theangle.org

By Bill Hudson

Australian Energy Review

Energy Matters reports that the Australian Greens are drafting a private members bill to increase the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (RET) to accommodate solar hot water systems, which have been blamed for a fall in the price of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)  (27 January 2010)

Fairfax reports that a consortium led by the Qld Govt is bidding for $100 million in Federal Government funding for pilot solar power projects  (28 January 2010)

Stuff.co.nz reports that opponents are considering a challenge to legal consents to Meridian’s NZ wind farm project (28 January 2010)

Oil Rig, Australia. Credit: roger_melb/flickr

ABC reports that Hinchinbrook Council in Queensland has expressed concerns about the impact of North Queensland Bio-Energy Corporation’s proposed generation plant at Ingham’s impact on the water supply (28 January 2010)

Fairfax reports that new feed in tariff meters will cost NSW households $300 (28 January 2010)

Reuters reports that Origin Energy is seeking the environmental nod for an export agreement with US-based ConocoPhillips (29 January 2010)

Bloomberg Business Week reports that uranium miner, Energy Resources Australia, has forecast a profit downgrade in 2010 as it spends on expansion, while Fairfax reports ERA parent Rio Tinto hoping for a profit rise through increased Uranium prices and that ERA’s Jabiluka project remains stalled due to lack of agreement with indigenous land owners (29 January 2010),

Bloomberg reports that Woodside is continuing with legal action against the union covering workers who struck at its Pluto gas project despite a return to work, with workers to meet on Feb 5 to discuss the dispute (29 January 2010)

Stuff.co.nz reports that NZ Oil and Gas is planning on bringing production online at its Kupe gas field in March (29 January 2010)

Fairfax reports that Origin Energy’s production and retail figures are up for the last quarter of 2009, and Upstream Online puts the production upturn at 2 percent for the quarter (29 January 2010)

NT News and the ABC report on Tenax’s plans for a $900 million tidal power project in Darwin that has the potential to supply enough power for  NT’s entire power grid (29 January 2010)

Gas Today reports that Cougar Energy and Australia Petroleum have signed a deal on a coal seam methane gasification project at the Surat basin in Queensland  (29 January 2010)

Ninemsn reports on expansion plans by junior electricity retailer Australian Power and Gas (29 January 2010)

Bloomberg Business Week reports on successful drilling in the Bass basin by Australian Worldwide Exploration in a joint venture with Origin Energy (29 January 2010)

The Gov Monitor reports on Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing an increase in energy usage by Australians (29 January 2010)

Oilbarrel.com reports that Australia’s Little Altona Energy has progressed with its joint venture with China’s third largest oil company in a Coal-to-Liquids Project (29 January 2010)

The Queensland Government has issued a press release announcing a consortium to bid for $100 million in federal funds to build a demonstration smart electricity grid (29 January 2010)

UPI reports that GDF Suez and Santos have reached a deal over Timor Sea LNG project (29 January 2010)

officialwire reports that BTU International Received $5.5 Million In Solar Orders From Asia/Pacific Customers (30 January 2010)

Voxy.co.nz reports that Meridian Energy To Offer NZ$150 Million Renewable Energy Bonds (30 January 2010), while Reuters UK puts the price at NZ$125 million (3 February 2010)

The Australian Energy Regulator has issued its quarterly compliance report for the last quarter of 2009 (31 January 2010)

Trading Markets reports that AGL would need fresh capital, probably through a rights issue, to fund the acquisition of privatised electric power assets in New South Wales (1 February 2010)

Reuters reports that Xstrata is considering up to $15 billion investment to boost output at its Australian thermal coal project to 100 million metric tonnes a year (1 February 2010)

Reuters reports that the Australian government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme faces stiff opposition in parliament (1 February 2010)

The NZPA reports that Westland A green friendly hydro-electric power scheme on the West Coast has won resource consent to harness tributaries of the Ngakawau River (1 February 2010)

Computerworld reports on Victorian efforts to secure a share of $100 m of Australian Federal government smart grid funding (1 February 2010)

ABC reports that public submissions have been sought on a South Australian wave generation project (1 February 2010)

Bloomberg and the ABC report on the Australian Opposition’s release of its climate change policy (2 February 2010)

News Limited reports that a University of Melbourne study shows that ‘smart’ meters being rolled out across Victoria and NSW could lift power bills for pensioners and single mothers by up to $150 a year (2 February 2010), while AAP and Fairfax reports the Victorian Government is to review the situation (3 February 2010)

News Ltd reports that Arrow Energy will attempt to raise funds to build the $2 billion-plus Fisherman’s Landing liquefied natural gas project at Gladstone (2 February 2010)

AAP and Fairfax reports that The University of Queensland has entered into a new agreement with an American alternative energy company to turn sugar cane into jet biofuel. (2 February 2010)

Dow Jones and Mining.com report that Waratah Coal has doubled the size of its coal resource in Queensland to 7.4 billion metric tons (2 February 2010)

Voxy.co.nz reports claims that NZ businesses are paying too much for electricity (2 February 2010)

Voxy.co.nz reports Solid Energy Seeking consent for a hydro scheme at Stockton on NZ’s West Coast (2 February 2010)

Adelaidenow.com reports that South Australia South Australia could use the state’s excess salt water to generate electricity (2 February 2010)

Reuters have produced a factbox on the Australian government’s and opposition’s carbon reduction schemes (2 February 2010)

ABC reports that distributor SPAusnet has applied to the regulator to increase daytime electricity prices (2 February 2010)

ABC reports on Australian opposition leader, Tony Abbott’s carbon reduction  plan (3 February 2010)

Radio NZ reports on the Cook Islands introducing a net feed in tariff (3 February 2010)

Trading Markets reports on China Guangzdong Nuclear Power taking a stake in an Australian Uranium mining company with undeveloped assets (3 February 2010)

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