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
by Elizabeth Thomson, MIT News Office Imagine windows that not only provide a clear view and illuminate rooms, but also use sunlight to efficiently help power the building they are part of. MIT engineers report a new approach to harnessing the sun’s energy that could allow just that. “This accomplishment demonstrates the critical importance of Continue Reading →
From DesertecÂ
Concentrating solar power is on a roll. Innovation is happening rapidly. Investment is flowing in. Linchpin commercial deployments are coming on line. More are planned.
The International Energy Agency believes Australia has the greatest potential of any region in the world to use solar electricity to reduce CO2 emissions, higher even than India or the Middle East. Further, Australia is a sophisticated economy brimming with just the kinds of skills in engineering, manufacturing and remote power generation that can be used to capitalise on this emerging market.
Responding to the IPART review of CityRail services, Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today the NSW Pricing Tribunal should withdraw its call for fare increases and heavy job cuts. “IPART’s recommendations of massive fare hikes and front line service sackings reveals that it has failed to understand the new priorities of regulating Continue Reading →
Utilities Owning, Buying More Wind, Planning for Carbon Regulations by Carl Levesque, American Wind Energy Association Texas, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] Utilities are increasingly embracing wind — owning their own facilities, buying wind-generated electricity from other producers, and even factoring future carbon regulation into their financial equations, said expert participants on a utility panel at WINDPOWER Continue Reading →
From the ABCÂ
ALI MOORE, PRESENTER: Well, in what’s likely to be welcome news for the coal seam gas sector, the Federal Government is looking at another round of tax breaks for big multi-billion dollar gas developments. The Resources Minister Martin Ferguson says Treasury Secretary Ken Henry’s review of the tax system will look at barriers to investment in downstream gas and why a number of projects are yet to get off the ground.
The last Federal Budget cancelled a long running tax break given to the North West Shelf project in its initial stages 25 years ago.
I spoke to Martin Ferguson, who’s also the Minister for Tourism, from our Canberra studios earlier this evening.
From the Sydney Morning HeraldÂ
An Australian joint venture is planning to drill off the NSW coast in search of oil and gas in a move that has outraged green groups.
The venture says the skyrocketing world oil price has made it feasible to establish a drilling rig 22 kilometres offshore between the Central Coast and Newcastle, The Sunday Telegraph newspaper reports.
One of the firms, Perth-based MEC Resources, says air surveys indicate there is petroleum at the target site.