The twentieth century way of life has been made available, largely due to the miracle of cheap energy. The price of energy has been at record lows for the past century and a half.As oil becomes increasingly scarce, it is becoming obvious to everyone, that the rapid economic and industrial growth we have enjoyed for that time is not sustainable.Now, the hunt is on. For renewable sources of energy, for alternative sources of energy, for a way of life that is less dependent on cheap energy.Â
Posted
The Federal Government says it wants to create the largest solar energy project in the world.
Visiting Liddell Power station in the Hunter Valley, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the Government would spend almost $1.4 billion creating the world’s largest solar project.
The funding is part of the Government’s commitment to spend $4.5 billion on reducing carbon pollution.
Using innovative nanosolar pannier panels on our bikes, we’re aiming to write the solar cycle diaries…
Sunny outlook … with London mayor and keen cyclist Boris Johnson before setting off on our solar-powered world cycling trip. Photograph: Solarcentury
In March 2007, acting on an ambitious whim, I found myself running the Marathon des Sables, a 151-mile (243km) six-day endurance race in the Sahara. The event, dubbed the “toughest footrace in the world” is notable not only for its searing temperatures but for its location in one of Earth’s most unhospitable environments. There could have been no more dramatic introduction to the vast potential of solar power.
It was neither the incredible heat, nor the desolate expanses of scorched earth that had left the greatest impression. Rather, it was the fact that, in the middle of nowhere and without seeing a plug socket for days, a tiny solar panel was all it took to charge my MP3 player.
A document accidentally released with the budget papers last week reveals that the Australian government is negotiating with China to sell Uranium mined by BHP at it’s Roxby Downs mine. The Australian Labor Party voted to expand uranium mining in 2007 despite concerns about the amount of energy and water used by the mine, nuclear pollution across southern Australia and the proliferation of nuclear weapons as a result of the extra nuclear material being available.
British physicist, David MacKay, released his book Sustainable Energy – without the hot air in the US last week. The book examines the hard facts about sustainable energy. For example, he notes that to replace on third of the fossil fuels used in the US with wind energy would require a wind farm the size of California. Professor MacKay said that he is in favour of rapid implementation of renewable energy but believes the current debate is poorly informed. The book is available for free download from Professor MacKay’s website.
Algae-based technologies could provide a key tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants and other carbon intensive industrial processes. Driven by escalating global climate change concerns and the rising cost of petroleumbased energy, companies are now starting to examine using certain forms of algae to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, generate Continue Reading →
Posted
Updated
The Federal Opposition says Australia’s international reputation has been undermined because of an embarrassing blunder by the Foreign Minister.
Minister Stephen Smith has accidentally tabled secret details of Government plans to export more uranium to China.
The confidential list of Australia’s treaty negotiations with other countries includes details of negotiations between Australia and China about boosting exports of uranium from BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam mine in South Australia.
It also lists the current status of negotiations between Australia and Indonesia on a new defence treaty.