Queensland develops a simple energy efficiency investment program for commercial buildings and their tenants

Brisbane city (TheFifthEstate)

An industry-led program called t3, has been developed by Incorp and Brisbane City Council’s sustainability agency CitySmart. It is a simplified Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) process that gives building owners and tenants incentives to pursue energy efficiency upgrades, with both guaranteed a share in savings generated.

t3 operates on a cost recovery basis where building owners fully fund the upgrade but then receive 80 per cent of the operational savings over the term of a lease. Tenants have no capital outlay, but keep 20 percent of savings (though different splits can be negotiated). Carbon credits generated from projects are also donated to a chosen charity.

Initially, two institutions have signed up to t3: building owner Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) and tenant Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works. The deal involves an upgrade of lighting from fluorescent to smart LED over two buildings at 111 George Street and neighbouring 33 Charlotte Street in Brisbane CBD. The plan is to add other energy efficiencies such as solar power and further improvements later.

If this t3 initiative is expanded it could deliver $100 million a year in savings to Australian businesses while cutting annual greenhouse gas emissions by 180,000 tonnes. Incorp works across many borders – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, San Francisco, Seattle and Dubai. Maybe this is exactly the right company to help spread the idea.

Further reading:

T3 Initiative.

Queensland leads on energy efficiency program that could save businesses $100m a year. TheFifthEstate, February 28, 2018.

Brisbane’s CitySmart and Incorp make EUAs look easy. TheFifthEstate, June 27, 2018.

A new solar reality for Australia and the Globe

Majura Solar farm, Canberra (photo Julie May)

Scientia Professor Martin Green of the University of New South Wales speaks for Ockham’s Razor about the falling costs of renewable energy, particularly solar power, and how this will affect our future.

It is now less expensive to install new renewable energy than it is to build new coal-fired power stations, so the installation of renewables will increase over time. On current projections, Australia could get most its electricity from renewables by 2050.

Globally, 40% of our CO2 emissions come from electricity generation but fortunately we can do something about this by adding renewable power. Other significant emitters are passenger cars (10%) and this too can be reduced if our electricity comes from renewable energy and we drive electric vehicles.

Cars have been developed with their own solar panels that can charge a car battery to do an average 25 km/day. That is close to the average distance a car travels daily. Toyota sees this development as a way to substantially reduce the CO2 emissions from hybrid cars.

To listen to the full audio go to: A new solar reality - Ockham’s Razor, ABC Radio National, February 18, 2018.

Australia's first large-scale solar and battery plant is connected.

Lakeland project, Cooktown, far north Queensland (RenewEconomy)

The first large-scale solar and big battery storage installation in Australia - the Lakeland project near Cooktown in far north Queensland - has been officially connected to the grid. It is at the edge of the very large electricity grid of eastern Australia where electricity supply is not always reliable.

With a smallish population to support, it is a relatively small system of 10.8KW of solar and 1.4MW/5.3MWh of battery storage. Importantly, the system will firm up supply of solar power to the grid and provide ‘islanding’ for the local community whereby homes and businesses can remain connected while there is a fault elsewhere.

This deliberate ‘islanding’ will be a test case where a section of the grid continues to provide power while disconnected from the main grid. A test case that could prove to be important for those areas that are at the extremes of grids or prone to natural disasters such as bushfires, cyclones or floods.

Further reading: Australia’s first large scale solar + storage plant connected to the grid. RenewEconomy, February 19, 2018.

Tree planting is increasing around the world

The planting of trees in Atsuma Town, Hokkaido, Japan. (Aeon Info)

We are learning that trees have far more value than providing timber: they keep soils moist, prevent floods and provide shelter, store carbon, beautify landscapes, protect water sources, increase biodiversity, improve conservation, have a cooling effect through transpiration and induce human wellbeing.

Many countries have ambitious projects to plant large areas of trees. Some include: China, India, Ireland, Norway, France, England, Costa Rica, Nepal, Peru and Mongolia. Latin American countries pledge to restore 20 million hectares of degraded forest and African countries more than 100 million hectares. Most of Europe is now physically greener than what it was a few years ago. More than 120 countries in 2015 pledged to plant and restore large areas of forest as a response to climate change. The UN has set a target to restore 350 million hectares by 2030.

However, deforestation and land degradation is still occuring around the world which weakens the land’s resilience. Forests are also under threat from climate change related threats such as droughts and bushfires. Mass, state-sponsored plantings are not always successful. The growth of agroforestry is providing a solution where trees and shrubs are grown among crops (and stock). In some countries, such as Niger, this approach has increased yields as compared to their broadacre cropping.

Further reading: A eureka moment for the planet: we’re finally planting trees again. The Guardian, February 13, 2018.

Are new home builds with solar and battery to become the norm?

Tesla Powerwall and EV charger in garage of a Metricon display home (One Step off the Grid)

Major Australian home builder Metricon, offers to build new homes with solar panels, battery storage and, if desired, an electric vehicle (EV) car charger. Of around 1000 new homes built in NSW in a year, more than half have had the solar and battery added - a “Solar ChargePack” offer. That is because more customers are opting to include energy security since the price of electricity in Australia is high and rising.

The Solar ChargePack includes 5.4kW of rooftop solar and a Tesla Powerwall 2 battery with 13.5kWh of electricity storage. They are even offering the chance to win a Tesla Model S EV as an incentive!

For further reading see:

New-build homes with solar and storage? “It’s going to be the norm”. One Step of the Grid, February 14, 2018.
Postscript: CEFC backs push for solar and storage in all new-build homes. One Step off the Grid, March 15, 2018.

Yackandandah and other towns plan to have 100% renewable electricity

Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) meeting (RenewEconomy)

Yackandandah, in north eastern Victoria, Australia, already has some big solar installations that will help the farming community town to reach 100% renewables by 2022. The Foodworks supermarket has a 80kW solar array and the town’s health care centre has a 90kW solar array.

These two large installations join an inspiring and expanding list of homes and organisations switching to solar in the town.  The petrol station, museum, school, kindergarten, neighbourhood house, council offices and men's shed all sport solar panels. In addition, there are plans to power the water treatment plant with "43kW of solar and 40kW of battery storage".

The renewable electricity goal has been set by the community energy group Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY). TRY is also looking at ways to reduce electricity consumption in community buildings by installing LED lights and improving the air conditioning and hot water systems, as well to reduce waste.

Yackandandah joins a growing list of town councils with goals to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and electricity costs. Others include: Lismore, NSW, 100% renewable energy by 2023; Uralla, NSW, 100% renewable energy in 5-10 years; Newstead, Victoria, 100% renewable energy in next 3 years; Darebin, Melbourne, zero net emissions by 2020; Byron Bay zero emissions by 2025; and Tyalgum, NSW, to go off-grid - to name a few.

Further reading:
Solar powered Foodworks. RenewEconomy, November 11, 2016.
Yackandandah 100% renewable plans kick off with 90kW solar health centre. One Step off the Grid, February 26, 2016.
Solar and battery set to power Victorian water plant. RenewEconomy, March 28, 2017.
In the absence of national leadership, cities are driving climate policy. RenewEconomy, July 19, 2017.
Byron Bay maps out path to zero emissions by 2025. Renew Economy, June 21, 2016.
Tyalgum. ABC News, October 8, 2018.
Post Script: Yackandandah takes one step closer to 100% renewable energy. One Step Off The Grid, October 3, 2019,

Recycled batteries are now available in Australia.

Rechargeable batteries made from recycled batteries (4%)

Rechargeable batteries made from recycled batteries are now available in at least one supermarket (Coles) in Australia. The company claims they last six times longer than other rechargeable batteries, with an expected lifetime of up to 5 years. Please support this initiative. Almost everything is recyclable, so by choosing these batteries we are helping the recycling industry grow, and our movement towards a more sustainable society.

Battery charger with old rechargeable batteries that still work.

Are rechargeable batteries good for the environment?
According to an article I read in New Scientist a few years ago, they are (I no longer have access to NS). Here is a reference from Mother Earth News that states that: “By choosing rechargeable batteries over standard alkaline, you can save money and help the environment.” They can be recharged up to a 1000 times and produce less waste. With rooftop solar, they can be recharged when the sun is shining.

Electric barges in UK and EU, and electric car ferry in Norway

London electric barge (source The Electric Barge) 

We’ve all heard of electric cars and light trucks, but when it comes to reducing greenhouse emissions from the transportation sector, now having electric vehicles to move tourists and heavy freight could make a big difference, especially if they are powered by renewable energy.
The London electric barge offers eco tours and classes as well as barge hire. (The Electric Barge)

Artist's impression of Dutch Loadster (CleanTechnica)

The proposed Dutch company freight barges will initially have five autonomous barges operating between the De Kempen intermodal terminal and Antwerp in The Netherlands. Clean Technica, January 13, 2018.

Norway's fully electric ferry (One Step off the Grid)

Norway’s first all-electric ferry has reduced CO2 emissions by 95% and operating costs by 80%, resulting in a further 53 orders for shipbuilder Fjellstrand. One Step off the Grid, February 6, 2018.

Tesla and SA government to build 250MW ‘virtual power plant’ on 50,000 homes

First resident, Des Jenkins, to receive the Tesla solar system (ABC News)

The South Australian government with Tesla announced, prior to local elections, that they plan to install, for free, solar panels and batteries on 50,000 homes to make a 250MW virtual power plant. The participating house holders will not own the panels and batteries but will receive a 30% discount on their power bills. The homes will have a 5KW solar PV system with 13.5KWh Tesla Powerwall 2 battery. Half of the solar panels required for the scheme must be supplied from Australia. The energy retailer will have the right to tap output of the batteries and solar panels to supply power into the grid.

The government will first use its Housing Trust (social housing) properties and later the homes of others who want to be involved. A trial on trust homes has begun and 100 systems will be installed by 30 June with another 1000 over the following year with the remainder being installed by 2022. There has already been a lot of interest from house holders to participate in the scheme.

The $800 million project (see more details here) will ultimately bring together 250MW of capacity and 650MWh of storage, allowing the combined resource to be pooled to help provide grid stability and extra capacity when supply is short. An initial $2 million will be provided as a grant and a further $30 million as a loan. The government is seeking investors in the program but it will also receive funds from the sale of electricity from the panels.

For further reading:

Elon Musk’s Tesla and SA Labor reach deal to give solar panels and batteries to 50,000 homes. ABC News, February 4, 2018.
Tesla to build 250MW “virtual power plant” in South Australia. RenewEconomy, February 4, 2018.

Postscripts:
- SA Liberals vow to continue energy transition, go big with batteries. Renew Economy, May 23, 2018.
- South Australia's Virtual Power Plant. SA Government.