South Australia aims for 500% renewables by 2050 and for all new cars to be electric by 2035

 

(Source bbc.com)

The South Australian (SA) government aims for more than 500 per cent renewable energy by 2050 as it aims to become a clean energy exporter both nationally and internationally. Almost under the same breath, the government also announced that it aims to ensure that all new car sales will be electric by 2035 as it wants to be a leader in the uptake of electric vehicles in Australia.

SA already has its electricity grid at 60% renewables and plans to expand that to at least 500 per cent. The government has a Climate Change Action Plan which includes at least 68 proposed activities for more renewables, clean transport and more resilient urban and rural communities. The state has an abundance of solar, wind and other resources. The green hydrogen industry is well on its way in Australia and SA plans to become a major exporter of green hydrogen and other low emission products.

The state Liberal government has also released its plan for electric vehicles (EVs). Firstly it will electrify all government fleets, taxis and ride sharing vehicles by 2030. By 2030, they want electric cars to be mainstream and for all new cars sold to be electric by 2035. There will also be fuel efficiency and quality standards introduced which will help EV uptake but there is also a plan to put a road user tax on EVs which will be a disincentive but will help fund the changes.

Read More: 

- South Australia aims for more than 500 pct renewables in new climate plan. RenewEconomy, December 16, 2020. 

- "Biggest change since Model T": South Australia wants all new car sales to be electric by 2035. The Driven, December 20, 2020.

Biodegradable drinking straws made from rye grain stalks left after harvest

Rye drinking straws made from the stalks left over after rye grain harvest. (ABC News)

There is a growing demand for biodegradable or reusable straws as some governments around the world legislate to reduce single-use plastics including plastic drinking straws.

Straws made from the hollow stems of wheat, rice and bamboo are already available in Australia, but are imported from overseas. Marion Vigot and Alexis Branlard aim to supply Australian biodegradable straws made from the strong, hollow stems of rye for the Australian market. They hope to produce 1 million straws from the first harvest and have formed the start-up company called Mister Rye based in Adelaide. South Australia is to ban single-use plastics next year and they are hoping to offer these rye straws as one of the alternatives.

One hectare of rye can produce 300,000 straws, so they only need a few hectares to make a million. They have formed arrangements with two organic rye farmers to do this. After harvesting the rye grain, the rye stalks are gently harvested and rolled into small bales by a vintage 1950’s hay baler. Then the straws are selected from between the nodes and hand cut by a team of workers. Marion and Alexis are hoping to mechanise this latter process. The straws are available online from Mister Rye at: https://www.misterrye.com/ 

For more information: 

- “Recycled rye straws an option to help environment and farmers in war on single-use plastics.” ABC News, October 11, 2019. 

– Also featured on Landline, 08/03/20, and available on iView for awhile: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/landline/series/0/video/RF1904Q006S00

An Australian-assembled electric cargo van looks to be efficient and affordable

ACE Cargo EV. Source ACE EV, Adelaide.

Australia’s ACE EV in Adelaide has built up a team of experts to import and assemble flat-pack electric vans from kits. The vans look ideal for small businesses and 'last mile delivery', with a carbon composite chassis clad with ABS plastic panels. When fully built up, the vans themselves will tip the scales at 900 kg (1,980 lbs) with the ability to carry 500 kg (1,100 lbs). They are planned for sale in Australia and abroad.

The ultra-lightweight build makes them extremely efficient, with a range of 150-250 km (93-155 mi) per charge, depending on the weight being carried and terrain. Power comes from an 18 kW/45 kW (rated/peak power) motor that boasts 174 Nm of torque. That’s critical for delivery vehicles as it ensures drivers will have enough torque to haul their cargo across town.

ACE EV recommends the cargo vans for a range of uses including: Couriers, Home nurses, Pathology transport, Government agencies, Florists and news agencies, Catering companies, Aged care providers, Caterers and many more….

ACE EV is also planning to manufacture a small ute, ACE Yewt, and a small car, ACE Urban. All three vehicles plan to be affordable and will be cheaper to run with a cost of electric at A$1.80/50km vs petrol average of A$9/50km. Source www.fleetcare.com.au. They are taking orders and answering queries on their website.

Read more: 

-The ACE Cargo Van is an efficient option for fully electric last mile deliveries. CleanTechnica, September 3, 2019. 

-ACE Cargo: https://www.ace-ev.com.au/ace-cargo/. 

-AuManufacturing– First ACE electric vans assembled in Adelaide. ACE EV News, August 20, 2019.