Energy

Albanese lays out radical new vision for Australia in the region: clean energy exporter and green manufacturer

Authors: John Mathews, Professor Emeritus, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University. Elizabeth Thurbon, Scientia Associate Professor in International Relations / International Political Economy, UNSW Sydney. Hao Tan,Associate Professor, Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle.Sung-Young Kim, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Discipline of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University. Gone are the days when the federal government would cheer on Australia’s fossil fuel exports to the exclusion of all else, while seemingly doing everything in its power to hold back the switch to renewables. Now we have a new government, the clean energy transition is accelerating. Labor is framing the transition not just as decarbonisation but as a green economic boom through manufacture of electrolysers, green steel, green cement and green fertiliser. If successful, this will amount to a green industrial revolution. This radical new vision was laid out in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s speech to the Sydney Energy Forum. He proposed a new era for Australian energy industries and exports as well as using our wealth of renewables to drive deeper involvement in our region. It makes good commercial and climate sense for the federal government to target the Indo-Pacific for this green industrial revolution, since the region is already the world’s leader in clean energy investments. As of 2021, our region accounts for over 80% of the world’s private investment in clean energy. India, China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and Pacific nations are natural partners for Australia in this new green push as well as leaders creating the market for clean energy and green products. Australia could gain greatly by exporting green power and green products, Prime Minister Albanese said this week. Brook Mitchell/AAP What does this actually look like? For a sign of what’s to come, look to the massive Sun Cable project, launched four years ago with early funding […]

Normet Group to buy Garock Pty Ltd

Normet Group Oy has entered into an agreement to acquire Garock Pty Ltd, a leading manufacturer and supplier of ground support systems for the mining and civil industries in Australia. With the acquisition, Normet strengthens its portfolio in dynamic ground support in underground mining and construction infrastructure projects. “This is a strategic acquisition for Normet in the Asia-Pacific market with impact on our global ground support business. With Garock, Australia will become Normet’s Global Centre for Rock Reinforcement R&D with ability to innovate in the future”, comments Ed Santamaria, President and CEO at Normet. Garock Pty Ltd will trade under the Normet Group from 1July 2022. Garock Pty Ltd, founded in 2012, offers highly innovative ground support systems that are fundamental to modern, safe underground mining and civil construction operations. Garock has a manufacturing presence in Western Australia and New South Wales and have 18 employees.

Crucial role for gas for decades

Gas will play a crucial role for decades as a stabliser for the electricity grid in a cleaner energy future, according to a new 30-year roadmap by the national energy market regulator. The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) today said the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) had confirmed the long and enduring value of natural gas partnering with renewables with the release of its 2022 Integrated System Plan (ISP). APPEA Acting Chief Executive Damian Dwyer said the Plan showed the key role of gas as the world decarbonises by citing the mid-2040s as a time when gas would back up electricity largely powered by renewable generation after the retirement of coal-fired power. “As a sector strongly committed to economy-wide net zero by 2050, the oil and gas industry recognises the growth of renewables and the importance of multiple energy sources working together to ensure the power generation sector can continue to decarbonise,” Mr Dwyer said. “The plan confirms the central role of gas in that future as a reliable and flexible stabliser for renewable power generation when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. “Coal won’t get you to the goal and this plan details how gas will step up and take over from coal and also be a cleaner source of energy in the grid.” Mr Dwyer said this firming role was exemplified in the Plan’s modelling showing how gas would be needed during low and high outputs of renewables during peak demand periods. “Even at a period of high renewable output, AEMO says gas will be required to firm renewables during high demand just after sunset and through the night to cover wind variability,” he said. Mr Dwyer said the need for rapid gas during recent energy system pressures – when coal outages combined […]

End-of-life plan needed thousands of wind turbine blades

A new study led by The University of South Australia indicates tens of thousands of wind turbine blades will end up in landfill by the end of the decade unless end-of-life programs are established soon. The study, led by Professor Peter Majewski, highlights the challenges of recycling wind turbine blades, which are made of either carbon fibre or glass fibre composite material, both of which are expensive to break down, with the recovered materials having minimal market value. “The same features that make these blades cost-effective and reliable for use in commercial wind turbines make them very difficult to recycle in a cost-effective fashion,” Prof Majewski says. “As it is so expensive to recycle them, and the recovered materials are worth so little, it is not realistic to expect a market-based recycling solution to emerge, so policymakers need to step in now and plan what we’re going to do with all these blades that will come offline in the next few years.” In many parts of the world, wind turbine blades are currently dumped in landfill, but this practice has been banned in some European countries, and with estimates suggesting there will be more than 40 million tons of blade waste worldwide by 2050, alternative solutions are urgently being sought. Professor Majewski says that, while there is some very limited potential for reuse of blades in niche construction settings and a small market for some of the reclaimed materials, it is likely the costs of disposing of the blades in a sustainable fashion will need to be factored into their production and running costs. “Our research indicates the most likely viable option is a product stewardship or extended producer responsibility approach, where the cost of recycling the blades is factored into either the cost of their manufacture or the cost […]

APPEA Board appoints new chief executive

Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Chair Ian Davies has announced the appointment of Samantha McCulloch as APPEA Chief Executive. Ms McCulloch will join APPEA from the International Energy Agency, having led the IEA Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Unit since 2018. As an internationally recognised expert in CCUS, Ms McCulloch brings more than twenty years’ experience in energy policy and advocacy within government, the private sector and industry associations in Australia and internationally. Following the completion of a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce (with Distinction) from the University of Wollongong, Ms McCulloch received a Master of Public Policy (with Merit) from the Australian National University. Mr Davies said the Board was pleased to welcome Ms McCulloch as APPEA Chief Executive. “For more than 60 years, APPEA has amplified the voice of our industry and collaborated with governments and communities to provide energy for a better Australia. “We are very pleased to welcome Ms McCulloch, as an experienced candidate with an informed view of the critical role our industry continues to play in meeting global energy and climate goals. “Now more than ever, energy has a critical role to play. Reliable, cleaner and affordable energy supply is fundamental to all Australians. It is fundamental to keep businesses running. It is fundamental to the economy. It is fundamental to livelihoods and our way of life. And our industry is critical to energy supply both now and into the future. “We look forward to the important work we will progress together, ensuring APPEA and our member companies are part of the conversation and the solution.”

Airborne virus removal boosts industrial safety

A laboratory-validated air filtration system is being introduced to Australasia to help industry fulfil product purity and OH&S obligations to protect plant workers on-site and customers downstream by helping to neutralise the spread of viral and other airborne health hazards within process, packing, office, logistics, and distribution plants. The US-patented, medical-grade system EnviroKlenz Air System Plus from Clean Stream Technologies has been third-party Intertek laboratory tested to demonstrate its removal of 99.9% of airborne viruses down to 0.025 microns, says Clean Stream Technologies. The system– which kills virus’ multiple times smaller than the Covid-19 virus – is already proven in service in US professional health, food preparation and in consumer environments responding to the Coronavirus pandemic and to other airborne health challenges, including different virus’, bacteria, pathogens, pollution, and seasonal allergens that affect millions of people in Australia and New Zealand. Lab-tested to TGA international standards EnviroKlenz is also 99.9 per cent effective in neutralisation of gram-negative bacteria (E. Coli) and 99.9 per cent effective against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis), according to the testing by Intertek Labs, which is audited/accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 or equivalent Standard. This quality, German-manufactured system is engineered as a major step up from mass-market air purifiers. It is highly effective because it goes much further than standard purifiers by combining medically proven ultraviolet UVC germicidal irradiation with safe and effective earth mineral technology originally developed for the US military and still used today to destroy chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. The purifier is also highly effective against pollution and smoke intruding from the street or immediate environment. This can deliver a strong message to visitors to your plant and to staff in recognising you are taking active steps to protect them against multiple health hazards. The compact, self-contained, wheeled unit runs quietly, producing […]

If we want more Australian-made jobs, here’s what we need

Jesse Adams Stein, University of Technology, Sydney Labor has promised to make Australia “a country that makes things again”. It has emphasised locally-made transport, NBN infrastructure, apprenticeships and defence-related production. The Coalition has spruiked the federal government’s modern manufacturing strategy. It highlights technology investment and six priority areas (minerals, food, medical, clean energy, defence and space). But despite the seemingly endless announcements, Australian manufacturing remains a problem for the major parties. Whoever wins the federal election will need to do things very differently if they genuinely want to boost local production. Another way forward for manufacturing In the mid-1960s, Australian manufacturing employed around 25% of the working population; it’s now down around 6.4%. Manufacturing’s share of GDP is also in decline, now sitting at around 6%. Jobs continue to drift offshore. Leaving things to the “free market” clearly isn’t working for Australian manufacturing. But patriotic argument we must get back to the “good old days” where everything was supposedly made in Australia is also unrealistic. There is another way: a coordinated and targeted national industry policy that favours long-term planning over a short-term, scattergun approach. Tapping into the global green economy What Australia needs is coordinated national industry policy supporting niche, specialist manufacturing. This policy would drive an ecosystem of industries and sectors geared towards emissions reduction and skills development. It would help Australia take its place in the booming global “green” technology economy. For example, policy cleverly targeting gaps in national and international supply chains could support expansion of renewable energy technology manufacturing. This targeted approach requires manufacturing policy to be developed in step with policy on education, energy, mining, research and development, and emissions reduction. Done right, the international evidence shows tailored support for niche industries can be very successful. Germany, for example, has a coordinated policy emphasising technical skills, generous funding for research and development, and energy sector decarbonisation. This […]

Henkel Australia powers adhesive sites with 100% renewable energy

Henkel Australia has begun using electricity generated fully from renewable energy sources at its adhesive plants in Seven Hills, New South Wales, and Kilsyth, Victoria. The adhesive plants serve a wide range of industries, such as flexible packaging, engineered wood, food and beverage, steel, paper, mining, and maintenance, repair and overhaul. Thanks to more than 2,000 solar panels on their rooftops and renewable energy contracts, the sites are expected to realise more than 50 percent savings in carbon emissions in 2022, compared to last year. “Globally, Henkel is accelerating its climate actions. In line with this, we have successfully switched to using 100 percent renewable electricity to power our adhesive plants in Australia. In tandem, we are exploring more ways to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise our operations as we progress towards becoming a climate positive company,” said Daniel Rudolph, President of Henkel Australia and New Zealand. To optimise energy consumption and drive energy savings, new boilers, air compressors and scrubbers that come with variable speed drive (VSD) smart controllers are being used. Passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors are also being installed. Henkel is pursuing ambitious goals to make its production processes climate positive by 2030. By 2025, the company aims to reduce the carbon footprint at its sites worldwide by 65 percent compared to the base year 2010. Furthermore, the electricity used is to be generated 100 percent from renewable sources by 2030.

Golden State Mining announces new Payne’s Find Lithium Project

Gold, lithium, and base metals exploration company Golden State Mining Limited is substantially growing its’ footprint across Western Australia following the successful granting of two out of five tenement applications at GSM’s new ~1200km2 Payne’s Find Project in the Murchison region of Western Australia. Located immediately east and 30km north of Payne’s Find in the Murchison region of Western Australia, GSM has secured the ground for its lithium and base metal potential based on open file aeromagnetic and remote sensing data evaluation. The project-scale lithium targeting work has already commenced on the new, underexplored tenure of the entire project area, with further reconnaissance and initial soil sampling work due to commence in the coming weeks. Golden State’s Managing Director, Michael Moore, said “The diligent targeting work carried out by GSM during the second half of 2021 is already paying off for the company with the recent granting of two out of five tenement applications at Payne’s Find, being an exciting addition to the GSM stable of projects across Western Australia. In conjunction with a well-regarded industry consultant, this greenfields area was specifically targeted for its lithium prospectivity, however, the recent Meleya discovery by Tempest Minerals Limited some 30km away has also highlighted the importance of base metals opportunities in this region.” The new Payne’s Find Project adds to GSM’s quality projects focussed on Western Australia, with the flagship being the Yule Project in the under-explored Mallina Basin in the Pilbara region of the State. GSM’s 100% per cent owned holding is a strategic ground position in the highly sought-after Archaean Mallina Basin, with the tenement package hosting intrusive bodies and major structural corridors. The most recent drill campaign uncovered a significant gold intersection of 4m @ 0.8g/t from 74 metres. “The region is seriously under-explored. GSM continues to validate the […]

Australia could benefit from a global shift to emissions-free steel

John Pye, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, ANU, Australian National University;Alireza Rahbari, Research fellow, School of Engineering, ANU, Australian National University; Emma Aisbett, Fellow, Australian National University;Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University; and Zsuzsanna Csereklyei, Senior Lecturer in Economics, RMIT University. Australia is the world’s number one exporter of both iron ore and metallurgical coal, the key ingredients of traditional steel making. Together, these materials make up a very large part of Australia’s export income. But as the world moves towards net-zero emissions by 2050, the conventional way of making steel, using coal to power a blast furnace, will come under question. Iron and steel production, in total, account for close to 7% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is incompatible with a net-zero world economy, where residual emissions would need to be compensated through carbon dioxide uptake from the atmosphere. The mature technology of coal-fired blast furnaces currently dominates the steel industry, generating 90% of its emissions. For years, decarbonising steel production has been seen as particularly challenging. But now, alternatives to the centuries-old practice of using coal to produce iron and steel are emerging. Researchers have been working on a number of new pathways to make steel with little or no emissions. The most promising process relying on the use of hydrogen. Our new research shows the steel industry can develop and implement green steel production processes to contribute to the great decarbonisation effort needed. For Australia, this presents an enormous new opportunity to future-proof and expand our steel industry as the world acts on climate change. How can we produce green steel? To eliminate emissions from this sector, several things are needed. First, we must use steel efficiently in well-designed structures. Second, we must […]

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