The Turnbull government wants to ease Clean Energy Finance Corporation guidelines to allow "clean coal" to qualify for "clean energy" funding but figures from a big Japanese supplier of clean coal plants suggest the guidelines would have to be gutted to get the plants over the line. Jonathan Carroll
A top executive at the largest Japanese supplier of high tech coal-fired power plants says they would likely cost more than thought in Australia and still emit relatively large quantities of carbon.
Akihiko Kazuno, head of global strategic planning for Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, said the company's ultra-supercritical power stations – the most advanced currently being built commercially – typically cost between $US1.5 billion and $US3.5 billion per 1000 megawatts of capacity.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, Treasurer Scott Morrison and the Minerals Council of Australia – which is launching a "Coal: Making the future possible" advertising campaign – are pushing for "clean coal" plants to be built in Australia.
But industry says the plants are "unbankable" because of their high costs and carbon risk and resources entrepreneurs Gina Rinehart and Trevor St Baker have shunned the technology too.
Submission to NEM Security Review | Alan Pears AM
In December 2016 Dr Alan Finkel presented his preliminary report on the Independent Review into the Future of the Security of the National Electricity Market.
Click here to read the submission made by Alan Pears in response to the report. Alan is a Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University and a member of the Climate Alliance board of advisors. Alan’s submission focuses on the role of energy efficiency.
Dr Alan Finkel's preliminary report can be found here.
FUTURE SECURITY OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRICITY MARKET | Australia's Chief Scientist
Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel presented the Preliminary Report of the National Electricity Market (NEM) Security Review to COAG Leaders in Canberra last Friday. The Preliminary Report identifies the forces of change confronting the NEM and key questions to guide consultations on the development of a blueprint for our nation’s electricity future.
“The blackout in South Australia reminds us that our national electricity grid is under pressure and in need of urgent attention,” said Dr Finkel, Chair of the Review.
“We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform the electricity sector to maximise its resilience in the face of rapid market changes.
“The goal is to ensure we have a secure electricity supply, at an affordable price for all Australian consumers, while meeting our international obligations to lower emissions.”
You can download the report here.
Electric Future: Wiring for Progress
Zunz Lecture
Dr Alan Finkel AO, Australia’s Chief Scientist and Chair of the National Electricity Market Review gave a lecture about electricity on the 3rd November 2016.
Electric Future: Wiring for Progress
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Energetics report on potential abatement | Department of Environment
Modelling and analysis of Australia's abatement opportunities - meeting Australia's 2030 emissions reduction target.
Today the Commonwealth Department of the Environment released a landmark report written by Energetics. The work assesses the contribution that can be made by a range of emissions reduction opportunities across the Australian economy towards Australia's 2030 target.
Efficiency Improvements
Many major organisations in Australia require large amounts of energy to operate. Those involved in power generation, smelting and manufacturing consume the most energy. Substantial opportunities exist for organisations to reduce the expenditure on energy through the introduction of energy efficiency improvement programs.