Adani faces higher hurdle before Carmichael mine approval

Adani faces a final major hurdle in its bid to build one of Australia's most controversial coal mines in an endangered bird's habitat in central Queensland.

Possible impacts on groundwater supplies to areas
 like the ancient Doongmabulla Springs, south-west
of the proposed Carmichael mine, remain a hurdle for Adani. 

On Friday, the Queensland government signed off on the company's black-throated finch management plan but a tougher test is looming. It must satisfy the state's Department of Environment and Science it has the right plan to manage impacts on artesian basin water supplies to important springs on the mine site,

Read the story from The Age by Tony Moore - “Adani faces higher hurdle before Carmichael mine approval".

Japan to oppose new or expanded coal-fired power plants in blow to Australian exports

Japan’s environment minister has announced he will “in principle” oppose any new plans to build or expand coal-fired power stations, as further signs emerge of a dramatic energy pivot by Australia’s top export market for thermal coal.

Japan’s environment minister has announced he will
‘in principle’ oppose any new plans to build or expand
coal-fired power stations.

Guardian Australia reported in March that Japan had cancelled a large percentage of planned investments in coal-fired power, while Japanese investment vehicles were ditching coal projects and instead seeking to back large-scale renewable projects across Asia.

Market analysts expect the price of thermal coal will remain dictated by China, whose recent restrictions on Australian exports have already tempered near-record prices, and would likely continue to reduce its value.

A faster-than-anticipated transition by the Japanese energy sector, which buys 39% of Australian-mined thermal coal, would affect future volumes and the viability of some new mines.

Read the story from The Guardian by Ben Smee - “Japan to oppose new or expanded coal-fired power plants in blow to Australian exports.”

Australia’s first manufactured electric car 'nothing like Tesla

It took a German engineer who spoke limited English three years — and flat-pack parts sourced from China and Taiwan — to build the first electric car to be manufactured in Australia.

The two-seater van has been built in a Logan
warehouse for small Queensland start-up ACE EV.

The two-seater van was built in an unassuming warehouse south of Brisbane by a motley crew for small Queensland start-up ACE EV.

They hope it will beat Australia's resistance to the new technology by being one of the most affordable on the market.

Managing director Greg McGarvie kept costs down by designing a carbon fibre shell made from flat packs manufactured in China and Taiwan.

Read the ABC News story by Tim Swanston - “Australia’s first manufactured electric car 'nothing like Tesla.”

Opera House goes carbon neutral five years ahead of schedule

The Sydney Opera House was notoriously behind schedule on most things during the 14 years it took to build but on Monday it will be five years ahead of schedule when it meets its target to reduce emissions and become carbon neutral.

The Opera House goes green, Monday night at 6pm.

This move puts it up there with New York's Empire State building and Paris's Eiffel Tower as global  architectural icons which are actively working to become world symbols of energy efficiency, its Environmental Sustainability Manager Emma Bombonato said.

Read the story from The Age  by Helen Pitt - “Opera House goes carbon neutral five years ahead of schedule.”

GE to build the world’s largest offshore wind turbines

GE plans to build the world’s largest offshore wind turbines, which are so tall they would dominate Melbourne's skyline.

The offshore wind turbines are nearly 300 metres tall.

The wind towers will stand 260 metres tall, almost the same height as the Sydney Tower or 120 Collins Street in Melbourne and well above the world’s current largest wind turbines at 247m. The blades alone are 107 metres long.

Known as the Haliade-X, the 12-megawatt turbines can generate up to 67 gigawatts of power annually, enough to run up to 16,000 homes. Australia consumed 180,750-gigawatt hours of electricity in 2016-17, the equivalent of 2700 of these turbines. The world’s current largest wind turbine capacity is only 9 megawatts.

Read Cole Latimer’s story from The Age - “GE to build the world’s largest offshore wind turbines.”

Father and son build this minimalist, energy-efficient family cabin (Video)

What does it take to build a small, sustainable home close to nature? 

The energy efficient family cabin.

For William and Daniel Yudchitz -- father and son and both architects -- that meant thinking in a modular way for fitting the interior spaces of their 340-square-foot family cabin on the shores of Lake Superior, as well as carefully selecting materials and designing custom-made, multipurpose furniture that maximizes space. Seen previously in Lloyd's post, we now get a personal tour of how this energy-efficient home works via Fair Companies.

Read/watch the Treehugger story by Kimberley Mok - “Father and son build this minimalist, energy-efficient family cabin (Video).”

Elon Musk's Tesla and SA Labor reach deal to give solar panels and batteries to 50,000 homes

At least 50,000 homes in SA will be given solar panels and batteries in a scheme by Elon Musk's Tesla and the SA Government to build the world's largest virtual power plant, slashing household power bills in the process.

Elon Musk and Jay Weatherill reach a deal to give
 batteries and solar panels to 50,000 homes.

Under the deal unveiled by Premier Jay Weatherill ahead of the March state election, solar systems and batteries will be supplied and installed free of charge.

The cost of the project will be financed through the sale of electricity, generated by the panels, in what Mr Weatherill said would be the largest project of its kind.

Read the ABC News story by Nick Hansen - “Elon Musk's Tesla and SA Labor reach deal to give solar panels and batteries to 50,000 homes.”

Palaszczuk says she will veto federal Adani loan as she accuses LNP of ‘smear’

The Queensland government will veto Adani’s application for a $1bn commonwealth loan to build a rail line for its massive Carmichael mine, Annastacia Palaszczuk has said.

Annastacia Palaszczuk, campaigning with deputy premier
 Jackie Trad on Friday. The Queensland premier has accused
the LNP of intending to smear her.

Palaszczuk said the dramatic move, amid her campaign for re-election, came in response to what she believed was a federal Coalition plan to “smear” her and her partner, Shaun Drabsch, over his role in Adani’s loan application to the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (Naif).

As the government is in caretaker mode, any move to veto the loan would need bipartisan support.

The move will be a heavy blow to the Indian mining giant’s attempt to win finance in China for the controversial coalmine, but puts the state Labor government on the right side of opinion polls on the issue.

Read the story by Joshua Robertson on The Guardian - “Palaszczuk says she will veto federal Adani loan as she accuses LNP of ‘smear’."

Size does matter: Australia’s addiction to big houses is blowing the energy budget

Australian homes are getting bigger,
but not more sustainable.

Australia’s houses are getting bigger, but usually not more sustainable. In our recent study, we looked at the energy use of Australian houses, including the energy required to build, maintain and power our homes.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, we found that more energy goes into bigger houses. This is bad news not just for the environment, but also for our wallets. But these considerations are not always built into sustainability ratings.

So whether you’re building, buying, or just curious, what are the most important things to consider? And how much does house size affect total energy use?

Read the piece on The Conversation by a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the University of Melbourne, André Stephan, and a senior lecturer in Construction and Environmental Assessment, also from the University of Melbourne, Robert Crawford -  “Size does matter: Australia’s addiction to big houses is blowing the energy budget.”