Environment

NSW Government seeks to enhance energy savings in hot water system upgrades

The NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change (OECC) has announced several proposed changes to the current Energy Savings Scheme (ESS) for hot water system upgrades. The changes are intended to improve energy savings in hot water system upgrades, ensure consumers have more stake and thus interest in their upgrade process, and align current ‘hypothetical’ energy savings calculations with real world results. Through this exercise, the government hopes to enhance customer engagement whilst also ensuring energy savings are more accurately calculated. Co-Payments: Increasing Customer Engagement Some upgrades under the ESS have required co-payments since 2014. These payments have helped make upgrades under the ESS more accessible to householders and businesses. However, the current $30 (ex GST) co-payment for residential hot water system upgrades and the lack of similar co-payments for small businesses and commercial upgrades have presented challenges. These include reduced customer engagement, perceived lack of legitimacy, and increased instances of high-pressure sales tactics. Efficient Energy Group (EEG) is an Accredited Certificate Provider (ACP) and the company’s CEO Joshua Liptak says the rationale behind co-payments is sound. “They’re there to encourage customer participation in their upgrade projects and help offset the cost of the upgrade. However, the problem for the OECC, and the government, is that when it’s set too low, customers may not be engaged enough to ensure they receive a quality product. Conversely, set the co-payment too high, and it may deter them from getting upgrades done at all. “The effectiveness of co-payments therefore depends on the right balance being struck between these 2 elements, and that’s what these proposed changes are trying to do.” He added, “The current co-payment also doesn’t adequately factor in the high value of the products being installed, which then risks sub par upgrades.” The New NSW ESS Hot Water System Upgrade Co-Payment […]

Shoalhaven business helps lower homeowner energy cost

A Shoalhaven business is working to address the cost of living crisis for households by targeting the energy performance of existing homes across the region. Mantle Sustainable Homes are a Huskisson-based business that specialise in the assessment of energy performance of buildings, and the delivery of advice around how to make those buildings more energy efficient in cost effective ways. “We’re very good at finding opportunities to save money through improved efficiency, even in the oldest of homes” said Mantle Director, Rodrigo Hidalgo. “We can inspect and assess your home by using the best available tools to detect issues like air leaking, thermal bridges, sources of condensation, poor ventilation, or poor performing glazing. Addressing these issues will lower your energy bills”. According to Mantle Sustainable, the Shoalhaven has a large number of older homes that could be easily retrofitted to bring them up to modern standards for energy efficiency. “In every street in every town, we see examples of poor energy efficient design with huge opportunity to improve” said Rodrigo. “Much of our work and recommendations will result in immediate cost savings, while other outcomes will be middle to long term, as we lower energy consumption while delivering a comfortable temperature at home year-round”. Aside from older homes, Mantle Sustainable are also experts in the design and sustainability assessment of projects at any stage, including new builds, renovations and retrofits. Mantle Sustainable partner, Rosario Carrasco, said their mission is to make the Shoalhaven the best region in Australia for energy effiency. “We love where we live. It’s such a beautiful area, with amazing character homes. There’s no reason why the Shoalhaven can\’t become a centre for energy efficiency, to match its natural beauty”.

Australian Hydrogen Council charts way forward for national hydrogen strategy

The Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) welcomes the Albanese Government’s review of the National Hydrogen Strategy (NHS), and has today offered a comprehensive position paper with 53 key recommendations and supplementary reports to chart a clear way forward. The paper forms AHC’s response to the consultation paper released by the Department of Climate Change Energy Environment and Water on the Refreshed NHS published on 7 July 2023. Much has changed since the original strategy from 2019. The effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have forced a reassessment of how nations consider the strategic overlaps between decarbonisation, national security, and self-sufficiency. In Australia we have also had a change of government, with a new approach to climate change and net zero. Importantly, and as a fundamental outcome of these factors, the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – also a response to these global issues – requires a form of policy response to ensure Australia can continue to attract capital in a competitive environment. Australia cannot match the IRA in terms of the quantum of support, but a targeted policy and funding approach is needed. “All of this is much larger than the question of hydrogen. However, clean and green hydrogen has a key role to play to decarbonise key sectors of the Australian economy, to support the decarbonisation of our trading partners’ economies, and to support our own fuel self-sufficiency. “The lessons learned since 2019 have only amplified the need to focus our attention on how we can best effect the energy transition for Australia,” AHC’s CEO Dr Fiona Simon says. Overall, our position is that the revised National Hydrogen Strategy must be viewed as a key element of the Australian Government’s net zero strategy. This is logical given that hydrogen is itself the means to decarbonise the parts […]

CSIRO’s GenCost report reaffirms wind and solar as Australia’s most cost-effective electricity generation

Renewables, led by wind and solar, have retained their position as Australia’s cheapest new-build electricity generation despite a 20 per cent average rise in technology costs, according to the latest GenCost report. The 2022-23 report marks the first time that all technology costs have increased from the previous year since GenCost commenced in 2018. The report highlights industry concerns that the rapid pace of the global energy transition will contribute to escalating cost pressures. This is attributed to the immense scale of manufacturing, raw materials and labour required to develop and deploy clean energy technologies consistent with net zero goals. GenCost modelling projects that technology cost pressures felt in Australia will revert to normal levels by 2027 but are delayed to 2030 in global scenarios where the speed of the energy transition is highest. GenCost is an annual collaboration between CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) that actively consults industry stakeholders to revise domestic electricity generation and storage, as well as hydrogen production costs. CSIRO’s Director of Energy, Dr Dietmar Tourbier, said GenCost’s rigorous scientific and engineering analysis represents Australia’s most comprehensive projection of electricity generation costs. “Australia’s energy challenge lies in the transformation of our existing energy system, while ensuring the continuing delivery of sustainable, reliable and affordable energy as we strive to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” Dr Tourbier said. “This imperative is not only essential for environmental stewardship, but also to maintain Australia’s economic competitiveness in the global market,” Dr Tourbier said. CSIRO’s Chief Energy Economist and GenCost lead author, Paul Graham, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in lingering global supply chain constraints which impacted the prices of raw materials required in technology manufacturing as well as freight costs. The Ukraine war exacerbated the global supply chain inflationary pressures by raising energy input […]

Out-of-the box thinking lifts mining safety

Hunter Valley-headquartered Hedweld Group of Companies is a recognised global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of products for the mining sector. Its niche products have few market competitors. With humble beginnings as a general fabricator in 1980, Hedweld made the business decision in the 2000s to focus on supplying products to the mining sector. Its aim from the get-go was to improve the safety of workers and operators, reduce machine down-time, and increase productivity in mine maintenance workshops. It has been a winning strategy. Kristy Hedley, Managing Director, Hedweld Group of Companies in the Advanced Manufacturing Workshop. Hedweld managing director Kristy Hedley (pictured) says the company’s core competencies of safety, efficiency, and innovation are evident in the Trilift® range of component-handling equipment, and the Safe-Away range of access systems. “As the size of open-cut mining equipment gets larger, accessing the components for maintenance requires greater reach and weight-handling capacity,” says Kristy. “This is where the Trilift range of component-handling equipment offers unique solutions. New mobile mining equipment comes from the OEM factory and is supplied to site with a simple vertical rung or chain ladder to climb aboard to gain access to the operator’s cabin. Our Safe-Away access systems provide a safer way to access and egress.” Hedweld has strong international patents on its Trilift products, allowing it to distribute them globally without fear of competition. “The challenge is educating customers about our unique products and solutions, regularly described as ‘out-of-the-box’ thinking,” says Kristy. “We help sites understand the cost of performing tasks using traditional and often unsafe methods and assist them to calculate and understand that they can’t afford not to use Trilift products – for reasons of safety and cost-saving.” Hunter Manufacturing Awards (HMA) appropriately awarded Hedweld the Export and Supply Chains accolade for 2022. The […]

EVOS closes $5m funding round

Entire raise completed through existing investors as Brisbane-based electric vehicle charging start up looks to bring new products to market within weeks EVOS, a start-up specialising in fleet energy management and AC charging for electric vehicles (EVs), has completed a funding round, securing $5m from existing investors. The investment will enable the company to begin to bring to market new technologies ideal for a number of EV charging use cases to address challenges for EV fleet operators and EV homeowners/renters, among many others. EVOS is founded by CEO Marcelo Salgado; Chief Experience & Innovation Officer Seshan Weeratunga, and Chief Technology Officer Chris Crossman. “This investment validates all the hard work the team has put in since we launched our company, and it shows the belief our investors have in a home-grown manufacturer being able to deliver game-changing offerings for Australians,” said Salgado. “Since launching, we’ve unveiled our first charger, the Fleet Home 22 AC Charger and our patented Smart Start solution to help fleet and EV owners simplify and reduce the cost of charging. “We now have a number of new products on the roadmap and this investment will help bring them to market much more quickly.” A new home charger, to be launched in Brisbane on July 19, will be the first cab off the rank for the company. Rapid expansion and rollout of solutions to address the needs of EV owners The company initially raised $1.7m to help the company expand its team and commercialise its technology. Since then, EVOS has added 22 employees to its manufacturing, sales and engineering departments, while launching its game-changing products. “We’ve seen tremendous growth not just within our team but the opportunities for electric vehicles in Australia,” said Crossman. “Some of the barriers to EV adoption have gone down and we’re seeing […]

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Redefining recycling sorting technology with Australia’s first AI-powered robot

A robot that uses artificial intelligence to sort used Tetra Pak beverage cartons has been installed at APR Kerbside’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Truganina, Victoria. Aimed at advancing the circular economy, this innovative recycling sorting technology has been funded via a joint investment between Tetra Pak and APR Kerbside. As part of APR’s future plans, aspirations for upgrade and expansion include the opening of new Material Recovery Facilities in Victoria and the commissioning of additional AI-powered robots to be rolled out over the next two years. In an Australian first, food and beverage processing & packaging company Tetra Pak has partnered with (Australian Paper Recovery (APR) Kerbside to implement an AI robot that can identify, and sort used Tetra Pak beverage cartons. The robot has been commissioned at the APR Kerbside Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Truganina, Victoria. This glass-out facility has the capacity to process up to 20,000 tonnes of materials annually and mainly sorts items from the kerbside stream. Such items collected from residents’ yellow lidded recycling bins include paper and cardboard, steel, aluminium, plastics (bottles and containers). The robot has been training, learning to recognise all the different types of beverage cartons, like milk, soy, oat, almond, stock and juice ahead of its final deployment in the coming weeks. The councils that are working with APR Kerbside are excited about this opportunity to divert more valuable resources from landfill. They are eager to expand the current kerbside service offering to their respective residents. Darren Thorpe, Managing Director of APR Kerbside. Vikas Ahuja, Sustainability Director at Tetra Pak Australia and New Zealand said: “Tetra Pak is incredibly proud to be pioneering this exciting recycling innovation with APR to further advance the circular economy in Australia. For us at Tetra Pak, to be the first market outside […]

New CSIRO research explores influence of coal seam gas activity on human health

New research has been released into the potential for coal seam gas (CSG) activity in Queensland to affect human health. A 2,150 square kilometres study site in the Surat Basin, Queensland, was selected and factors that could lead to potential hazards such as chemicals, air emissions, noise, light and dust associated with CSG activities were identified and appraised. Existing data related to these factors was screened to determine whether any factors would require in-depth assessment. While the study found that for the majority of factors there was no plausible pathway to impact human health, it determined further in-depth assessment of a small number of identified factors was required. As a result, two new CSIRO research projects are now underway and will conduct further in-depth studies focussing on eight groups of chemical factors. The research, undertaken by CSIRO and The University of Queensland, was governed through CSIRO’s Gas Industry Social and Environmental Research Alliance (GISERA). GISERA is an alliance led by CSIRO and is a collaboration between CSIRO, commonwealth, state and territory governments and industry with the purpose of working with the community to undertake research about the potential or actual impacts of gas development, across major environmental and socio-economic topics. The study was funded primarily by the Queensland (59 per cent) and Federal Governments (21 per cent) and CSIRO (18 per cent). GISERA industry partners APLNG and QGC each provided one per cent in funding and also made available operational data. CSIRO Energy Resources Research Director and GISERA Director Dr Damian Barrett said the study provided forensic information about the potential hazards to affect human health from CSG activities in the Surat Basin. “The value of this exhaustive study is that it provides certainty about where we need to focus further research,” Dr Barrett said. “By ruling out factors of […]

Australia hasn’t figured out low-level nuclear waste storage yet – let alone high-level waste from submarines

Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Science, Griffith University Within ten years, Australia could be in possession of three American-made Virginia-class nuclear submarines under the AUKUS agreement with the United States and United Kingdom. The following decade, we plan to build five next-generation nuclear submarines. To date, criticism of the deal has largely focused on whether our unstable geopolitical environment and China’s military investment means it’s worth spending up to A$368 billion on eight submarines as a deterrent. But nuclear submarines mean nuclear waste. And for decades, Australia has failed to find a suitable place for the long-term storage of our small quantities of low and intermediate level nuclear waste from medical isotopes and the Lucas Heights research reactor. With this deal, we have committed ourselves to managing highly radioactive reactor waste when these submarines are decommissioned – and guarding it, given the fuel for these submarines is weapons-grade uranium. Where will it be stored? The government says it will be on defence land, making the most likely site Woomera in South Australia. What nuclear waste will we have to deal with? Under this deal, Australia will not manufacture nuclear reactors. The US and later the UK will give Australia “complete, welded power units” which do not require refuelling over the lifetime of the submarine. In this, we’re following the US model, where each submarine is powered by a reactor with fuel built in. When nuclear subs are decommissioned, the reactor is pulled out as a complete unit and treated as waste. An official fact sheet about this deal states Australia “has committed to managing all radioactive waste generated through its nuclear-powered submarine program, including spent nuclear fuel, in Australia”. What does this waste look like? When Virginia-class submarines are decommissioned, you have to pull out the “small” reactor and dispose of it. Small, in this context, is relative. […]

Australia’s first road made using recycled coffee cups

A suburban road in Penrith has become the first in Australia, to include recycled coffee cups in its construction. The fibres in the cups are a valuable additive that helps create a superior, more durable product, quieter and safer than regular asphalt. The more sustainable asphalt, known as PAK-PAVE™ Roads, has been developed by State Asphalts NSW in conjunction with Closed Loop Environmental Solutions who operate the Simply Cups paper cup recycling program. The development of PAK-PAVE™ Roads was facilitated through the Commonwealths Cooperative Research Centres Program Grant, involving the University of NSW and has been sanctioned by the NSW EPA and Transport NSW. The pilot project for PAK-PAVE™ Roads will take place along a section of Jamison Road at South Penrith, to be followed soon after by a second at Swallow Drive, Erskine Park. These two projects will utilise over 135,000 recycled paper cups including coffee cups, which is 85% of the paper cups collected for recycling in the Penrith LGA in 2022. In addition to the recycled paper cups, the two PAK-PAVE™ Roads will utilise other recycled materials including the equivalent of 1.2 million glass stubbies, together with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement, Steel Furnace Slag. Collectively, these materials will comprise more than 50% of the materials used. Sustainability benefits of the PAK-PAVE™ Roads include: Using recycled paper cups as a beneficial additive Improved pavement durability and crack resistance Improved wet weather skid resistance and reduced noise levels from surface texture Improved durability of Stone Mastic Asphalt allows thinner surfacing of roads; where thickness can be reduced the cost per m2 of pavement is also reduced Less raw materials are required 24% reduction in carbon footprint These PAK-PAVE™ Roads in Penrith are true examples of the circular economy in action, where items that were once destined for landfill have been […]

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