Mixed Greens: CEC attacks ACCI over renewable cost inflation

The Clean Energy Council has attacked the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for inflating the estimated costs of renewable energy policies. ACCI has claimed that the renewable energy target will cost $5 billion a year by 2020, but the CEC says this includes assumptions that inflate the costs by almost 10 times over reality.

“The figure they have used for the future cost of the Renewable Energy Target appears to be one invented by the Institute of Public Affairs, which makes assumptions that are in some cases almost 10 times beyond current reality and projections made by the Australian Energy Market Commission and other market modelers,”CEC policy director Russell Marsh said in a statement. “ACCI also ignores the fact that intensive and trade-exposed energy users enjoy billions of dollars in exemptions from the scheme, according to government figures.

The ACCI submission to the energy white paper was prepared by its senior economist Burchill Wilson, not a big fan of renewables. Marsh said ACCI had surprisingly also chosen to ignore the projected impact of soaring gas prices on energy users over the next decade. “The volatile fuel cost of gas is likely to be one of the biggest costs affecting businesses, industry and households out to the end of the decade. It is already being felt in Queensland, where the Queensland Competition Authority recently confirmed that the increased cost of gas was the most significant driver of increased energy prices last year.”

Hybrid power pushed in SA

The South Australian government has joined with hybrid power developer Remotenergy, and MAN Diesel and Turbo Australia to promote the idea of energy “clusters” around hybrid power development and the development of centres of excellence to pursue the technology. A centre will be established at Tonsley, and will look to see how the combination of wind or solar and gas or diesel can benefit regional centres, mining projects and remote communities, and improve access to off grid power and desalinated water. Executive Director of Remotenergy, Barrie Harrop, said 30 locations in South Australia had been identified as possible sites for wind/solar powered hybrid plants. “South Australia has a tremendous opportunity to establish a hybrid energy solution to power and water issues and become a global leader in hybrid energy systems.”

Australia’s first dual-axis solar tracker to power electric vehicles

Australia’s first dual-axis solar trackers to power electric vehicles has been launched on Kangaroo Island, providing the South Australian community with a combined solar PV system plus electric vehicle charge network that will power the local airport and reduce fuel costs and emissions. The dual-axis tracking system by Ingenero will produce over 100MWh of electricity each year – enough power to offset 100% of Kingscote Airport’s electricity use – with excess power produced in combination with an additional 14kW rooftop solar PV system on the Island’s Council Chambers, going toward charging three Nissan LEAF EVs.