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May/June 2009

EcoGeneration

May/June 2009

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Growing up green

Growing up green

Kate Pemberton and Sarah Robertson

Over the past ten years, the building industry has been transforming – literally growing up greener. Nurturing and leading this growth is the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA). Chief Executive Romilly Madew spoke with EcoGeneration about Green Star, the green building industry and its goals for the future.

WA’s greenest avenue

WA’s greenest avenue

With a striking glass and burnt orange metallic façade, 2 Victoria Avenue is an impressive new landmark in the city of Perth. Equally impressive are the architectural and technological features that will reduce energy consumption, enhance occupant productivity and health, and minimise its carbon footprint.

Heating and cooling a breeze

Heating and cooling a breeze

An innovative Australian product can transform the total surface area of a roof into a solar collector, sustainably controlling a building’s climate.

Clever fridges co-operate

Clever fridges co-operate

Lucy Rochlin

Fridges that collaborate to determine the most energy efficient way to keep food cold have been developed by researchers from CSIRO’s Energy Transformed.

Energy smart heat pumps

Energy smart heat pumps

The ISH Trade Fair in Germany displayed new energy efficient technologies for smarter building design. Among the heating and cooling technology was a new heat pump offering significant energy savings.

Reducing emissions: energy efficiency style

Lyndsie Mewett

The Energy Retailers Association of Australia (ERAA) is lobbying government in order to develop a more co-ordinated public policy response to improving energy efficiency throughout Australia.

Infrastructure spending greening Melbourne

Infrastructure spending greening Melbourne

The Federal Government has pledged an additional $500 million to the previous $300 million Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program (RLCIP), prompting the city of Melbourne to further investigate green building.

Powering through Antarctic extremes

Powering through Antarctic extremes

The Belgian Princess Elisabeth Station is the first ‘zero emission’ station in the Antarctic, utilising renewable wind and solar energy to power the scientific facility. Kate Pemberton reports on the station’s renewable ventures on the ice.

Challicum Hills turns five and winds on

Challicum Hills turns five and winds on

Lucy Rochlin

Celebrating five years in operation, the Challicum Hills Wind Farm provides a successful model for the countless wind power projects taking off across Australia.

Wind powering Upolu

Wind powering Upolu

The Government of Samoa is turning its attention to renewable energy sources to meet its country’s growing energy needs, reduce dependence on diesel fuel imports and tackle climate change. Recently, a wind energy assessment was undertaken in the nation’s most populated island, Upolu, with promising results.

Repowering turbine technology

Repowering turbine technology

A new onshore wind turbine was launched in September last year. With a rated power of 3.3 megawatts (MW) and a rotor diameter of 104 metres, the REpower 3.XM has been optimised to ensure a high energy yield and high technical availability.

Small wind, big future

Small wind, big future

Micro wind turbine development in Australia is growing. Co-owner of Aerogenesis David Wood spoke to EcoGeneration about the development of the company’s small wind turbine.

Renewable modelling all wound up

Accurate assessment and forecasting models are essential to the development of weather-driven renewable energy projects. Numerical weather prediction (NWP) modelling is one way to provide comprehensive and accurate energy assessments.

Policies for a renewable energy future

Dr Mark Diesendorf

Several reports presented at the recent scientific congress on climate change in Copenhagen suggested that the industrialised countries may have to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 80– 100 per cent by 2050. President Obama’s target, to cut US emissions by 80 per cent compared with the 1990 level by 2050, adds pressure on Australia. As the biggest per capita greenhouse gas emitter in the industrialised world, Australia has a responsibility to strengthen its greenhouse target and transform its energy system into one based primarily on renewable energy used efficiently.

Wrapping up Australia’s hot rocks

Wrapping up Australia’s hot rocks

Geothermal energy has the potential to supply Australia with clean, base load power. With a number of new players in the Australian market, Lucy Rochlin reports on the projects underway and one company’s plan to provide geothermal power by the middle of the year.

Delivering geothermal energy by 2020

Delivering geothermal energy by 2020

Terry Kallis

Australia is ideally positioned to be the world leader in geothermal technology and has the potential to be producing energy on a commercial basis by 2020.

Powering up Innamincka’s hot rocks

Powering up Innamincka’s hot rocks

Kate Pemberton

An Australian geothermal energy company is at the forefront of one of the most important and exciting resource industries in the world and is preparing for a landmark year in 2009. Kate Pemberton reports.

Nurtured, renewable energies will grow

Nurtured, renewable energies will grow

Lucy Rochlin

In the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) at the end of 2009, climate change researchers from more than 70 countries have come together for the International Scientific Congress on Climate Change in Copenhagen to present the most recent information and to discuss how to address the risks and opportunities ahead.

All-Energy Australia ‘09

Victoria has been selected as the first location outside the UK to host one of the world’s most highly-regarded renewable and clean energy expos, All-Energy.

ATRAA set for Canberra

ATRAA set for Canberra

Monique Halliday

ATRAA 2009, the biggest solar industry event in Australia, will provide a dynamic and open-minded forum for stakeholders of all renewable energy products and services, to share ideas, address key issues and discuss the business of facilitating a new energy future.

Lake Bonney Wind Farm Stage 2

Lake Bonney Wind Farm Stage 2

Renewable grid connected, South Australia.

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