(It may also be of interest, outside Australia)
Two new resources that I have found in the last few months, are:
1. A web page that, when it is working properly, shows for each state in Australia, the proportion of electrical energy currently being generated from each of the main generation type sources, with the data being frequently updated (about every ten minutes, or more frequently, is published at
http://reneweconomy.com.au/nem - watch/
I prefer to look at the numbers in the table, rather than the areas of the bar graphs, as the numbers in the table, give a better idea of the values. I note that the values published, are as supplied to the owners and operators of the NEM - watch facility, and therefore, the data published, is only as good as the data that is supplied.
However, when they modified the display to include battery storage, they harmfully disrupted the displaying of the table, so it is now somewhat erratic, in what it displays.
While the displaying of the data, is a bit buggy (it appears to not, as at 18 September 2017, and, for quite a while before this date, be able to handle darkness - when the sun goes down, so does the integrity of the data), and, "sometimes it works, and, sometimes it doesn't" - javascript web pages are unreliable and often harmful, when it does work during daylight hours, the displaying of the data, can be quite useful and interesting.
Inserted 15 February 2021
Try this link instead - this one seems to work okay.
https://www.nem-watch.info/widgets/reneweconomy/
2. A web page that shows a rough estimate for ideal conditions, of the hourly efficiency due to solar radiation, of photovoltaic electricity generation systems from 1.5 to 10 kilowatt generating capacity, for each state, for the current and following day, is published at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/solar - panel - efficiency - weather - calculator/
Note: The way that I regard that web page as being most useful, is for estimating between which times, a photovoltaic system is likely to produce higher levels of output, so, for example, I use the system capacity of 10kW, to find the per kW output estimate from the graph, and, estimate, from that, using the orientaion of each system, and, the maximum rated output capacity of each system. I do not use the data published, as an absolute estimate of the quantity of output; I use the hourly estimates for the ideal conditions, to estimate the hours of higher output.
NOTE: Both of those web pages require javascript to be enabled, in order for the web pages to be usefully displayed.
This web site, as with all of my web sites, does not use javascript.
You may be interested in visiting the web page at
http://reneweconomy.com.au
and subscribing to the daily newsletter.
Note: As of 29 November 2017, as the Renew Economy web site publishes public comments which are not moderated, and which have become increasingly offensive, making the Renew Exonomy web site, in my opinion, an offensive publication, I no longer recommend that web site, and, instead, now, recommend staying away from that web site, unless you seek offensive publications.
You may be interested in visiting the web page at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/
and subscribing to the weekly, daily, or, individual news updates, of that resource.
For people who may be unaware of the different names in use, for rooftop photovoltaic electricity generation systems, they are also known as "solar panels", and, "solar electricity systems", and, "solar panels systems", and their purpose is to convert available sunlight (apparently, they do not work with moonlight, which is unfortunate, exspecially on nights with a clear sky and a bright full moon), into usable electricity, that may, when an excess is generated, be input into "the electricity grid", and/or, now that they have apparently been legalised, battery storage systems.
At
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016 - 01 - 04/rooftop - solar - panels - bigger - than - biggest - turbine - wa/7066240
at the time of adding this item to this web page, was
"
Rooftop solar producing more energy than WA's biggest turbine
By Anthony Stewart
Updated January 05, 2016 10:52:23
Rooftop solar panels in the South - West Interconnected System (SWIS) in Western Australia are now producing as much energy as the state's largest power turbine, according to research from Curtin University.
SWIS stretches from Kalbarri north of Perth to Ravensthorpe in the state's south, taking in the Perth metropolitan area.
Curtin University sustainability professor Peter Newman said 20 per cent of homes across the grid have rooftop solar panels installed.
"We are in the extraordinary position of saying that Perth [SWIS] now has rooftop solar as the largest supplier of electricity, it's the biggest power station in WA," he said.
"It's nearly 500 megawatts and it's growing rapidly, by 2020 we could have half of Perth's [SWIS] households with rooftop solar."
SWIS, which includes coal, gas, wind and solar generation, has the capacity to produce 5,300 megawatts of power, but it only used roughly two thirds of that at its peak in 2014/2015.
Not including solar, coal makes up about 50 per cent of WA's energy production mix, while gas represents 42 per cent and wind 6.3 per cent.
Professor Newman said the state's electricity utilities needed to rapidly adapt to the growth in solar.
"They didn't predict it, they have all these contracts for coal and gas that go 20 or 30 years and they have even got an old power station out of mothballs, fixed it up, but never turned it on," he said.
"Despite the boom times we actually reduced our power consumption during this period because people are just not needing it if you've got the PV's [photovoltaic] on the roof."
Energy utility Synergy has been contacted for comment.
Batteries to drive solar boom
Rooftop solar's biggest weakness has been its inability to supply power once the sun sets.
This can be addressed with the installation of large battery systems that allow households to store solar energy for use in peak periods.
Clean Energy Council policy manager Darren Gladman said until recently battery storage systems had been too expensive for the average consumer.
He said household batteries would become increasingly common with big producers like billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk's company Tesla entering the market.
"In 2016 the onset of batteries and entry of Elon Musk to the market is going to really change the way we think about energy," he said.
"We are not just going to think about producing energy from solar, but producing energy and storing it."
Mr Gladman said Australia would become a global leader in the rollout of battery technology.
"Because we've got so many households with solar on the roof, reasonably high power prices and great sun of course, it means we are a prime market," he said.
"So that makes [us] one of first markets the likes of Elon Musk, but also other companies that sell batteries, are targeting."
First posted January 04, 2016 15:17:38
"
In the last couple of days, the ABC online news web site has published the news report at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016 - 01 - 20/tesla - powerwall - solar - battery - system - popular - mandurah - in - lead/7102494?section=wa
One thing that perhaps, does not occur to many people, that had occurred to me, a few weeks ago, is that, regarding the bit in the news report, about reducing the demand for grid electricity, during summer;
"
The burgeoning popularity of rooftop solar is also increasingly
reducing peak demand on the electricity network servicing Perth,
according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.
Its data shows peak demand on the hottest day in Perth five years ago
was 3735 megawatts, reduced by 19MW due to solar PV systems.
In 2013, solar PV reduced peak demand by 84MW on the hottest day of
the year, and in 2015 the figure more than doubled to 187MW.
"
is that one probable effect of the uptake of rooftop domestic photovoltaic systems in WA, is that it is now, some years since we had to suffer the rolling electricity blackouts that were imposed because Western Power would not provide sufficient electricity to cope with people going home from work in the summer, and turning on their air - conditioners.
We, the people with the rooftop domestic photovoltaic systems, have apparently overcome the electricity supply shortage that had caused the rolling electricity blackouts in past summers, in WA.
That is simply one of the many benefits of the rooftop domestic photovoltaic systems.
At http://d3bo5ucoqkgs8h.cloudfront.net/uzOHN/1/?abcnewsembedheight=430 is shown that the Armadale postcode, 6112, is the third highest postcode in the state, in terms of the number of small scale (non - commercial) photovoltaic systems installed in 2015, with 603 installations, and, in terms of the generating capacity, again, the third highest, with 2.498MW of generating capacity, installed in those systems.
That the 6112 postcode, is the third highest in the state, for these two ratings, is interesting, given that it is said to be one of the lower socio - economic postcodes in the metropolitan area. Maybe, the greater necessity to be careful with what funds a household has available, has led to wise investment, to reduce ongoing living expenses, by using solar energy, quite apart from the environmental aspect of using clean energy, rather than energy created by burning stuff and causing increasing pollution.
Also, at http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/RET/Forms - and - resources/Postcode - data - for - small - scale - installations is the information that, for 2015, for the whole of Australia, 130,253 small scale photovoltaic systems were installed, with the cumulative number of such installations, for the country, being 1,498,159, and, those equivalent numbers, respectively, for WA, being 19,055 and 194,472.
Now, a number of aspects to these quantities, arise.
The first, is that, for the numbers of installations in the 2015 calendar year, for both Western Australia, and, for the country as a whole, that involves alot of both Western Australian, and, otherwise Australian, employment, which is good for both the WA and federal economies.
If you visit my residence, you will likely see the sign on the fence, which sign states "Vote Jobs - Vote Solar", and, with 19055 new "small scale" rooftop photovoltaic systems, being shown as having been installed in Western Australia, in the 2015 claendar year, that shows that the installation and use of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, provides alot of employment, for alot of people, in Western Australia.
The second aspect to the above data, is that, in terms of WA, which has a state parliament that is hostile to photovoltaic systems, 194,472, as the cumulative number of photovoltaic systems installed, involves alot of voting power, especially when the state parliament considers imposing extra financial penalties on households with domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems.
This is quite apart from the missing quantities of the total available electricity generating capacity, and, at http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/DocumentAssets/Documents/Postcode%20data%20for%20small - scale%20installations.xls is shown that, for the Armadale postcode of 6112, alone, as at 01/01/2016, the postcode has a generating capacity of 13 MW, from photovoltaic systems.
I have yet to find the total generating capacity, for all of the listed small scale photovoltaic systems in Western Australia, and, when I do find that information, I intend to also publish that information here.
The use of rooftop photovoltaic systems, is an important part of Australia, including but not limited to, the environmental and economic aspects, and, changes need to be implemented, to encourage increasing the usage of rooftop photovoltaic systems.
One of the changes that are needed, for both households who already have rooftop photovoltaic systems, and, for people who may be considering getting installed, rooftop photovoltaic systems, are changes to state and any higher, legislation, including to both planning legislation, and, the notorious tree legislation, so that any property owner who has a tree on the property, is legally and otherwise, responsible and liable for any loss or damage attributable to the tree, including, but not limited to, where the tree casts shadow on a residence on a different property, so as to interfere with the use, or, prospective use, of rooftop photovoltaic electricity generation, and/or, otherwise casts shadow on a residence in a property other than the property on which the tree stands, so as to cause increased energy consumption, such as extra heating being required during colder months, due to shadow being cast by the tree, on the residence, and, similarly, with planning, disallowing building development, including modifications, where such development would cause or increase shadow being cast on a building on a property other than the property on which the building is being developed, similarly, so as to interfere with the use, or, prospective use, of rooftop photovoltaic electricity generation, and/or, otherwise casts shadow on a residence in a property other than the property on which the building is being developed, so as to cause increased energy consumption, such as extra heating being required during colder months, due to shadow being cast by the change caused by the building development, on the residence that is not on the property on which the building being developed, stands.
An advocacy body exists, in the eastern states, regarding solar energy usage. The organisation is named Solar Citizens. It is the owner and supplier of the sign on the fence of my residence. The organisation's web site, is at http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/ .
That web site has an online petition to try to prevent the state parliament from further increasing the financial penalties imposed on households with rooftop photovoltaic systems in Western Australia. Western Australia is shown as having 194 thousand small scale photovoltaic systems installed. Apparently, as at 22 January 2016, only 6700 people have signed the online petition to stop us getting further penalised for doing the right thing. A question is, "How many households with rooftop photovoltaic systems, in Western Australia, are aware of the online petition?"
We need an organisation, such as Solar Citizens, or, a branch of such an organisation, in Western Australia, to advocate for solar energy usage, and, to advocate for increasing solar energy usage, and, other clean energy usage, in this state, and, to be more active, in advocacy in favour of the use of solar energy, and, other clean energy, in this state..
In the last few days (and, including today), Perth, Western Australia, has been experiencing a heatwave, which, with the use of air - conditioners, to ameliorate the heat, has lead to record levels of electricty demand, in the heat of the day.
At http://www.solarcitizens.org.au/ - - > http://www.watoday.com.au/wa - news/perth - weather - 42 - degrees - on - monday - sees - city - break - alltime - power - record - 20160208 - gmov9v.html is an article, which includes
"
Later on Tuesday all eyes will be on Western Power, after Perth
smashed its power demand peak record on Monday evening.
At 3.30pm Monday, Western Power set a record for demand peak, topping
the old mark of 4068 megawatts set in January 2012.
By 5pm, with the temperature still 41.7 degrees, the demand was up to
4264 megawatts. Western Power compared the electricity demand to that
associated with Domain Stadium hosting 160 football games.
"
and still, we had no blackouts due to the heatwave.
I had sent an email message to the publisher, advising that I woinder why the article that was published yesterday, did not include reference to the respective amounts of electricty generated, and, input into the grid, from rooftop domestic photovoltaic systems, for the two electricty demand peak times mentioned in the article. I am interested to find wehether I get a reply to that.
Also, at
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western - australia/perth - heatwave - how - hot - can - it - get - after - 425c - monday/news - story/6d1b9258b19510cc5a84e0c7d37aeb83
was
"
Monday's scorcher produced a record power demand with a peak usage of
4292 megawatts, which smashed the previous January 2012 record.
A Western Power spokesman said it was likely Monday's record will fall today.
"
and
"
Australians must brace for hotter, longer and far more frequent
heatwaves thanks to climate change, scientists say.
Leading climate scientists say extreme prolonged heat is becoming the
norm in Australia, where the number of annual heatwave days has risen
markedly over the past 60 years.
The warning comes after a series of scorching summer heatwaves around
the country, including one in Perth where temperatures are expected to
stay above 40C until at least Thursday.
Climate scientist Sarah Perkins - Kirkpatrick says the extreme events
will only continue to increase.
"Those really rare heatwaves we might have only seen once every 20
years for example, might occur now once every two years," she said on
Tuesday.
"They will certainly be occurring lot more often than what they used
to had climate change not occurred."
Bureau of Meteorology senior climatologist Blair Trewin agreed, saying
there had been a strong increase in weather events involving extreme
heat and a decline in the number of extreme cold events.
Dr Perkins - Kirkpatrick said weather data from the past 60 years showed
a marked increase in the number of heatwaves.
"
And, at
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather - news/extreme - heat - to - remain - in - pert/55290318
was
"
On Monday, the temperature soared to 42.5 C (108 F) in Perth, which
was the hottest February day in the city since 1997, according to the
Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Western Power reported that their
system usage reached an all - time high of 4,174 megawatts on Monday,
breaking the previous record from January 2012.
The extreme heat will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs
expected to reach around 43 C (109 F) both days.
"
Given that we have not yet suffered electricity supply blackouts due to overloading due to the heatwave, I am interested to know respective quantities for each of the total amount of electricty generated, and, the amount of electricty input into the grid, from domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems
.
In doing a little bit of research, I had found the web page at
http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable - news/air - conditioning - solar - em4659/
which has
"
Air - Conditioning, Heatwaves And Solar Power
January 27, 2015Energy Matters
There are now around 6.7 million households with air conditioners
installed in Australia, compared to only 1.9 million in 1990 - and
solar power systems are helping to alleviate the strain the comfort we
demand places on electricity networks.
Approximately a quarter of the investment by electricity networks -
eleven billion dollars - has gone towards constructing capacity to
cope with supplying power to all this air - conditioning on a handful of
days each year. A 2kW air conditioner may only cost around $1500 to
purchase, but imposes costs on the energy system of up to $7000.
While there may be 6.7 million air - conditioned households across the
nation, the number of units is significantly higher as some homes have
multiple installations.
An information sheet recently released by the Energy Supply
Association of Australia (ESAA) states that on a typical January day,
operational demand in Victoria reaches around 6,643MW. When heat waves
hit, this already high level goes through the roof. For example, on
January 29, 2009, operational demand reached 10,576 MW.
Another sizzling day was on January 16, 2014 when demand reached 10,307 MW.
But why was it less in 2014 given there would have been substantial
growth in air - conditioners between 2009 and 2012?
Part of the answer has to do with solar panels.
During the 2014 heat event, solar accounted for around 4.5 per cent of
generation during the time of peak demand in SA and 2.4 per cent in
Victoria.
"This means total peak electricity demand in both states was almost
certainly significantly higher in January 2014 than the all - time
record, but the effect of increased penetration of solar was to keep
demand below the levels of demand set in 2009," says the ESAA.
Not only did solar power help lighten the load on electricity
infrastructure, it did so incredibly cheaply too. Peak power plants
supply electricity at short notice; but the electricity generated is
very expensive, costing up to $12,500 per megawatt - hour - $12.50 per
kilowatt - hour wholesale.
The solar revolution is also changing the timing of peak demand;
particularly in South Australia. While Queensland has the most solar
capacity installed, South Australia has the highest penetration rate
of solar panels in Australia, with a quarter of the state's homes
having solar panels.
In South Australia, peak demand time is being pushed deeper into the
evening. Over the last couple of years, peak demand has shifted from
5 - 5.30pm to 6:00 PM and 7 PM respectively.
ESAA's Heatwaves And Electricity Supply factsheet can be viewed here
(PDF). The ESAA is the peak industry body representing the stationary
energy sector in Australia.
"
I looked at the ESAA document, and, downloaded a copy, and, in an email message that I sent to the contact person for the document, I asked why the document did not include respective information for Western Australia, and, whether a current, or, more recent, updated version of the document, would be available.
The document is interesting, and it is worth reading, but, a newer version, to both bring the content up rto date, and, to include alll of the states, is needed.
Unfortunately, my email message to the contact person regarding the
document, bounced, as "addressee unknown" , and, subsequent
investigation revealed, on the still operational (and, now, out of
date) web site for the ESAA;
"
From 1 January 2016, the esaa secretariat will no longer operate. The
change follows a decision by the member companies of the esaa, Energy
Retailers Association of Australia (ERAA), the Energy Networks
Association (ENA) and Grid Australia to reorganise and rationalise
their representative associations to better reflect the changes
underway in the energy industry.
"
So, the ESAA has gone. I note that its board included a representative from Synergy, which has an aversion to domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems.
Now, in the context of all of this, I revisited a copy of the document cited above, as being published at http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/DocumentAssets/Documents/Postcode%20data%20for%20small - scale%20installations.xls and, it occurred to me that, by using what little spreadsheet skills I remember, given that the postcodes for Western Australia, are, to my knowledge, the 6000 to 6999 range of postcodes, which occupy rows 2222 to 2651 of that spreadsheet, and, given that the column BA of the spereadsheet, has the heading "SGU Total Output in kW Total, I obtained a sum of the values of the cells in that column, for rows 222 to 2651, inclusive, and got a total, for the total rated output for small photovoltaic systems, for Western Australia, as at the end of 2015, of just over 535MW, which, to me, is a phenomenal amount of electricity.
Now, I realise that, from my understanding of the way that photovoltaic panels work, the efficiency may drop slightly, as the ambient heat increases, but, it appears to me, likely that, when the record electricity demand occurred, we people with domestic rooftop photovoltaic panels, were likely contributing about 10% of the electricity supply, including both to ourselves and the grid, avoiding the need for electricity supply blackouts due to record peak demand for electricity, due to the heat.
I have today, found the existence of an organisation in Australia, named the Australian Solar Council, which includes solar energy equipment providers, as well as individuals, as its members, and, that organisation has the published objective; "The Australian Solar Council exists to promote scientific, social and economic development through the environmentally sound use of solar energy.". But, on their web site, I found no information resemblig what I have published above. And, while that organisation apparently has a WA chapter (for which, the web page has apparently not been updated since 2011 (as at the time of me writing this, on 10 February 2016) ), once again, the web site does not include any information about the number of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems (classed above, by the spreadsheet cited, as "SGU's", I believe), installed in Westewrn Australia, by postcode, and, for the whole state, and, neither, for those two instances, does that web site include (that I could find), publication of the total possible generating capacity, of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems. And, especially, the web site makes no reference (that I found) to the current heatwave in Perth, and the resultant record electricity demand, and the impact of the domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems (and all of the photovoltaic systems) that are installed, on the demand for grid electricity, and, the alleviation of the need for electricity supply blackouts, due to the use of the photovoltaic systems. So, I call on the Australian Solar Council, to make its web site more functional (instead of the "froth and bubbles", that it is, and, publish pertinent information, that is kept as up to date as possibl;e, about the status and benefit of photovoltaic systems (in addition to other solar energy usage, such as solar hot water systems. The organisation is apparently, a big and rich organisation, but, it appears to be missing its point, by its web site not being as functional and informative, as it should and could be.
And, with a federal election due in 2016, and, a state election (for WA) due in 2017, we need a npolitical party that will start to do the right thing, like the federal government, through a Clean Energy Finance Corporation, offering interest - free loans to householders, to install photovoltaic systems and storage batteries.
And, the state parliament should ensure that, given that people who have photovoltaic systems installed, are required to have installed, with a fee, "bi - directional" electricity meters, people who have photovoltaic systems installed and in use, are only charged for net electricty usage for all electricity bills; so that the "bi - directional meters" are used to determine the ifference between the energy rtaken from the grid, and, the energy put into the grid, and people are only charged for the difference, with the amount of benefit (currently about 7 cents per kilowatt - hour), paid wehn the net difference, is a surplus; when the electricity put into the grid, exceeds the electricity taken from the grid, with this applying for the billing cycle. After all, that is what we signed up for, but, Synergy concealed and changed the contract that we accepted when we got photovoltaic systems installed, to deprive us of what we siugned up for. That needs to be fixed - both, so that people who have phovoltaic systems, have a hard copy of what they are signed up for (other finance companies, have to provide that, but, not Synergy...), and, so that the "bi - directional meters" that we are required to pay to have installed, actually do what they are supposed to do, according to their name.
And, this is inaddition to fixng the Tree Act, and, planning laws, so that a person or body, can not be allowed to inhibit or obstruct the acces of another property, to solar energy.
Statistics as at 12 February 2016
I have just revisited the spreadsheet published at http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/DocumentAssets/Documents/Postcode%20data%20for%20small - scale%20installations.xls and I found some data for January 2016, and so I extracted the following data.
For Armadale 6112, Western Australia, in January 2016, 40 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 158kW, giving a cumulative total of 4940 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the 6112 postcode, with a rated generating capacity of 13.2MW.
For Western Australia (postcodes 6000 to 6999), in January 2016, 900 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 4.2MW, giving a cumulative total of 196,176 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the state, with a generating capacity of 543.8MW.
Statistics as at 12 March 2016
I have just revisited the spreadsheet published at http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/DocumentAssets/Documents/Postcode%20data%20for%20small - scale%20installations.xls and I found some data for February 2016, and so I extracted the following data.
For Armadale 6112, Western Australia, in February 2016, 35 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 125kW, giving a cumulative total of 5002 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the 6112 postcode, with a rated generating capacity of 13.48MW.
For Western Australia (postcodes 6000 to 6999), in February 2016, 970 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 4.357MW, giving a cumulative total of 197,840 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the state, with a generating capacity of 551.47MW.
For the whole of Australia (all postcodes listed), in February 2016, 4,842 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 23.745MW, giving a cumulative total of 1,517,576 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the whole of Australia, with a generating capacity of 4,756,566MW.
At
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016 - 06 - 15/higher - renewable - target - will - create - jobs: - report/7512928
at the time of adding this item to this web page, was
"
Renewable energy target of 50 per cent would create 28,000 jobs, says Climate Council report
By Lucy Carter
Posted June 15, 2016 15:04:36
If Australia's renewable energy target was changed to 50 per cent by 2030, 28,000 jobs would be created, according to a report released today by the Climate Council.
CEO Amanda McKenzie said the report looked at economic modelling and compared Australia's current trajectory of 34 per cent renewable energy by 2030, to a future where 50 per cent of the nation's energy came from renewable sources.
"So nationwide if we had a 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030, there would be 28,000 new jobs.
"And the story's the same across the country in every state and in rural and regional Australia."
The modelling was carried out by independent analysts Ernst and Young and indicated that many people in coal industry jobs could be retrained and redeployed.
Ms McKenzie said Australia was the "sunniest country in the world and one of the windiest," so there were opportunities for renewable energy across the country.
"But for communities like the Hunter Valley or the Latrobe Valley in Victoria, we need to make sure that the transition away from coal to renewable energy is planned and there is a clear repurposing of roles in those areas," she said.
She said while the renewable energy options were there, the question of ensuring the policy setting was right was important.
"The good news is that rooftop solar PV, for instance, is jobs that would already exist in the area that people live and work today," Ms McKenzie said.
"There's also then jobs in regional and rural Australia with large scale renewable energy, and that sends construction operation maintenance of those plants in the longer term.
"So there is a huge potential for jobs in a whole range of areas around Australia."
Key points:
Report says people in coal industry jobs could be retrained
There are opportunities for renewable energy across Australia
Clean Energy Council says policy settings must be right to ensure jobs
Political support was "essential" to ensure growth in industry
"
Statistics as at 16 June 2016
I have just revisited the spreadsheet published at http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/DocumentAssets/Documents/Postcode%20data%20for%20small - scale%20installations.xls and I found some data for March, April, and May 2016, and so I extracted the following data.
For Armadale 6112, Western Australia, in March, April, and May 2016, 20 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 119kW. for March, 10 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 59kW. for April. and, 13 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 86kW. for May, giving a cumulative total of 5187 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the 6112 postcode, with a rated generating capacity of 14.35MW.
For Western Australia (postcodes 6000 to 6999), in March, April, and May 2016, 1657 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 8.316MW. for March, 1444 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 7.069MW. for April. and, 1083 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 5.149MW. for May, giving a cumulative total of 203,541 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the state, with a generating capacity of 579.20MW.
For the whole of Australia (all postcodes listed), in March, April, and May 2016, 9446 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 48.347MW. for March, 7633 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 38.897MW. for April. and, 4965 new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems are shown as being installed, with a rated generating capacity of 25.372MW. for May, giving a cumulative total of 1,548,345 domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed in the whole of Australia, with a generating capacity of 4,916,271MW.
Note: The quantities for the March and April months, will seem disproportionately greater, as, with my retrieving the data later than usual, for those respective months, the data from the source, will me more complete, as mentioned below.
Think of all of the employment that is involved, in installing so many domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems.
Please note: Regarding information extracted from the spreadsheet published at http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/DocumentAssets/Documents/Postcode%20data%20for%20small - scale%20installations.xls , that the data stated here, is as at the time of the data extraction, and, so, if cumulative totals to dot appear to correspond with previous cumulative totals plus increments, and, if data extracted at a particular time (/date), are not the same as the data for the criteria, at a later date, it may be due to the records at the source; the Clean Energy Regulator, having been progressively updated, due to an ongoing flow of paperwork, and thence, data, into the Clean Energy Regulator. So, the data that I post here, is the data that I have viewed as at the date and time of me extracting that data, and, it may change, as the Clean Energy Regulator updates its records, due to incoming data.
The following is content from an email message that I sent on 03 September 2017, to Tim Clifford, member of the Western Australian state upper house of parliament (the legislative council), as he represents the Greens party in the upper house, and is a member for the East Metropolitan Region, of which Armadale is a part.
"
I am one of your constituents, living in Armadale, which is within the
East Metropolitan Region.
You represent the Greens Party in Western Australia.
In the document published as your "Inaugural Speech", is
"
We live in a privileged country with immense resources and incredible talent. We should be the envy of the world in relation to our approach to reducing carbon emissions, and yet Australia is one of the world's biggest carbon emitters. Our level of
carbon pollution per capita is nearly double the average of what other developed nations are emitting today,and more than four times the world average. In Western Australia we emit 86 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. This is the equivalent of 18 million cars on the road every year.We need our young people, our brightest minds and our sharpest entrepreneurs operating in a policy environment that encourages innovation, and we need our government to truly listen and implement these good ideas. We need to be living in a state where people can store energy generated from rooftop solar panels. That energy would be put into batteries in their own homes and provide excess unused power back to the grid so that other people could use that energy. We must focus on structural incentives to continue to foster and grow consumer - led decentralised energy generation, whereby households harness their own renewable energy and sell it to their neighbours, providing a choice for consumers. We need our state's energy market to be economically sound and to operate in a way that reduces emissions and lowers our carbon footprint. We need to make sure that the cheapest renewable energy options are available for all and that electricity is charged at an appropriate rate so that those most at risk are not disadvantaged.
We cannot keep subsidising dirty energy. This is a cycle that needs to be broken. We need strategies that support low income earners to pay for solar installation and battery storage solutions for their homes. Western Australia has just nine per cent renewable energy in its power mix. Over eight years, the Barnett government hampered construction of renewable energy projects in the state. We must turn this around. The Greens look forward to seeing the new Labor government take up this important and urgent challenge. We need to improve our performance. We need to encourage the market to invest. Currently, there are 3 900 megawatts of renewable energy projects in the pipeline across Australia to meet the Large - scale Renewable Energy Target. Embarrassingly, only 180 megawatts of these are in Western Australia.
"
I have a web page published at
http://www.armadale - wa.net/clean - energy.html
that I ask you to read and consider.
Now, regarding the question that I ask you to ask as Question Without
Notice, in the Legislative Council, I refer you to the web pages at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017 - 09 - 03/new - marina - to - be - built - at - ocean - reef/8868008
and
http://www.bbc.com/news/business - 41122433
which web pages, I ask you to read and consider.
I ask you then, to put the Question Without Notice, in the Legislative
Council, to the person representing the state premier;
"With the news reported that the state government intends to spend $120
million of taxpayers' money, on building a new marina at Ocean Reef, to
benefit the ostentatiously rich, justifying the expenditure of
taxpayers' money, with
"
Mr McGowan said the development was justified, despite the state's
finances looking bleak.
"The budget is in a bad state and we have to manage that at the same
time we have to create jobs so it's a balancing act," he said.
"This is capital works, long - term tourism infrastructure, delivers
hundreds if not thousands of jobs and further investment.
"
, and, given that, in the UK, social housing, the equivalent of state
housing in Western Australia, is to be provided with domestic rooftop
photovoltaic systems, with
"
The panels, which will be free to tenants, are expected to cut hundreds
of pounds from energy bills, according to the UK firm Solarplicity.
The first people to benefit from the scheme include residents of a
sheltered retirement home in Ealing, west London.
Speaking at the site, International Trade minister Greg Hands said:
"This initial £160m capital expenditure programme will deliver massive
benefits to some of the UK's poorest households.
"As well as creating 1,000 jobs and delivering cheaper energy bills for
up to 800,000 homes, it shows yet another vote of confidence in the UK
as a place to invest and do business."
"
will the government please explain why it is using taxpayers' funds, to
benefit the ostentatiously rich, instead of using taxpayers' funds to
provide benefit to the less well off in the state, by paying for the
installation of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems on all state
housing properties in the state, and thence, enhancing the use of clean
energy in Western Australia and increasing employment in the clean
energy sector, or, does the government intend to continue the policy of
the previous government, and, of the federal government, in benefiting
the rich, while showing contempt for the environment?
"
Supplementary question:
"As the government clearly, like the previous government and the federal
government, has money to spare on ostentatious projects for the benefit
of the ostentatiously rich, thence increasing damage to the environment,
will the government fund interest - free financing for owner - occupier
householders to install domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems and
associated storage batteries, throughout the state?"
Please ask these questions in the legislative Council, and, advise of
the answers, both publicly and direct to me.
Thank you in anticipation.
"
It will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of my having sent that email request.
At
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/sunnysavers - public - housing - solar - mb0199/
is a report that the Queensland state government will be trialling the installation of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems on state housing accommodation;
"
Solar power systems, digital meters and an online portal service will be provided at no cost, with the tenants purchasing the electricity generated by the solar panels at a cheaper cost than power from the mains grid.
"
and
"
The trial was originally announced in March this year and will go beyond Cairns and Rockhampton. In total, up to six megawatts of solar capacity will be installed on up to 4000 detached government - owned dwellings across the state
"
Such an investment would be a far better use of Western Australian taxpayers' money, than building a new marina that provides benefits to only the ostentatiously rich, with the increased motor boat traffic from the new marina, causing further damage to the environment. And, the investment in new domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installations, apart from helping the environment, and, helping the less well of people who need to live in state housing, increases employment in the clean energy sector. If only Western Australia would have responsible government.
Yes, folks, the Australian prime minister has made clear that he has no confidence in combustion fuelled, or, even more dangerous, nuclear, electricity generation, and that clean energy generation backed up with storage batteries, is the only way to go.
At
http://reneweconomy.com.au/turnbulls - rooftop - pv - and - storage - may - be - more - useful - to - grid - than - liddell - 72194/ ,
as viewed at 1416 WST on 08 September 2017, was
"
Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull is mighty proud of the upgraded rooftop solar array and battery storage system that he had installed in his Point Piper harbourside mansion in Sydney earlier this year.
Apparently the brainchild of his "energy - aware" son Alex - as Turnbull put it in a radio interview on Thursday - the 14kW of rooftop solar and 14kwh of battery storage means that the Point Piper house doesn't draw any energy from the grid for much of the day.
"
and
"
"...and we had solar panels for a long time," Turnbull told 3AW's Neil Mitchell in an interview.
"We got some new ones recently and a battery and that's certainly meant that for much of the day, even with the big power demand we have there (increased by his heightened security protection), we're actually not drawing any electricity from the grid."
"
and
"
The Australian Energy Market Operator's assessment of short and medium term energy needs - the cause of this sudden interest in prolonging the life of a 50 - year coal generator - says rooftop solar PV is going to play a critical role in minimizing outages.
First of all, rooftop solar will offset projected increases in demand caused by a growing population, economic growth and the increase in appliances and air conditioning. It predicts strong growth of rooftop PV coupled with battery storage, especially after 2019/20 in NSW.
"
And, linked from that report, at
http://reneweconomy.com.au/malcolm - turnbull - has - battery - storage - installed - in - point - piper - home - 54504/ ,
as viewed at 1416 WST on 08 September 2017, was
"
By Giles Parkinson on 13 February 2017
New South Wales residents were spared rolling outages in the weekend's heatwave, but if the lights had gone out in Pt Piper, Malcolm Turnbull just might have been able to stay cool: that's because the PM's harbourside property now has battery storage.
RenewEconomy on Monday confirmed with the PM's office that a battery storage device was installed in Turnbull's private property late last year. It is believed to be 14kWh of LG Chem lithium - ion battery, to complement his rooftop solar array previously installed and recently upgraded to 14kW.
That battery storage - depending on its configuration, and the choice of inverter - might be able to provide back - up to keep the lights and many other appliances on in the event of any blackouts in coal - dependent NSW.
It could also help the multi - millionarie save a few dollars a day by storing the output of his solar array for use in the evening, particularly after the loss of any premium solar tariffs he may have had.
In the case of forced rolling blackouts, a waterside suburb like Point Piper would be a sensible choice for the "load shedding", given that the temperatures are likely to be significantly below inland suburbs.
The installation of battery storage into his home highlights the incredibly conflicting signals from Turnbull, a man who once spoke glowingly about 100 per cent renewable energy goals.
"
and
"
Millions of Australians understand that this is the future - and like Turnbull - are looking to install battery storage. Perhaps the biggest question is whether Turnbull will grow as frustrated as other citizens over the lack of political direction and rising costs of grid power and join Greens leader Richard di Natale - and thousands of others - in going off - grid!
"
and
"Update: the PM' (sic) office informs us he has 14kW rooftop solar PV and 14kWh of battery storage. We have updated story to reflect that. A bit more and the PM could go off - grid!"
And, because Malcolm Turnbull is so filthy rich, he could afford to do all of that, without drawing on his fortune in the Cayman Islands.
Now, if only he would commission the Clean Energy Finance Commission to provide interest - free loans to owner - occupier householders, who are now struggling to feed our households, let alone pay electricity bills for filthy electricity generated from combustion, with the interest - free loans to enable owner - occupier householders to have installed on our houses, similar clean energy power plants, to what Malcolm Turnbull has, the country and its people, would be better off, and, the world would be better off, having much less poison deliberately put into the air from combustion fuelled electricity generation.
I note that, here in Western Australia, where authorisations for the installation of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, and similar generating capacity wind turbine electricity generation, are controlled by the electricity companies that use combustion - fuelled electricity generation, we are restricted to 5kW of maximum possible generating capacity, for domestic clean energy electricity generation, and, as the authorisation process is controlled by the electricity companies that use combustion - fuelled electricity generation, storage batteries are classed as electrical generators, and so we are restricted from the installation and use of electricity storage batteries, in addition to being restricted in the installation and use of clean generation of electricity.
If consumer protection applied to the supply of utilities such as electricity, these restrictions would, or, should, be classed as unconscionable trading practices.
I have contacted Synergy SolarReturn, and have been advised that
1. Having 5kW of domestic rooftop photovoltaic generating capacity on a single phase electricity supply (with Synergy) does not preclude having storage batteries added to, or included in, a system, as storage batteries are "not regarded as renewable energy generation", and
2. any additions to household domestic rooftop photovoltaic generating systems, including adding extra panels, replacing inverters (to incorporate hybrid inverters to allow connection with storage batteries, etc), and adding storage batteries, according to the regulations, requires that whatever company does the additions or modifications to the existing system, assumes, by virtue of performing the additions/alterations, subsequent responsibility for the whole of the system(s) upon which they work and, therefore,
3. any additions to household domestic rooftop photovoltaic generating systems, including adding extra panels, replacing inverters (to incorporate hybrid inverters to allow connection with storage batteries, etc), and adding storage batteries, will not be done with systems that are more than one or two years old, without replacing the existing systems, including the mounting framework for the panels.
For example, with our household, with two inverters incorporated within two domestic rooftop photovoltaic generating systems, with a nominal output of 5kW, to add a storage battery, and/or to add extra panels, even a single panel, would require replacement of all of the domestic rooftop photovoltaic generating equipment, even the racking, as our systems are about 4 years old, and, any additions/modifications, need to be done within a year of the initial installation.
So, people who have systems that are more than about a year old, like us, need to wait until the systems fail and need replacing, before any additions/modifications are made.
"Such is life."
A person looking at the roof of our home, will see that we have two domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, totalling about 5kW of maximum possible generating capacity. These were supplied and installed at about the end of 2013 / start of 2014. They were supplied and installed by a company named Express Solar. The web page published at
http://diamondenergy.com.au/express - solar - customers/
and the linked document, show that Express Solar has been liquidated as of June 2017. Despite the documentation published there, claiming that customers of Experess Solar, would be contacted, within "the next few weeks" of the start of June, 2017, we have not been contacted about this. The company that took over the remnants of Express Solar; Diamond Energy, has been sent an email query about this, with questions such as what now happens regarding warranty coverage on the systems supplied and installed by Express Solar. I am awaiting a response. Diamond Energy, unlike Express Solar, appears to have no presence or representation, in Western Australia. I note that the web site for Diamond Energy, does not state that Diamond Energy is a CEC accredited retailer.
See
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/cec - installers - retailers - members ,
and,
https://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/retailers/approved - solar - retailers.html .
The bottom line is that, whilst our systems, and, the installations, seem to be okay, so far, as the company that was responsible, has disappeared, possibly along with any warranty coverage, I believe, now that I know that the accreditation exists, that using a Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer, would be a far safer option.
- Update to item, added 18 September 2017 - the email message sent to the published contact email address for Diamond Energy, for queries regarding Express Solar, has bounced, with the error message "User unknown", so, Diamond Energy appears to have also, disappeared.
At
http://reneweconomy.com.au/canberra - homes - battle - energy - champions - 47906/
as viewed at 1816WST (UTC+0800) on 16 November 2017, was
"
The ACT Government's Next Generation Storage Grants program aims to facilitate the uptake of battery storage in the ACT. The program will support the roll - out of around 36MW of distributed battery storage in more than 5000 homes and businesses by 2020. This is one of the largest roll - outs of distributed solar battery storage technology in the world.
The ACT Government is collecting data from each battery installed under the program. Data collected is being used for research purposes and to help position Canberra as a global leader in renewable energy innovation.
If you are a resident of the ACT you may be eligible for subsidised [energy storage/battery storage/solar storage] under the ACT Government's Next Generation Energy Storage Program.
"
And, at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/battery - grants - queensland - mb0309/
as viewed at 1845WST (UTC+0800) on 16 November 2017, was
"
Among its policy priority recommendations ahead of Queensland's election, the Clean Energy Council has suggested a small battery grants scheme and other actions to support energy storage be implemented in the state.
The CEC says the state is ideally positioned to play a leading role in the Australia's battery energy storage industry and can capitalise on its opportunities.
"
Australia needs for householders to be provided with grants and/or interest - free loans, to facilitate the installation and usage of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems and associated battery storage, to both prevent or minimise disruption from electricity supply failures/("outages")/blackouts, and, to provide smoothing of demand of electricity, in addition to the benefits of clean electricity production, to kill less people from coal powered electricity generation, and, to reduce household living expenses in a country where widespread poverty is significantly increasing.
In the report published at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/india - delhi - pollution - mb0296/
as viewed at 1816WST (UTC+0800) on 16 November 2017, was
"With regard to coal specifically, it has been reported to be responsible for an estimated 80,000 to 115,000 premature deaths in India annually."
Also, of note, is that, at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/coal - power - kills - mb0125/
as viewed at 1840WST (UTC+0800) on 16 November 2017, included
"
The current and future impacts of climate change and its contribution to any death toll aside, coal is already doing very well at knocking off humanity in other ways. According to EndCoal, burning the little black (or brown) rock is responsible for more than 800,000 premature deaths annually around the world - just through air pollution.
In China - approximately 670,000 people die prematurely per year.
In India - estimated 80,000 to 115,000 premature deaths annually.
In the USA - approximately 13,000 people a year.
In Europe - 23,300 deaths annually.
Added to this toll are the millions of coal - related illnesses that create misery and impact on economies heavily.
A 2014 report from the Climate Council stated the adverse impacts from pollutants produced from coal - fired electricity generation in Australia cost this nation an estimated A$2.6 billion annually. Those figures related to a period when coal was still pretty much an unchallenged king in this country.
"
So, the question should be asked; how many people are being deliberately killed, each year, by the Australian state and federal governments, due to the mining and burning of coal?
And, the question should also be asked, as to why the members of the Australian parliaments responsible for allowing coal to be mined and burned, are not being prosecuted in the International Court Of Justice, for their crimes against humanity, in deliberately causing the deaths of these people?
At
http://www.bbc.com/news/science - environment - 42014244
as viewed at 0230WST (UTC+0800) on 17 November 2017, was
"
The UK and Canada have launched a global alliance of 20 countries committed to phasing out coal for energy production.
Members including France, Finland and Mexico, say they will end the use of coal before 2030.
"
and
"
Already, the move away from coal in the UK has been rapid. Around 40% of electricity was still being generated from coal in 2012 but in April this year the UK had its first full day without coal power in 135 years.
"We have not sacrificed growth," said Claire Perry, the UK's minister for climate change and industry.
"Since 1990 Britain has cut its emissions buy 42% and our economy has grown by 67%, that's the best performance in the G7 so this is not something that's a win - lose, it's a win - win situation."
"
And at
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017 - 11 - 17/20 - countries - have - signed - up - to - phase - out - coal - power - by - 2030/9161056
as viewed at 1730WST (UTC+0800) on 17 November 2017, was
"
Twenty countries including Britain, Canada and New Zealand have joined an international alliance to phase out coal from power generation before 2030.
The Powering Past Coal Alliance was unveiled at the COP23 climate talks in Bonn, Germany, which were working out the technical details of the 2015 Paris Agreement.
"I think we can safely say that the response has been overwhelming," Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said.
"There is so much momentum, there is so much ambition in this room."
The alliance, which isn't legally binding, was launched days after a pro - coal presentation by the Trump administration jarred with many ministers who wanted the talks to focus on cleaner energy sources.
Included countries:
Angola
Austria
Belgium
Britain
Canada
Costa Rica
Denmark
El Salvador
Fiji
Finland
France
Italy
Luxembourg
The Marshall Islands
Mexico
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Niue
Portugal
Switzerland
Australia isn't part of the alliance
"
and
"
Coal is responsible for more than 40 per cent of global emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
"Around the world we see close to a million deaths a year from air pollution created by burning coal," Ms McKenna said.
"Not only is there a human cost, there is also a huge economic cost totalling billions of dollars a year."
"
and
"The US states of Washington and Oregon have already signed up to the Power Past Coal Alliance."
As was (I believe) said, at the start of each episode of "The Six Million Dollar Man", from the 1970s,
"We have the resources. We have the technology."
But, unfortunately, in Australia, we have the LNP (Lunatic Neanderthal Parasites) feral government, that has the policy "Let them eat coal", and, is adamant that more coal needs to be mined, and, more coal power stations built, and, more electricity generation needs to be created using only the burning of coal, so that many more people can be deliberately poisoned and killed by the Australian parliaments.
"Coal - the Australian weapon of mass destruction"
Given that two USA states are named as having already signed up to the Power Past Coal Alliance, the question should be asked;
what, if any, Australian states will follow suit, and, also sign up to the alliance, and, sincerely act to end the use of combustion in generating electricity, completely replacing combustion - powered electricity generation, with clean electricity generation, by 2030?
Here is a presentation of data for "small scale installations" (to
which I would probably refer, as domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems
installations) for the month of October 2017.
At
http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/PublishingImages/SRES%20media%20resource/October%202017/SRES-Map-Media-Update.jpg
as viewed at 1400WST (UTC+0800) on 17 November 2017,
is shown that for October 2017, in Australia, for "small scale
installations" (<=10kW),
in
WA 1857 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 9025kW
NT 75 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 446kW
SA 717 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 4735kW
Qld 1911 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 10667kW
ACT 68 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 343kW
NSW 1679 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 8274kW
Vic 977 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 3961kW
Tas 128 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 540kW
and also, the "national cumulative totals since 2001" of
2,836,124 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of
6,194,621kW
with, also, from the CER,
"There were 7412 small - scale systems installed nationally in October,
with a total capacity of 37 991 kW."
and
"88 solar PV systems had a concurrent battery storage installation in October."
And at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranked_list_of_states_and_territories_of_Australia
as at 17 November 2017, 1440WST (UTC+0800), was
"
This is a list of Australian states and territories by ranking using
Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates.[1]
Rank (in order) State / Territory Population (Sept 2000) Population
(Sept 2017) Change % of Australian total
1 New South Wales 7,317,500 7,757,800 + 6.02% 32.03%
2 Victoria 5,640,900 6,039,100 + 7.05% 25.19%
3 Queensland 4,599,400 4,860,400 + 5.68% 20.07%
4 Western Australia 2,366,900 2,632,200 + 11.21% 10.87%
5 South Australia 1,659,800 1,710,800 + 3.07% 7.06%
6 Tasmania 511,000 519,800 + 1.72% 2.15%
7 Australian Capital Territory 366,900 398,300 + 8.56% 1.64%
8 Northern Territory 231,200 245,700 + 6.27% 1.01%
Total Australia 22,696,000 24,220,200 + 6.72% 100
The total Australian population above includes external territories
with negligible populations, not listed.
"
From which, as at September 2017, the relative populations were
NSW 7,757,800
Victoria 6,039,100
Queensland 4,860,400
WA 2,632,200
SA 1,710,800
Tasmania 519,800
ACT 398,300
NT 245,700
Australia 24,220,200
Now, using those numbers, we have, for the month of October 2017, for
"small scale installations" (<=10kW),
WA 1857 systems for 2,632,200 people - > 70.549 per 100,000 people
NT 75 systems for 245,700 people - > 30.525 per 100,000 people
SA 717 systems for 1,710,800 people - > 41.910 per 100,000 people
Qld 1911 systems for 4,860,400 people - > 39.317 per 100,000 people
ACT 68 systems for 398,300 people - > 17.072 per 100,000 people
NSW 1679 systems for 7,757,800 people - > 21.642 per 100,000 people
Vic 977 systems for 6,039,100 people - > 16.177 per 100,000 people
Tas 128 systems for 519,800 people - > 24.624 per 100,000 people
The results of my calculations, are truncated, rather than rounded,
but, as it affects only the fifth digit, in a five digit result, it
has no significant effect on what is shown by the results.
Thus, my rankings, by state/territory, for October 2017, in Australia, for "small scale
installations" (<=10kW), are:
WA 1857 systems for 2,632,200 people - > 70.549 per 100,000 people
SA 717 systems for 1,710,800 people - > 41.910 per 100,000 people
Qld 1911 systems for 4,860,400 people - > 39.317 per 100,000 people
NT 75 systems for 245,700 people - > 30.525 per 100,000 people
Tas 128 systems for 519,800 people - > 24.624 per 100,000 people
NSW 1679 systems for 7,757,800 people - > 21.642 per 100,000 people
ACT 68 systems for 398,300 people - > 17.072 per 100,000 people
Vic 977 systems for 6,039,100 people - > 16.177 per 100,000 people
Note: My ranking by state/territory, is performed on the basis of number of installations relative to population.
This relates to the report named the Green Energy Markets' latest Renewable Energy Index report, and it is referenced at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/small-solar-australia-mb0320/
which refers to the web page published at
http://greenmarkets.com.au/news-events/renewable-energy-index-october-2017
The report is published at
http://greenmarkets.com.au/images/uploads/Resources/RE_Index/Renewable_Energy_Index_-_Oct_2017.pdf .
The report presents information like an expanded version of the CER information above, but, the inferences and conclusions drawn from the report, and, the way that the data are presented, are a bit misleading.
Now that I have been able to download the "Green Energy Markets'
latest Renewable Energy Index" report, I make the following
observations, in addition to my previous observations, which related
to the data from the "Clean Energy Regulator's take on October".
Populations of states and territories are sourced as for my last previous above post.
Regarding the graph in the report, that is "Figure 7: Small-scale solar PV systems
installed by state - October 2017 " from the "Green Energy Markets' latest Renewable
Energy Index" report; the numbers of systems installed for each state,
are;
WA - 2908 systems for 2,632,200 people -> 110.477 per 100,000 people
SA - 1522 systems for 1,710,800 people - > 88.964 per 100,000 people
Qld - 3960 systems for 4,860,400 people - > 81.474 per 100,000 people
NT - 173 systems for 245,700 people -> 70.411 per 100,000 people
NSW & ACT - 4069 systems for 8,156,100 people - > 49.889 per 100,000 people
Tas - 255 systems for 519,800 people - > 49.057 per 100,000 people
Victoria - 2889 systems for 6,039,100 people -> 47.838 per 100,000 people
And, in the Green Energy Markets' latest Renewable Energy Index"
report, Figure 8 is "Figure 8. Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs
by state in the installation and sale of rooftop solar PV systems installed
over October 2017", and that gives
the respective numbers of "full-time equivalent jobs by state", as
WA - 905 FTE for 2,632,200 people -> 34.381 FTE per 100,000 people
NT - 77 FTE for 245,700 people -> 31.339 FTE per 100,000 people
SA - 530 FTE for 1,710,800 people - > 30.979 FTE per 100,000 people
Qld - 1347 FTE for 4,860,400 people - > 27.713 FTE per 100,000 people
Victoria - 978 FTE for 6,039,100 people -> 16.194 FTE per 100,000 people
NSW & ACT - 1285 FTE for 8,156,100 people - > 15.755 FTE per 100,000 people
Tas - 70 FTE for 519,800 people - > 13.466 FTE per 100,000 people
So, I think that the statement from the "Green Energy Markets' latest
Renewable Energy Index" report, that "Queensland led the states and
territories in terms of rooftop solar installs and employment", is a
bit misleading.
The statement "Queensland led the states and territories in terms of
rooftop solar installs and employment" is a bit like making the claim
that Australia is leading New Zealand in terms of renewable energy
usage, due to Australia generating more kWh from "Renewables", than
New Zealand, when as stated in the "Green Energy Markets' latest
Renewable Energy Index" report,
"Renewables made up 20.3% of the electricity generated in Australia's main grids"
whereas, in New Zealand, I believe that it has been reported that 60%
of New Zealnd's grid electricity is generated from clean energy, with
a target of 100% in the next few years.
I have sent an email message to the publishers of the report, challenging the presentation of the data, for each of the ten graphs included in the report.
Over the last couple of days, I have posted the following posts on the Solar Quotes blog web page published at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/australia - coal - alliance - hg0460/
(timestamps of the posts, are AEST (UTC+1100)
1.
"
Bret Busby says:
November 18, 2017 at 7:09 am
At
http://www.armadale - wa.net/clean - energy.html
(this web page)
is
"
"The US states of Washington and Oregon have already signed up to the Power Past Coal Alliance."
As was (I believe) said, at the start of each episode of "The Six Million Dollar Man", from the 1970s,
"We have the resources. We have the technology."
But, unfortunately, in Australia, we have the LNP (Lunatic Neanderthal Parasites) feral government, that has the policy "Let them eat coal", and, is adamant that more coal needs to be mined, and, more coal power stations built, and, more electricity generation needs to be created using only the burning of coal, so that many more people can be deliberately poisoned and killed by the Australian parliaments.
"Coal - the Australian weapon of mass destruction"
Given that two USA states are named as having already signed up to the Power Past Coal Alliance, the question should be asked;
what, if any, Australian states will follow suit, and, also sign up to the alliance, and, sincerely act to end the use of combustion in generating electricity, completely replacing combustion - powered electricity generation, with clean electricity generation, by 2030?
"
and
"
In the report published at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/india - delhi - pollution - mb0296/
as viewed at 1816WST (UTC+0800) on 16 November 2017, was
"With regard to coal specifically, it has been reported to be responsible for an estimated 80,000 to 115,000 premature deaths in India annually."
Also, of note, is that, at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/coal - power - kills - mb0125/
as viewed at 1840WST (UTC+0800) on 16 November 2017, included
" The current and future impacts of climate change and its contribution to any death toll aside, coal is already doing very well at knocking off humanity in other ways. According to EndCoal, burning the little black (or brown) rock is responsible for more than 800,000 premature deaths annually around the world - just through air pollution.
In China - approximately 670,000 people die prematurely per year.
In India - estimated 80,000 to 115,000 premature deaths annually.
In the USA - approximately 13,000 people a year.
In Europe - 23,300 deaths annually.
Added to this toll are the millions of coal - related illnesses that create misery and impact on economies heavily.
A 2014 report from the Climate Council stated the adverse impacts from pollutants produced from coal - fired electricity generation in Australia cost this nation an estimated A$2.6 billion annually. Those figures related to a period when coal was still pretty much an unchallenged king in this country.
"
So, the question should be asked; how many people are being deliberately killed, each year, by the Australian state and federal governments, due to the mining and burning of coal?
"
Now, given that at
http://reneweconomy.com.au/solar - industry - launches - campaign - against - lnp - in - queensland - poll - 59401/
is
"
The Australian Solar Council - the peak body for the country's solar industry - has announced a major advertising campaign against the Liberal National Party coalition in the Queensland election campaign, saying the future of the industry is at stake.
"
a question need to be considered by the voters in Queensland, and, should be heavily publicised through advertising by the Australian Solar Council and all candidates and parties not affiliated to the LNP;
"How many deaths would be deliberately caused by the LNP winning government and having both a new coal fired power station and the Adani coal mine, built?"
And, a question needs to be considered and put to the Labor Party in Queensland;
"If the Labor Party wins a majority government in the state, will it follow the lead of the USA states of Washington and Oregon, and, defy the feral government and also sign up to the Power Past Coal Alliance, and, sincerely act to end the use of combustion in generating electricity, completely replacing combustion - powered electricity generation, with clean electricity generation, by 2030?
And, similarly, in each state of Australia (not including the Territories, because, while they may not like it, they are subordinate to the feral parliament), members of the voting public, should put the question to their respective members of their state parliaments; will the state government (and, in states facing general elections, the political parties, upon winning government), defy the feral government and also sign up to the Power Past Coal Alliance, and, sincerely act to end the use of combustion in generating electricity, completely replacing combustion - powered electricity generation, with clean electricity generation, by 2030?
The results of these actions, should be interesting.
"
2.
"
Bret Busby says:
November 18, 2017 at 8:13 am
One very significant point that should be considered, in all discussions and considerations, relating to use combustion - generated electricity (which includes burning coal to produce electricity), is that the transferral of energy from one form to another, is never 100% efficient - some energy "goes sideways" - it is wrong to say it is lost, as energy cannot be lost - it merely is not transferred 100% to the form that is desired.
Now, in the generation of electricity through combustion, that means that one transferral occurs in the burning of the coal to heat the water in the boilers. Another transferral occurs in the conversion of the heat energy to the mechanical energy, in the heated water turning the turbines. Another transferral occurs in the conversion of the mechanical energy to electrical energy. Then, the electrical energy goes merrily traipsing along the transmission line, dropping bits off as it goes (the longer the transmission lines, the greater the loss of electrical energy transmitted).
And, then, when it gets to an electric train, another transferral occurs, with the electrical energy being converted to mechanical energy, to turn the train wheels.
Now, what this all means, is that the "nice, clean, electric trains", unless they are solely powered by clean electricity, are a cause of far greater pollution and thence, poisoning, than either the old, visibly dirty, "steam engine locomotives", or, the "diesel locomotives" (which are, in fact, as I learnt at primary school, in a school tour of a train yard, for educational purposes, diesel - electric locomotives, as the locomotives are actually powered by electricity, which is generated from the diesel engines involved).
With the old, visibly dirty, "steam engine locomotives", people who used them, could see most of the pollution produced, at the locomotive, where the power is deployed.
But, with "electric trains", the pollution is simply elsewhere, so it is not so apparent where the trains are used.
But, where "electric trains" use electricity generated by combustion, they are really much worse, environmentally, than the old, visibly dirty, "steam engine locomotives", because they are less efficient, per ton of coal burned to power them, with all of the transferrals of energy that are involved, and, the pollution involved, is simply, an "out of sight, out of mind" scenario. But they are no more healthy than if you had to travel in horse drawn carts, with ankle - deep horse manure all over the roads, that you have to wade through, to mount and dismount your transport, and, ingest the particulate matter and smells.
So, the very important point that should be considered, in all discussions and considerations, relating to use combustion - generated electricity (which includes burning coal to produce electricity), is that "electric trains" are neither clean, nor environmentally friendly, unless the electricity that they use, is solely generated from clean energy, such as solar or wind power, or hydroelectric generation.
And that means that, in a state such as NSW, where as much as 90% (or more) of the electricity is generated from burning coal, the "electric trains" are as clean as swimming in a cesspool.
So, unless people like for them and their families to be swimming in cesspools, with ingesting the matter, people need to get electricity generation from combustion, especially, from burning coal, stopped.
And, the mining of coal, so as to allow it to be burnt, needs to be stopped.
It is really that simple.
"
3.
"
Bret Busby says:
November 18, 2017 at 5:38 pm
And, all of this, especially the question
" how many people are being deliberately killed, each year, by the Australian state and federal governments, due to the mining and burning of coal?"
and, the question
"what will YOU do to cause the federal parliament to sign up to the Power Past Coal Alliance, and, to sincerely act to end coal mining in Australia and to end the use of combustion in generating electricity, completely replacing combustion - powered electricity generation, with clean electricity generation, by 2030? "
should be publicly and emphatically raised with each of the candidates in the looming federal by - elections.
The Australian Solar Council, and, anyone interested in the future of Australia and its people, should be strongly taking up these two questions, with each candidate in the federal by - elections, and, in any subsequent federal elections, apart from in each of the coming state general elections.
"
4.
"
Bret Busby says:
November 19, 2017 at 6:02 pm
Oh, and, what I said about using electric trains, not being environmentally friendly while electricity is generated by combustion, applies to all things electrical.
If you think that using an electric car, or, an electric lawnmower, or an electric concrete mixer, or an electric stove, is being environmentally friendly. think again.
Unless you can guarantee that the electricity that they used, is generated solely by clean energy, combustion - free, electricity generation, then you would be better off (being more environmentally friendly), using equipment that is directly powered by burning diesel or coal or kerosene.
The sole difference (apart from the greater amount of pollution caused by using combustion powered electricity, due to the losses of efficiency caused by the transferrals of energy from one form to another, on the way from the combustion to the electricity usage), is that the filth and pollution generated, is removed from the point of use of the device, so as to be "out of sight, out of mind".
And, yes, I have seen and used (when I was a child), cooking stoves that burnt diesel, and some that burnt wood and coal, as the heat source. And, I have cooked using kerosene, and used kerosene lamps
Electrical devices, and the use of them, is not clean or environmentally friendly, unless the electricity used to power them, is generated solely from clean energy.
Having said all of that, whilst solar energy (where we convert solar radiation to electricity, through the use of such devices as photovoltaic panels,) appears clean, I would also not like to be at the source of that power; the sun. Whilst solar energy comes from a massive nuclear reactor (the sun), the difference is that, apart from it being even further away from the users, than the human - caused dirty fuel - powering, that nuclear reactor is generating its power, and, will generate its power, regardless of whether humans exist, and, regardless of whether humans use its power, whereas human - created nuclear electricity generation, and, human - created electricity generation from combustion, are simply wilful damage, wilful murder, and, wilful crimes against humanity, in the poisoning and other physical injury deliberately caused, which would not otherwise happen, if the human - created nuclear electricity generation, and, human - created electricity generation from combustion, were not built and being used.
So, if you are using electrical devices, like electric cars and electric lawnmowers and electric cooking stoves and electric concrete mixers, that are not powered solely by electricity generated from clean energy, before you switch them on, spare a thought for all of the people, for whose deaths and poisonings, YOU are responsible, and, for all of the environmental damage, for which, YOU are responsible.
"
5. And the post that did not get through...
At
http://reneweconomy.com.au/lnp-one-nation-would-force-queensland-energy-prices-up-greens-alp-down-50071/
is
"
A new analysis of the energy policies presented by the major and
smaller parties contesting the Queensland state election shows that
the Greens would deliver the biggest electricity savings, Labor would
also push prices down, while One Nation and the LNP policies would
force prices to rise.
Energy has emerged as one of the key factors in the Queensland poll,
which is proving impossible to predict because of the rise of One
Nation, and the potential of both the Katter Party and The Greens to
grab some seats.
The energy war is being fought on two levels: the LNP and One Nation
are pushing for coal, and a new coal-fired generators, while the ALP
and the Greens are focused on clean energy, and targets of at least 50
per cent renewables by 2030.
"
And at
http://reneweconomy.com.au/coughing-up-for-coal-fired-power-44903/
is
"
By Dr James Whelan on 21 November 2017
Dawson MP George Christensen was recently reported saying he thinks
it's fair if the federal government (ie. the taxpayer) 'coughs up' to
get a new coal-fired power station to the investment stage.
If this uneconomic plan ever goes ahead, north Queensland residents
will also be coughing up - literally.
EJA's coal and health team works with communities in the Hunter
Valley, the NSW Central Coast and the Latrobe Valley who are affected
by a whole host of health problems directly related to coal-fired
electricity.
Our report, Toxic and terminal: How the regulation of coal-fired power
stations fails Australian communities, is littered with stories of
people who live with the burden of coal-fired power.
What does that burden feel like?
It feels like not being able to get enough air to breathe when you or
your kids have an asthma attack. It feels like repeated, regular,
throbbing headaches. It feels like nausea. It feels like respiratory
disease, lung cancer, heart attacks and stroke. It means babies born
with reduced birth weight. It means years of life lost.
Coal-fired power station pollution causes and contributes to all these
conditions. Communities that live within 100 kilometres of coal-fired
power plants know all about it.
These illnesses and irritations - not to mention the daily reality of
having to wipe coal dust off every flat surface around and often
inside your house - are part of life for tens of thousands of
households in the Latrobe Valley, the NSW Central Coast and Gladstone
because coal-fired power stations emit more than 30 toxic substances
and are Australia's biggest source of fine particles, sulfur dioxide
and oxides of nitrogen.
"
The BIG question is;
will the voters of Queensland, and, the voters in the federal
by-elections, vote to deliberately kill and injure even more
Australians and people outside Australia, and, vote to cause even more
damage (both physical, and, to further damage Australia's reputation
internationally), or, will the voters vote responsibly, and vote to
stop expansion of the crimes against humanity, voting to stop further
coal mines and to stop further coal-fired power stations, and, vote
for transition to clean energy?
So, please consider these matters.
In the report published at
http://reneweconomy.com.au/networks-push-to-take-regional-consumers-communities-off-grid-27204/
as viewed at 1445WST (UTC+0800) on 20 November 2017, was
"
Western Power says it could save $388 million over the next 10 years if it could provide about 2,700 customers with solar, battery storage and back-up diesel generators rather than having to replacing ageing network assets. That is around $140,000 per customer.
It has already done trials with some rural customers in the Ravensthorpe, Lake King, Jerramungup, Lake Grace and Kondinin localities in the south of the state and it says the benefits have been outstanding.
Solar PV arrays were deliberately oversized to give customers greater comfort - and lithium batteries were sized to supply customers for two days if the sun wasn't shining.
"
So, usable capacity of two days of electricity usage, appears to be a good starting point for battery storage systems associated with rooftop domestivc photovoltaic systems, to provide electricity security (for on-grid connections; much more would be needed for off-grid connections, although, the backup usable storage capacity needed, could be reduced, by installing and using, wind turbine electicity generators, with adequate capacity).
In the report published at
http://reneweconomy.com.au/five-ways-cities-can-slash-carbon-pollution-right-now-97997/
as viewed at 1615WST (UTC+0800) on 08 December 2017, was
"
1. Net-zero buildings
One big step cities can take is to demand that all new buildings produce more energy than they consume.
Construction companies could achieve this feat by fitting new buildings with technologies that cut energy use - energy-efficient lights, energy-efficient heating and air conditioning, double-paned windows - as well as technologies that generate and store power - solar panels and lithium-ion batteries, for example.
"It's already cost-effective in many places now to make buildings, especially residences, net-zero-energy ready or, if the solar conditions work in their place, to make them net-zero-energy now," Corvidae said.
(Photograph on their web page not reproduced here) A home in Lancaster, CA with solar panels on the roof. In 2013, Republican-led Lancaster became the first U.S. city to require that new single-family homes come equipped with solar panels. Source: Revolt Electric
"
So, the question should be asked - if it can be done in "Republican-led Lancaster (California, USA)"; to "require that new single-family homes come equipped with solar panels", why is is not similarly being required by each authority that approves the construction of new dwellings, in Australia (and, any other country that has sufficient supply of solar energy), "that all new dwellings come equipped with solar panels (and, battery storage), with at least 1kW of solar panels for each bedroom of a dwelling, and, at least 3kWh of battery storage for each bedroom of a dwelling"?
Here is a presentation of data for "small scale installations" (to
which I would probably refer, as domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems
installations) for the month of November 2017.
At
http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/PublishingImages/SRES%20media%20resource/November%202017/SRES-Map-Media-Update.jpg
as viewed at 0238WST (UTC+0800) on 24 December 2017,
is shown that for November 2017, in Australia, for "small scale
installations" (<=10kW),
in
WA 1692 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 8414kW
NT 83 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 527kW
SA 773 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 4999kW
Qld 2511 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 14846kW
ACT 74 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 381kW
NSW 1773 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 9913kW
Vic 919 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 4098kW
Tas 110 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of 486kW
and also, the "national cumulative totals since 2001" of
2,856,203 systems were installed, with a total generating capacity of
6,295,386kW
with, also, from the CER,
"There were 7944 small - scale systems installed nationally in November,
with a total capacity of 43,664 kW."
and
"There were 164 solar PV systems that had a concurrent battery storage installation in November"
(Almost twice as many as for October - an 86% increase in the number of monthly battery storage installations)
I am again going to use the relative state and territory populations that I cited above for the October small systems installations; as at September 2017, the relative populations were
NSW 7,757,800
Victoria 6,039,100
Queensland 4,860,400
WA 2,632,200
SA 1,710,800
Tasmania 519,800
ACT 398,300
NT 245,700
Australia 24,220,200
Now, using those numbers, we have, for the month of November 2017, for
"small scale installations" (<=10kW),
WA 1692 systems for 2,632,200 people - > 64.281 per 100,000 people
NT 83 systems for 245,700 people - > 33.781 per 100,000 people
SA 773 systems for 1,710,800 people - > 45.184 per 100,000 people
Qld 2511 systems for 4,860,400 people - > 51.662 per 100,000 people
ACT 74 systems for 398,300 people - > 18.579 per 100,000 people
NSW 1773 systems for 7,757,800 people - > 22.854 per 100,000 people
Vic 919 systems for 6,039,100 people - > 15.217 per 100,000 people
Tas 119 systems for 519,800 people - > 22.893 per 100,000 people
The results of my calculations, are truncated, rather than rounded,
but, as it affects only the fifth digit, in a five digit result, it
has no significant effect on what is shown by the results.
Thus, my rankings, by state/territory, for November 2017, in Australia, for "small scale
installations" (<=10kW), are:
WA 1692 systems for 2,632,200 people - > 64.281 per 100,000 people
Qld 2511 systems for 4,860,400 people - > 51.662 per 100,000 people
SA 773 systems for 1,710,800 people - > 45.184 per 100,000 people
NT 83 systems for 245,700 people - > 33.781 per 100,000 people
Tas 119 systems for 519,800 people - > 22.893 per 100,000 people
NSW 1773 systems for 7,757,800 people - > 22.854 per 100,000 people
ACT 74 systems for 398,300 people - > 18.579 per 100,000 people
Vic 919 systems for 6,039,100 people - > 15.217 per 100,000 people
Note: My ranking by state/territory, is performed on the basis of number of installations relative to population.
A person looking at the roof of our home, will see that we have two domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, totalling about 5kW of maximum possible generating capacity. These were supplied and installed at about the end of 2013 / start of 2014. They were supplied and installed by a company named Express Solar. The web page published at
http://diamondenergy.com.au/express-solar-customers/
and the linked document, show that Express Solar has been liquidated as of June 2017. Despite the documentation published there, claiming that customers of Experess Solar, would be contacted, within "the next few weeks" of the start of June, 2017, we have not been contacted about this. The company that took over the remnants of Express Solar; Diamond Energy, has been contacted about this, with questions such as what now happens regarding warranty coverage on the systems supplied and installed by Express Solar. I am awaiting a response. Diamond Energy, unlike Express Solar, appears to have no presence or representation, in Western Australia.
I have now found that email sent to Diamond Energy has been bounced with the error message "User Unknown", so, Diamond Energy appears to have also disappeared.
I note that the web site for Diamond Energy, does not state that Diamond Energy is a CEC accredited retailer.
See
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/cec-installers-retailers-members ,
and,
https://www.solaraccreditation.com.au/retailers/approved-solar-retailers.html .
The bottom line is that, whilst our systems, and, the installations, seem to be okay, so far, as the company that was responsible, has disappeared, possibly along with any warranty coverage, I believe, now that I know that the accreditation exists, that using a Clean Energy Council Approved Solar Retailer, would be a far safer option.
Added 24 December 2017 - One of our photovoltaic systems has failed, and, the other has deteriorated performance.The inverters (Rewatt) appear to have failed, and Diamond Energy apparently no longer exists, and Rewatt does not have a presence in Australia, so the warranties for our photovoltaic systems, which are still "in warranty", are not worth the paper on which they are written.
So, warranties on domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, at this stage, appear to be not worth the paper on which they are written, as, under "Australian Consumer Law", as cited by the Western Australian debilitated replacement for a department of consumer protection, when domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems fail, regardless of whether they are subject to warranty, and, regardless of whether they are "fit for purpose", or, "of merchantable quality", the official stance of the Australian "consumer protection", is "tough luck, sucker, you lose".
Below is a copy of the content of a submission that I posted to the Solar Quotes blog web page about problems with warranties, and, relates to the problem with (the lack of enforceable) warranties on domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems in Australia.
"
The warranty problem is further aggravated by a communication that I
have just received, in the course of seeking quotes to replace the
failed and failing systems.
One system has died after 34 months, and the other is deteriorating
after 50 months, with the 60 month inverter warranties being not worth
the paper on which they are written, according to the WA department of
mines (where the current WA state government buried its burnt remains
of the WA consumer protection department, after the current WA state
government cremated consumer protection in WA).
And, this is aggravated by the response to a request for a quote for
replacing the faulty systems;
"
we do not decommission existing systems and we cannot claim govt
rebate if you where (sic) to decommission an existing system and go
for a new one as you have already claimed the rebate once
"
So, the official stance of the current WA state government and federal
government, regarding faulty domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems,
appears to be
"Tough bikkies - you lose, sucker. This is Australia - warranties mean nothing. And, clean energy usage is not welcome in WA or otherwise in Australia"
"
because, when domestic rooftop systems fail, especially, within the Australian (fraudulently misrepresented, as they have no effect) warranties, we are apparently not allowed to replace them using government rebates, so, we are doubly penalised by governments that have eliminated consumer protection in Australia, and, that have made it clear that the use of clean energy, especially, using photovoltaice electricity generation, is not welcome in Australia.
So, in Australia, due to maladministration in the different levels of government, and, antipathy in the different levels of government, apparently, getting domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems installed, and, seeking to use electricity generated by them, is like betting the money on a roulette wheel - you may break even, you may come out ahead, but, the chances are against it, and, the chances are simply that you will lose the money that you have invested in good faith, to try to reduce household expenses, and, to reduce further damage to the environment and to other lives on the planet, as the governments have rigged the odds, against the consumer, so as to cause the most possible harm.
And, so, we are not even allowed to remove the non-functional systems - we are simply left with non-operational domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, as ornaments, serving no useful purpose, because the governments decided that we are not allowed to repair them, replace them, or, have them removed, when the systems die after a couple of years.
We have replaced our previous two Rewatt inverters, one having failed, and, the other one, as according to the shonky Australian "consumer law", had no warranty coverage of any value.
The two inverters were replaced with a single 5kW inverter; a Goodwe GW5000D-NS inverter, which has been operating since March 2019, and, thus far, appears to have worked well, and, appears to be working well, with useful data output for analysis and monitoring, causing me to now recommend Goodwe as a good brand of photovoltaic inverters, for domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems.
As at this date; 20 November 2020, the state of western Australia, is the only state/territory in Australia, where the parliament does not provide financial assistance to householders, to install/upgrade domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, with or without battery storage systems.
The state government has instead, implemented financial punishment for householders who now install or upgrade (or, replace failed) domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, using the neglected, run down, and fragile, SWIS grid, which "services" the southwest of the state, including the Perth metropolitan area, home of most of the state's residents, and, the grid's progressive deterioration and increasing inability to maintain stable electricity supply to the people of Western Australia, as the excuse.
Instead of punishing people for installing or upgrading (or, replacing failed) domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, including, people who upgrade their domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, by adding battery storage systems, which would otherwise help stabilise the deteriorating electricity supply grid, the state parliament should be providing financial assistance, for householders to install or upgrade (or, replace failed) domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, to include battery storage systems, such as the one advertised at
https://www.deepcyclesystems.com.au/hybrid-solar-package-7-44kwh/
as viewed at 0005WST (UTC+0800) on 20 November 2020;
"
7kW Package Includes:
16 x 440W Longi Tier 1 High Performance Monocrystalline solar panels (above 20% efficiency)
1 x 5kW SolaX SK-TL-5000E Hybrid Inverter with 1 x BMU-5000 Charge Controller (100Amps)
1 x DCS PV 15kWh (15kWh usable) Lithium Ion Battery (the latest in LiFePO4 battery cell technology backed with a industry leading real 10 year unlimited cycle warranty)
Fully installed price, you only pay $17,999 Incl. GST (package price currently applicable for all of Brisbane/Sunshine/Gold Coast areas, VIC, NSW & TAS)
This price already takes into consideration any applicable government incentives.
This system is suitable for households that are using between 15 ~ 30kWh per day.
...
FAQ:
These systems can be installed on properties with single, dual or three phase switch boards
Typically most systems are installed inside garages or sheds, or south facing undercover areas
If external installation is a must we can upgrade these systems using the Good. We (sic) 5kW Hybrid inverters which are IP rated for outdoors.
This package price includes all the pre approval paperwork required by the local energy distributor
In order to be able to export power back to the grid, your energy distributor will return to site after the installation of the system to upgrade their bill meter to a bi-directional one (only if your property already doesn't have one)
"
except for two variants (to that specified system), and, two unresolved issues with that specification;
the first variant, is that the PV panels total 7.04kW of total generating capacity, and, I believe that the inverter that I would propose, has maximum input power of 6.5kW;
the second variant, is that installation of the battery and inverter, should be external, rather than internal, and, therefore, using an inverter such as the Goodwe GW5048D-ES inverter, instead of the one specified in that system specification, would be preferable;
the first unresolved issue, is that, whilst the specification mentions using the applicable Goodwe inverter, instead of the Solax inverter, for external installation, the only price stated, is for the Solax inverter and an internal installation, so, the difference in price, for when a Goodwe inverter, is instead, installed, is unknown; and
the second unresolved issue, is that the pricing stated, does not include Western Australia (which has no state based subsidies, unlike the locations for which the price is specified), so, the pricing for Western Australia, for both the internal installation, with the Solax inverter, and, the external installation, with the Goodwe inverter, are unknown (Note - the price stated, is the "Fully installed price").
I note that the Goodwe inverter that I specified, includes its own Battery Management System, so, the "BMU-5000 Charge Controller (100Amps)" would be redundant, if the Goodwe inverter would be used instead of the Solax inverter.
I have no knowledge of the quality of that particular system - I do not have one, but, the specifications that I have stated, as a variant of it; 6.5kW total generating capacity of panels, the Goodwe GW5048D-ES inverter, and, the DCS 15kWh capacity battery (and, for that battery, the claimed usable capacity, which is unusual - having 100% usable capacity, in such a battery), seems a reasonable and appropriate system for what I suggest, should be installed on all housing units that have the capability for such an installation, and, such installations would help stabilise the deteriorating and increasingly unstable electricity supply grid in Western Australia.
I note that, also, an LG Chem RESU 13 battery (12.4kWh usable capacity, according to the manufacturer) could be used in this scenario - the DCS 15kWh battery, and the LG Chem RESU 13 battery, appear to retail for the same price - the DCS battery, according to its manufacturer, has the higher usable capacity, but, the LG Chem RESU battery, is more well known.
I note also that the Goodwe inverter that I specified; the Goodwe GW5048D-ES, would apparently be able to manage two of the Deep Cycle Systems 15kWk batteries, together (total usable capacity, according to the manufacturer, 30kWh), or, similarly, two LG Chem RESU 13 batteries (total usable capacity, 24.8kWh, as specified by the manufacturer).
I note that, at the time of my writing and publishing this item, I have not been offered, have made no solicitation for, and, do not expect, any benefit(s) from any of the manufacturers, distributors, or retailers, of any of these products.
Now, after all of that, what I believe that the state of Western Australia needs, in order to stabilise the SWIS electricity grid, to clean up the electricity generation for the state, and, to aid in the financial recovery of the state and its people, is for the Western Australian state government to provide to Western Australian householders, no deposit, interest free loans, repayable over ten years, of up to 25,000AUD, to finance domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with battery storage, as I have proposed, which would be far more beneficial to the people of the state, and, to the state economy, than the state government simply giving similar sums of money to rich people who do not need the extra money, so that they can get gold toilet seats in their houses.
If you are a resident of Western Australia, and, agree with the proposition that the Western Australian state parliament should be thus, supporting and encouraging the use of solar energy, rather than punishing the use of solar energy, I have set up a mailing list, for discussion and collaboration (we have a state parliamentary election, in a few months, so, organised lobbying would be good), at
https://groups.io/g/seusa-wa
and a petition at
https://www.change.org/p/the-premier-and-members-of-the-western-australian-state-parliament-encourage-instead-of-punishing-use-of-domestic-rooftop-photovoltaic-systems
to try to get the state parliament to encourage, rather than to punish, the use of solar energy in Western Australia.
I note that, at the time of writing and publishing this item; 20 November 2020, I am not aware of any organisation in Western Australia, representing the interests of, or otherwise advocating for, either the supporters and users of clean energy including solar energy, or, the suppliers - retail and/or wholesale, including manufacturers, of components and/or systems for generating clean energy, such as domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, at the state level, and therefore, able to campaign to advocate the encouragement of use of clean energy, including and promoting householders using domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries, for the upcoming, March 2021 state parliamentary election..
On 01 December 2020, I submitted the following post to
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-climate-policy-mb1782
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
December 1, 2020 at 8:41 am
The primary problem is that the WA state government is so cocky about winning the March 2021 state election, in a landslide victory, that the state government really does not care for, and, has shown absolute contempt for, the use of clean energy in Western Australia.
What is conspicuous, is that the Western Australian state government is the only state/territory government in mainland Australia, that does not offer financial assistance for householders to get and use domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with battery storage, instead, punishing us for using clean energy.
And, it should be remembered, that this ALP state government is the fossil fuel party;
" it's Western Australia's reputation as a global liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub that will bring long-term economic benefits to the State.
That's according to WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum, and Energy Bill Johnston who spoke to organisers of the Australasian Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition (AOG) ahead of his opening address on Wednesday 13 March.
"We are blessed with an extraordinary natural endowment of mineral and petroleum resources," he said.
"Australia is on track to become the world's largest LNG exporter, with Western Australia responsible for approximately 11% of global LNG."
Western Australia's oil and gas sector was valued at $26.6 billion in 2017-18, an increase of 39% from $19.2 billion in 2016-17.
...
"We are working with industry to build a healthy services sector and to promote Perth as a global oil and gas hub, similar to Houston and Aberdeen, which is the mandate of the McGowan Government's LNG Jobs Taskforce," Minister Johnston said.
"
-
https://aogexpo.com.au/industry-supply/perth-is-a-global-oil-and-gas-hub-says-wa-mines-and-petroleum-minister/
"
The onshore oil and gas industry needs to get the community behind fracking, the future of which in the State depends on the outcome of a McGowan Government inquiry, according to Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston.
...
The opponents of onshore oil and gas extraction were not telling the whole story, he said.
"
-
https://thewest.com.au/business/oil-gas/industry-told-to-get-community-behind-fracking-ng-b88486657z
"
The WA Premier and three high-level ministers have met with gas companies and lobby groups nearly 140 times since Labor came to power in 2017.
On seven occasions, the party received payments from the companies either on the day of the meeting or a short time later.
The Captured State: The influence of the gas lobby on WA report from anti-fossil fuel activist group 350 Perth has revealed the extraordinary access gas companies and lobby groups have to ministers in charge of regulating the sector.
The report paid special attention to the diaries of Premier Mark McGowan, Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan, Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston, and Environment Minister Stephen Dawson, comparing meeting dates with gas companies and lobbyists to electoral commission donation records.
The findings have prompted accusations the closeness of the gas industry to the WA government was resulting in a slow response to climate change and limp efforts to hold the sector to account for its contribution to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions and on Aboriginal heritage issues.
...
The ministerial diaries, obtained through freedom of information requests by 350 Perth, showed nearly 140 instances since 2017 where the Premier and ministers met with gas companies or lobby groups including the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA.
...
Meeting purposes ranged from a vague "quick update" to a full-scale "urgent" roundtable discussion on March 14, 2019, between Mr McGowan, Mr Dawson and Mr Johnston with the main gas players about the Environmental Protection Authority's controversial move to impose a zero-emissions limit on new gas projects.
Some of the meetings took place over the phone, while others were held at Perth cafes.
Anthony Collins, one of the report's authors, said the most shocking findings were the number of times Woodside and Chevron met with Labor ministers, then donated to the party.
On three occasions, Chevron sent thousands of dollars to the Labor party on the day of the meeting. The largest of these payments was $6600 payment made to WA Labor on August 29, 2017, the same day Chevron met with Alannah MacTiernan for an unknown reason.
On four other occasions, Woodside and Chevron sent thousands to Labor just days after the companies met with ministers. On one occasion, Woodside transferred $6600 to WA Labor five days after a meeting with Mr Johnston regarding an 'overview of Burrup Hub developments', and the day before the company met with Mr Dawson.
The Labor party runs the cash for access 'Labor business roundtable' and businesses purchasing tickets to it or other related roundtable meetings or lunches would need to be declared to the Australian Electoral Commission.
"
-
https://www.smh.com.au/national/too-close-to-the-flame-wa-government-accused-of-being-limp-on-climate-change-after-revolving-doors-with-oil-and-gas-giants-20201124-p56hi4.html
This WA state government, like its parent company, the feral LNP government, is all about destroying the environment, to make their fossil fuel company mates, filthy rich.
And, here, the filthy rich, involves getting rich by spreading filth.
And, our local ALP feral member is the ALP fossil fuel agent - his appointed role, is to advocate for WA fossil fuel producers, against the interests of his constituents - after all, he is a founding member of the ALP fossil fuel lobby group - the Otis group, in which, WA ALP feral members have a disproportionately large membership
Oh, yes, we have seen the WA state government climate policy - it is the same as the feral ALP party, and its parent company - the LNP feral government's climate policy, and, their mutual, general policy - do as much harm as possible, while pillaging the plebs.
"
and
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
December 1, 2020 at 8:49 am
Oh, and, ...
"
"Maintaining our support of the state's mining and petroleum industries is a key part of the government's recovery plan to keep Western Australia in a strong economic position."
...
Johnston said that 2019/20 also represented the first year-on-year increase in mining and petroleum investment since the 2012-13 iron-ore and liquefied natural gas boom, noting that there were currently more than A$100-billion worth of projects in the pipeline.
...
"Total royalty revenue received by the Western Australian government for 2019/20 reached a record high of A$9.29-billion, a 42% increase on the previous financial year.
"This contribution is a lifeblood of the Western Australian economy
"
Ah, yes, the WA ALP state government climate policy - produce increasingly more fossil fuels.
...
"
This is the post submitted to the Solar Quotes blog (solarquotes.com.au/blog), that they refused to publish in their comments part, as they will not publish anything critical of their masters - the pro- fossil fuel ALP. The post relates to Solar Quotes published articles promoting the WA ALP state government, in the campaign of Solar Quotes to promote the ALP in election campaigns, against the interests of promoting the use of solar energy.
"
Unfortunately, however, the state government, being overly cocky about winning government again in the upcoming election, due to the TINA principle, is not really bothered about trying to "help power a WA Economic Recovery".
The ACT government, with only a fraction of the population of WA, is showing it is significantly more sincere, and, is not owned and controlled by the fossil fuel companies.
At
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-21/act-electric-vehicles-free-rego-solar-panel-loans-in-budget/13077258
is
"
Under the plan, $150 million will be put towards loans for Canberrans wanting to reduce their carbon footprint by installing solar panels, purchasing battery storage, buying an electric vehicle or upgrading to efficient appliances.
The loan scheme will offer up to $15,000 in interest-free support for households, which ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said would remove barriers to people adopting greener technologies.
"The objective here is to support households to reduce their cost of living," he said.
"
and at
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-03/act-labor-promises-interest-free-loans-canberra-solar-storage/12516962
is
"
Labor has announced a $150 million election commitment to provide the capital's households with interest-free loans between $2,000 and $15,000 to help cover the upfront costs of installing rooftop solar panels, household battery storage and hot water heat pumps.
"
and
"
"This is particularly targeted at a cohort of Canberra households that have indicated that if they had the available upfront cash to be able to install these sorts of technologies they would, and this program will allow that to happen."
Under the scheme, Labor plans to accredit a number of providers and allow Canberrans to choose the installer, according to the type of product they require.
The government would then provide the upfront capital, in the form of a zero interest loan, for the purchase and installation.
Customers would then repay the loan over a 10-year period.
"But they would be saving more in the lower energy costs than the cost of repaying the loan, so households are better off," Mr Barr said.
"The cost of the initiative is effectively the 10-year government bond rate, so to government it will cost around 1.6 per cent.
"
and
"
According to ACT Labor, the move is forecast to create and protect hundreds of local jobs over the next decade.
"The program will not only create new jobs, it will reduce household cost of living, and it supports the take up of a range of new technologies that will lead to lower emissions," Mr Barr said.
"
and
"
Mr Parkinson said the shift away from gas and fuel for heating and transport meant the amount of electricity required to run the capital would increase.
"So you're going to need more wind and solar production and [one way of doing that] is to encourage homes and businesses to install it themselves," he said.
Mr Parkinson said an uptake of household batteries would also help the grid by storing power to be used during peak periods.
"One of the things we're going to see in the ACT and across Australia is that a huge amount of our future power needs are going to come from ... distributed energy - things like rooftop solar, heat pumps, battery storage and electric vehicles." he said.
"It will be a really important part of the equation and something that's got to happen, not just in the households who care rich enough to go out and buy it now, it has got to happen in every part of the community.
"
and
"
The election commitment was also welcomed by the Climate Council.
"If introduced, this commitment would serve as a win-win-win for the ACT, by setting up new jobs for the future, lowering power bills, whilst also reducing pollution," Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie said.
"
and so the action by the ACT territory government, involves part of what we, the people, need in WA, as stated at
http://www.armadale-wa.net/politics/Armadale-Needs.html
-
"
7.We need for the state parliament to provide interest free, no deposit finance for householders to install and replace domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries, with the loans being repayable over up to five years, for a system without battery storage, and, repayable over up to ten years, for a system with battery storage, with generating capacity up to the maximum allowed by state legislation, and, the storage capacity of up to 30kWh.
7a. And we need for the Western Australian state parliament to allow in this state, export limited inverters for domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, as are allowed in other states and territories of Australia, as these protect the electricity grid, while allowing more usable clean energy to be used.
"
Now that we have a state parliamentary election coming up in Western Australia, where the economy and the people are suffering, and with little or no hope for the future, such a policy and the action to implement it, in WA, would provide a great boost for the state and its people, and, help to stabilise the fragile and decrepit SWIS electricity grid.
It is unfortunate that, in WA, we do not have a clean energy advocacy organisation, like the Solar Citizens - the east coast organisation.
Oh, and, regarding the actions of the ACT government above, with the 150 million AUD in funding that it will provide, at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Australia
the population for WA as at June 2020, is shown to be 2,661,936, and
the population for the ACT as at March 2020, is shown to be 431,114,
so, WA has about 6.17 times the population of the ACT.
Therefore, an equivalent funding package, if provided by the WA state government, to provide financial assistance for householders to install/update domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries, would be 926 million AUD - a fraction of the revenue that the state government receives in "royalties" - taxes, for mineral resources - including fossil fuels - extracted in Western Australia.
And, as far as I am aware, the WA state government is the only state/territory government in Australia, that does not provide financial assistance to householders, to install/update domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries.
"
It is unfortunate that the ALP in WA, in the state parliament, is determined to hobble the Western Australian economy and jobs growth, and that the ALP in Western Australia, is opposed to the use of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries, and, is opposed to stabilising the fragile and decrepit SWIS electricity grid, and, it is unfortunate that Solar Quotes acts for the ALP in these matters, leading to the question as to whether Solar Quotes is funded by the ALP, or, whether the Solar Quotes owners and staff, are loyal Party Members of the ALP, like the loyal Party Members in the USSR, and their equivalents in Communist China and in North Korea, controlling what goes through the Solar Quotes Ministry Of Truth.
As the Solar Quotes Blog will not publish posts critical of the ALP, for the ALP's predominant support for fossil fuels and destroying the environment and causing harm to people, over clean energy and protecting the environment and protecting people, here is a copy of a post that that blog refused to publish, in response to the partisan political article attacking only the LNP for its suuport for fossil fuels and its antipathy to the environment and toward the people of Australia.
The post below, would be at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/emissions-australia-morrison/?unapproved=971626&moderation-hash=94cad33744f152d0e8c15b2a0c51975d#comment-971626
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 11, 2021 at 8:29 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Des - "Sorry Ronald, I think your optimism regarding a change in attitude by the LNP leadership regarding cliimate (sic) change matters is probably unjustified".
That should also include the LNP's subsidiary; the ALP, especially the WA state government, apart from also the feral ALP.
Here's some information that may be of interest...
At
https://reneweconomy.com.au/gas-companies-rank-among-largest-funders-of-australian-political-parties/
is
"
Woodside, Santos and AusGold Mining Group all also donated more than $1 million directly to political parties over the last 20-years, most of which was split between the Liberal, National and Labor parties.
Other mining majors, including BHP, Rio Tinto, Glencore and Anglo American Metallurgical Coal, were substantial political donors but opted for a less direct route to financing political parties. The major mining groups directed the bulk of their political donations into campaigning groups, including the Minerals Council of Australia, Coal21, and the Business Council of Australia.
These lobby groups have undertaken a number of politicised campaigns, predominantly in support of the fossil fuel industry, on behalf of their financial backers, with pro-coal groups the Minerals Council of Australia and Coal21 sharing $35 million in donations between them.
In the case of the Minerals Council of Australia, the lobby group has also served as an intermediary for donations between the resources sector and political parties, passing on more than $33 million through donations to political parties, around two-thirds of which was directed to the Labor party, with the remaining third directed to the Liberal-National Coalition.
"
and, at
https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/western-australia-covid-19-fires-and-fossil-fuel-premier
is
"
However, the defining feature of the McGowan government is its terrible record as a loyal servant of the fossil fuel industry.
In the face of catastrophic climate change, what the oil and gas industry wants, it gets.
Even as Perth is blanketed in smoke, the government has approved a controversial onshore gas project and a gas-fired power station that will generate 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide between them, plus paved the way for offshore gas projects.
The gas industry is already WA's biggest polluter, pumping out 32 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. The rise in production over the past 15 years has already caused WA's emissions to skyrocket, undoing all the carbon pollution reductions across the rest of Australia.
The state government is committed to expanding the industry and, if proposed new gas fields off the Pilbara coast go ahead, this would lock in fossil fuel extraction until 2070 - pumping out 139 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, four times higher than those predicted from the Adani Carmichael coal mine in central Queensland.
"
and at
https://www.ccwa.org.au/controversial_approvals_under_covid_cover
is
"
Environment Minister grants controversial, polluting approvals under COVID cover
Posted by Piers Verstegen 107sc on February 01, 2021
WA Environment Minister Stephen Dawson signed off environmental approvals for several contentious projects today without an official announcement while Western Australia focusses on COVID-19.
The projects include the Waitsia onshore gas development in the Mid-West and a new gas-fired power station for FMG.
The approvals have been posted on the Environmental Protection Authority website with no media statements from the Minister, and just before the election caretaker mode starts, during which time major ministerial decisions cannot be made.
Conservation Council of WA Director Piers Verstegen said the approvals would allow the release of nearly 50 million tonnes of carbon pollution according to estimates submitted to the EPA and Appeals convenor.
"These approvals will deny clean energy jobs for West Australians while significantly increasing carbon pollution both here and overseas. In both cases, renewable energy options could have been developed instead of gas, and this would have delivered many more jobs for West Australians.
"Instead, the Waitsia project will generate nearly 40 million tonnes of residual and scope 3 carbon pollution and the FMG gas project will add nearly 10 million tonnes. This directly contradicts the State Government's target of net zero emissions by 2050, and the EPA policy objective to 'reduce greenhouse gas emissions' through 'all reasonable and practicable' measures.
...
"Disappointingly, the EPA made no recommendation about whether the additional greenhouse gas emissions were environmentally acceptable, leaving this decision to the Minster. We believe this was a major omission that could cast legal questions over the final approvals," he said.
Mr Verstegen noted that the gas industry is the smallest employer in WA, delivering fewer jobs than any other sector. In comparison, the renewable energy industry creates far more jobs per dollar invested.
"Both approvals put gas industry profits ahead of climate and jobs for WA," he said.
A large number of appeals were lodged against the gas projects, including from the Conservation Council, academics, lawyers, farmers and others. The appeals argued that the projects should not proceed as they were inconsistent with the need to immediately reduce carbon pollution to abate the risks of future climate change harm.
"In our appeals, CCWA argued the proponents should be required to source energy from renewable sources instead of gas, or at a minimum, offset all pollution from commencement. By not recommending such measures the EPA has failed to apply their policy that 'all reasonable and practicable measures' be taken to avoid and reduce pollution," said Mr Verstegen.
"Last week Minister Dawson notified us that he had made 'determinations' on the appeals, largely rejecting the appellants concerns, and paving the way for the approvals to be issued before caretaker mode officially kicks in."
"
and at
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/11/05/political-donation-laws/
is
"
Under the new federal law, only donations of $14,300 or more made by property developers "for federal purposes" need to be disclosed.
The explanation given for the new laws is that state laws shouldn't apply to federal donations.
According to Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, the new laws "better clarify" the interaction between federal and state electoral laws.
The revised provisions ensure that federal law only applies exclusively to donations that are expressly for federal purposes, while fully respecting the application of state laws to amounts used for state purposes.
Labor's Don Farrell, who is shadow Special Minister of State, told the Senate, it's not Labor's intention in any way to weaken any of those provisions already in place in the states, but the Commonwealth Parliament should be able to make laws with respect to Commonwealth elections, and those laws should not be overridden by the states.
Why this is bad for integrity
If you are a property developer wanting to curry favour with the NSW Labor Party or the Queensland Liberal National Party, you are now allowed to make a donation of $14,299 and no one will ever know.
All you need to do is tell the party the money is "for federal purposes".
While the law requires parties to keep money donated "for federal purposes" in separate bank accounts, a donation "for federal purposes" frees up money from other, general donations to be used for state purposes.
"
So, neither the LNP, nor, its subsidiary, the ALP, can be expected to start becoming environmentally friendly, while they are lining their pockets with "donations" from the fossil fuel mining and extraction companies, and, legislating to increase the amounts with which they can line their pockets.
And, in Australia, the investment made by companies, that has the greatest return, is the money paid to members of parliaments and their political parties; the phenomenally greatest return, like winning a lottery, was the recent report of the $1500 "donation" paid to Dutton, that got from him, to the donor, a $880,000 "grant", paid out of public funds - the taxpayers' money, not Dutton's personal money, that was expedited, bypassing any official scrutiny, and, against departmental recommendations...
"
The reference to Dutton's gift of taxpayers' money, to the payer of the "donation" to him, is shown at
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-10/peter-dutton-office-fast-tracked-grant-proposal-after-donation/13126496
which includes
"
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton's office fast-tracked a one-off $880,000 grant proposal to a retail association eight days after it made a $1,500 political donation to the Queensland Liberal National Party — at an event Mr Dutton attended — for the purpose of personally supporting him.
...
The grant was not awarded through any open or competitive grant scheme, but was awarded on a one-off basis by Mr Dutton. It appears Mr Dutton has only awarded a handful of one-off grants since he became Home Affairs Minister.
"
On 12 February2021, I submitted the following post to
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-climate-policy-mb1782
"
Resubmitting, as previous attempt simply disappeared upon clicking the "Post Comment" button.
With yet another electricity grid supply failure here, on Thursday night, 11 February 2921, after the "peak" demand period, and, hours after the daytime photovoltaic generation period, so, it can not be blamed on the photovoltaic electricity generation, it is time for WA to at least try to catch up with the rest of Australia, and, for the state government to provide to householders in WA, no deposit, no fees, interest-free loans, to finance installation and upgrading of domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, to the maximum panels generating capacity of 6.6kW, and, WITH battery storage to provide UPS functionality, with at least 15kWh usable storage.
After all, the state treasurer has delighted in bragging about the massive amount of excess money that the state government has, for it to play with, and, as the state government has shown us tonight, we, the people of WA, are clearly, still in the Dark Ages, with our erratic and unstable electricity grid supply, that is propped up, during daylight hours, by the householders with domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems, and, which cannot supply reliable electricity enough for lighting, at night.
Thus, this reform is needed, for more than solely reducing atmospheric pollution from the unjustifiable burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity - the reform is needed, to help householders to further stabilise the electricity available to us.
"
On 12 February2021, I also submitted the following post to
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-climate-policy-mb1782
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 13, 2021 at 12:11 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
And, because of the ALP collaboration of the blog administrators, in
supporting fossil fuels over renewable energy, the post below is
blocked.
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 12, 2021 at 9:12 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Ah, climate policy in Western Australia...
Now, here's something different...
At
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-12/wa-political-landscape-turned-on-head-liberals-green-energy/13145928
we have
"
One major party is making the case that renewables are the way of the
future, the other is warning they will cripple jobs and send power
prices skyrocketing.
By that sentiment alone, it is politics as usual in Australia for the
past decade.
Except in this case, it is the WA Liberal Party calling for coal to be
tossed aside and wind and solar to take its place, with Labor blasting
the idea as "reckless".
"
and
"
Coal-fired power stations would close within four years and the state
would lean heavily on renewables for its energy needs within a decade.
"
and
"
"All it would mean is many many billions of extra debt, huge increases
in family power bills, rolling blackouts across the state and huge job
losses," Premier Mark McGowan said of the Liberal policy.
"Everyone should be very fearful about what they have just put forward."
"
But, then, the response from the ALP is not so surprising, given the
"donations" that they have received from the fossil fuel companies...
The response from the Greens, and, from the voters, will be interesting to see...
Especially, now that the WA state premier, and representative of the
fossil fuel companies, has now handed to the WA Liberal Party, a
pretty good chance of winning the previously unwinnable state
election, with the state premier showing the WA Liberal Party leader,
to be the less harmful option.
"
And, the ALP has clearly shown that, like the Crown Casino's empire,
and the federal LNP and the WA National Party, any money that it gets,
is good, regardless of how dirty is the money.
"
At 0519 WST (UTC+0800) on 15 February, 2021, I also submitted the following post to
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-election-renewables-mb1878/
with the first part, showing that it was received by them, before being blocked by them,
due to it being inconsistent with their election campaigning for the ALP and thence,
for the fossil fuel companies that the ALP represents in the state and federal parliaments.
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 15, 2021 at 7:49 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Post attempted to be submitted to
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-election-renewables-mb1878/
at 0427WST (UTC +0800) got this response, more than 24 hours after
last previous post attempt;
"You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down."
The unsuccessful post is
"
You have missed a number of conspicuous (moreso by their omission)
points, in the above article.
The first, is that WA is the only state in Australia, where the state
government does not offer its householders, financial assistance to
install/upgrade household rooftop photovoltaic systems with battery
storage.
The second, is the the state government policy of putting increasing
fossil fuel production and usage, before absolutely everything else.
The third, is that Solar Quotes are blocking my posts, relating to
this, as my posts are not consistent with the campaigning of Solar
Quotes, for the WA ALP state government, and thence, for the fossil
fuel compies that the ALP represents.
"
On 12 February2021, I also submitted the following post to
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-climate-policy-mb1782
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 13, 2021 at 12:11 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
And, because of the ALP collaboration of the blog administrators, in
supporting fossil fuels over renewable energy, the post below is
blocked.
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 12, 2021 at 9:12 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Ah, climate policy in Western Australia...
Now, here's something different...
At
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-12/wa-political-landscape-turned-on-head-liberals-green-energy/13145928
we have
"
One major party is making the case that renewables are the way of the
future, the other is warning they will cripple jobs and send power
prices skyrocketing.
By that sentiment alone, it is politics as usual in Australia for the
past decade.
Except in this case, it is the WA Liberal Party calling for coal to be
tossed aside and wind and solar to take its place, with Labor blasting
the idea as "reckless".
"
and
"
Coal-fired power stations would close within four years and the state
would lean heavily on renewables for its energy needs within a decade.
"
and
"
"All it would mean is many many billions of extra debt, huge increases
in family power bills, rolling blackouts across the state and huge job
losses," Premier Mark McGowan said of the Liberal policy.
"Everyone should be very fearful about what they have just put forward."
"
But, then, the response from the ALP is not so surprising, given the
"donations" that they have received from the fossil fuel companies...
The response from the Greens, and, from the voters, will be interesting to see...
Especially, now that the WA state premier, and representative of the
fossil fuel companies, has now handed to the WA Liberal Party, a
pretty good chance of winning the previously unwinnable state
election, with the state premier showing the WA Liberal Party leader,
to be the less harmful option.
"
And, the ALP has clearly shown that, like the Crown Casino's empire,
and the federal LNP and the WA National Party, any money that it gets,
is good, regardless of how dirty is the money.
"
"
"
"
It is unfortunate that Solar Quotes has become simply a political campaigner for the ALP and thence,
for the fossil fuel companies that the ALP represents in both the WA state parliament and the Australian feral parliament.
At
https://onestepoffthegrid.com.au/big-four-bank-offers-green-loan-for-home-solar-batteries-ev-chargers/
is
"
Big Four bank offers "green loan"for home solar, batteries
By Sophie Vorrath February 16, 2021
Australia's Commonwealth Bank has announced it will offer its home loan customers up to $20,000 in low, fixed-interest finance to install rooftop solar systems, battery storage, electric vehicle chargers, or other eligible green technologies.
The new product, dubbed the CommBank Green Loan, was announced on Monday as part of the Big Four bank's "commitment to the responsible global transition to net zero emissions by 2050,"a goal enshrined in the Paris climate agreement, but yet to be formally adopted by Australia's federal government.
The Commonwealth Bank's group executive, Angus Sullivan, said the Green Loan would offer an "historically low"0.99% p.a. secured fixed rate to eligible home loan customers to fund up to $20,000 in renewables, repaid over 10 years with no set up charges, monthly service fees, or early repayment charges.
The bank says the loan could be used by customers to purchase and install a range of eligible small-scale renewable technology, including solar panels, battery packs, and electric vehicle charging stations at the property used as security for the existing home loan.
The initiative will start with an invitation-only pilot in February, in which select eligible customers will receive a direct offer to apply for the loan, followed by a national rollout scheduled for May.
"As Australia's largest lender, we want to help as many customers as possible make their homes more sustainable,"Sullivan said, noting that adding rooftop solar, alone, could cut a household's energy bill by up to around $500 a year.
"
It will be interesting to find whether the other "Big Four Banks", and, the other retail trading banks in Australia, follow suit, or, whether the Commonwealth Bank will be the only environmentally responsible retail trading bank in Australia.
I am not a Commonwealth Bank customer, and do not receive any benefit for publicising this initiative.
This was submitted as a post to the Solar Quotes blog, but, as usual, their censor(s) blocked it
The loan, as described, should provide sufficient low cost finance, to provide for a household rooftop photovoltaic system for a single phase electricity grid connection, with 6.66kW of panels generating capacity, a decent 5kW hybrid inverter with 5kW of UPS functionality, and, a battery storage system with 15kWh of usable storage.
At
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Western_Australia
is shown that the parties with at least one member in the Western Australian state parliament,
as at the time that the March 2021 state parliamentary election was called, are:
Australian Labor Party (WA) - 54 members
Liberal Party (WA) - 23 members
National Party (WA) - 9 members
Greens (WA) - 4 members
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (WA) - 2 members
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (WA) - 1 member
Liberal Democrats - 1 member
Western Australia Party - 1 member
Of those political parties, the following, on their official party web sites,
did not provide any contact email address for contacting the political party, especially,
with questions about the policies of the political party.
Liberal Party (WA)
National Party (WA)
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party (WA)
Liberal Democrats
Regarding the Liberal Party, a contact email address was easily enough found,
for the leader of the Western Australian parliamentary Liberal Party.
So, a copy of the following email message, involving a question as to the degree of support of the party,
for household rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries, was sent, between 0000 and 0500, on 14 February 2021,
to the contact email address for each of:
the leader of the Western Australian state parliamentary Liberal Party,
the Australian Labor Party (WA)
the Greens (WA)
the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (WA)
the Western Australia Party
The email message that was sent to each of those, is
"
Hello.
A web page has published
"
At
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-21/act-electric-vehicles-free-rego-solar-panel-loans-in-budget/13077258
is
"
Under the plan, $150 million will be put towards loans for Canberrans wanting to reduce their carbon footprint by installing solar panels, purchasing battery storage, buying an electric vehicle or upgrading to efficient appliances.
The loan scheme will offer up to $15,000 in interest-free support for households, which ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said would remove barriers to people adopting greener technologies.
"The objective here is to support households to reduce their cost of living," he said.
"
and at
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-03/act-labor-promises-interest-free-loans-canberra-solar-storage/12516962
is
"
Labor has announced a $150 million election commitment to provide the capital's households with interest-free loans between $2,000 and $15,000 to help cover the upfront costs of installing rooftop solar panels, household battery storage and hot water heat pumps.
"
and
"
"This is particularly targeted at a cohort of Canberra households that have indicated that if they had the available upfront cash to be able to install these sorts of technologies they would, and this program will allow that to happen."
Under the scheme, Labor plans to accredit a number of providers and allow Canberrans to choose the installer, according to the type of product they require.
The government would then provide the upfront capital, in the form of a zero interest loan, for the purchase and installation.
Customers would then repay the loan over a 10-year period.
"But they would be saving more in the lower energy costs than the cost of repaying the loan, so households are better off," Mr Barr said.
"The cost of the initiative is effectively the 10-year government bond rate, so to government it will cost around 1.6 per cent.
"
and
"
According to ACT Labor, the move is forecast to create and protect hundreds of local jobs over the next decade.
"The program will not only create new jobs, it will reduce household cost of living, and it supports the take up of a range of new technologies that will lead to lower emissions," Mr Barr said.
"
and
"
Mr Parkinson said the shift away from gas and fuel for heating and transport meant the amount of electricity required to run the capital would increase.
"So you're going to need more wind and solar production and [one way of doing that] is to encourage homes and businesses to install it themselves," he said.
Mr Parkinson said an uptake of household batteries would also help the grid by storing power to be used during peak periods.
"One of the things we're going to see in the ACT and across Australia is that a huge amount of our future power needs are going to come from ... distributed energy - things like rooftop solar, heat pumps, battery storage and electric vehicles." he said.
"It will be a really important part of the equation and something that's got to happen, not just in the households who care rich enough to go out and buy it now, it has got to happen in every part of the community."
"
and
"
Oh, and, regarding the actions of the ACT government above, with the 150 million AUD in funding that it will provide, at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_Australia
the population for WA as at June 2020, is shown to be 2,661,936, and
the population for the ACT as at March 2020, is shown to be 431,114,
so, WA has about 6.17 times the population of the ACT.
Therefore, an equivalent funding package, if provided by the WA state government, to provide financial assistance for householders to install/update domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries, would be 926 million AUD - a fraction of the revenue that the state government receives in "royalties" - taxes, for mineral resources - including fossil fuels - extracted in Western Australia.
And, as far as I am aware, the WA state government is the only state/territory government in Australia, that does not provide financial assistance to householders, to install/upgrade domestic rooftop photovoltaic systems with batteries.
"
Please advise as to what your political party is campaigning for, and, offering, in terms of financial assistance for households in Western Australia, to install/upgrade household rooftop photovoltaic systems with panel generating capacity of up to 6.66kW, being the maximum allowed in Western Australia for single phase electricity grid connections, and, with battery storage of up to 25kWh.
The response, or, lack of response, as received by 1700 on Friday 19 February 2021, from each political party standing candidates in this state parliamentary election, to which this email message is being sent, is intended to be published on a web site by the sender of this message, and, submitted for publication media organisations who may be interested in publishing the responses or lack of responses to the question, in the context of the preamble to the question.
Thank you in anticipation.
"
thus, allowing each of the political parties, five office/business days, or, one "working week", to reply to the email query.
as of 0500 on Monday, 22 February, no answer to the question, has been received from any of the political parties, thus indicating that no parliamentary political party in western Australia, that has at least one member in the Western Australian state parliament as at the time of the March 2021 Western Australian state election being called, supports household rooftop photovoltaic systems, either with or without battery storage. An answer that stated that the party supported such systems even without batteries, or, with lesser capacity batteries, would have indicated some support from the party, for household rooftop photovoltaic systems. But, none of the parties showed any support, whatsoever, for household rooftop photovoltaic systems. Also, an answer such as "Our party will match the offer of the ACT government", would have shown support for household rooftop photovoltaic systems. But, all of the Western Australian state parliamentary political parties chose to show that they do not support household rooftop photovoltaic systems.
Why is the reference to no answer having been received by 0500 on Monday 22 February 2021?
Because, in the document published by the Western Australian state Electoral Commission, at
https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021%20State%20General%20Election%20Timeline.pdf
is shown that, on Monday 22 February 2021, "Early Voting (by post) commences"
and, on Wednesday 24 February 2021, "Early Voting (in person & technology assisted) commences"
and, each of the parties standing candidates, should be aware of these two significant dates, especially, as, at
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-20/zak-kirkup-rejects-newspoll-pointing-to-liberal-election-wipeout/13175060
is
"
About 70 per cent of the state is expected to vote early this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with early voting permitted from next week, making the next few days crucial for campaigning.
"
At
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-election-renewables-mb1878/
is a post (one of mine, that Solar Quotes have published) that I had made, regarding the importance of household rooftop photovoltaic systems;
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 18, 2021 at 2:34 pm
At 1355 "NEM Time", for the SWIS grid, on the NEM Watch Widget,
Small Solar - 824MW
Large Solar - 107MW
Wind - 639 MW
Black Coal - 443MW
Gas - 338MW
"Other" - 12 MW
Small Solar is producing more electricity, that Gas and Black Coal, together, and, Small Solar is the largest source of electricity.
It is we, the householders, with our household rooftop photovoltaic systems, that are carrying the grid, and, supplying the clean electricity in WA, in spite of the state government's policy to generate electricity using fossil fuels. We provide the largest source of clean electricity in the state, in spite of the policies of the parliamentary political parties.
It is people power!
"
thus, in the context of "the deafening silence" of the Western Australian parliamentary political parties who, at the time of the March 2021 Western Australian state parliamentary election being called, had at least one member in the state parliament, regarding their support (or, demonstrated absence of any support) for household rooftop photovoltaic systems, the conclusion is drawn, as submitted as a post to the Solar Quotes blog web page at
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/wa-election-renewables-mb1878/
"
Bret Busby in Western Australia says
February 22, 2021 at 2:26 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
The parliamentary political parties that are represented by at least
one member in the Western Australian state parliament, as at the time
of the March 2021 Western Australian state parliamentary election,
have each shown that they do not support household rooftop
photovoltaic systems, with or without battery storage.
This is shown by the responses and lack of responses, to a question
sent by email, to each of those parties, to which email could be sent.
The absence of support for household rooftop photovoltaic systems, by
the Greens (WA) is surprising.
It shows that support for reducing pollution in WA, support for
renewable energy, and, support for stable electricity supply, support
for boosting the WA state economy and assisting households, and
support for clean energy and associated employment, are all lacking in
all of the WA parliamentary political parties.
"
At
https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-switch-off-wa-becomes-second-state-to-reach-for-rooftop-remote-control/
on 19 January 2022, was
"all new or upgraded solar systems (with inverter capacity 5kW and below) installed on the state's main grid, the South West Interconnected System, will be required to have the capability to be remotely switched off, and back on again, starting from February 14, 2022."
14 February 2022 - the day that the Western Australian ALP state government consolidates its hatred for clean generation of electricity.
At
https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2021/11/Technical-solution-to-allow-more-residential-rooftop-solar.aspx
on 19 January 2022, was
"From February 14, 2022, new or upgraded solar panels will be installed with the capability to be remotely turned off"
to force householders to use grid electricity generated from burning fossil fuels
At
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/managing-risks-allow-more-residential-rooftop-solar
on 19 January 2022, was
"From 14 February 2022, new and upgraded rooftop solar PV systems must be capable of being remotely turned down or off"
to force householders to use grid electricity generated from burning fossil fuels
so the Western Australian ALP state government can take householders who have paid to have household rooftop photovoltaic systems installed, to both minimise harm to the environment, through the use of clean electricity generation, and, to save household money, and force us to use electricity generated by burning fossil fuels sold by the companies paying the members of the ALP state government, so as to deliberately increase the harm to the environment, by forcing the burning of more fossil fuels, increasing the revenue for the ALP party "donors", and, forcing householders to increase our living expenses, by forcing us to pay extra for electricity, for which we have already paid, by our having paid for the household rootfop photovolatic systems.
"We have ways of forcing you to cause more fossil fuels to be burnt, to increase the profits of the fossil fuels companies that line our pockets, and to force you to pay more for electricity for which you have already paid."
The ALP - The fossil fuel burning party of Australia - paid for by the mining companies and fossil fuel companies, to maximise harm to the environment.
So, what is the ALP policy toward the environment? Destruction. Especially, while they are being paid millions of dollars to pay for that being their policy.
And, on 16 February 2022, two days after the implementation of the Western Australian ALP state government's attack on household rooftop photovoltaic systems, whereby the state government will force households with rooftop photovoltaic systems, to use electricity generated by burning fossil fuels, by remotely shutting down the household rooftop photovoltaic systems -
"From February 14, Western Australian authorities will have the power to switch off rooftop solar panels"
Infinite Energy, the largest retailer of household rooftop photovoltaic systems, in Western Australia, and, the fourth largest in Australia, announced that it is shutting down.
"
"We are working with industry to build a healthy services sector and to promote Perth as a global oil and gas hub, similar to Houston and Aberdeen, which is the mandate of the McGowan Government's LNG Jobs Taskforce"
"
-WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum, and Energy Bill Johnston
The ALP has succeeded in its war against the use of clean energy.
The fossil fuel companies are getting the benefit of the money that they have paid to the ALP.
And, we have the terrorist threat made by the WA ALP state premier to shut down the electricty supply to WA, in an attampt to intimnidate the state Supreme Court, in a teempt to make the court make a judgement favouring unlawful approval of new and expanded fossil fue extraction, which is fanatically supported bvy the ALP;
"Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says his government could intervene if a conservationist-led Supreme Court action against oil and gas company Woodside has adverse findings for the state.
...
The Supreme Court challenge, set to be heard in December, would see the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) seek to overturn environmental approvals provided to Woodside's $16.5 billion Scarborough project, which includes expanding its Pluto plant on the peninsula in WA's north.
Mr McGowan said while he would let next month's court action run its course, he would not let it affect industries if the environment approval was found to be invalid.
The Scarborough project has been labelled Australia's biggest new fossil fuel investment in nearly a decade and is expected to emit millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas annually.
Its "scope three" emissions, which come from when customers burn the gas, are expected to equal 866.5 million tonnes over Scarborough's expected field life, according to Woodside.
...
Mr McGowan said on Tuesday he would take legal advice on what to do, but said it was possible his government could step in.
...
"we're going to close down all the industry in the state and turn off the lights and not have any jobs"
(if the Supreme Court find that state government approval of the project, is unlawful)
"
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-23/woodside-scarborough-decision-sparks-perth-protest/100642668
And, then, there is this...
"
In a move that has enraged green groups, Woodside announced it had approved the Scarborough development and the associated upgrade of its Pluto liquefied natural gas facility near Karratha, 1,600km north of Perth.
The decision comes despite a furious, last-ditch bid by environmentalists to stymie the project after the Conservation Council of WA last week launched legal action, claiming the project required assessment under federal law.
That decision also coincided with news that the boards of Woodside and BHP had agreed to merge their petroleum businesses in a $40 billion deal, which will create one of the world's biggest fossil fuel players.
...
in its official development proposal, Woodside revealed the total carbon emissions for the project, including the Scope 3 emissions, which take into account customer emissions, were forecast to be 880 million tonnes.
"
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-22/woodside-bhp-scarborough-gas-project-green-light/100641314
BHP - a filthy australian.
And, the ALP - a subsidiary of the fossil fuel companies conglomerate , like the ALP's parent company - the LNP - what more needs to be said?
Text from a submission made as a complaint to the Western Australian Energy Ombudsman, against Western Power, operator and controller of the Western Australian SWIS electricity grid
This complaint relates to the unreasonable restriction imposed by Western Power, on single phase household photovoltaic inverters.
At
https://www.westernpower.com.au/industry/manuals-guides-standards/basic-embedded-generation-connection-technical-requirements/
is
"
Our Basic Embedded Generator (EG) Connection Technical Requirements apply from 14 February 2022. It's important to understand how to apply the technical requirements for this standard on all basic embedded generator system installations.
Non-Synergy DEBS or REBS customer, or >5kVA systems or commercial electricity account holders:
will be export limited to 1.5kW, and
will not be subject to Emergency Solar Management
Basic Embedded Generator (EG) Connection Technical Requirements The Basic Embedded Generator (EG) Connection Technical Requirements provides users of basic embedded generation (EG) connections, information about their obligations for connection to, and interfacing with Western Power's low voltage (LV) distribution network.
"
Each instance of the text "Basic Embedded Generator (EG) Connection Technical Requirements", within a sentence, is a hypertext link to the document published at
https://www.westernpower.com.au/media/6551/basic-eg-generator-technical-requirements-20230411.pdf
In that document, is
"
Document Information
Title
Basic Embedded Generator (EG) Connection Technical Requirements
Authorisation
TitleNameDate
OwnerPrincipal EngineerNigel Wilmot30/3/2023
ReviewerPrincipal EngineerBehnam Taherian30/3/2023
EndorserDistribution Grid Strategy &
Planning ManagerJanica Lukas30/3/2023
ApproverGrid Transformation ManagerBen Bristow30/3/2023
Note: Document approval record in EDM#63296828
Document History
Rev No Date
Amended byDetails of amendment
A14/10/2021Nigel WilmotInitial version
130/3/2023Nigel WilmotMinor revisions, updated definitions, align with
WASIR April 2023
Review Details
Review Period:Revision Date/Last Review Date + 2 years
NEXT Review Due:31/03/2025
"
showing the document to be created by, and, owned by, Western Power, and, not due for revision, until March 2025.
On page 10 of that document, is
"
Table 1.1:
Distributed Energy Resources (DER) EG capacity and technical requirement documents
Capacity (1)
Connection TypeConnection VoltageTechnology Type
Basic EG ConnectionUp to 1 kVInverter Energy
<= 15 kVA 3phase
Systems without BESS <= 5kVA 1phase
Inverter Energy
Systems DC Coupled
with BESS
Relevant document
<= 15 kVA 3phase
<= 5kVA 1phase
This document
Inverter Energy
<= 30 kVA 3 phase (15 kVA
Systems AC Coupled IES and 15 kVA BESS)
with BESS
<= 10 kVA 1phase (5 kVA IES
and 5 kVA BESS)
"
showing that, for a single phase household photovoltaic system, both for a system involving a DC-coupled BESS, and, for a system without a BESS, the total inverter capacity is limited to 5kW.
On page 12 of that document, is
"
2.2
Standard connection services
The Table 2.1 provides characteristics of the Western Power Standard connection service that shall be used
by User to determine the requirements for a basic EG System connection.
Table 2.1:
Standard connection services (as defined in WASIR)
Connection serviceCapacity Nominal
(per
voltage
Phase)
Single-phase 63 A 240 V
Three-phase 32 A 415 V
Split-phase (1)32 A 480 V
(Phase to
Phase)
"
Thus, the grid connection, involving what has been known as "the SEC fuse", is 63A, thus, allowing household single phase grid electricity connections, to draw and handle, 63A of current; at the "nominal Voltage" of 240V, giving 15.12kW of power, allowed for single phase grid electricity total load.
Now, what this means, is that a single phase photovoltaic inverter, with continual generating capacity of 15kW, would not exceed the load available to the household, from drawing the full load available from the grid.
Consequently, a 15kW single phase household photovoltaic inverter, with export limiting set to zero, cannot rationally, be said to be harmful to the electricity grid.
On page 15 of the document, is
"
Table 4.1:
Maximum System Capacities for Large network category
Connection Basic
service
EG
(Large
system
Networks) phase
Maximum basic EG system capacity
Single DC coupled
energy with BESS(1)
source
Export limit(3)
(4)
AC coupled with BESS(2)
(i.e. no BESS)
Single-
phaseSingle- 5 kVA
phase5 kVA5 kVA PV (or other energy
source IES) and 5 kVA BESS IES
5 kW
Three-
phaseSingle- 3 kVA
phase5 kVA3 kVA PV (or other energy
source IES) and 5 kVA BESS IES
5 kW
Three-
phaseThree- 15 kVA
phase15 kVA15 kVA PV (or other energy
1.5 kW
source IES) and 15 kVA BESS IES Except where
(up to 5 kVA per phase)
PV (or other
energy source
IES) capacity
<= 5kVA then
5 kW export
limit
"
That table provides for a three phase connection, to have total photovoltaic inverter continuous generating capacity, of up to 15kW, with export limiting to 1.5kW.
No logical reason exists, as to why that capacity limitation for three phase grid connections, should not equally apply to single phase connections, especially, when the single phase grid connections are rated as 15kW.
At
https://www.solar4ever.com.au/Maximumsolar.php
as sighted on 14 July 2023, is
"
Single phase
The largest solar inverter you are allowed is 5kW.
Unlike the Eastern States, we are not allowed to have a 10kW inverter and 'export limit' it to 5kW.
(I add that because it is the most common question I am asked).
The 5kW inverter can be a 'solar only' inverter or a 'solar & battery' (hybrid) inverter.
A hybrid inverter doesn't normally include a battery, just the capability to add one when you want to.
In addition to the 5kW solar inverter allowance, you can have a 5kW 'battery only' inverter.
That additional inverter cannot have the capability to connect solar panels.
It must be 'battery only', like the one inside a Tesla Powerwall (there are others).
There is an export limit of 5kW, which is a bit of a silly rule, because there's no way to export
more than 5kW if you are restricted to a 5kW inverter.
New single phase solar installations are all eligible for DEBs, the payment made for any surplus power you
export back to the grid. It's all done automatically.
Three phase
You are allowed 15kW of solar inverter(s).
Any combination of 'solar only' and 'solar & battery (hybrid) inverter is permitted up to 15kW.
In addition you can have a further 15kW of 'battery only' inverters.
Those additional inverters cannot have the capability to connect solar panels.
It must be 'battery only', like the one inside a Tesla Powerwall (there are others).
If your solar inverter total capacity is 5kW or less you are eligible for DEBs payments for surplus power.
If your solar inverter total capacity is over 5kW then:-
1. You must export limit your solar to no more than 1.5kW in TOTAL, not per phase.
1a. You can export limit to zero if you wish.
2. You must purchase whatever device the inverters require to perform export limiting.
2a. This 'device' is usually at least one 3 phase 'consumption meter' costing around $600.
Summary
Single phase, 5kW inverter for solar, plus you can add a 5kW inverter to run a battery only (no solar capability).
Three phase, 15kW inverter(s) for solar, plus you can add 15kW of inverters to run batteries only (no solar capability).
Single phase gets the DEBs feed in tariff as does three phase if the solar inverter total size is 5kW.
Three phase must buy a 'consumption meter' and export limit to <= 1.5kW if inverter capacity is greater than 5kW.
Three phase gets no feed in tariff if inverter capacity is over 5kW
"
with emphasis on the
"
Single phase
The largest solar inverter you are allowed is 5kW.
Unlike the Eastern States, we are not allowed to have a 10kW inverter and 'export limit' it to 5kW.
"
This has nothing to do with the eastern states having a bigger and more robust electricity grid - if zero power is exported, the strain on the grid, from power exported to the grid, would be zero, if all single phase households, would have 15kW single phase photovoltaic inverters, export limited to zero, or, if even, 15kW photovoltaic inverters, export limited to 1.5kw, the strain on the grid, from power exported to the grid, would be less than for 5kW inverters exporting up to 5kW of power.
At
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/grid-connection/wa/
as sighted on 14 July 2023, is
"
NEWSLETTER
Home
Grid Connection
WA
Western Australia Solar Power System Grid Connection Rules & Process
The rules on inverter limits in Western Australia will depend on whether you're in the Western Power (south-west WA) or Horizon Power (rest of WA) distribution area. These entities own and maintain their respective electricity networks. The following information is current as at August 2021.
Distributor
Rules
Source
Western Power
Single phase: 5 kW inverter limit, 5 kW export limit.
Three phase: 30 kW inverter limit, 30 kW export limit.
Western Power have advised that 30 kW three-phase limit is rarely granted, and 8-22 kW is the usual range granted.
Battery inverters do not count towards phase inverter limit.
Western Power website
Horizon Power
Single phase: 10 kW inverter limit, 5 kW export limit.
Three phase: 30 kW inverter limit, 15 kW export limit.
Horizon have advised that rural connections usually have much stricter requirements.
Battery inverters do not count towards phase inverter limit.
Horizon Power website
"
Of particular note, is, for Horizon Power,
"Single phase: 10 kW inverter limit, 5 kW export limit."
At
https://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/solar-system-size-limits-by-network/
as sighted on 14 July 2023, is
For Tasmania - Tas Networks -
"Single phase: Systems over 10kW must have export limiting technology"
For NSW - Ausgrid -
"Small-scale systems limited to 10kW (inverter capacity)"
For Queensland - Ergon -
"Single-phase: Up to 10kVA inverter capacity, but only 5kVA allowed for export. "
For Victoria
- United Energy -
"Single phase: 10kW system size limit"
-Jemena -
"Single phase: Up to 10kVA (by inverter)"
- Ausnet -
"Single phase: Up to 10kW system size limit (5kW export limit)"
And, of course, for WA, for the SWIS grid, controlled by the sinister and malfeasant monopoly, Western Power, exerting, as is the Australian term in current usage; "coercive control" -
"Single Phase: up to 5kVA"
We have a Goodwe GW5000-EH hybrid inverter, with a BESS, and, we are limited to 5kW or 20A of protected power, due to the malignant restrictions imposed by Western Power, and, in this, with the limitation of the inverter, with the BESS connection, we are limited to 8.6kW of panels generating capacity, so, Western Power imposes on us, third world electricity conditions, prohibiting us from making full use of the household electrical circuitry (63A; 15kW).
Goodwe have available, in South Africa, the hybrid inverter model GW0010-EHB, which is a single phase hybrid inverter with UPS when a BESS is connected; see
https://en.goodwe.com/ehb-series-single-phase-hybrid-solar-inverter
In the User Manual for the GW0010-EHB, on page 32, is
"
18
How to Act Output Power
Limit function?
For the hybrid inverter system, the function could be
realized by:
1. Make sure Smart Meter connection and communication
well.
2. Turn on Export Power Limit function and set the max
output power to grid on APP.
Note: If out-put power limit set as 0W,then there might still
have deviation max 100W exporting to grid.
"
and, on page 33, is
"
19Why there is still power
exporting to grid after I set
power limit as 0W?
Export limit could theoretically to minimum 0W, but there will
have a deviation of around 100W for the hybrid inverter
"
So, the Goodwe GW0010-EHB 10kW single phase hybrid photovoltaic inverter can have the export limiting, set, and, the export limiting, can be set to zero.
Now, that named brand and model inverter, is sold under that brand name and model name, only in South Africa. However, that Goodwe inverter model is rebadged for sale in Australia,and, is sold under the GE Brand, with model number GEH10-1U-10.
See
https://www.gesolarinverter.com.au/GEH-5-10kW.html
https://www.onestopwarehouse.com.au/au/products/GE--Hybrid-HV-10kW-1-Phase-4-MPPT-w-wifi-w-inbuilt-DCI-w-GM1000-meter-3456?for=products_product_detail&kind=&rec_on=false&rec_type=
And, at
https://www.solar4ever.com.au/GE%20InverterReview.php
is
"
GE Solar inverter review - Updated February 2023
General Electric or GE, and Huawei, are probably the only two solar inverter brand names that most people have heard of.
GE are currently 48th on the 'Fortune 500' list of companies, and Huawei are 44th.
(Walmart, followed by Amazon and Apple are currently 1, 2 and 3 on this big company list).
GE entered the solar inverter market very late, in 2020, with a trial in Australia first, that appears to have expanded to the US now.
Rather surprisingly, GE don't make or design any of these inverters.
They partnered with Chinese company, Goodwe, and re-brand the Goodwe inverters as GE.
The GE warranty document starts off with...
JIANGSU GOODWE POWER SUPPLY TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd,
the Manufacturer of GE branded solar inverters
(hereinafter referred to as the Manufacturer ) warrants that, subject to the exclusions and limitations set out below,
the GE branded solar inverter selling in Australia market shall be in good working order during the period of
1. 10 years Manufacturers warranty for single phase on grid inverters including: GEP3.6 1 10 , GEP4.2 1 10,
GEP5.0 1 10, GEP5.0 1 C 10 , GEP8.5 1 10 GEP10 1 10 and hybrid inverters including: GEH5.0 1U 10,
GEH8.6 1U 10, GEH10 1U 10.
"
(that last one, being the GEH10-1U-10)
and
"In WA we aren't permitted to install anything larger than 5kW on single phase."
(due to the coercive control, bullying, and bastardy, by the tyrannical, absolutist monopoly, Western Power)
and,
"
GE single phase 'Hybrid' inverters
'Hybrid' means it can DC Couple a battery. 'DC Couple' means 'the battery plugs straight into the inverter'.
Again, the larger 6kW, 8.6kW and 10kW GE models will appeal to East Coasters, not us.
The GE 8.6kW and 10kW single phase have 4 MPPTS which means 4 roof orientations as long as you can get at least 4 panels on an MPPT.
"
In the User's manual for the GE GEH10-1U-10 10kW single phase hybrid inverter (the most advanced single phase hybrid inverter available in Australia, but, banned in WA), on page 20, is
"
5. Set export power limit.
Search StorageMate in Google Play or Apple App Store, or scan the QR code to
download the app.
Operation steps are the same for Android system and iOS system although the two
interfaces are slightly different.
For more detailed operation instructions, please refer to StorageMate user manual
in www.gesolarinverter.com.
StorageMate
app
For Australian customers please select from Australia Region A/B/C to comply
with AS/NZS 4777.2:2020. Contact local grid operator to see which Region to
select. After setting the safety region, some parameters in the inverter system
will take effect according to the corresponding safety regulations, such as PU
curve, QU curve, trip protection, etc. For Australian and European users, if you
need to change the configuration parameters, please refer to the StorageMate
user manual.
"
and, on page 31, is
"18
31
How to Act Output Power
Limit function?
For the hybrid inverter system, the function could be
realized by:
1. Make sure Smart Meter connection and communication
well.
2. Turn on Export Power Limit function and set the max
output power to grid on APP.
Note: If out-put power limit set as 0W,then there might still
have deviation max 100W exporting to grid.
"
So, the GE GEH10-1U-10 10kW single phase hybrid inverter (the most advanced single phase hybrid inverter available in Australia, but, banned in WA), has export limiting, in addition to its other advanced features, so no logical and rational reason exists, for that hybrid inverter to not be allowed in Western Australia, with export limiting, limited to a maximum of 1.5kW, for all households on the SWIS grid; other than the coercive control, bullying, and bastardy, by the tyrannical, absolutist monopoly, Western Power.
We have, for single phase grid connections to the SWIS grid, 63A grid connection fuses, allowing households a maximum load of 15kW.
No justifiable or rational reason exists, for all households connected to the SWIS grid, having single phase grid connections, to not be allowed to have single phase household photovoltaic inverters with the same capacity as for three phase connections to the grid; 15kW nominal capacity, with 1.5kW export limiting. Even, with export limiting set to zero, would be acceptable.
(Added to initial complaint...)
Another aspect to the complaint, is that, whilst, at present, it does not affect me directly, as is shown in a post that I have just made to a facebook group, the war against household rooftop photovoltaic power, by Western Power, is aggravated by the war by Western Power, against Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV's) being used in WA.
As posted in the facebook group;
"
An aspect to the use of (especially, as I am advocating) small or light BEV vans, and, all BEV's, in WA, is the issue of the war against the use of clean energy, instituted by ... Western Power, controller of the SWIS electricity grid.
... anyone else living in WA, subject to the SWIS grid (it does not apply to the WA grid operated by Horizon Energy), may be aware of this; for a household with a single phase grid connection, the total nominal capacity of a household rooftop photovoltaic system inverter, is 5kW; 20A. I have, on a single phase electricity grid connection, a hybrid inverter, installed last year, with a BESS, and, the maximum capacity of panels; 8.6kWP. Due to the decrepit grid, the whole household is on the protected circuit, limiting us to 5kW; 20A. Now, as you are aware, the single phase A/C charger for the BYD T3, is 7kW, which is prohibited in WA, from being supplied by a single phase household rooftop photovoltaic system on the SWIS grid. This applies only to the WA SWIS grid, of all of the states in Australia. The single phase electricity grid household connection fuse (the "SEC fuse"), is 63A; 15kW, so, no justifiable reason exists, as to why single phase households o the SWIS grid, should not be allowed the same limit as for three phase grid connections; 15kW maximum photovoltaic inverter capacity, with export limiting of 1.5kW (to protect the decrepit electricity grid). If we had that allowance of 15kW maximum inverter capacity, with the export limiting of 1.5kW, then single phase households with rooftop photovoltaic systems and hybrid inverters, would be able to charge BEV's, such as the BYD T3, at 7kW, solely from the photovoltaic system (when it is generating enough electricity). And, inverters are available in Australia (outside palaeolithic WA), that have 10kW single phase capacity, with export limiting; the GE GEH10-1U-10 inverter, which is the Goodwe GW0010-EHB 10kW single phase hybrid photovoltaic inverter, rebadged.
As stated on the web site of a WA photovoltaic systems installation company,
"Single phase
The largest solar inverter you are allowed is 5kW.
Unlike the Eastern States, we are not allowed to have a 10kW inverter and 'export limit' it to 5kW.
(I add that because it is the most common question I am asked)."
I have included this reference (but, I did not include reference to the prospect of charging BEV's, with all of the electricity coming from a single phase household rooftop photovoltaic system, which is prohibited on the WA SWIS grid) in a complaint to the WA Energy Ombudsman, against Western Power, which is fighting householders using household photovoltaic systems in WA. I am waiting for acknowledgement of the complaint against Western Power, and, perhaps, others on the SWIS grid, who read this, may also want to similarly complain to the WA Energy Ombudsman, about the unjustifiable restriction.
The 7kW single phase A/C charger for the BYD T3, and, similar capacity single phase chargers for other BEV's, should be able to be fully powered from a household rooftop photovoltaic system with a single phase grid connection, anywhere in Australia. But, here in WA, on the SWIS grid (but, not on the grid operated by Horizon Energy, outside the SWIS grid), it is prohibited.
"
...
It is completely wrong for the controller and operator of an electricity grid, to be so gratuitously tyrannical and oppressive toward its victim, captive, customers.
Regarding the question "What do you think should be done to resolve the problem?", I seek the following remedies.
1. Western Power change the restrictions for single phase grid connected household photovoltaic inverters, to be the same total capacities as for three phase grid connections; maximum of 15kW nominal generating capacity, with export limiting, set to a maximum of 1.5kW, with all inverters exported limited to 1.5kW or less, being eligible for the exemption "will not be subject to Emergency Solar Management" and, ...
Whilst the above material, relates to primarily promoting the use of solar energy, the author and this document and this web site, also strongly support and advocate the expansion of other forms of clean energy usage, including wind energy and hydroelectric energy, to replace the production of energy through combustion and nuclear reactions.
Remember: Increasing solar energy usage, increases paid employment involved in manufacturing and installing solar energy usage system components, which now include battery systems for storing electricity generated from solar energy, and, increasing solar energy usage, reduces household energy bills, and so cuts household costs, and, is good for the environment.
So, ask all of your state and federal members of each house of parliament, and, all of the candidates for each, what they are doing, and, what they will do, if elected, to encourage and assist in increasing the usage of solar energy, and, making it accessible to every household. Your vote counts.
This web page is authorised and published by Bret Busby, 2 Pelham Street, Armadale.
I can be contacted by email, regarding this web page by clicking on the link at Bret
This web page was last updated on 25 July 2023