Sustainable Energy Seminars 2006-2007
The Engineers Australia Southern Highlands and Tablelands Regional Group Seminars on "Australia's Sustainable Energy Options".
The Seminar presentations by the expert Guest Speakers are posted here in PDF format - click the Seminar title/left image to download the PDF file and open it in your Adobe Reader.
Seminar Listing - Click to view
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WIND POWER ELECTRICITY23 APRIL 2006 Wind Power is a growing source of alternative 'green' energy for electricity generation. This presentation by Dr Hugh Outhred [Joint Director (Engineering) and Presiding Director, Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets (CEEM) and Head, Energy Systems Research Group, School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications, University of New South Wales], discusses the current and future contribution of this emerging electricity generation technology to Australia's sustainable energy needs. |
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SOLAR THERMAL ELECTRICITY2 May 2006 Solar Thermal Energy is another source of alternative 'green' energy for electricity generation. This presentation by Dr Keith Lovegrove [Leader, Solar Thermal Group (STG), Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSES), Australian National University], discusses the development and commercialisation of ANU's current research on a Big Dish Solar Concentrator and its contribution to Australia's sustainable energy needs.
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HOT DRY ROCK ELECTRICITY15 June 2006 Hot Dry Rock energy is a major potential source of alternative ‘green' energy for electricity generation. This presentation by Dr Prame Chopra [Director, Geodynamics Ltd] discusses the exploration for geothermal energy in this country, the results of drilling and prototype testing in South Australia, and the contribution this technology can make to Australia's sustainable energy needs, including the benefits/costs of this emerging electricity generation technology. |
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NUCLEAR POWER - THE PROS & CONS13 July 2006 Dr Clarence Hardy [Secretary of the Australian Nuclear Association and Vice-President/President-Elect of the Pacific Nuclear Council] addresses the perceived problems of nuclear power - the safety of reactors, high capital costs, waste management and the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation and terrorism. The claims by the nuclear industry that, compared with fossil fuels: 1) it has a good safety record; 2) it is economic; 3) its radioactive waste can be disposed of safely; and 4) the risks of nuclear weapons proliferation and terrorism are far outweighed by the benefits, are discussed in the context of the current debate on the pros and cons of uranium mining and nuclear power for Australia in the world scene. |
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SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICITY17 August 2006 Solar Photovoltaic Electricity is another source of alternative ‘green' energy for electricity generation. The presentation by Dr Muriel Watt [Senior Lecturer, School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of New South Wales], discusses the latest types of PV cells and their application within current government policy frameworks both internationally and nationally for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and its contribution to Australia's sustainable energy needs, including the upsides/downsides, benefits/costs of this emerging electricity generation technology. |
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WAVE ENERGY ELECTRICITY26 October 2006 Ocean waves represent a significant potential source of renewable energy, and although the idea of converting wave energy to electricity has been around for a long time, with the first patent being filed over a century ago, the challenges in bringing a practical wave energy plant to fruition are significant. The presentation by A/Prof Paul Cooper [Associate Professor, School of Mechanical, Materials and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Wollongong] will cover the background to ocean waves as an energy resource, recent technical developments in the field, the Oscillating Water Column systems used in several plants around the world and the Energetech Australia prototype at Port Kembla, and the contribution this emerging electricity generation technology can make to Australia's sustainable energy needs, including its upsides and downsides, benefits and costs. |
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NATURAL GAS ELECTRICITY28 February 2007 Matthew Clemow, Manager Commercial & Allocations, TRUenergy, Australia's third largest gas and electricity company with 1.2 million customers, presents the current usage of gas in base/peak load electricity generation; the operation of the gas and electricity markets; natural gas for electricity generation and comparison with other alternatives; the costs of capacity, delivery, generation, distribution; potential future gas supplies and reserves; other uses for gas and environmental impacts. |
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LOW EMISSION COAL GAS ELECTRICITY26 April 2007 Coal Gasification is a cleaner option for electricity generation than conventional coal-fired power stations, with the Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant using high efficiency gas turbines being identified as the most efficient and environmentally friendly technology for producing low cost electricity from coal. Dr David Harris, Group Manager, Energy Conversion, CSIRO Energy Technology, presents CSIRO's coal gasification research, which is examining the performance of Australian coals under the intense high pressure, high temperature conditions relevant to modern gasification systems. His presentation gives an overview of the opportunities and challenges facing the implementation of ‘clean coal technologies' for reducing emissions and increasing the efficiency from coal based power and energy technologies in Australia.
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HYDROGEN & FUEL CELL ENERGY24 May 2007 When used in fuel cells, hydrogen can produce electricity for both stationary and portable applications. Fuel cells produce electricity continuously and efficiently without producing harmful emissions. Hydrogen can be used to fuel cars, buses, trains, boats, planes, and utility-scale units are being developed for the electricity industry... Luigi Bonadio, Principal, Luigi Bonadio & Associates, consultant to government and industry on fuels/energy operations/infrastructure, overviews hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for transport, stationary and portable energy applications, including their relative cost, operation, durability and life-cycle environmental impact. |
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SO WHAT'S THE BEST ENERGY MIX?28 June 2007 So what is the best and most sustainable energy mix for Australia? All is revealed by Professors Tom Romberg and Gavan McDonell FTSE in this concluding seminar in our series on "Australia's Sustainable Energy Options". Tom overviews the technologies and their suitability based on key sustainability criteria, including: electricity generation availability, relative generation costs, emissions reduction capability, and utilises this criteria to develop a cost/emissions reduction matrix to give the best sustainable energy mix from a technology viewpoint. Gavan overviews electricity market drivers, including: Federal/State institutions and legislations, the national electricity markets, the regulated transmission/supply markets, the financial risk/capital markets, and how the markets determine the take-up of new entry technologies. |
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LINKS TO ASSOCIATED TALKSIs Nuclear Power a Greenhouse Solution? Nuclear Power: Our Greenhouse Solution? |
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DISCLAIMER: The views expressed in these presentations are those of the author, except where the author specifies and with authority, states them to be the views of Engineers Australia.
