With the variable changes to our Earth's delicate climate caused by carbon emissions and global temperature warming, many extreme weather events have been recorded worldwide. A team of researchers from NASA under the Grace project even found out that the gravitational pull of the earth is affected, which has massive flow on effects. And the biggest contributor to these changes is our continued use of fossil fuels and other carbon intensive energy sources.
Australia is one of the leading countries in the research, development and application of alternative sources of clean and renewable energy, and the Australian government has committed to taking strong measures to meet its renewable energy targets by 2020.
In response to this current financial support plus the extra funding that will be made possible by the tax on carbon which commences in 2012, private companies are now finding it economically feasible to invest heavily in projects and research that will make it possible to significantly reduce our country's carbon footprint.
Some on the exciting projects that are on the horizon include-
Large Scale Solar Projects
Aside from reducing carbon emissions, the need to reduce electricity costs by decentralising the widespread and high maintenance electricity grid is setting the stage to make the use of solar power highly desirable in Australia. So throughout the country we are seeing planning for substantial investments in mid and large scale solar technology.
Currently two major solar flagship projects in the country are gearing up for construction to begin in 2-3 years' time. The Moree solar farm in New South Wales will be largest of its kind capable of generating 150 MW of electricity from pure photovoltaic technology, and the Solar Dawn project will be an exciting hybrid of natural gas with concentrated solar power (CSP) capable of generating 250 MW of energy.
Both projects are expected to be a valuable resource towards reducing the country's carbon emissions, and as the Australian carbon tax is impending it is very likely that many more solar projects will be underway soon.
Nano Solar
Nano sized solar cells, while still under development, have the potential to revolutionise the solar industry, and are set to completely change the face of solar panels.
Just recently Australian researchers have developed a solar cell a hundred times smaller than a solar cell found in an average solar panel now. The technology is truly innovative, as the minute proportions enable them to be suspended in a liquid medium and then fused into materials used for building homes like window glass and paint.
A similar technology in the United States also exists, and with the help of inkjet technology American researchers have said that we can have print on solar cells in the future. Both breakthroughs are still under extensive development and some years away from commercial use, but the potentials seem limitless.
Biogas
The innovative Biogas technology in Melbourne was an accidental discovery. Originally the company Melbourne Water was looking for ways to reduce the sewage smell at their plant, and it was during that process that they have discovered the potential of utilising the potent smelling Biogas to actually power the company.
The gas emitted by the sewage (mostly methane and currently still under research for biogas conversion ) is collected and then burned in a biogas plant, and the results to date have generated enough electricity to power 95% of the site, and reduce about 330,000 tons of carbon in the past few years. Melbourne Water was also able to save nearly $2 million annually on its energy bills.
The Biogas technology is expected to soar within the decade as the technology is refined.
Geothermal Energy
The possibility of powering state grids in the country through geothermal energy is not far-fetched at all as Melbourne researchers and consultants have identified several major geothermal energy hotspots in the country, and drilling will start soon.
The project is also expected to be have the advantage of being somewhat decentralised, with the ability to establish small plants on certain key areas where the heat of the earth's core manifests the most, so maximising the site per square inch.
Wave Energy
A Western Australia based company is geared up to build the largest wave energy plant in the world within a couple of years. The project is expected to generate around 5 MW of energy and power at least 5,000 households.
The idea of wave technology is closely related to a hydroelectric power plant; the energy comes from water currents and is then transferred to a generator. The difference between the two is the source of the water's energy, ocean rather than river. Wave technology will also have the advantage of an auxiliary source (a specialized pumping technology).
Australia is one of the leading countries in the research, development and application of alternative sources of clean and renewable energy, and the Australian government has committed to taking strong measures to meet its renewable energy targets by 2020.
In response to this current financial support plus the extra funding that will be made possible by the tax on carbon which commences in 2012, private companies are now finding it economically feasible to invest heavily in projects and research that will make it possible to significantly reduce our country's carbon footprint.
Some on the exciting projects that are on the horizon include-
Large Scale Solar Projects
Aside from reducing carbon emissions, the need to reduce electricity costs by decentralising the widespread and high maintenance electricity grid is setting the stage to make the use of solar power highly desirable in Australia. So throughout the country we are seeing planning for substantial investments in mid and large scale solar technology.
Currently two major solar flagship projects in the country are gearing up for construction to begin in 2-3 years' time. The Moree solar farm in New South Wales will be largest of its kind capable of generating 150 MW of electricity from pure photovoltaic technology, and the Solar Dawn project will be an exciting hybrid of natural gas with concentrated solar power (CSP) capable of generating 250 MW of energy.
Both projects are expected to be a valuable resource towards reducing the country's carbon emissions, and as the Australian carbon tax is impending it is very likely that many more solar projects will be underway soon.
Nano Solar
Nano sized solar cells, while still under development, have the potential to revolutionise the solar industry, and are set to completely change the face of solar panels.
Just recently Australian researchers have developed a solar cell a hundred times smaller than a solar cell found in an average solar panel now. The technology is truly innovative, as the minute proportions enable them to be suspended in a liquid medium and then fused into materials used for building homes like window glass and paint.
A similar technology in the United States also exists, and with the help of inkjet technology American researchers have said that we can have print on solar cells in the future. Both breakthroughs are still under extensive development and some years away from commercial use, but the potentials seem limitless.
Biogas
The innovative Biogas technology in Melbourne was an accidental discovery. Originally the company Melbourne Water was looking for ways to reduce the sewage smell at their plant, and it was during that process that they have discovered the potential of utilising the potent smelling Biogas to actually power the company.
The gas emitted by the sewage (mostly methane and currently still under research for biogas conversion ) is collected and then burned in a biogas plant, and the results to date have generated enough electricity to power 95% of the site, and reduce about 330,000 tons of carbon in the past few years. Melbourne Water was also able to save nearly $2 million annually on its energy bills.
The Biogas technology is expected to soar within the decade as the technology is refined.
Geothermal Energy
The possibility of powering state grids in the country through geothermal energy is not far-fetched at all as Melbourne researchers and consultants have identified several major geothermal energy hotspots in the country, and drilling will start soon.
The project is also expected to be have the advantage of being somewhat decentralised, with the ability to establish small plants on certain key areas where the heat of the earth's core manifests the most, so maximising the site per square inch.
Wave Energy
A Western Australia based company is geared up to build the largest wave energy plant in the world within a couple of years. The project is expected to generate around 5 MW of energy and power at least 5,000 households.
The idea of wave technology is closely related to a hydroelectric power plant; the energy comes from water currents and is then transferred to a generator. The difference between the two is the source of the water's energy, ocean rather than river. Wave technology will also have the advantage of an auxiliary source (a specialized pumping technology).