2015: At an installed capacity of 1200MW, wind generation was projected to account for 1.2 per cent of electricity production in 2015 and around 1 per cent in 2025.

Estimated generation share on State basis:The discussion paper produced the following table, using Electricity Supply Association of Australia (ESAA) figures, on the estimated percentage share of wind in the electricity generation mix on a State basis in 2005, 2010 and 2015:

Reference: Discussion paper on “National Code for Wind Farms” by Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) of the Department of the Environment and Heritage released on 3 May 2006. Address: John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes. ACT. 2600. GPO Box 787, Canberra. ACT. 2601. Phone: (02) 6274 1888.
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au

Erisk Net, 3/5/2006

Every little bit of oil helps – even approval ratings: Mr Bush,
whose approval rating, according to the latest Gallup poll, has sunk to
a low for his presidency of 32 per cent, proposed to free up oil being
added to the country’s emergency reserve and also instructed the
Justice Department to pursue possible price gouging. “We’ll leave a
little bit more oil on the market by halting deliveries to the
reserves,” Mr Bush said in a speech in Washington to a trade group of
ethanol producers. “Every little bit helps.”

Pressure on supplies likely to continue: But critics said they
doubted that stopping the addition to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
of some 25,000 barrels a day would make a difference to soaring prices.
The approaching US summer driving season is adding to pressures on
supplies. Gasoline inventories in the US are under pressure. They have
fallen for the past seven weeks and another drop would add to concerns
in the market,

The Australian Financial Review, 27/4/2006, p. 12

Deal "within current policy guidelines:" "[I’ve] allayed their fears [over what might happen] if there is a change of government and the ALP take over," Mr Mundine said. "The sign-offs with regards to the uranium sales are safe. The deals they’ve signed off with the Australian Government, we support. They’re within our current policy guidelines. And I am supporting discussions about the policy."

Growing push to review no-new-mines policy: The nuclear deal – which has the potential to generate billions of export dollars for Australia – put the focus on the ALP’s no-new-mines policy, which prevents the development of any new mines by state Labor governments.

Beazley for change, maybe: Opposition Leader Kim Beazley is hinting he may support a change in Labor’s policy. He is also demanding strong laws to ensure Australian uranium doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.

The Canberra Times, 2/5/2006, p. 3

Source: Erisk Net 

An agreement between Cuba, Bolivia and Venezuala marks the beginnings of Che Guevara’s dream of a United States of South America. Details of the agreement are available here.

Nuclear on a roll: By and large renewables such as wind cannot deliver continuous reliable supply of electricity, let alone on any scale. Internationally, the nuclear renaissance is gathering steam. At present, 30 nations representing two-thirds of humanity use some 440 nuclear reactors to produce 16 per cent of global electricity, from 368 GWe (gigawatt electric) of capacity – more than seven times Austialia’s total.

Emissions can be cut: Twenty-seven more units are being built in 10 countries because they make economic sense, 38 more are firmly planned, and more than 100 are further back in the pipeline. Doubling the world’s nuclear contribution would eliminate one-quarter to one-third of the CO2 emissions from power generation.

Aust "could do more": Radioactive emissions from nuclear plants are negligible – giving far less exposure than the natural background radiation we all happily live with. Meanwhile, Australia provides a quarter of the mined uranium for a world increasingly concerned with the clean and reliable production of large amounts of electricity. We could do even more.

The Age, 28/4/2006, p. 13

Source: Erisk Net  

Crude oil drives increase: Crude oil drove the increase. The index for mineral fuels was up 7.3 per cent over the quarter, and a whopping 53.9 per cent for the past 12 months. But it’s not just imported oil that is getting more expensive.

Animal, vegetable oil prices rise 22.9pc during year: During the March quarter, there were also increases for animal and vegetable oils (up 6.3 per cent for the quarter and 22.9 per cent for the year), manufactured goods by material (tip 2.2 per cent for the quarter) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (up 2.2 per cent).

Commodities up 37.5pc: Over the full year, apart from mineral fuels, there have been big increases in commodities and transactions (37.5 per cent) and crude materials (9.1 per cent).

Good news for exporters: The news is good for exporters with the index up 5.1 per cent during the quarter and 22.9 per cent over the past 12 months.

The Canberra Times, 22/4/2006, p. 23

Source: Erisk Net