A World in Transition Why isn't Australia?
With 12 coal power stations in Australia closed since 2013, a full transition out of coal is already underway. While the Federal Liberal Party is yet to come to the party. Their state counterparts are moving ahead.
In the USA, over half of coal plants (290) are closed or planned to be retired, Beyondcoal.org chasing their remaining 240. While TIME says China has planned spending of $360(USD) billion on clean energy projects by 2020, creating 13 million new jobs in the process.
Navada's 1,200MW of Solar
According to Bloomberg, it’s cheaper to build a solar project with batteries than a new gas-fired power plant, including in parts of the U.S. Southwest. With 3 project below in Nevada;
- 8minute is planning a sprawling 300-megawatt solar array with a 540 megawatt-hour lithium-ion storage system north of Las Vegas, according to a company statement. It’s expected to begin construction in 2022 on the Moapa River Indian Reservation and be operational the following year if approved by regulators.
- Quinbrook is building a 690-megawatt solar array and a battery system capable of storing more than 1,400 megawatt hours, according to a separate statement. The Gemini project will cost more than $1 billion to construct on federal land 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Las Vegas by the end of 2023.
- EDF Renewables, a unit of Electricite de France SA, plans to build the 200-megawatt Arrow Canyon solar farm with 375 megawatt-hours of storage. It too will on the Moapa River Indian Reservation, about 20 miles north of Las Vegas.
PV-Magazine reports Shanghai Electric to build 280 MW in South Australia, the first project of Simec Energy Australia’s landmark $1 billion, 1 GW dispatchable renewable energy program in the state of South Australia. This is on the back of a ~$4(USD) Billon deal in Dubai for the company.
Already a major CSP player in China. Shanghai eletrics welcome investment shows Australia lagging behind in developing domestic players to compete let alone dominate the in the new solar world.
A Just Transition:
The Way Forward for Coal Communities
Partnered with the Rockefeller Family Fund to bring US community leaders to Germany for a week-long tour of former coal regions.
On the tour, we explored ways in which coal communities can adapt to changing markets, and reinvent themselves for a sustainable future.
From renewable energy to nanotechnology to industrial heritage tourism- this short video highlights how some former coal regions have transformed themselves in preparation for life after coal.
Shine, Energy Hub
Nowhere are the costs of relying on dirty energy technologies as painfully felt as in Australia today. Shine believe that by combining cutting-edge technology with the Aussie values of independence, fairness, and mateship, we can make it easy for communities all around Australia to replace Big Energy with Community Solar.
AGL’s Virtual Power Plant in South Australia
A minor first step from AGL,, it will include 1,000 connected batteries installed in homes in South Australia, providing 5MW of peaking capacity. Saving the company way more than the consumers save.
Totally Renewable Yackandandah
People power in Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) is a 100% volunteer run community group, formed in 2014, with the lofty goal of powering this small Victorian town with 100% renewable energy and achieving energy sovereignty by 2022.
Hepburn Wind
Hepburn Wind owns and operates Australia’s first community-owned wind farm, at Leonards Hill, about 100km north-west of Melbourne, just south of Daylesford Victoria. The 4.1 MW wind farm hosts two turbines called Gale and Gusto, who produce enough clean energy for over 2000 homes
Kidston Renewable Energy Hub
Renewable Energy on Tap. Built by Genex Power Limited (ASX ‘GNX’), a clean energy hub in north Queensland, integrating large-scale solar with pumped storage hydro. The company has a group of 6 plants.
Fairwater Living -Renewable Energy Hub
With funding from Arena and NSW government funds and vouchers/in Kid, the master planned area is rargeted as a 6 Star development.
Mullem Creek
Mullem Creek Master plan, is a family vision turned to reality. With the goal of 7+star rated housing and sustainability built into the process for design, though to building. Mullem Creeks plans and details show the waste ($$$$), in time ($$) and resources ($$) in the existing mass builders processes. Accounting for 10-25% of building costs and ~40% of landfill waste.
Sustainable Melbourne Fund
The Sustainable Melbourne Fund (SMF) has partnered with Bank Australia to help business and agriculture across the nation ‘go green’.
