Electric buses can reduce costs, improve air quality and support local industries

In Australia, technology and industry are ready for policy support to aid the transition from diesel. Precision Buses in Adelaide is producing electric buses locally as part of contracts with South Australia, NSW, Queensland and Victoria and Australia’s largest bus body manufacturer, Volgren has begun production of electric buses at their headquarters in Melbourne.

Electric buses cut costs, improve air quality and support local industries.

In December 2019, ClimateWorks Australia was invited to make a submission to the New South Wales government inquiry into electric buses for regional and metropolitan public transport networks. With transport currently contributing 21% of the state’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, decarbonising transport systems is critical to achieving the NSW Government’s net zero emissions objective. States have the chance to drive a rapid transition to reduce emissions by electrifying bus fleets and powering vehicles with 100% renewable energy.

Existing trials show the moment is ready to be seized. Transit Systems Leichhardt depot is trialling electric buses on some of Sydney’s busiest routes. Premier is already trialling an electric bus from their Nowra depot, with reports that the bus can cover 290km per day across 15 hour shifts, returning with a 45% charged battery, and that the electric bus has reduced daily running costs 72% compared to diesel buses. Public transport can be powered by renewable energy, as demonstrated with Sydney’s Metro NorthWest sourcing all the project electricity needs from NSW’s Beryl Solar Farm.

Read the ClimateWorks story - “Electric buses can reduce costs, improve air quality and support local industries.”

World’s first 3D-printed neighbourhood built in Mexico

Rural families in the region of Tabasco in south Mexico have been given new homes thanks to a project that is building the world’s first 3D-printed neighbourhood. It is the work of US-based non-profit New Story, which has partnered with a 3D-printing technology company to build the 500sq ft homes for a community living in poverty.

One of the 3D printed homes.

Each dwelling has two bedrooms plus a living room, kitchen and bathroom. They have been designed to withstand seismic activity. New Story aims to end global homelessness and is using the 3D-printing technology to build homes quickly at scale. The project will eventually create 50 homes there.

Read the story from Positive News by Gavin Haines - “World’s first 3D-printed neighbourhood built in Mexico.”

Scientists want to build trust in science and technology. The alternative is too risky to contemplate

New research shows that despite differences in their funding commitments, major political parties in Australia – the Coalition, Labor and the Greens – see science and technology as important aspects of our economy and future prosperity.

Not everyone trusts that science will bring benefits to society.

But that’s not enough.

It’s also crucial that the Australian public is able to have a say on priorities for scientific research and its applications. The social license of science depends on being able to engage with the public. Without this, scientists and other experts risk losing public trust.

This could have real implications for achieving the public good when it comes to emerging disruptive technologies (like robotics and AI), the environment (including climate change) and more.

Read the story from The Conversation - “Scientists want to build trust in science and technology. The alternative is too risky to contemplate.”

Renewables forecast to halve wholesale energy prices over four years

While the Morrison government has identified lowering power prices as a key early priority, a new analysis says wholesale prices will almost halve over the next four years because of the technology many Coalition conservatives oppose – renewables.

 A solar farm in Port Augusta. Extra capacity commissioned after
 the closure of large coal-powered generators in South Australia
 and Victoria is bringing down wholesale energy prices.

The latest renewable energy index compiled by Green Energy Markets confirms analysis by the Energy Security Board that wholesale electricity prices are on the way down because of an addition of 7,200 megawatts of extra large-scale supply from renewable energy

Read the story by Katharine Murphy from The Guardian - “Renewables forecast to halve wholesale energy prices over four years.”

5 ways driverless cars will change city life

The world of future generations will no doubt be vastly different from ours in many ways. Urbanisation is on the rise, as is the prevalence of autonomous technology. And these two trends merge when we think about the effect of driverless cars on urban areas.

We know driverless cars will disrupt the transport industry, but what about the cities in which they work.

A study conducted by Edmunds showed people aged 33 and under are pretty receptive to the idea, with well over 60 per cent open to getting a driverless car in 10 years or less. This is quite significant, highlighting the willingness of more recent generations to embrace this technology compared to older age groups: people aged 55-64 and 65+ where only about 40 per cent open to getting a driverless car in 10 years or less.

What will cities of the future look like when autonomous cars become the norm? Here are five ways this technology will affect city design, operations and the lives of city dwellers.

Read the story from Create - “5 ways driverless cars will change city life.”

Clean & Reliable Power: Roadmap to a Renewable Future

The Climate Council has released a roadmap outlining how Australia can cut its rising greenhouse gas pollution levels, while continuing the transition to clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy and storage technology.

The ‘Clean & Reliable Power: Roadmap To A Renewable Future’ report features 12 key policy principles for any national energy and climate policy framework, including calls for the rollout of a minimum 50-70% renewable energy target across Australia by 2030.

The ‘Roadmap To A Renewable Future’ framework recommends Australia continues to transition away from its ageing, polluting and inefficient coal and gas fleet and encourage investment in a new clean power supply. The report calls for pollution targets which can be ratcheted up along with transparent tracking and reporting of carbon pollution levels.

Read the Climate Council story by Andrew Stock - “Clean & Reliable Power: Roadmap to a Renewable Future.”

Coalition back bench’s crazy last-gasp attempt to save coal

Facing certain defeat in the next election, the hard right rump of the governing Coalition government (that’s more than half the party), are making a last ditch attempt to reverse the course of technology and have the government fund new coal-fired generators.

Alpha Males and the Lump of Coal.

A newly-named “ginger group” known as the Monash Forum has burst from the bleechers to put the case for coal, arguing – despite all evidence to the contrary – that new coal-fired generation is the key to restoring low power prices.

Newspaper reports suggest more than half of the Coalition back bench are behind this move for more coal – which is consistent with other estimates that put the percentage of Coalition MPs and Senators who don’t accept climate science at around the same level.

The push for more coal, and the rejection of climate evidence, goes hand in hand.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Giles Parkinson -  “Coalition back bench’s crazy last-gasp attempt to save coal.”

Mining firm in talks with government over Clean Energy Finance Corporation oil field funding proposal.

Resources Minister Matt Canavan said carbon
capture and storage can cut emissions and
 retain access to coal-fired power.

The company behind an Australian-first plan to use pollution from power stations to extract oil says taxpayers should help fund the project, despite criticism that it uses an unproven and expensive technology.

The Turnbull government has been in talks with the proponent over the venture, and believes such technologies can lower carbon emissions while keeping coal-fired power stations running.

Read Nicole Hasham’s story from The Age - “Mining firm in talks with government over Clean Energy Finance Corporation oil field funding proposal.”

Joining forces to accelerate low-carbon technology

Here is a copy of the webinar “Redefining the role of business and sport: How they can join forces to accelerate low-carbon technology resources across different sectors” the appeared to step around the elephant in the room - our proclivity to criss, cross the world, often taking tonnes of equipment with us, in pursuit of various sports.

The observations made on an earlier post, concluded that if we are serious about mitigating and adapting to the rigours of climate change, then a victim of that adaptation will be international sport, at least as it is presently played.

Watch the webinar here.

Frydenberg, IPA trolling renewables on ABC’s Q&A - again

The Coalition and the powerful right-wing lobby groups that help direct their policies show no signs of backing off in their campaign against renewables – or any other technology, for that matter, that might usher in a cleaner, cheaper and more reliable grid.

Monday night’s Q&A panelists, including federal energy
 minister Josh Frydenberg and, second from right, Simon Breheny,
the director of policy at the Institute of Public Affairs.

Craig Kelly has distinguished himself on EVs, a sweaty George Christensen on Facebook rails against anything Green or anti-coal, and Matt Canavan continues to wage a war on behalf of the coal industry.

On Monday, on ABC’s Q&A program, they were at it again: energy minister Josh Frydenberg and the Institute of Public Affairs teaming up to demonise renewables, and to propose some hopelessly unrealistic solutions to Australia’s energy trilemma.

It cannot go without comment.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Giles Parkinson - “Frydenberg, IPA trolling renewables on ABC’s Q&A - again.”

(Check out the Q&A program)

Australian towns going off the grid

Australia is facing an energy crisis.

Some turned to solar panels and battery storage technology to solve their bill woes.

As prices rose to new highs last year and the ever-constant threat of blackouts hung over the east coast, many Australians looked for energy alternatives.

Some turned to solar panels and battery storage technology to solve their bill woes, gain greater control of their own power and make a real change in terms of their impact on the climate.

While they are taking steps at the individual level, others are looking to take full advantage of the push for more renewable energy and shift away from centralised power systems on a larger scale.

Read Cole Latimer’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Australian towns going off the grid.”

An energy-filled discussion at Shepparton round-table

There was no shortage of energy in the room as a local round table offered a platform for discussion on emerging energy technologies and initiatives to drive down power prices floated.

Victoria’s energy minister, businesses championing new energy technologies, those curious about using them and local stakeholders keen to see the region realise its ‘‘solar city’’ potential assembled for one of a series of Victorian new energy technology round tables in Shepparton on Thursday.

Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio -
on the cusp of a major transformation.

About 250 attended the northern Victorian leg workshop, at Shepparton Showgrounds’ McIntosh Pavilion, co-hosted by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and City of Greater Shepparton.

Addressing reporters ahead of Thursday’s round table, Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio described the state and the region as being on the cusp of ‘‘major transformation in terms of how we make our energy’’.

She understood businesses were excited by the prospect of taking back control of their energy needs.

‘‘We’ve seen of course major transformation happening within our energy sector, seen significant increase in gas prices in the last 18 months.’’

‘‘We know there can be better arrangements put in place . . . to get the solutions that will fit individual businesses to lower their energy costs.’’

Ms D’Ambrosio highlighted northern Victoria as a potential ‘‘boom area’’ for solar and Greater Shepparton City councillor Seema Abdullah suggested the region would be ‘‘prime to get a fair chunk’’ of incentives from government initiatives.

She cited the region’s positioning, food production and said she wanted to see more investment and job creation in the region.

‘‘The more energy supply we create, the cheaper the energy will Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio be, and the quickest way to create supply is to promote renewable energy,’’ Ms D’Ambrosio said.

Shepparton's Cr Seema Abdullah at
the energy discussions on Thursday.

Following the round table, Goulburn Valley Community Energy’s Terry Court said there had been an enormous amount of energy in the room, embracing renewable energy.

Mr Court said electricity prices posed ‘‘a significant issue for community and industry’’ in his address at the session, with opportunities to reduce costs discussed.

Cr Seema Abdullah was delighted to see a healthy turnout of ‘‘renewable energy champions’’ and industry.

‘‘This is such a happening space, the possibilities, opportunities.’’

She was pleased to see groups and stakeholders had opportunities to transition and lower prices, amid a situation where there was ‘‘a demand for action’’.

Cr Abdullah described Greater Shepparton as one of those regions best placed in the conversation with a number of businesses already using or interested in new energy technologies.

Story by Thomas Moir in today’s Shepparton News - “An energy-filled discussion.”

'Solar Solution' discussed at Shepparton round table event

If all goes to plan, GVCE chief executive Geoff Lodge said the facility could start being built in the second half of next year.

GV Community Energy's Geoff Lodge with
 GVCE board member, Terry Court (back).

Goulburn Valley Community Energy’s chief says the group is on the way to developing a 20 megawatt, $30 million solar farm for the Goulburn Valley.

But representatives stopped short of revealing where, as negotiations around lease and investment continue.

Mr Lodge unveiled some of the group’s plans when Shepparton hosted a northern Victorian new energy and technology round-table discussion.

‘‘We were announcing GV Community Energy is working on a solar farm,’’ he said this week.

‘‘We’re negotiating with a landowner. When negotiations are finished, we can announce where that solar farm will be.’’

Mr Lodge said battery storage had been planned for the facility, which was to take up about 40 ha of land.

The project had been about four years in the making and the round-table was a chance to provide some detail about the project, he said.

‘‘We’ve got multiple discussions going on with landowners to finalise a lease, and then we’re also having discussions with investors.’’

The group would be seeking large electricity users in the Goulburn Valley interested in buying the power generated.

‘‘We will be inviting local investors . . . to invest in the project.’’

Mr Lodge acknowledged Victorian Government funding for the group to work on a business plan ‘‘was pivotal in us being able to put in the bid’’ to develop the project.

Greater Shepparton City Council has recently been making efforts to develop a significant solar facility on Goulburn Valley Link land south of Mooroopna, while Moira Shire Council is moving ahead with a 100 MW solar farm for Wunghnu.

The large-scale solar farm proposal for Mooroopna was addressed during the confidential section of a recent council meeting, with one councillor questioning why the matter was behind closed doors.

Following an expressions of interest call to parties interested in developing a solar facility, the council moved to a limited tender process.

Thomas Moir’s story in today’s Shepparton News -“Solar Solution”.

The case against Tesla and battery storage just hit peak stupidity

It is clearly getting under their skin, this battery storage technology, and its potential as a “game changer” in the energy industry.

Battery storage and peak stupidity,

We’ve had the politicians mocking Tesla’s big battery as little more than a “Big Banana”, and the far right railing against it because it’s not coal, and taking umbrage when the likes of AGL dare suggest a big battery as a possible partial substitute for an old generator like Liddell.

But the case against battery storage has just hit peak stupid.

It came in an article in Australian Financial Review over the weekend, under the authorship of one of its “Chanticleer” columnists, Michael Smith, and supposedly quoting Snowy Hydro CEO Paul Broad and its CFO Gordon Wyler from an interview and a “previously unreleased presentation”.

The article makes claims about the cost comparisons of pumped hydro and battery storage are so absurd that it is stunning to think that it could be repeated in a leading business journal, let alone the back-page column that claims to the country’s most authoritative.

Read the RenewEconomy story by Giles Parkinson - “The case against Tesla and battery storage just hit peak stupidity.”

What You Need to Know About Climate Change

In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Joseph Romm about how the climate is changing and how we know that human behavior is the primary cause. They discuss why small changes in temperature matter so much, the threats of sea-level rise and desertification, the best and worst case scenarios, the Paris Climate Agreement, the politics surrounding climate science, and many other topics.

Hurricane Irma.

Joseph Romm is one of the country’s leading communicators on climate science and solutions. He was Chief Science Advisor for “Years of Living Dangerously,” which won the 2014 Emmy Award for Outstanding Nonfiction Series. He is the founding editor of Climate Progress, which Tom Friedman of the New York Times called “the indispensable blog.” In 2009, Time named him one of its “Heroes of the Environment,” and Rolling Stone put him on its list of 100 “people who are reinventing America.” Romm was acting assistant secretary of energy in 1997, where he oversaw $1 billion in low-carbon technology development and deployment. He is a Senior Fellow at American Progress and holds a Ph.D. in physics from MIT. He is the author of Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know.

Listen to Sam Harris in discussion with Joe Romm - “What You Need to Know About Climate Change.”

New ‘Instantly Rechargeable’ Battery Deals a Fatal Blow to Fossil Fuels

Purdue researchers have developed technology for an “instantly rechargeable” battery that is affordable, environmentally friendly, and safe. Currently, electric vehicles need charging ports in convenient locations to be viable, but this battery technology would allow drivers of hybrid and electric vehicles to charge up much like drivers of conventional cars refill quickly and easily at gas stations.

A Purdue researcher working on the
 "instantly rechargeable" battery.

This breakthrough would not only speed the switch to electric vehicles by making them more convenient to drive, but also reduce the amount of new supportive infrastructure needed for electric cars dramatically. Purdue University professors John Cushman and Eric Nauman teamed up with doctoral student Mike Mueterthies to co-found Ifbattery LLC (IF-battery) for commercializing and developing the technology.

Read the Futurism story - “New ‘Instantly Rechargeable’ Battery Deals a Fatal Blow to Fossil Fuels.”

Robocars Could Add $7 Trillion to the Global Economy

MENTION AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES, and people conjure two visions of the future. The rosy picture features a world in which cars zip around by themselves, allowing commuters to while away their time checking email as they benefit from technology expected to save 600,000 lives by 2045. The dystopian view holds that all those vehicles will put some 5 million truckers, cabbies, and other drivers out of work.

The truth, of course, lies somewhere between the two extremes. But however it shakes out, the global economy will see a big boost. Like, a $7 trillion, with a t, boost.  That’s the word from the data crunchers at Intel and the research company Strategy Analytics. The robocar sector could add as much as $2 trillion to the US economy alone by 2050.

Granted, much of that money will go to the GMs and Ubers and Googles of the world, and the auto industry could see a seismic shift in where it generates dough. “Over time, service, application and content revenue generated by mobility-as-a-service will supplant the value of vehicle sales as core sources of shareholder value creation,” the report states. 

Translation: These companies will make big bank moving you and your Amazon purchases around.

Read Aarian Marshall’s story on Wired  - “Robocars Could Add $7 Trillion to the Global Economy.”

(The privately owned motor vehicle has left the world in a precarious position. Today we face a choice, do we continue with a consumerist, ego driven idea of privately owned vehicles or do we opt for, and embrace, a sophisticated public transit system capable of answering every need, except the want of a private car? 

I fear if will be the former, autonomous or otherwise, but it is the latter (a public transit system not yet really seen anywhere) that the world community urgently needs - Robert McLean)

Federal Government could finance coal-fired power stations with clean energy funding

New coal-fired power stations using 'clean coal' technology could be funded by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), under plans announced by the Federal Government.

 Mr Frydenberg said carbon capture and
 storage can help reduce Australia's
 emissions - it won't.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has announced plans to amend the CEFC Act to allow investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The technology involves capturing carbon dioxide from a power plant and burying it underground in a bid to reduce emissions.

Read the ABC News story - “Federal Government could finance coal-fired power stations with clean energy funding.”

(I weep, metaphorically, at this latest decision taken by the Turnbull Government - most everything Josh Frydenberg has said about carbon capture and storage (CCS) is questionable, if not blatantly wrong. CCS has only been trialled at an insignificantly small scale and as yet no one understands the technical complications of upscaling such projects to the massive degree needed to make the process work in a way that would slow the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. 

Beyond that, most people are unaware of the scientific realities of climate change and so have no comprehension of what CCS is, or how it works, the difficulties of actually employing the process and the madness of betting the health of our atmosphere on a process of which we do not yet have any real grasp or understanding of how it should work and how we should employ it, and they will believe what Mr Turnbull and his cohort promise - “clean coal” simply doesn’t exist and our government is doing a distinct disservice to the Australian public in changing the rules to allow Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) money to be used on what is unquestionable the dirtiest form of energy presently being used in world - Robert McLean.)

In climate fight, carbon removal is still a risky path

Assuming that the deployment of carbon removal technology will outpace emissions and conquer global climate change is a poor substitute for taking action now, say researchers.

With the current pace of renewable energy deployment and emissions reductions efforts, the world is unlikely to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This trend puts in doubt efforts to keep climate change damages from sea level rise, heat waves, drought, and flooding in check. Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, also known as “negative emissions,” has been thought of as a potential method of fighting climate change.

In their new perspective published in the journal Science, however, researchers from Stanford University explain the risks of assuming carbon removal technologies can be deployed at a massive scale relatively quickly with low costs and limited side effects—with the future of the planet at stake.

Read the post by Devon Ryan on Futurity - “In climate fight, carbon removal is still a risky path.”