Australian And New Zealand Solar Energy Society (SA Branch)

SOLAR NEWS SA
Formerly the ANZSES CHATTER

www.anzses.org sa @ anzses.org July 2008

WELCOME
… to this month’s edition of Solar News SA.

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY 28 JULY 2008 COMMENCING 6:30PM

SOLAR SYSTEMS’ MILDURA SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER PROJECT
A $420 million project

Presenter:

PIERRE VERLINDEN
Principal Scientist, Solar Systems Pty Ltd
Monday 28 July 2008 commencing 6:30pm
Pilgrim Church Hall, 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide
(Following the event, you are invited to attend an informal dinner at a Gouger Street restaurant)

Dr Pierre Verlinden has 30 years of experience in photovoltaic technologies. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from
the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, in 1985. He was one of the founders of California’s SunPower Corporation where he
served as Director of Research and Development until 2001 and where he designed and fabricated solar cells with world record
efficiency. These cells powered Honda's solar racecar and NASA’s Helios solar airplane. He was Manager of PV Technology
and Operations at Origin Energy’s SLIVER plant in Adelaide. Dr Verlinden is now an independent consultant in PV technology,
director of AMROCK and Principal Scientist at Solar Systems Pty Ltd. Pierre was responsible for orchestrating Solar Systems’
technology transition from silicon solar cells to higher efficiency multi-junction III-V solar cells.
In this presentation Dr Verlinden will overview the activities of Solar Systems, highlighting the progress of the company’s Mildura
project. During October 2006, Solar Systems announced the award of $125M in Federal and State Government grants that
underpin this $420M project. Construction is now well under way and Pierre will discuss the design, its advantages, the current
state of the development, project challenges and the development schedule for this large-scale, world-leading venture.
Cost: Gold coin, payable on the night, for venue hire and to offset GHG emissions resulting from the event.
Registration: Please respond by Friday evening 25 July 2008 via email: SAbranch@anzses.org. Please advise the number of
people in your party, their names and the number of people who will attend the post-event meal.
REPORT OF LAST MEETING:
Susan Jeanes, CE of Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA) addressed an ANZSES meeting on 17 June
2008.
AGEA represents major geothermal energy explorers, developers and service providers. It promotes the industry to government
and stakeholders and
collates information about the industry and its capabilities. Thirty four companies hold geothermal exploration licences in
Australia and $822m has been committed in work plans to 2012. AEGA’s area of activity is in policy and outreach. It does not
promote individual companies.
In 1994 ERDC estimated that Australia’s geothermal resources held enough heat to meet Australia’s needs for 7 500 years.
Geothermal power is already being used at Greenwith (NSW) to dry coal for a coal powered power station and so reduce CO2
emissions.
The Government has promised $30-$50 million, from the Renewable Energy Fund of $500, to commercialise a 30-40 MW pilot
plant. This first pilot geothermal power station, to be built by Geodynamics, is set to provide Innaminka with free electricity by the
end of 2008.
The industry may need Government help with transmission lines. There are also a $50 million drilling fund, REDI/Climate
Ready/Energy Innovation Fund, State schemes and programs and advantages from emissions trading. Australia’s renewable
energy target is 20% by 2020.
Geothermal energy can be used to boost solar thermal heat at night or in cool weather and so provide constant power..
The cost of geothermal energy is likely to undercut coal (with carbon pricing?) by 2025.
Ms Jeanes showed a graph showing the projected costs of various coal, gas and nuclear generating technologies against the
projected cost of renewable technologies. From about 2020 the projected cost of all these technologies will fall within the cost
envelope of renewable technologies. Geothermal power is cheaper than wind, biomass or hydro-power and has the capacity to
produce base load power, as does solar thermal with storage or geothermal boosting.
The REGA (Renewable Energy Generators of Australia) Report shows that with a low carbon price costs are higher at the
beginning of the period of carbon pricing 2010 to 2050, equalize around 2032 and are lower in the and than business as usual
second half of the period. The higher the Clean Energy Target the greater are the costs and benefits expected and the difference
between them.
GARNAUT REPORT
For those who have not done so, the report can be downloaded from
http://www.garnautreview.org.au/CA25734E0016A131/pages/draft-report
The Garnaut Review has made many headlines - ANZSES had made a submission prior to its release and is planning to
comment on the Government’s Green Paper. But for an immediate reaction from prominent ANZSES member Mark Diesendorf
on ABC radio last Wednesday go to : http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2305318.htm
SUSTAINABLE HOUSE DAY(S) 13TH AND 14TH SEPTEMBER - VOLUNTEERS WANTED.
There will be approximately 5 homes open in the Adelaide area on each day plus others in Springton and Aldinga. Would
volunteers who can help on either day from 10-00 to 4-00 pm please contact me as below.
Volunteer roles are a choice of:
1) Collect entry fees and keep attendance records.
2) Meet and greet visitors and arrange into tour groups.
3) Give an overview of sustainable design principles and answer general questions to visitors awaiting tours (these are
conducted by homeowners).
Springton and Aldinga homeowners have been asked to arrange their own volunteers but if anyone is interested in helping in
those areas, please contact Monica Oliphant.
ISES ASIA PACIFIC 2008
Renewable Energy the Future is Now! Incorporating the 46th Australian New Zealand Solar Energy Society Conference -
Solar 08
25-28 NOVEMBER 2008 – SYDNEY CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
The Asia Pacific Regional International Solar Energy Society Conference 2008 (ISES-AP-08) is the premier Conference in the
Asia-Pacific region in 2008 on the topic of Renewable Energy. This region is pivotal to the further growth of the industry both in
terms of manufacture and markets. The ISES-AP-08 Conference will aim to inform and allow integration of many of the key
people and concepts in solar energy in the region.
The combined problems of energy supply and security and the increasing levels of CO2 created by burning fossil fuels which are
creating global warming are two of the most important problems facing the world society and economy. There is increasing
evidence that the impact of each is or will be entering a critical phase over the next few years. Large scale implementation of
renewable energy technologies and other sustainability options are a real effective way to address these problems.
The Asian-Pacific region is likely to be significantly affected by mismanagement of these problems but is also in a position to
have a significant impact on measures to mitigate these effects. The rapidly developing economies in the region both provide
growing markets for energy and renewable energy products and also provide the fastest growing manufacturing capacity able to
meet these markets as well as the markets in other regions.
The ISES-AP-08 Conference will bring together a wide range of the best international solar and renewable energy researchers,
industry personnel and funding bodies. This will create an excellent forum for formal discussion of new research and
developments at oral and poster sessions and also an informal networking environment for exchange of ideas and fostering of
collaborations.
NEWS FROM ATA
ATA member John Ward of Solar Water Purifier (and with ATA member Marg Folkard of Sundials Australia) has dontated one of
their company's purifiers to the ATA for evaluation and then forwarding to a developing country. The ATA will carry out trials at
our Melbourne headquarters and an article will be published in ReNew. The ATA will then take the purifier to a developing
country and install in a community for production of drinking water and ongoing evaluation. Thanks John for your generous
initiative.
At our last meeting, Maxine Jones mentioned an online petition to counter the $100,000 income cap on the Solar PV Rebate.
This can be signed via: http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitions/solar-panel-rebate.html.
ARCHICENTRE 2008 FREE SEMINARS
Wednesday 6th August 2008 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Sustainable Housing - Energy
Venue: City of Tea Tree Gully Civic Centre, 571 Montague Road, Modbury
Speaker: Nick Ingerson: Opportunities for householders to integrate low energy solutions as well as renewable energy supply.
The results are quality living with low running costs.
Wednesday 3rd September 2008 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Sustainable Housing - Water
Venue: City of Tea Tree Gully Civic Centre, 571 Montague Road, Modbury
Speaker: Emilis Prelgauskas: The security achieved by integrating low water use and on-site water capture, treatment, re-use
systems. The results are certainty of supply form living and ample waters for each end purpose.
Wednesday 1st October 2008 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Alternative & Sustainable Architecture
Venue: City of Tea Tree Gully Civic Centre, 571 Montague Road, Modbury
Speaker: Bohdan Dorniak: The different sustainable materials and how they are used in the construction of homes for more
energy efficient and sustainable environment. Alternative materials to traditional will also be explored to give the end user
options.
Bookings are essential as seats are extremely limited. Please call Archicentre on (08) 8228 0300, email sa@archicentre.com.au
or use the booking form below.
SOLAR REBATE MEANS TEST
Dear Mr Garrett
I applaud the Government’s aim in making the solar photovoltaic rebate available to people of low and middle incomes. I am
concerned, however, that the income cap may have been set too low and may have the effect of reducing the number of people
installing photovoltaic systems.
The installation of photovoltaic systems reduces greenhouse emissions and electricity bills, the latter of particular benefit to lower
income people. However, I have heard reports that solar companies are experiencing cancellations of orders because of the
income cap on the rebate. I note that this is $50 000 a year less than the cut-out level of the baby bonus. The need for more
paperwork may also be affecting sales.
I support the Government in not paying the rebate to very wealthy people who can afford solar systems in any case. However, I
suggest that the Government review the means test, especially if orders are falling, and consider raising the cap, possibly with a
lower rebate for higher income earners and some demonstration of energy saving measures from them.
As well as protecting low income earners it is important to reduce greenhouse emissions and have a thriving solar industry.
Yours sincerely
Margaret Dingle
cc Senator Penny Wong, P.M. and Wayne Swan
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
Dr Mathis Wackernagel, co-creator of the Ecological Footprint concept and Executive Director of the Global Footprint Network,
will present a free public forum on Living well on one planet: Future proofing South Australia to be conducted in the Barbara
Hanrahan Building, room BH2-09, City West Campus on Tuesday 29 July 2008 commencing at 5.00pm.
The Ecological Footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's resources. It indicates whether we are living within
nature's ability to provide resources or whether we have exceeded that limit, and shows the level of change necessary to move
towards sustainability. The Footprint captures the connections between a range of ecological impacts, including (but not limited
to) carbon emissions. To register your interest please complete the on-line registration form.
Rita Mielnik
Institute Administrator Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies
Room C1-14 University of South Australia
Mawson Lakes Campus SA 5095
Phone : +618 8302 5347 Fax: +618 8302 5613
Email : rita.mielnik@unisa.edu.au
SOLAR IN IRELAND
On a recent visit to Ireland we stayed at a B&B in Kinsale. The owners, Michael & Anne Mc Laughlin, have installed a
sophisticated solar water heating system using evacuated tube collectors. The water is pumped to three different storage
cylinders via a computer controller, with the water being stored at different temperatures to maximise efficiency of collection. The
collector frame also houses the neighbours’ matching system!
The system could not have been cheap, but it shows the commitment of individuals to the use of renewables in Europe. It was
also interesting to learn that there was no grid connections allowed for PV in Ireland – so feed-in tariffs were unheard of!
FROM THE ARCHIVES

The organising committee for Solar 86, held in Adelaide.

L to R Chris Hall, Pat Walsh, Susan Coldicutt, John Keipert, Monica Oliphant, Richard Metcalfe, John Held, Barbara Hardy.
BRANCH COMMITTEE 2008:
President: Stewart Martin
School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of SA, Mawson Lakes 5095
Ph 8302 3048 (w) 8261 4630 (h) fax 8302 3389 email: stewart.martin@unisa.edu.au
Secretary: Albert Thompson
aat@internode.on.net
Treasurer: John Rolls
103 Lansdowne Terrace Vale Park 5081 Ph 8463 6907 (w) 8269 3879 (h) 04 1029 4638 (m) 8463 6900 (f)
emailjrolls@picknowl.com.au
Solar News SA Editor: John Held
Ph 8271 4555 (w) 8272 6608(h) Email jfheld@rusyel.com.au
Publicity Officer:
Margaret Dingle ph 8362 7007 email mdingle@chariot.net.au
Sustainable House Day Coordinator:
Monica Oliphant 8277 3357 (h) 0404 898277(Mob) email: oliphant@adam.com.au
Committee Members:
Mark Needham
Chris Von Der Borch
FUTURE MATERIAL FOR SOLAR NEWS SA
We are keen to distribute as much information and news as possible in this format. Obviously it’s quickest, easiest and fastest by
email – so if you are getting this by post, and have an email address, please contact John Held at jfheld@rusyel.com.au . Please
send me any news, meetings of interest to members, and other bits of information!