Origin Energy's Purari Hydropower Project - Australian Institute of ...

VolUME 28 No. 4 – DECEMBER 2010 

www.aie.org.au 

OFFICIAL JOURNAL 

OF THE AUSTRALIAN 

INSTITUTE OF ENERGY 

BUMPER CHRISTMAS ISSUE 

Project Spotlight – Origin Energy’s Purari 

Hydropower Project 

IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2010 

Energy Awards, Options, and Policy 

PLUS CONFERENCE LIFTOUT: 

Australia’s Energy – Next Generation

ISSN 1445-2227 

(International Standard Serial Number allocated 

by the National Library of Australia) 

THE AUSTRAlIAN 

INSTITUTE oF ENERgy 

ENERgy 

News 

Journal Correspondence 

Joy Claridge 

PO Box 298 

Brighton, VIC 3186 

email: editor@aie.org.au 

Advertising 

Members (and non-members) may place 

advertisements in ENERgyNews on behalf 

of themselves or their organisations. If you 

wish to use this opportunity contact: 

Joy Claridge 

PO Box 298 

Brighton VIC 3186 

email: editor@aie.org.au 

Advertisements can include products, 

services, consulting, and positions vacant 

and required. 

Discounts are available for members and for 

all advertisements repeated in two or more 

issues. 

Subscription Information 

ENERgyNews is published by The Australian 

Institute of Energy and is provided to 

all members as part of the membership 

subscription. Non-members may obtain 

copies of this journal by contacting either the 

Secretariat or the Editor. 

Contributions Welcome 

Articles on energy matters, letters to 

the editor, personal notes and photographs 

of those involved in the energy sector are 

most welcome. 

Published By 

The Australian Institute of Energy 

ABN 95 001 509 173 

Registered Office 

Level 1/613 Canterbury Road, 

Surrey Hills VIC 3127 

Postal Address 

PO Box 193 

Surrey Hills VIC 3127 

Telephone Toll Free: 1800 629 945 

Facsimile: (03) 9898 0249 

email: aie@aie.org.au 

Web Address 

http://www.aie.org.au 

Print Post Approved No. PP 32604/00001 

Disclaimer 

Although publication of articles submitted 

is at the sole and absolute discretion of the 

Australian Institute of Energy, statements 

made in this journal do not necessarily 

reflect the views of the Institute. 

Contents 

President’s Message 82 

It’s a Wrap: Australian 

government energy news 83 

Project Spotlight 

Purari Hydropower Project 84 

World Energy outlook 2010 86 

Branch Events 

US Energy and Climate Policy 88 

AIE Tasmania Branch Energy Prize 88 

Energy Options for Developed Countries 89 

Australian LNG Outlook 91 

SPECIAl CoNFERENCE lIFToUT 

Australia’s Energy – Next generation 

Awards 2010 

The AIE Medal 93 

The AIE Scholarship 93 

The AIE Postgraduate Student Energy Awards 94 

Articles 

Early Electricity Supply in Melbourne 96 

Hydrogen Association Launched 97 

Book Review 

Hydrogen Energy: 

Economic and Social Challenge 98 

Membership Matters 99 

Cover courtesy Santos 

ENERgyNews ENERgyNews — Volume — 28 Volume No. 4 December 28 No. 4 December 2010 2010 81

President’s Message 

Australia’s Energy – Next generation 

Tony Vassallo FAIE, President 

Australian Institute of Energy 

November saw the very successful 

AIE national conference with the 

theme, Australia’s Energy – Next 

Generation. Held in Adelaide, the 

conference was very well attended, and 

it provided a platform for the analysis 

and discussion of topics important 

to those in the energy community. 

Much of the discussion focussed on 

the need for well-thought-out energy 

policy at both state and national levels. 

It is fair to say that the current lack of 

comprehensive energy policy is leading 

to short-term supply solutions and 

a delay in infrastructure investment 

that contributes to upward pressure on 

energy prices, as well as investment in 

more efficient energy end use. 

Globally, we are currently in a holding 

pattern with oil prices, due largely to 

pullback in demand coinciding with 

extra capacity. However, even under 

these benign conditions, the oil price 

seems to have found a floor around 

US$70/bbl. This is likely to last until 

around 2013 when excess capacity 

will be taken up and prices are likely to 

escalate. According to some scenarios, 

this could be alarmingly quick. As one 

of the presenters at the conference 

82 ENERgyNews — Volume 28 No. 4 December 2010 

noted, “If everyone in China decides 

to drive a car, then Australians will 

be walking.” 

In Australia, we will also see rising gas 

prices as we connect to international 

markets on the east coast; even our 

domestic coal prices are rising. It is 

evident that the age of cheap energy 

is almost over. Electricity prices are 

rising – not because of a carbon 

price or from subsidies to renewable 

sources as some claim – but because 

of rising primary energy prices (coal 

and gas) and steeply rising network 

charges due mainly to the need to 

respond to increasingly peaky demand. 

Apparently, as conference delegates 

were told, South Australia has claim to 

the world record in ‘peakiness’. 

These comments are not unexpected. 

The AIE ran a symposium in 2003 

under the title, Record Electricity 

Demand Growth - Is Air-Conditioning 

the Only Sinner? At that event, the 

consequences of then (and since then) 

rapid uptake in air-conditioning were 

explained. The answer was supposed 

to be cost-reflective pricing such 

time-of-use tariffs and smart meters. 

But, as it turned out, there has been 

a strong pushback on these tariffs, as 

consumers find it is not that easy to 

shift load. 

Conference delegates were also told 

that the transport fuel mix is changing, 

with diesel growing and petrol demand 

remaining static. Our refineries, 

small by international standards, are 

having to source feedstock from more 

distant oil fields, making it harder to 

provide competitively priced refined 

products locally; while in nearby 

countries, very large refineries with 

excess capacity are willing and able 

to supply any shortfall. Increased 

reliance on imported transport fuels 

Merry Christmas from everyone at the AIE 

implies decreased energy security as 

well as higher prices. Perhaps it is time 

to look more seriously at the electric 

transport option. This would reduce 

our demand for liquid transport fuels, 

with the power supplied overnight, 

potentially from wind power. The 

onboard storage could then be used 

to load-level during afternoon/evening 

peaks. More generally, it is time to 

take energy storage more seriously. 

Like most emerging technologies the 

initial costs are very high, but these 

costs are coming down. As the price 

of electricity rises, the case for storage 

becomes stronger. 

As we know and as many of the 

conference presenters reinforced, 

the energy landscape is undergoing 

profound change. This is making it 

even harder to develop sound energy 

policy. As energy professionals we 

should contribute to policy scrutiny, 

debate and formulation. Don’t be 

afraid to make your views known! 

Your journal is one avenue for you to 

express your views. So, please make a 

contribution in 2011. 

On behalf of the AIE Board and the 

journal production team, I wish you 

and your family a Merry Christmas 

and a Happy New Year. 

Tony Vassallo FAIE

• The Multi-Party Climate Change Committee, chaired by the 

Prime Minister, will investigate options for implementing a 

carbon price and help build a consensus on how Australia will 

tackle climate change. The terms of reference were agreed to at 

the first of monthly meetings on 7 October 2010. A communiqué 

is released after each meeting. www.climatechange.gov.au 

• Two roundtables will support the Multi-Party Climate Change 

Committee. The nongovernment and business roundtables are 

tasked to engage with the community and ensure consultation 

occurs that can feed as advice to Government. Submissions will 

be called for input. www.climatechange.gov.au 

• The report of the Prime Minister’s Task Group on Energy 

Efficiency identified six recommendations to meet OECD 

energy efficiency improvements by 2020. This includes setting 

an aspirational target, a national energy savings initiative, 

improved data collection and analysis, and removing barriers 

for improvement. www.climatechange.gov.au 

• The Senate Committee on Fuel and Energy released a draft 

report detailing a recommendation to continue investigations. 

This follows two interim reports looking at the policies of 

the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the Henry Tax 

Review to assess their impact on the fuel and energy industry. 

www.aph.gov.au/senate/ 

• The Australian Government signed the A$100 million Smart 

Grid Smart City funding agreement to create Australia’s first 

commercial-scale smart grid. www.dret.gov.au 

• ABARE released its report, End use energy intensity in the 

Australian economy, which shows a trend towards improved 

energy efficiency. www.abare.gov.au 

• Funding for the Re-tooling for Climate Change program was 

suspended on 24 September 2010. www.ausindustry.gov.au 

• The Green Building Fund is to be expanded to include shopping 

centres and hotels with an additional A$30 million provided by 

the government. www.ausindustry.gov.au 

• Two coal seam gas projects in Gladstone have been approved 

with strict environmental conditions. Santos and Queensland 

Gas Company must respond to more than 300 requirements 

relating to groundwater, planning, monitoring, water pressure 

and conservation. www.environment.gov.au 

• The Commercial Building Disclosure program was launched on 

1 November 2010, requiring commercial buildings to disclose 

energy efficiency ratings when selling, leasing or subleasing 

office space with a net lettable area of 2000 square metres or 

more. www.climatechange.gov.au 

• The Bluewater and Climate Science Node, part of the Integrated 

Marine Observing System, will observe Australia’s oceans to 

allow greater understanding of climate change, ocean currents 

and marine ecosystems. www.imos.org.au 

• Amendments to Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 

were made on 14 October 2010 to include 10 additional eligible 

emissions-intensive-trade-exposed activities for the provision 

of partial exemption certificates. www.orer.gov.au 

It’s a Wrap 

Australian government energy news 

This snapshot featuring the latest programs, reports, consultation, legislation 

and funding announcements will be a regular item in ENERgyNews in 2011 

• Marking a major milestone in the development of energy 

markets, the Short Term Trading Market, a new wholesale 

gas trading market, commenced operaton in Sydney and 

Adelaide. www.aemogas.com.au 

• The Australian Energy Market Operator published its 2010 

Electricity Statement of Opportunities, which includes its latest 

long-term outlook for supply capacity in the National Electricity 

Market. www.aemo.com.au 

• The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) called for 

submissions on an Options Paper for the Scale Efficient Network 

Extensions Rule change proposal. Submissions are required 

on the framework and how it will contribute to the National 

Electricity Objective. www.aemc.gov.au 

• The Ministerial Council on Energy requested an updated 

cost–benefit study of the Victorian smart meter rollout from the 

AEMC, prior to finalising its report, Advice on Cost Recovery for 

Mandated Smart Metering Infrastructure. www.aemc.gov.au 

• The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) released revised 

metering infrastructure charges for Victorian distribution 

network service providers, commencing 1 January 2011. 

www.aer.gov.au 

• The AER released its latest quarterly compliance report into the 

electricity and gas industries. www.aer.gov.au 

• An expert panel to assess proposed methods for developing 

and selling carbon credits under the Carbon Farming Initiative 

has been announced and will be seeking submissions. 

www.climatechange.gov.au 

• CSIRO began installing 450 large mirrors, called heliostats, for 

Australia’s largest solar–thermal tower system at the CSIRO 

National Solar Energy Centre in Newcastle. www.csiro.au 

• The National Energy Customer Framework is being rolled out. 

This reform is an initiative of the Ministerial Council on Energy 

that will harmonise regulation and provide consistent, national 

consumer protections in the energy sector. www.ret.gov.au 

• The Productivity Commission will undertake a study of emission 

and energy-reduction policies in key international economies to 

help inform the government’s plan to introduce a carbon price 

in Australia. www.pc.gov.au 

• Submissions are being sought in December 2010 on a draft 

guideline on the imposition of additional or more onerous 

requirements, pursuant to the National Electricity Rules 

as well as the approach to the Retail Market Performance 

Reporting. www.aer.gov.au 

• Approval has been given to Shell’s Prelude floating LNG facility in 

the Browse Basin, Western Australia. www.environment.gov.au 

• The Cleaner Car Rebate Scheme has been delayed, commencing 

on 1 July 2011. www.ausindustry.gov.au 

• The Australian Centre for Renewable Energy released a 

consultation paper on the A$100 million Renewable Energy 

Venture Capital fund. www.ret.gov.au 

ENERgyNews — Volume 28 No. 4 December 2010 83

Project Spotlight 

Purari Hydropower Project 

Evaluating the potential of hydropower in Papua New Guinea 

Hydroelectric power is generated when water falling from 

reservoirs or flowing from rivers, streams or waterfalls 

is channelled through turbines. Once constructed, these 

turbines produce electricity with little to no greenhouse gas 

emissions. Hydroelectric power stations can be responsive to 

fluctuations in demand and also have the capability, subject 

to a continual supply of water, to produce base load power. 

With these attributes in mind, PNG Energy Developments 

Ltd (PNG EDL), a 50:50 joint venture between Origin 

Energy and PNG Sustainable Development Program, is 

evaluating the hydroelectric power potential of the Purari 

hydro resource at Wabo in the Gulf Province of Papua New 

Guinea (PNG). 

Map showing project location and proposed transmission line 

In September 2010, the governments of Queensland and 

Papua New Guinea signed a Memorandum of Cooperation 

with PNG EDL and Origin to support potential development 

of the project. Capturing the power of the existing river 

flows, the development under consideration would have the 

capacity to generate approximately 1800 MW of renewable 

base load electricity. It would provide a reliable source of 

power available to villages and rural communities around 

Wabo and transform the area’s economic development 

prospects. It would result in improved infrastructure and 

better access to the Gulf Province, creating a focal point for 

provision of basic health and education services and a range 

of opportunities for local communities. 


Power would also be transmitted, using low-loss HDVC 

(high voltage direct current) transmission technology, 

via Far North Queensland to Townsville where it would 

enter the Australian national grid. Its construction would 

create thousands of jobs in PNG and north and Far North 

Queensland. The project would provide mainland Australia 

for the first time with a large-scale source of year-round 

base load renewable power. It would also have some peaking 

capacity, thereby reducing the need for low-utilisation 

backup peaking generation that is required for intermittent 

renewables such as wind and solar. 

SPECIFICATIONS 

Proposed project location: Purari River PNG, near the 

village of Wabo 

Technology: Hydropower, generating 

electricity 

HVDC transmission 

technology connecting PNG 

and Australia, undersea 

Capacity: To generate 1800 MW of 

reliable base load renewable 

electricity 

Timeframe: Feasibility study expected 

to be completed by the end 

of 2012 

A comprehensive feasibility study of environmental, 

sociological and engineering aspects is expected to be 

completed by the end of 2012. The joint venture will ensure 

that recognised international environmental and social 

standards are followed during the feasibility study of the 

project. In addition the project will undertake extensive 

consultation with communities and all levels of government 

in both Queensland and PNG. The joint venture will be 

guided by international environmental and social standards 

including those endorsed by the Australian and PNG 

governments, the International Finance Corporation, 

the World Commission on Dams and the International 

Hydropower Association. 

The project adds to Origin’s existing portfolio of renewable 

energy developments and options including wind, geothermal 

and solar, and builds on the company’s experience with hydro 

technologies through its 52% interest in New Zealand’s 

Contact Energy. Origin Energy is a major Australasian 

integrated energy company involved in gas and oil 

exploration and production, energy retailing and power 

generation. In addition to a range of projects by Contact,

of which it owns 52%, Origin is the developer of Mortlake 

Power Station, Darling Downs Power Station, Cullerin Range 

Wind Farm, Kupe Gas Project, SLIVER solar panels, and the 

Quarantine Power Station expansion, and is involved in a 

range of other activities. 

Q&A 

ENERgyNews asked Origin Energy, a corporate member 

of the Institute, some key questions about this project. 

Q. Why PNG and the Purari River? 

A. The area around Wabo constitutes a very significant 

hydro resource, with up to eight metres of rainfall every 

year, It has a 33,670 square kilometre drainage basin 

with a catchment mean annual discharge of 2500 cubic 

metres per second. The Purari River would fill Sydney 

Harbour in around two-and-a-half days. These attributes 

make the area extremely well suited for a hydropower 

development. The nature of the catchment means that 

the development would have a capacity factor in excess 

of 90%, and that water would continue to flow down the 

river all year round. 

Q. What makes this project viable now when it has been 

investigated previously? 

A. Project options in this region were investigated previously, 

with a series of engineering studies undertaken over the 

past 30 years. The studies identified the Wabo site as a 

highly favourable location for a hydropower project. 

In the absence of sufficient firm demand for the power 

in PNG; however, the project was not pursued. The 

current proposal uses modern transmission technology 

which will make power available not only within 

PNG but to Australia as well. This was not previously 

possible, as too much electricity would have been lost 

in transmission. HVDC technology similar to that used 

undersea between Tasmania and Victoria will be used 

to connect the hydropower plant in Wabo to Far North 

Queensland and, in turn, into the National Electricity 

Market at Townsville. 

Q. What will be the main benefits of the project if it is 

successful? 

A. The proposed hydro development would generate power 

available for use in communities around the plant. It 

could also power significant industrial development in 

PNG over time, for example at locations such as Daru 

situated along the transmission line. Investment in 

general infrastructure and local services as part of the 

project would also improve the local area’s economic 

development prospects more broadly, facilitating 

improvements in the provision of health care and 

education services and creating opportunities for local 

communities. 

For Queensland, the plant could deliver approximately 

five times the renewable energy currently generated 

in the state, helping Queensland deliver on its goal of 

attracting 20% of Australia’s investment in renewable 

power by 2020. It would very significantly reduce the 

state’s emissions profile compared to business-as-usual 

projections, while at the same time helping to provide 

the power necessary to develop northern Queensland’s 

world-class minerals deposits. 

Q. Why is this project a good fit for Origin? 

A. The project is consistent with Origin’s pursuit of a 

portfolio of renewable energy opportunities in Australia 

and select offshore markets. The company is familiar 

with PNG; its LPG gas supply business has operated 

there for more than 30 years. Origin already has a 

significant integrated energy business in Queensland, 

with operations along the gas and electricity chain. These 

include exploration and development of CSG (coal seam 

gas) resources, Australia’s largest base load gas-fired 

power station in the Darling Downs, peaking power 

stations at Townsville and Roma, LPG import facilities 

and an LPG distribution business, and a large retail gas 

and electricity base. 


World Energy Outlook 2010 

The energy world faces unprecedented uncertainty 

The International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) annual World Energy 

Outlook (WEO) is the world’s most authoritative source of 

energy market analysis and projections, providing critical 

analytical insights into trends in energy demand and supply and 

what they mean for energy security, environmental protection 

and economic development. WEO–2010 provides updated 

projections of energy demand, production, trade and investment, 

fuel by fuel and region by region to 2035. For the first time, 

the central scenario anticipates future actions by governments 

to meet the commitments they have made to tackle climate 

change and growing energy insecurity. WEO-2010 also puts 

the spotlight on several topical issues, including how emerging 

economies – led by China and India – will increasingly shape 

the global energy landscape, and what more must be done and 

spent post-Copenhagen to limit the global temperature increase 

to 2°C and how these actions would impact oil markets. 

This article pulls together information from the executive summary, 

the fact sheets and some key graphs to highlight some of the IEA’s 

views on our energy future. For more, go to www.worldenergyoutlook. 

org, where the full report can be ordered online. 

The energy world faces unprecedented uncertainty. The global 

economic crisis of 2008–09 threw energy markets around the world 

into turmoil and the pace at which the global economy recovers 

holds the key to energy prospects for the next several years. But it 

will be governments, and how they respond to the twin challenges 

of climate change and energy security, that will shape the future of 

energy in the longer term. (IEA World Energy Outlook 2010) 

This uncertainty has many sources, including: 

• How sustainable is the recovery from the recent global 

economic crisis? 

• Oil demand and supply are becoming less sensitive to price. 

What does this mean for future price movements? 

• Natural gas markets are in the midst of a revolution. Will it 

herald a golden era for gas? 

• Copenhagen Accord and G-20 subsidy reforms are key 

advances. Do they go far enough? Will they be fully 

implemented? 

• China and other emerging economies will shape the global 

energy future. Where will their policy decisions lead us? 

WEO–2010 addresses a number of critical questions about our 

energy future: 

1. What does the global energy outlook to 2035 look like? 

2. What will shape the future of oil? 

3. What will it take to unlock the Caspian region’s energy 

riches? 

4. How big are the potential gains from getting rid of fossil-fuel 

subsidies? 

5. How green will the energy future be? 

6. What will tackling climate change mean for the energy 

sector? 


Outlook to 2035 

Under its central scenario – the New Policies Scenario (NPS) 

– world primary energy demand increases 36% from 2008 to 

2035. The NPS assumes cautious implementation of recently 

announced commitments and plans, even if yet to be formally 

adopted. It also provides a benchmark to assess achievements and 

limitations of recent developments in climate and energy policy. 

The other scenarios reported are the Current Policies Scenario 

(only those policies that had been formally adopted by mid-2010 

are implemented) and the 450 Scenario, which sets out an energy 

pathway consistent with the goal of limiting the increase in average 

temperature to 2°C. Under the NPS, non-OECD countries account 

for 93% of the projected growth in energy demand, reflecting 

faster economic growth; China alone accounts for 36%. 

Source: IEA WEO–2010 

Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – account for 50% of the projected 

growth in total primary energy demand; and oil remains the 

dominant fuel in the primary energy mix in 2035, albeit with 

a smaller share. The share of nuclear power increases from 6% 

to 8% and the share of modern renewable energy (hydro, wind, 

solar, geothermal, modern biomass and marine energy) increases 

from 7% in 2008 to 14% in 2035. Natural gas is set to play a 

central role in meeting the world’s energy needs for at least the 

next two-and-a-half decades. Global gas demand is projected to 

grow 44% by 2035 and China’s demand grows fastest, accounting 

for one-fifth of the increase. Over a third of the global increase 

in gas output comes from unconventional sources – shale gas, 

coal seam gas, ‘tight’ gas. The current glut in global gas-supply 

capacity (which could peak in 2011) will keep pressure on gas 

exporters to move away from oil-price indexation. 

The future of oil 

Oil demand (excluding biofuels) continues to grow steadily 

in the NPS, reaching 99 mbpd by 2035. The transport sector 

accounts for all of this increase, with passenger cars the single 

largest contributor to increased oil consumption. Demand for 

mobility is rising everywhere, but especially in non-OECD 

countries. The global car fleet is projected to grow from just 

under 800 million vehicles today to close to 1.6 billion by 2035. 

China’s fleet is growing particularly fast; it is projected to jump 

from 40 million today to around 350 million by 2035. These cars 

will generally be more efficient than today’s models and some of 

them will be powered by electricity rather than oil. Biofuels will 

also displace some oil use. But the sheer scale of the increase


in the car fleet in non-OECD countries more than outweighs 

these factors, pushing up demand for oil-based fuels there and 

offsetting a drop in car-fuel use in OECD countries. 

The global outlook for oil remains highly sensitive to policy action 

to limit rising demand and emissions. The projections in the NPS 

take account of announced plans to phase out oil subsidies as well 

as broader commitments to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Only 

in the 450 Scenario does the demand for oil fall in response to 

radical policy action to reduce fossil-fuel use. Oil supply is not 

expected to be an issue in the period to 2035, with unconventional 

oil set to play an increasingly important role. 

The Caspian region 

The Caspian region contains substantial resources of both oil 

and natural gas, which could underpin a sizeable increase in 

production and exports over the next two decades. This could 

make a significant contribution to ensuring energy security 

in the rest of the world, by increasing the diversity of oil and 

gas supplies. Analysis confirms the potential, but projections 

nonetheless reflect the difficulties in developing the region’s 

hydrocarbon resources, including the problems in building the 

transportation infrastructure to get those resources to market. 

The region remains highly energy-intensive, reflecting continuing 

gross inefficiencies in the way energy is used, as well as climatic 

and structural economic factors. If the region were to use energy 

as efficiently as OECD countries, consumption of primary energy 

in the Caspian as a whole would be cut by one-half. 


In the NPS, Caspian oil production grows strongly, especially 

over the first 15 years of the projection period. Kazakhstan 

contributes all of the increase. Most of the incremental oil 

output goes to exports. Caspian gas production is also projected 

to expand substantially, almost doubling by 2035 to around three 

times the current production of Norway. Turkmenistan and, to 

a lesser extent, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan drive this expansion. 

As with oil, gas exports are projected to grow rapidly, and the 

Caspian has the potential to supply a significant part of the gas 

needs of Europe and China, which emerges as a major new 

customer, enhancing their energy diversity and security. The 

share of the Caspian in world inter-regional oil trade increases 

from 6% to 9%, and from 4% to 11% in gas trade. 

Fossil-fuel subsidies 

WEO–2010 identifies fossil-fuel subsidies as a significant 

distortion in energy markets. Consumption subsidies, 

comprising subsidies to fossil fuels used in final consumption 

and to fossil-fuel inputs to power generation, worldwide 

amounted to US$312 billion in 2009. Eradicating subsidies 

to fossil fuels would have a dramatic effect on global energy 

balances, enhancing energy security, reducing emissions of 

greenhouse gases and air pollution, and bringing economic 

benefits. The reality is that only a small proportion of fossilfuel 

subsidies actually go to poor households, and phasing out 

these subsidies could represent an integral building block for 

tackling climate change. 

Green energy future 

The greatest scope for increasing the use of renewables in 

absolute terms lies in the power sector. In the NPS, renewablesbased 

generation triples between 2008 and 2035 and the share 

of renewables in global electricity generation increases from 

18% to almost one-third (catching up with coal). 


The increase comes predominantly from wind and hydropower. 

Government support remains the key driver, rising from US$57 

billion in 2009 to US$205 billion in 2035, but higher fossil-fuel 

prices and declining investment costs also spur growth. However, 

renewables are generally more capital intensive than fossil fuels, so 

the investment needed to provide the extra renewables capacity is 

very large. Investment needs are highest in China, which has now 

emerged as a leader in wind power and photovoltaic production, 

as well as a major supplier of equipment. 

Climate change and the energy sector 

The 2°C goal (a non-binding objective – set by the Copenhagen 

Accord in 2009 – limiting the increase in average global 

temperature to 2°C) can only be achieved with vigorous 

implementation of current commitments in the period to 

2020 and much stronger action thereafter. Cutting emissions 

sufficiently to meet the 2°C goal would require a far-reaching 

transformation of the global energy system. For example, in the 

450 scenario, oil demand peaks at 88 mbpd before 2020 and 

falls to 81 mbpd in 2035. A plunge in OECD demand more than 

offsets continuing non-OECD growth. 

Each year of delay adds trillions of dollars to the cost of achieving 

the 2°C goal, and the timidity of current commitments has made 

it less likely that the goal will be achieved. 


Branch Events 

US Energy and Climate Policy 

Implications for Australia and the World 

Presentation by Dr Perry Sioshansi, President, Menlo Energy Economics, 

and Editor, EEnergy Informer, to Canberra Branch on 24 September 2010* 

President Obama has faced the same problems as Australia’s 

former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in passing comprehensive 

climate change mandates, and not much progress was 

expected before November’s midterm elections. Depending 

on the outcome, perhaps there will be not much progress 

afterwards either. This leaves President Obama with limited 

choices, including resorting to the Clean Air Act and the 

limited authority of the US Environmental Protection 

Agency to make progress on climate issues, and the even less 

influential US Department of Energy on energy matters. 

The main issue is the large number of states with significant 

representation in the House of Representatives sourcing 

more than 50% of their energy needs from coal-fired power 

plants (Figure 1). So, while H.R. 2454: American Clean 

Energy and Security Act of 2009 (Waxman–Markey Bill) was 

proposed with the intention of a strong response to climate 

change, it became watered down with 85% of allowances 

given away for free. The failure of this Bill contributed to the 

failure of the US delegation in Copenhagen in 2009. 

Despite lack of progress nationally in the United States, 

many of the states have taken global leadership in setting 

energy and climate change targets. California passed AB32 

with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 

levels by 2010, representing a 25% reduction by 2020 and 

an 80% reduction by 2050. This is in addition to a separate 

target of 20% of electricity to be generated from renewable 

AIE Tasmania Branch Energy Prize 


Figure 1 

Source: US Department of Energy 

sources by 2010 (33% by 2020). Both are complemented by 

an aggressive energy efficiency program and transportation 

initiatives. This has meant per capita electricity consumption 

in California is almost half that of the national average in 

the United States. 

* This event was held at the CSIRO Discovery Centre, and 

was supported by the Australian Solar Energy Society, the 

Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, 

Australia, and the Society for Sustainability and Environmental 

Engineering (a division of Engineers Australia). 

AIE Tasmania Branch awarded this year’s prize for an energyrelated 

honours project to Justin Robinson and Tim Tritton 

for their project H-Darrieus vertical axis wind turbine 

design and build. The AIE award is one of five presented to 

honours students in the University of Tasmania’s School of 

Engineering on 2 November 2010. This project was selected 

from eight entries and judging was based on the poster 

presentation, discussion of the project with the judges and 

quality of research. 

Dr Jane Sargison, AIE Tasmania Branch Hon. Secretary, with 

award winners Tim Tritton and Justin Robinson

Energy options for Developed Countries: 

Making choices 

Presentation by Dr Adi Paterson, CEO, ANSTO to Sydney Branch on 31 August 2010* 

The recent history of restrictions on uranium mining and 

the ongoing lack of policy direction in the area of nuclear 

power in Australia mean that local R&D in nuclear power has 

been limited, with the majority of developments taking place 

offshore. ANSTO’s new OPAL Reactor at Lucas Heights, 

nicknamed ‘Mona Lisa’, is now operating at close to maximum 

rated capacity. With medical isotope production growing, 

and research into radioactive waste disposal continuing with 

the Synroc process, which is out of international patent after 

30 years, ANSTO research morale is high. 

Australia has the world’s largest share of in-ground uranium 

resources, mineable at current costs; although the uranium 

price and mine profitability have slumped relative to other 

energy fuels, with only two small new local producers planned 

to add to its uranium production. Uranium production is 

dominated by BHP Billiton at Olympic Dam (South Australia) 

and Rio Tinto at Ranger (Northern Territory). The third major 

mine, Beverley (South Australia) is controlled by US private 

interests. Australia had a nuclear electricity opportunity 

with the planned Jervis Bay reactor in 1972, but declined to 

proceed in favour of persisting with cheap coal-fired power 

for electricity, a policy that has remained up to the present, 

with all its current environmental cost consequences. 

Global Energy Demand & Security 

Countries with the best access to a mix of traditional 

sources of electricity (ie coal, oil, gas and nuclear for base 

load electricity) have the greatest energy security. Coal will 

continue to be developed at higher rates due to its low cost 

in established infrastructure and the entrenched transport 

interests lobbying governments. These same governments 

are only now starting to recognise the environmental cost of 

carbon emissions and global warming. Countries with access 

to mature renewable energy sources, such as wind and hydro, 

also have some degree of energy security from these sources 

and may in the future derive benefit from solar, geothermal, 

wave, etc, but at a much higher cost. Small ‘mono-option’ 

renewable energy countries like Denmark (wind and fossil 

fuels) are known to have the highest electricity cost in Europe 

and, in any event, depend for grid reliability on Norway 

(dominantly hydro) and Sweden (nuclear and hydro). 

The United States, with large and diverse forms of energy, 

has just over 100 operating nuclear reactors and 50 years 

of low-risk operational technology through Westinghouse 

and General Electric. Eight years ago, the Committee on 

America’s Energy Futures was formed, with panels on energy 

efficiency technologies, alternative liquid transportation 

fuels, and electricity from renewable resources. The 

committee concluded that, “The United States could obtain 

substantial energy efficiency improvements, develop new 

sources of energy, and realise reductions in greenhouse gas 

emissions through the accelerated deployment of existing 

and emerging technologies in a diverse-portfolio approach 

to help meet the nation’s energy challenges. However 

mobilization of the public and private sectors, supported 

by sustained long-term policies and investments, will be 

required for the decades-long effort to develop, demonstrate, 

and deploy these technologies”. The report concluded that, 

“… it is imperative that the development and demonstration 

of key technologies be started very soon, even though some 

will be expensive, not all will be successful, and some may 

be overtaken by better technologies.” 

Figure 1 shows levelised costs for new base load sources of 

electricity and for new intermittent renewable sources in 

the United States. Nuclear is shown to be a cost-competitive 

option against most of the presented new base load and 

intermittent options. However, the lower end of the cost 

band for wind (both offshore and onshore) is cheaper than 

nuclear, with costs for wind continuing to fall relative to 

other options, and growth expected relative to existing power 

line services. Solar PV remains comparatively costly but has 

recently received increased government funding according 

to a US–Australian study. 

Figure 1: Levelised Cost of Electricity 

Note: the vertical shaded bar shows the approximate range 

of average US wholesale electricity prices in 2007, and the 

dashed vertical line shows the average value in 2007 which was 

US$0.057/kWh 

The US Energy Futures Committee has projected that 

renewable energy will expand its share of the US electricity 

market while coal-fired and nuclear power plants may 

reduce their share, with only three new nuclear plants under 

construction. Many other parts of the world, including 

Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and the Middle 

East, on the other hand, are set to continue increasing the 

share of nuclear power in their energy mix. 

Nuclear and Renewables 

In Europe, countries have taken very different pathways 

with respect to energy sources for electricity generation. 

Denmark predominantly relies on wind with some coal 

and gas but no nuclear. Finland uses equal shares of gas, 

coal, nuclear and renewables, and has a low electricity cost. 

France is 80% nuclear powered for electricity and has the 

lowest CO2 emissions and electricity cost of any country 

in the EU (European Union). The 2005 takeover of the UK 

Atomic Energy Commission by Areva and Electricity de 


France has seen three nuclear plants announced but not yet 

in construction; 14 existing nuclear station sites planned to 

be decommissioned over the next 5–10 years; and further 

new nuclear reactors planned to be built by 2030, mainly of 

French and US designs. Globally Japanese and cheaper South 

Korean nuclear power stations are being heavily marketed, 

with China also proposing new sales to Pakistan. However, 

the United Kingdom’s return to nuclear power generation 

may be delayed by environmental impact considerations 

on siting new nuclear reactors, Areva's commissioning 

delays, and cost overruns for Finland’s ‘new generation’ fast 

breeder reactor. Germany has concentrated on geothermal 

and solar energy to replace nuclear, but is now considering 

a return to nuclear for base load electricity. Russia, with 

its vast natural resources, is the main oil, gas and uranium 

supplier to Germany and many of the smaller EU countries, 

via pipelines through Ukraine and Belorus. 

China, with its 1.3 billion people and rapidly expanding 

electricity generation capacity, predominantly relies on 

coal but is increasingly moving into hydro, nuclear, wind, 

and solar. India’s future electricity generation will also be 

heavily based on coal but with an increasing hydro, nuclear 

and geothermal/solar/wind component mix. As Asia is fast 

becoming the world’s future economic growth powerhouse, it 

is interesting to view current growth of nuclear power stations 

in this region (Table 1). Japan’s nuclear electricity share is 

constant, related to its current stagnant economy. After 

China, South Korea, with its heavy dependence on nuclear 

power, is the second fastest growing world economy. 

Table 1: Growth in nuclear power stations in Asia 

Country Operational 

plants 

Under 

construction 

Japan 54 2 

China 13 24 

South Korea 21 5 

India 19 4 

Taiwan 6 2 

Pakistan 2 1 

China is planning large and long-term growth in trade, as 

it displaces Japan as the world’s second largest economy in 

terms of GDP, after the United States. With China’s use of 

imported raw materials and energy technology, a growing 

diversity of electricity options, and low labour costs, it 

may (in total GPD terms) catch up with the United State’s 

now sluggish economy over the next 30 years. China has 

connected three nuclear reactors to the grid in the past 

three months; 24 are under construction; and an additional 

60 nuclear power stations are planned to be built over the 

next 20 years. China is very keen to secure uranium and rare 

earth supplies from Australia. 

In the Middle East, Siemens has teamed with Russian 

Government-backed manufacturers of nuclear plants and is 

said to be involved in development planning of more than 30 

nuclear power stations for electricity generation. 

In the EU, Iceland (hydro, geothermal) and Norway, Austria 

and Switzerland (hydro) are all looking to increase their 


use of renewable energy for electricity generation into 

the future. When viewed from a global scale, their total 

installed renewable (non-hydro) capacity is small relative 

to the renewable energy capacity of (in descending order) 

the United States, Japan, the Philippines, Italy, Mexico and 

Indonesia. Shallow geothermal energy is a major source of 

low-cost electricity in these countries (except Japan), due 

to the Pacific Rim plate tectonic movements and related 

volcanic instability. 

Future renewable energy contributions to electricity 

generation in Australia were projected by the 2008 Garnaut 

Climate Change Review and the Treasury report, Low 

Pollution Future. Nuclear energy was not included as an 

option in the CPRS-5/550 ppm or Garnaut-25/450 ppm 

scenarios, however it was included in a CPRS-5/550 ppm/ 

no CCS (carbon capture and storage) scenario, reflecting a 

possible future nuclear option replacing coal-fired power 

generation (Figure 2). 

Figure 2: Energy sources for electricity generation under CPRS- 

5/550ppm/no CCS 

We need a new way of looking at the mitigation of CO2. 

As expressed by futurist Jamais Cascio in December 2005, 

“Far too often, discussions of efforts to mitigate the worst 

effects of global warming bog down under an argument that 

is simultaneously factual and irrelevant: there is no single 

solution. Solar power (or wind, or nuclear or sonofusion) 

is not going to be sufficient to replace all coal and oil use. 

Efficiency will not improve fast enough. (Geo)sequestration 

cannot bury enough CO2. These are all true, but only in 

isolation. The solution that will work comes not as a single 

bolt from the blue; but from a combination of multiple, 

varied efforts.” 

The countries recovering more quickly from the 2008 

global financial crisis are those rich in resources and with 

more diverse sources of energy for electricity generation. 

There are arguments in favour of developing nuclear energy 

in Australia while simultaneously growing the share of 

renewable sources. Including nuclear addresses climate 

change while diversifying Australia’s energy mix away from 

coal. Unfortunately, nuclear energy is still in the ‘too hard’ 

basket for both the government and opposition; both focus 

on CCS, renewables and energy efficiency. It is likely to be 

some time before this attitude changes. However, the signs 

are there that the inevitability of a mature debate around all 

potential energy options is one that Australia will have in 

the not too distant future. 

* Report prepared by David Hawley, AIE Sydney Branch 

Committee, who has 45 years experience in the nuclear and 

renewable energy industries.

Australian lNg outlook: 

opportunities and challenges 

Presentation by Dr Graeme Bethune, CEO, EnergyQuest, 

to Melbourne Branch on 25 August 2010 

This article combines an article by Dr Bethune that first 

appeared in the Australian Financial Review on 19 October 

2010 and key points from the presentation. 

The elegant young woman in the tailored pink suit slips on 

industrial gloves. She picks up a canister of freezing liquid. 

The digital display says -163°C. She slowly pours the liquid 

into a goldfish bowl. Will the goldfish live or die? And what 

is this? Some bizarre circus act? No, just another day at the 

Kogas Gas Science Museum at Incheon, one of the world’s 

largest LNG import terminals, not far from Seoul. The liquid 

is LNG and the woman is demonstrating the safety of LNG 

to an audience of excited kindergarten children. By the time 

they reach school Korean children probably know quite a 

lot about LNG and for good reason because the winters in 

Korea are very cold and Korea relies on LNG for virtually 

all its gas supplies. 

Not that Korea is far from countries with serious quantities 

of gas. Russia has the world’s largest gas reserves and it is 

only around 750 kilometres from Seoul to Vladivostok. 

Within two years Vladivostok will be linked by gas pipeline 

to the huge Russian Sakhalin gas field, which has estimated 

recoverable gas reserves of 80 trillion cubic feet, twice those 

of Gorgon. A gas pipeline from Russia to Korea would make 

obvious sense. 

The Koreans agree and have made numerous trips to Russia, 

trying to do a deal. However there are challenges. The 

obvious route for Russian gas would be via North Korea. 

However the tensions between North and South prevent 

this. North Korea continues to pursue its nuclear program 

and it is now also clear that the South Korean patrol boat 

sunk on 10 March, with a loss of 46 lives, was hit by a North 

Korean torpedo. No country would want to rely on North 

Korea for safe transit of its gas supplies. 

Another option would be an underwater pipeline off the 

east coast of Korea. However, at around two kilometres, the 

water is too deep. A third option would be via China and the 

Koreans have also made numerous trips to China. However 

the Chinese want to secure their own gas supplies and have 

themselves recently made progress with Russia. This is a 

higher priority than any deal with Korea. 

Korea is the world’s second largest buyer of LNG after 

Japan. It has a diversified portfolio of supply contracts 

amounting to around 26 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) 

with nine countries. Qatar is the biggest supplier, with 27% of 

contracted supply. Qatar and Korea have a close relationship. 

Qatar supplies the gas and Korea built the ships that carry 

it. The other major suppliers are Malaysia (19%), Indonesia 

(16%) and Oman (16%). Australia is currently only a minor 

supplier, with a 0.5 Mtpa contract with the North West Shelf. 

Many years ago there was a tiff between the North West 

Shelf and Korea and for many years selling Australian LNG 

to Korea was like trying to get Greenpeace to embrace coal. 

However that is long ago and the Koreans are clearly taking 

much more interest in Australia. 

Kogas has agreements with Chevron to buy 1.5 Mtpa from 

the Gorgon LNG project, currently under construction, and 

1.95 Mtpa from the proposed Wheatstone project. Kogas 

has also been keeping a close eye on coal seam gas (CSG) 

developments. In the science museum there is a map showing 

their global upstream interests and it includes the alliance 

with Queensland CSG company, Blue Energy, announced 

last year. Now Kogas is waiting on the Korean Government 

to approve an offtake agreement with the Petronas-Santos 

GLNG project at Gladstone. If this agreement goes ahead 

this would be a further vote of confidence in CSG-based 

LNG. It has been a tough journey trying to get established 

LNG buyers to sign up for the Queensland projects but they 

are coming around. QGC has deals with Tokyo Gas and 

CNOOC, both established buyers, and a GLNG deal with 

Kogas would be a further vote of confidence. 

Incidentally, the goldfish lived. For them it was just another 

day in the goldfish bowl and, for a goldfish, working at the 

Kogas Museum is a pretty good gig. 

This interest from Korea in Australian LNG is just one of 

the indicators that the planets are aligned for Australia to 

become one of world’s biggest LNG exporters. It is already 

fourth largest LNG exporter (behind Qatar, Malaysia and 

Indonesia); heading for second, and LNG is Australia’s sixth 

largest export and moving up. The challenge for the projects 

now is in execution. 

Although Australian LNG is attractive to Korea and the 

other major LNG consuming countries in Asia for a number 

of reasons – large uncommitted gas resources; location in 

the booming Asia–Pacific region; an OECD country; a large 

choice of projects with the option of taking equity; and 

(until recently) political stability – there are challenges, 

including high costs; resource constraints; multiple 

stakeholders; environmental issues; and (at the moment) 

some political uncertainty. 

However Australia signed up around 16 million tonnes per 

year of new contracts in 2009 and a further 7 million tonnes 

so far this year. This is more than current Australian capacity, 

and we now have three major projects under construction, 

with a total investment of around A$70 billion – a huge 

commitment to Australian gas. 


Source: EnergyQuest 

Australia to host global lNg Conference 

in 2016 

On 17 November, it was announced that the next global LNG conference will be 

held in Perth in 2016. Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) Chairman, Mr Ian Little, 

noted that the LNG conference Steering Committee’s decision to hold LNG-18 in 

Australia in 2016 reflected the international gas industry’s esteem for Australia. 

“In 2016, Perth will host more than 5000 international representatives and 

exhibitors from the global LNG industry,” Mr Little said. The LNG conference is held 

every three years and alternates between producing and consuming countries. 

The next LNG conference is scheduled for Houston, Texas, in 2013. The conference 

was last in Australia in 1998. APPEA (the Australian Petroleum Production & 

Exploration Association) said that the international gas industry’s decision to host 

LNG-18 in Australia reflects the growing global importance of Australia as an LNG 

producer. “Australia is already a world class LNG exporter and we have the most 

ambitious and most innovative LNG expansion plans of any country in the world,” 

said APPEA’s Chief Executive, Belinda Robinson. “We will be the first country in the 

world to develop a coal seam gas-based LNG sector and we are a strong contender 

to host the world’s first floating LNG project. By 2016, we will be well on our way 

to becoming the world’s top LNG producer.” 

92 ENERgyNews — Volume 28 No. 4 December 2010

The AIE Medal 

It was with great pleasure that AIE President Tony Vassallo 

awarded the AIE Medal to Dr David Allardice FAIE, Honorary 

Life Member of the Australian Institute of Energy, at the 

AIE National Conference dinner on 15 November 2010. Dr 

Allardice is the 12th recipient of this prestigious award in 

the 32 years since the Institute was formed in 1978. The AIE 

Medal recognises outstanding contributions in energy as well 

as exemplary service to the Australian Institute of Energy. 

“Dr David Allardice has had a distinguished career in the 

coal industry and has made an enormous contribution to the 

Australian Institute of Energy at both national and branch 

levels,” said Dr Vassallo. “David is currently active on the 

National Board and Melbourne Branch Committee and, over 

the years, he has contributed much time and expertise in 

important roles, including, until recently, National Treasurer 

for more than 10 years. 

“By the middle of the 1970s David had become Melbourne 

Group Secretary with the Institute of Fuel. He has served 

on the Melbourne Committee in some capacity almost 

continuously since. He is the driving force behind the very 

successful Postgraduate Student Energy Awards, now an 

important national Institute event. He joined National 

Council in 1982 as the Melbourne Group representative 

and has served on Council (now the Board) for nearly 30 

years, taking on the roles of Vice-President and President 

in the second half of the 1980s. He was made an Honorary 

Life Member of the Institute in 2003. 

“In 1994, David was awarded the Public Service Medal for 

outstanding service to the Victorian brown coal industry. As 

an international expert on the science and use of low rank 

coals, his career has focussed on improving the benefits to 

Victoria from the use of its vast brown coal resources. He was 

instrumental in bringing together Victorian and Australian 

Government support for the billion-dollar Japanese brown 

coal-to-oil pilot plant project in the Latrobe Valley, which 

The AIE Scholarship 

Also presented at the AIE National Conference dinner on 

15 November 2010, this year’s AIE Study Scholarship was 

awarded to Mark Kealy, Energy Analyst with the Victorian 

Government Department of Innovation, Industry and 

Regional Development. The AIE Study Scholarships are 

offered to assist young Institute members to further their 

knowledge in an energy-related discipline through study 

and/or visits to relevant industries and facilities. 

Mark’s area of interest is in how electricity consumers 

can realise the benefits of smart metering. To further his 

Awards 2010 

Dr David Allardice, worthy recipient of the AIE Medal 

was completed in 1991. Through his business, Allardice 

Consulting, he continues to make an important contribution 

working in the fields of energy technology and coal resource 

and technology assessment. 

“From the perspective of the Board, David has been a pillar of 

common sense and stability, a powerhouse of effort, almost 

always volunteering – or being volunteered – for the toughest 

jobs. Not only has the AIE survived when other similar 

organisations have failed but we have a sound financial base 

to support our growth in size and relevance.” 

The award was a delightful surprise, but caught Dr Allardice 

somewhat unprepared. In his thank you speech, however, he 

emphasised how pleased he was to see the younger members 

of the Institute being so active through the Young Energy 

Professionals and he was confident that they will take us into 

the future. ENERgyNews will interview Dr Allardice for 

March 2011 issue of the journal. 

investigation into this subject, he will attend the consumerfocussed 

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, to 

be held in Austin, Texas, on 24–26 January 2011. He will 

also set up industry meetings in the two most progressive 

locations in the United States in terms of smart metering – 

Texas and California. 

“In all the smart meter rollouts around the world, the 

electricity consumer is footing the bill,” Mark said. “Whether 

it is directly, through a smart meter charge on their bill, or 

indirectly when taxation revenue is used, the electricity 


Gideon Kuncoro explaining his project to Dr Denis Barrett 

FAIE (Member No. 10) 


consumer ultimately pays. For this reason it is essential that 

all the available benefits for consumers be realised.” 

Mark will investigate ways in which consumers in the 

United States have been able to realise the benefits of smart 

metering. “Specifically, I hope to gain insight into the issues 

of educating and engaging consumers; their propensity 

to participate in energy management; and HAN (home 

automated network) technology,” he said. 

Study scholarship winners are required to report back to the 

Institute, and ENERgyNews looks forward to publishing 

an article by Mark in 2011. 

Dr Tony Vassallo (left) with Mark Kealy (right) 

The AIE Postgraduate Student Energy Awards 

In accord with the AIE National Conference’s focus on the 

Young Energy Professionals, the National Postgraduate 

Student Energy Awards 2010 (PGSA) were held in 

conjunction with the conference in Adelaide on 15–16 

November 2010. Generously sponsored by HRL Technology 

Pty Ltd, this year’s PGSA competition brought together 11 

students from seven universities. The students’ posters were 

set up around conference venue so that delegates could 

discuss the work during the session breaks. 

The competition was strong, with a count-back necessary to 

separate 2nd and 3rd place, who were both only one point 

behind 1st place. The winners were: 

1. Bahman Shabani, RMIT University A$1000 

2. Reydick Balucan, University of Newcastle A$ 700 

2. Aaron Song, University of Melbourne A$ 700 

In presenting the trophies and cheques to the winners, HRL 

Technology’s Sam Clayton noted that the standard just keeps 

getting better every year. The topics reflect the challenges and 

potential solutions in energy now and into the future. 

Two other students were selected to participate – Brandon 

MacDonald, University of Melbourne, and Chiranjib Saha, 

Monash University – but circumstances beyond their control 

From left to right: Aaron Song, Bahman Shabani, Sam Clayton 

and Reydick Balucan 

prevented them from attending. 

National competitors were selected and financially supported by 

their AIE branches. The two largest selection events in the lead 

up to the conference were held in Melbourne and Sydney. 

Reydick Balucan explaining his project to judge Dr Andrew 

Dicks FAIE

The Students and Their Projects 

Student University Project Title 

Aaron Song Melbourne Functional conjugated polymers for photovoltaics 

Gideon Kuncoro Adelaide Laboratory-scale study of fluid-rock interaction in the enhanced 

geothermal system in Cooper Basin, South Australia 

Rowan Braham Sydney Solar powered air treatment through photocatalysis 

Amir Forghani Adelaide Investigation of virtual porous carbons for greater insight and better 

sustainable energy 

Xihe (James) Sun Sydney Novel carbon electrodes for zinc bromine flow batteries 

Bahman Shabani RMIT Solar-hydrogen combined heat and power systems for remote area 

power supply 

Yi Wang Curtin Mechanism of coke formation during thermal decomposition of bio-oil 

Kim Lee Chang Tasmania Novel Australian thraustochytrids for production of biodiesel and longchain 

omega-3 oils 

Nana Qi Adelaide 2D simulations of fluid dynamics in the bubble reactor for liquid fuel 

synthesis 

Reydick Balucan Newcastle Mineral carbonation: Nation-building with carbon dioxide for energy 

security and environmental sustainability 

Andri Halim Melbourne Novel mixed matrix membranes from blends of polyimide and 

polyPOSS nanocomposites for CO2 separation 

AIE Sydney Branch hosted the NSW/ACT Postgraduate 

Student Energy Awards on 12 October 2010 at the offices of 

Blake Dawson, where Mr Greg Everett, Chief Executive Officer, 

Delta Electricity, presented the awards. The 14 entries were 

assessed in three categories: Energy in Society; Innovation 

in Energy Science and Engineering; and Energy – Achieving 

More With Less. Six prizes (1st and 2nd in each category) were 

awarded, sponsored by Schneider Electric (major sponsor); 

CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship and Blake Dawson. The 

three winners were invited to participate in the national awards. 

See http://aie.org.au/StaticContent/Images/SYD121010_ 

Photos.pdf for report and images from this event. 

The AIE Melbourne Branch Postgraduate Student Energy 

Awards were held in conjunction with the All-Energy 

Conference and Exhibition on 6–7 October 2010 at the 

Melbourne Exhibition and Conference Centre. This was 

a particularly successful event for the Institute, with the 

Young Energy Professionals being responsible for one of the 

conference streams – as it turned out the most successful 

stream of the event. All-Energy attracted around 3000 

delegates, which kept the 22 competing students very 

busy. Topics included solar cells, fuel cells, energy storage, 

biodiesel, carbon capture and natural gas pricing. Five 

prizes were awarded in three categories – general energy 

projects, renewable energy projects and encouragement 

award. All five winners were invited to participate in the 

national awards. Their prizes were made possible by generous 

sponsorship from HRL Technology Pty Ltd, Victorian 

Government Department of Primary Industries, Melbourne 

Energy Research Institute, and Garrad Hassan Pacific. See 

http://aie.org.au/StaticContent/Images/Student_Awards_ 

Report_2010.pdf for report and images from this event. 

HRL’s Sam Clayton presenting 1st prize to Bahman Shabani 


Articles 

Early Electricity Supply in Melbourne* 

By Miles Pierce FAIE FIEAust, Chairman, Engineering Heritage Victoria 

In the second half of 1882 the Australian Electric Company 

(AEC) inaugurated an electricity supply facility based 

on steam engine driven generators in the ground floor 

of its Russell Place premises in central Melbourne. The 

plant powered arc lighting in nearby parts of Bourke and 

Swanston Streets and also supplied several nearby private 

customers. This nascent public electricity supply venture 

was contemporary with Edison’s first small public electricity 

supply scheme in London at Holborn Viaduct, commissioned 

in April 1882, and his famous Pearl Street central public 

supply power station in New York which started in September 

1882. AEC’s enterprise was also inaugurated within a year of 

the public electricity supply for the small town of Godalming 

in Surrey, England, which is widely considered to have been 

the first public electricity supply in the world. 

At the end of 1882, the AEC demonstrated the then new 

incandescent electric lamps in the Atheneum Theatre with 

supply from their Russell Place generating plant. This was 

followed by an extensive installation of incandescent and 

arc lights in the nearby Opera House, later known as the 

Tivoli Theatre. In 1883, the Victoria Coffee Palace installed 

electric lighting in public rooms, and became another of 

AEC’s early customers. 

In the succeeding years several other private enterprise 

electricity supply companies set up in competition to 

the AEC, with A U Alcock in Corr’s Lane and the Union 

Electric Company in Heffernan Lane being the most 

notable. Despite its early success, the AEC got into financial 

difficulties and was wound up to be replaced by the New 

Australian Electric Company (NAEC) in 1889. The new 

company, with substantive capital backing, immediately 

commenced the construction of a central generating plant 

in suburban Richmond. The first stage was in service by the 

following year with the main plant comprising three 2 kV 

Elwell single-phase alternators driven by 200 hp (150 kW) 

Robey slow-speed steam engines. AC distribution into parts 

of Richmond, other adjoining southern suburbs and the 

CBD, was by overhead lines with 2000/100 V step-down 

transformers for individual customer services. 

During the next year (1891) A U Alcock, as the Electric 

Light & Motive Power Company (ELMPC), opened the 

first stage of a planned large central generating station in 

Burnley Street, Richmond. It was based on steam engine 

driven 80 kW, 2 kV Ganz single-phase alternators, similar 

in principle to the NAEC plant at Green Street. Like the 

latter, electricity was distributed at 2 kV for street lighting 

and private customers in North Richmond, Abbotsford and 

Collingwood, as well as some parts of the Melbourne CBD. 


The two companies traded in active competition, particularly 

for CBD customers. 

In 1891 the Melbourne City Council (MCC) resolved to 

establish its own power station and distribution for electric 

street lighting in the CBD. The council’s Spencer Street 

power station was commissioned in March 1894 with the 

first of four locally built Austral Otis 300 hp (225 kW) 

slow-speed steam engines each driving up to five Thomson 

Houston constant-current 3 kV arc lighting dynamos. Each 

dynamo supplied an individual series-connected circuit 

of arc lights and incandescent lamps. Four 75 kw, 2 kV, 

single-phase alternators were added in 1895 with overhead 

distribution for street lighting and private premises supply 

in council areas outside the CBD. 2000/100 V transformers 

were installed on poles or at customer premises. 

Two views of a steam engine driven arc lighting plant 

at Spencer Street power station, c1895

By 1899, the MCC decided to become the sole electricity 

supplier within its municipal boundaries, which it was 

entitled to do under the 1895 Victoria Electric Light & Power 

Act. The council duly acquired the assets of the former 

private electricity supply companies in the Melbourne CBD. 

The loss of the more lucrative CBD customers hastened 

the amalgamation of the NAEC and the ELMPC under the 

auspices of the UK Brush Co. into the Electric Light and 

Traction Company, based at the NAEC’s Richmond power 

station. In 1908, this became the Melbourne Electric Supply 

Company, which was ultimately absorbed into the State 

Electricity Commission in 1930. 

In 1900, the MCC converted the Melbourne CBD supply to 

a 460/230 V three-wire DC system with the aim of meeting 

demand for motive power applications, particularly electric 

lifts. From 1913, central DC generation at Spencer Street was 

Hydrogen Association launched 

The Australian Association for Hydrogen Energy (AAHE) was 

officially launched on 6 September at Ecogen 2010, held at the 

Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. The launch was 

opened by Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore MP, who also 

announced the successful bid to host 2015 World Hydrogen 

Technologies Convention in Sydney. This premier global expo 

for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry is held every two years, 

and this will be its first time in Australia. Business Events Sydney 

prepared the successful bid in collaboration with the AAHE. 

Addressing more than one hundred guests from industry, 

government and academia, Ms Moore drew linkages 

between developments in the worldwide hydrogen and 

fuel cells arena and the program of initiatives being rolled 

out within the Sustainable Sydney 2030 strategy, under the 

leadership of Allan Jones MBE, the city’s Chief Development 

Drs Ian Plumb, David Rand and Andrew Dicks celebrating the launch of the AAHE 

Photograph courtesy Great Southern Press 

superseded by 6.6 kV, 3-phase turbo-alternators with the DC 

then supplied from rotary converter substations. Conversion 

of the CBD areas to 3-phase AC supply commenced in 

1932, however the last DC customer supply was only finally 

terminated in 2003. 

Melbourne was the first city in Australia to host a public 

electricity supply. The MCC was also an early entrant as a 

municipal electricity supply undertaking; however, it was 

not the first, with schemes in Tamworth followed closely by 

Young in New South Wales, both dating from 1888. 

* Based on a paper of the same title presented at the 3rd 

Australasian Engineering Heritage Conference in Dunedin, 

New Zealand, on 22–25 November 2009. Access full paper 

at http://www.ipenz.org.nz/heritage/, under ‘Publications’, 

‘IPENZ and Keynote Presenter Papers’ 

Officer, Energy and Climate Change. The launch also featured 

contributions by Janice Larson, Director of Renewable 

Energy Development to the state government of British 

Columbia, Canada, and Jeff Serfass, President, National 

Hydrogen Association (NHA) in the United States. 

Speaking at the launch, Dr Andrew Dicks, AAHE’s founding 

President, noted that the timing of the conference in 

Sydney is critical, as 2015 is now widely recognised as the 

starting point for mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell hybrid 

electric vehicles. “The AAHE will be supporting an array of 

demonstration projects within Australia in the lead up to the 

2015 conference,” he said. Since the launch, the AAHE has 

run its first workshop in Melbourne and is currently engaged 

in a strong membership campaign. For more information, 

see www.hydrogenaustralia.org 


Book Review 

Hydrogen Energy: 

Economic and Social Challenges 

By Paul Ekins (ed.), Earthscan, 2010, hardback, 

ISBN: 978-18440-768-02, 312 pages, £49.99, 

purchase from www.earthscan.co.uk 

While an improving attitude 

towards climate change has 

placed clean energy technology 

at the forefront of political 

and social agendas , the 

stumbling block for policy makers, Ekins observes, is that 

no ‘silver-bullet’ solution has yet come forth from emerging 

clean energy solutions. Successful implementation of any 

disruptive innovation requires a framework for integration 

of technical and policy considerations. In this compendium, 

Ekins draws together opinion and analysis from an array 

of peers in the domain of social and economic scholarship 

to evaluate the technical and social impediments for 

the transition to a hydrogen economy in the context of 

established innovation models. 

The preliminary chapters provide a solid theoretical 

foundation for the ensuing discussion. Prevailing models 

of the economic forces that drive successful innovation are 

compared, including the current and projected competitive 

landscapes as well as significant technical and cultural 

dimensions necessary for effective implementation of the 

hydrogen economy. Subsequently, a review of current 

hydrogen production, storage and end use applications is 

presented, comparing in detail and with a high level of clarity, 

the advantages and disadvantages of competing technologies 

(including incumbent fossil fuel alternatives) throughout 

the fuel lifecycle. 

Beyond the thorough, at times dense, introduction the 

discourse gathers momentum. Consideration is given to 

the drivers for adoption of hydrogen technology and the 

expectations about its future from the perspectives of 

both the end users (consumers) and private enterprise, 

with whom responsibility for developing and capturing the 

value of hydrogen markets ultimately rests. The roadmap 

towards a hydrogen economy is then treated in some detail 

by developing scenarios through which hydrogen energy 

might establish a market foothold. These scenarios are 

expanded upon through economic modelling and analysis 

of existing demonstration-level projects. An impression 



of the importance of a strongly interconnected innovation 

network, comprising industry (investment and technical 

development), government (policy and investment) and 

academia (technical development) is given through an 

exploration of historical example and emerging strategy. 

Specific cases from Canada and the United Kingdom are 

drawn out in detail to illustrate the influence of local and 

global factors as well as the transferability of implementation 

models between regional and local contexts. 

As with any emerging technology, the knowledge gap 

concerning safety risks must be considered alongside that 

of the technical development. The topic has fair coverage 

here through a discussion of recent research in the area, 

highlighting the current uncertainties and establishing 

the risk–reward potential of hydrogen energy technology 

within the greater context of current best practice within 

the energy industry. 

A summary of the findings and recommendations regarding 

the implementation of a hydrogen economy covers the full 

spectrum of potential hydrogen futures. Technical barriers 

and economic impediments are treated alongside strategies 

for better engaging the public and endearing hydrogen 

technology to significant consumer bases in a range of 

identified markets. The overall scope of the discussion is 

sufficiently comprehensive to provide the reader with an 

informed overview of the current situation as well as the 

path towards a hydrogen economy. The core theme of a 

clean energy future having a significantly different sociotechnical 

landscape from that which currently exists, and 

the implications for hydrogen energy technology, is carried 

throughout. Although the density of the discussion will 

likely discourage the recreational reader, this book would 

suit anyone with a genuine interest in emerging energy 

technology and/or policy and the desire to dig well below 

the surface across a wide catalogue of relevant issues. 

Dominic Alexander 

Postdoctoral Researcher, Chemistry Discipline 

Queensland University of Technology

Membership Matters 

The members’ section of ENERgyNews 

ENERgyNews welcomes contributions to Membership Matters, including member profiles, corporate 

member profiles, anecdotes, and advertising. Send ideas and contributions to editor@aie.org.au 

New Members 

Name Grade Branch 

Dr Roberto Aguilera Member Perth 

Rajkumari Balarajan Student Canberra 

Reydick Balucan Student Sydney 

Dr David Blake Fellow Brisbane 

Rowan Braham Student Sydney 

Dr Michael Brear Fellow Melbourne 

George Chen Student Melbourne 

Ian Chew Associate Perth 

Lindsey Copland Graduate Melbourne 

Geneveve Cornejo Graduate Perth 

Ashwin Date Student Melbourne 

Davood Dehestani Student Sydney 

Joseph Delaney Associate Melbourne 

Pranoto Effenti Student Melbourne 

Armin Fazely Graduate Perth 

Monika Fekete Student Melbourne 

James Forbes Member Tasmania 

David Goy Student Sydney 

Andri Halim Student Melbourne 

Jeremy Hall Student Sydney 

Fathima Hameed Student Melbourne 

Richard Hilton Member Melbourne 

Jiefeng Hu Student Sydney 

Kannan Jegathala Krishnan Graduate Melbourne 

Jim Kendal Fellow Perth 

Matthew Kerin Graduate Melbourne 

Anna Khaghani Student Melbourne 

Mohsin Latif Student Newcastle 

Algis Lencus Member Sydney 

New Corporate Members 

Company Name Representatives Branch 

Marchment Hill Consulting Sarah Clarke Perth 

Ben Connor Perth 

Energy Pro (Fiji) Ltd Vineet Vishal Chandra Overseas 

Peni Sokia Lesuma Overseas 

New Members 

Name Grade Branch 

Tshewang Lhendup Student Melbourne 

Brandon MacDonald Student Melbourne 

Tarmianne Marshall Member Perth 

Peter McIntyre Fellow Sydney 

Punyawee Netiwichairat Student Sydney 

Fleur Newman Member Perth 

Clare Oborne Member Perth 

Moeffaq Oreijah Student Melbourne 

Christopher Parkin Student Perth 

Mohammad Ramezanianpour Student Sydney 

Benjamin Reay Member Perth 

Shaun Rimos Student Melbourne 

Chiranjib Saha Student Melbourne 

Saeed Seif Mohammadi Student Melbourne 

Bahman Shabani Graduate Melbourne 

Ann Shaw Rungie Associate South Australia 

Abhijit Shrotri Student Brisbane 

Aaron Zhifan Song Student Melbourne 

Erin Spiden Student Melbourne 

Matthew Springer Graduate Melbourne 

Shi Su Fellow Brisbane 

Dirgarini Julia Subagyono Student Melbourne 

Hendy Thee Student Melbourne 

Lavanya Varadharajan Student Melbourne 

Gregory Veitch Fellow South Australia 

Hasitha Weerasinghe Student Melbourne 

Clare Wood Member Perth 

Yusli Yaakob Student Melbourne 

Company Name Representatives Branch 

AMOG Consulting Dr Hayden Marcollo Melbourne 

Dr Andrew Potts Melbourne 

West Coast Energy Pty Ltd Wally Huia Perth 

Jason Pugh Perth 

Premier Solar Australia Martin Cobb Melbourne 

Daniel Cobb Melbourne 


Around the Branches 

Brisbane 

• Mark Davis, Director, Commercial Building Disclosure, 

Australian Government Department of Climate Change 

and Energy Efficiency, presented on “Commercial Building 

Disclosure” on 16 September 2010. 

Canberra 

• Perry Sioshansi, President, Menlo Energy Economics, and 

Editor/Publisher, EEnergy Informer, San Francisco, California, 

presented “US Energy and Climate Policy and Implications 

for Australia and the World” on 24 September 2010. 

Melbourne 

• Dr Graeme Bethune, CEO, EnergyQuest, presented 

“Australian LNG Outlook: Opportunities and challenges” 

on 25 August 2010. 

• Melbourne Branch Young Energy Professionals organised 

the ‘youth’ stream at the All-Energy Exhibition and 

Conference on 6–7 October 2010. 

• AIE Melbourne Branch hosted its Postgraduate Student 

Energy Awards at the All-Energy Exhibition and 

Conference on 6–7 October 2010. 

• In association with Ernst & Young, the AIE Melbourne 

Branch AGM on 24 November 2010 included presentations 

by Dr Adrian Panow, Director of Energy Investment, 

Victorian Government, and Damien Moyse, Energy 

Projects and Policy Manager, Alternative Technology 

Association, on “What’s hot in Victoria – energy policy, 

smart meters, large solar, and more”. 

Perth 

• AIE Perth Branch, in association with the Government of 

Western Australia Office of Energy, hosted the 10th Energy 

in Western Australia Conference on 21–22 September 

2010. 

• Perth Young Energy Professionals hosted a panel 

discussion of the topic “The Future of Energy in WA”, 

featuring the Hon. Peter Collier, Minister for Energy, 

Training and Workforce Development, Government of 

Western Australia; Doug Aberle, Managing Director, 

Western Power; and David Parker, Government & Public 

Affairs Manager, Apache Energy, on 29 September 2010. 



South Australia 

• Mark Pitkin, Beach Energy, presented “Old Tricks Applied 

a New Way: Developing unconventional resources” on 

9 September 2010. 

• South Australia Young Energy Professionals hosted 

the third session of their Winter Learning Series, with 

Tanya Denning, Senior Associate, Blake Dawson, 

addressing “Electricity Market Fundamentals” on 

20 September 2010. 

• Tanya Denning, Senior Associate, Blake Dawson, 

presented “Navigating the Short-Term Trading Market 

for Natural Gas” on 14 October 2010. 

• AIE South Australia Branch hosted the AIE National 

Conference, Australia’s Energy – Next Generation, on 

14–16 November 2010, including the AIE national AGM 

on 15 November 2010. 

• South Australia Young Energy Professionals celebrated 

the festive season with a Christmas ‘quiztacular’, Sparks 

and Specks, on 2 December 2010. 

Sydney 

• Dr Adi Paterson, CEO, ANSTO, presented “Energy 

Options for Developed Countries: Making choices” on 

31 August 2010. 

• AIE Sydney Branch held the 2010 NSW/ACT Postgraduate 

Student Energy Awards, including a presentation 

by Greg Everett, Chief Executive, Delta Electricity on 

12 October 2010. 

• AIE Sydney Branch held a half-day symposium on 

the topic, “NSW Gas Future 2010: Big changes ahead?” 

on 18 October 2010. 

• Graeme Cuthbert, Head of Energy Security, United 

Kingdom Department of Energy and Climate Change, 

presented “Energy Efficiency in the UK” at the AIE Sydney 

Branch AGM on 1 November 2010. 

• Sydney YEPs compared three carbon reduction schemes 

that are currently under consideration by the Australian 

Government in a World Café format on 1 December 2010.

‘Not So’ Young Energy Professionals 

As our YEP groups grow and prosper, we thought it timely 

to make contact with a few of our ‘not so’ young energy 

professionals. The AIE membership includes at least three* 

in their energetic 90s, all residing in New South Wales – Max 

Woods (aged 95), and Ralph Goode and Frank Rushworth (both 

aged 90). ENERgyNews asked these gentlemen about their 

work in the energy sector and their involvement with the AIE. 

Max Woods 

with his dog Gabbi 

Energetic farmer 

Farmer and grazier Max Woods FAIE has been a lifelong 

campaigner for sustainable practices in agriculture, 

including energy efficiency pertaining to land use. 

As recently as 2006, Max appeared before a House of 

Representatives Standing Committee to argue the need to 

reinstate specialist soil conservation services to promote 

and support soil conservation practices. Although retired, 

Max still keeps his finger on the pulse. He is an avid reader 

of ENERgyNews, which he views projected on a large 

screen now that he is legally blind. “Reading the journal 

keeps me in touch with the energy situation, he said. “Energy 

is vitally important to society and we need to understand it 

and appreciate it. I take a particular interest in proposals to 

use agricultural resources such as grain and sugar to make 

fuel. I think we should steer clear of this idea. I have always 

been of the opinion that food is the most important use for 

our agricultural land.” Our chat with Max has prompted 

ENERgyNews to include the food versus fuel debate in 

one of the issues of the journal in 2011. 

Ralph Goode 

celebrating his 90th birthday 

Founding member 

With member number 563, H R (Ralph) Goode FAIE is one 

of the Institute’s founding members. That means he was 

a member of the Institute of Fuel when the membership 

elected to form an Australian association independent of its 

British parent in 1978. “There was great debate concerning 

supply and price of fuels at that time,” Ralph recalled. “I 

was then an engineer with Shell Coal and travelled around 

the world talking people into converting from oil to coal 

on the basis of interfuel economics.” Ralph joined Shell in 

1946 when he came out of the army and stayed with the 

company until his retirement in 1980. In the early days of 

the Institute, Ralph was a regular attendee at branch events 

in Sydney. He was Sydney Branch Chair on two occasions 

and Hon. Secretary for many years. “I can’t get to meetings 

these days, but I like to keep in touch with what’s happening 

in energy through the journal,” he said. “I’d like to see greater 

debate over the technical aspects of climate.” That sounds 

like another idea for ENERgyNews in 2011 – the science 

and technology of climate change. 

Frank Rushworth 

in his role as Chair, 

Petroleum Information 

Bureau, c. 1970s 

Senior oil man 

Albert (Frank) Rushworth MAIE joined the Institute in 2000 

when it merged with the Australian Institute of Petroleum 

(AIP). The AIP had been formed in 1976 to promote effective 

dialogue between the oil industry, government and the 

community. It replaced a number of other organisations 

such as the Petroleum Information Bureau (PIB) that had 

been operating in Australia since in the 1950s. In his role 

as a director with major oil company Total, Frank was then 

Chairman of the PIB. When Frank retired from the oil 

industry in 1990 he retained membership of the AIP. “The 

petroleum industry was changing and the needs of the major 

oil companies were changing with it,” recalled Frank. “We 

were very active in education and publications through the 

1970s and 80s; but, there was less need for such a profile in 

the community by the 1990s.” Notwithstanding a long career 

in the oil industry, Frank has been very interested in the 

journal articles on wave energy. “If there is a working model 

of wave energy being converted to generate electricity, why 

are we investing millions in coal-fired power generation in 

New South Wales?” he asked. “On the topic of petroleum, I 

applaud the shift to diesel (from petrol) in vehicles.” Sounds 

like another good topic for ENERgyNews in 2011. 

* There may be more, but not all dates of birth are recorded 

on the AIE database. 


Corporate Member Profile 

Energy Pro (Fiji) ltd 

Energy Pro started operating in Fiji in February 2010, and is the 

first company in Fiji whose primary service is energy auditing, 

monitoring and conservation. As the leading provider of 

energy management and efficiency services, Energy Pro 

measures energy consumption, then provides a comprehensive 

solution to minimise consumption through energy-efficient 

technologies, auditing and monitoring equipment, better 

management of existing infrastructure, and a range of other 

initiatives. These practical engineering solutions are offered in 

Fiji and the neighbouring Pacific Island countries. The range 

of services includes a complete energy audit, a power quality 

audit, mechanical design/redesign and thermal imaging. 

Managing Director, Vineet Chandra, has five years’ experience 

in the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) 

industry, and founder, Peni Lesuma, has more than 40 years’ 

experience in the HVAC industry and has also worked in 

New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries. 

ENERgyNews asked Mr Chandra why Energy Pro 

was formed in Fiji. “Energy conservation is becoming 

increasingly important in Fiji and nearby Pacific countries,” 

he said. “However, the level of awareness is low and 

responsible organisations are not doing enough to support 

energy management. An incentive has to be given to clients 

to gain interest.” 

In Fiji, the main primary sources of energy in the dry season 

are diesel fuel (~70%) and hydro (~30%). Other renewable 

sources of energy are negligible. 

“Because companies are hesitant to spend money to reduce 

their energy consumption, we emphasise the commercial 

benefits,” said Mr Chandra. “We demonstrate the benefits that 

an energy audit can reveal, such as reducing their energy costs 

by 10–30%. With the commercial tariff at around 40 Fiji cents 

per kWh (A$0.20/kWh) this can be a substantial saving.” 

The implementation of renewable energy technologies is 

also being supported by the World Bank, which supports 

companies and individuals in Fiji by providing 50% of the 

security deposit to secure bank loans for renewable energy 

projects. 

Energy Pro’s team of fully qualified mechanical, electrical, 

and air-conditioning and refrigeration engineers provide 


Vineet Chandra undertaking thermal imaging for an Energy 

Pro (Fiji) client 

services in: 

• energy auditing 

• power quality auditing 

• mechanical/HVAC design 

• thermal imaging. 

For example, Energy Pro’s thermal imaging service provides 

peace of mind over the risks associated with electrical and 

mechanical equipment malfunctions. 

“We can carry out our electrical and mechanical 

thermography inspections without any downtime,” said 

Mr Chandra. “The report identifies all risks and diagnoses 

the anomalies, and presents recommendations. If significant 

heat energy losses are identified, these and their costs are 

calculated. Malfunctions not only increase energy costs, 

but they are potential hazards for customers, employees 

and the community.” 

Although Energy Pro Fiji is linked to prominent New Zealand 

company, Energy NZ Ltd (www.energynz.com) to deliver 

services of an international standard, most of the electrical 

standards that apply in Fiji are of Australian standards. “That is 

why Energy Pro Fiji joined the Australian Institute of Energy,” 

said Mr Chandra. “We wanted to be involved with an Australian 

organisation that is independent and professional.” 

For more information on Energy Pro (Fiji), see 

www.energypro.com.fj

PRESIDENT 

Tony Vassallo (Sydney Branch) 

president@aie.org.au 

VICE-PRESIDENT 

Murray Meaton (Perth Branch) 

HON. SECRETARY 

Paul McGregor (Sydney Branch) 

secretary@aie.org.au 

HON. TREASURER 

Glen Currie (Melbourne Branch) 

treasurer@aie.org.au 

WEB MASTER 

Tony Forster (Melbourne Branch) 

webmaster@aie.org.au 

Brisbane 

Leigh Morpeth 

brisbane@aie.org.au 

Canberra 

Ross Calvert 

canberra@aie.org.au 

Melbourne 

Glenne Drover 

melb@aie.org.au 

MEMBERSHIP 

Colin Paulson (Sydney Branch) 

aie@aie.org.au 

David Allardice (Melbourne Branch) 

Michael Cochran (South Australia Branch) 

Paul Riordan (South Australia Branch) 

Brian Truman (Perth Branch) 

BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES 

Patrick Burke (Tasmania Branch) 

Andrew Dicks (Brisbane Branch) 

James Giblin (Newcastle Branch) 

Anny Joseph (Canberra Branch; co-opted July 2010) 

Newcastle 

Behdad Moghtaderi 

newcastle@aie.org.au 

Perth 

Rani Thulasy 

perth@aie.org.au 

South Australia 

Graeme Atwell 

adel@aie.org.au 

AIE Board 2010 

EDITOR 

Joy Claridge 

editor@aie.org.au 

SECRETARIAT 

Candice Pribil 

(PAMS) 

aie@aie.org.au 

Tel: 1800 629 945 

Fax: (03) 9898 0249 

Branch Secretaries 

Sydney 

Gwen Cant (Secretariat) 

syd@aie.org.au 

Tasmania 

Melissa Jackson 

tasmania@aie.org.au 

Vale gilbert Tippett MAIE 1910–2010 

The AIE lost its ‘oldest’ member, when Melbourne 

Branch Member Gilbert Tippett passed away on 

12 September, just three months before his 100th 

birthday. Until as recently as last year, he was a 

regular attendee at branch events and as his sonin-law 

Peter Lothian said, “He lived an extremely 

full and positive life.” 

Recollections by his daughter Marg Lothian 

reveal a life-long interest in energy, and that he 

was a man well ahead of his time. During WWII, 

during petrol rationing, not wanting to sit at 

home Gilbert ran his car (when it would go) on 

carbon monoxide that he produced himself! In 

1962, he installed a solar hot water system on the 

Gilbert Tippett c. 1980s 

Obituary 

roof of the holiday house he built at Inverloch, 

much to the bemusement of the local plumbers. 

In the 1980s, with his niece Elizabeth Honey, 

he co-authored two energy books for children. 

More recently, he argued for the use of nuclear 

energy in electricity generation. “This guaranteed 

a lively discussion over Sunday dinner,” said 

Marg. “He retained ‘a brain worth playing in’ 

right up to the last days of his life, and I am sure 

that contact with AIE Members contributed to 

his mental agility.” 

Gilbert joined the Institute in 2003 and was 

granted ‘retired’ status in 2008. He will be sadly 

missed by his AIE colleagues and friends. 


Corporate Member Directory 

WA Gas Networks owns 

and operates the majority 

of the reticulated gas 

infrastructure in Western 

Australia, transporting gas 

for energy retailers. 

In 2009, WA Gas Networks 

reliably transported over 

28 petajoules of gas through 

approximately 12,000 km 

of gas mains and associated 

infrastructure, and 

delivered gas to over 

620,000 consumers. 

www.wagasnetworks.com.au 

Aurecon provides engineering, 

management and specialist 

technical services for public and 

private sector clients globally. 

Aurecon’s energy team delivers 

effective, tailored solutions 

for clients across the power 

generation, transmission and 

distribution, and renewable 

energy sectors. 

Drawing on the talents 

of a global team, Aurecon 

has expertise in all areas of the 

energy sector, including power 

systems and power generation 

engineering; industrial and 

process engineering; and energy 

advisory and asset management 

consulting services. 

www.aurecongroup.com 


Energeia is a professional 

services firm of highly 

credentialed energy 

specialists dedicated to 

achieving excellence for 

our clients in their pursuit 

of the exceptional. 

We offer advisory services 

and proprietary industry 

and market research 

products covering 

retailing, demand 

management, electric 

vehicles, microgeneration, 

renewables, energy 

storage and smart grid. 

www.energeia.net.au 

Support 

the 

companies 

that 

support 

the AIE 

mySmart CTI helps 

create the most 

energy-efficient 

environments 

possible. Using the 

latest technology 

and highly trained 

consultants and 

technicians, 

mySmart CTI is able 

to optimise buildings 

and outdoor 

environments 

so that they use 

less energy while 

reducing operating 

costs. As a result, 

businesses win, 

and so do their 

employees and the 

environment. 

www.mysmart.com.au 

Electricity, Gas and Carbon 

CQ Partners Pty Ltd provides 

corporate advice and services, 

specialising in the Australian 

and international energy and 

carbon markets. The partners 

of the company each have 

over 10 years of experience in 

energy and financial markets. 

CQ Partners is committed to 

providing commercial solutions 

in the areas of electricity, gas, 

carbon, fuel and greenhouse 

gas abatement. 

www.cqpartners.com.au 

Ph: 08 8464 0300

Corporate Member Directory 

ENERGEX 

A Queensland Government 

owned corporation that builds, 

owns, operates and maintains 

the electricity distribution 

network in South East 

Queensland. 

ENERGEX is an active 

participant in a program 

of energy conservation 

and demand management 

initiatives that will deliver a 

significant level of demand 

reduction to both the 

residential and the commercial 

and industrial sectors within 

its distribution area. 

(07) 3407 4329 

www.energex.com.au 

Landfill Gas and Power Pty Ltd 

Pioneered landfill gas power 

generation in Western Australia 

in 1993. It has since developed 

LGP Clean Technology.com 

— a unique method 

of landfill gas extraction and gas 

pre-treatment and processing 

that delivers higher efficiencies. 

LGP construct and install gas 

extraction well-fields, gas 

pre-treatment plants, gas flaring 

equipment, power station 

modules and grid connections; 

as well as offering consultancy 

services in all aspects of landfill 

gas management. 

www.landfillgas.com.au 

Specialist Commercial 

Lawyers 

www.finlaysons.com.au 

www.AutonomousEnergy.com 

www.energypro.com.fj 

Support the 

companies 

that support 

the AIE 

www.lavanlegal.com.au 

www.sustainability. 

vic.gov.au 

Company members, 

place your 

listing here 

Include your 

company’s name 

and logo, as well as 

up to 50 words of 

promotional text. 

Send an email to 

editor@aie.org.au

Forthcoming AIE Events 

For all forthcoming AIE events, see http://www.aie.org.au 

Calendar 

If your branch has organised an event in 2011, send details to editor@aie.org.au to promote the event in the ENERgyNews. 

other Events 2011: Australasia 

8–10 February in Sydney Future of Lighting http://www.futureoflighting.com.au 

14–15 February in Sydney NSW Energy Reform & Outlook Summit 

http://www.informa.com.au/nswenergyreform 

16–17 February in Melbourne Future of Lighting Summit http://www.futureoflighting.com.au 

21–23 February in Auckland Power & Electricity World NZ http://www.terrapinn.com 

22–23 February in Melbourne Solar Power Australia 2011 http://www.solarpoweraus.com.au 

23–25 February in Perth AOG Exhibition & Conference http://www.aogexpo.com.au 

24–25 February in Brisbane 3rd Annual Queensland LNG Development http://www.iir.com.au/qldlng 

28 February–1 March in Brisbane CTL & Coal Gasification Annual Conference 2011 www.informa.com.au 

28 February–2 March in Brisbane 4th Annual Queensland Energy Conference http://www.tonkincorporation.com 

28 February–2 March in Sydney Clean Energy Australia 2011 http://www.terrapinn.com 

1–2 March in Brisbane Coal Seam Methane World Australia 2011 http://www.terrapinn.com 

1–2 March in Sydney National SCADA Conference 2011 http://www.scada-conference.com.au 

15 March in Auckland Energy Efficient Facilities Management http://www.conferenz.co.nz 

23–26 March in Perth Energising South East Asia Conference & Exhibition http://www.energisingsea.com.au 

28–30 March in Brisbane 9th Annual National CSG Summit http://www.iir.com.au/csm 

29 March in Sydney Retrofitting for Energy Efficiency http://www.retro-fitting.com.au 

29 March in Brisbane Coal Processing Optimisation 2011 http://www.coalprocessing.com.au 

29–30 March in Brisbane Shale Gas Briefing 2011 http://www.iir.com.au/shale 

30–31 March in Brisbane Queensland Gas Assets & Pipeline Infrastructure http://www.iir.com.au/qgac 

30–31 March in Traralgon 2nd Annual Victorian Coal & Energy Conference 

http://www.informa.com.au/VICcoalandenergy 

4–8 April in Cairns Greenhouse 2011 http://www.greenhouse2011.com/ 

5–7 April in Melbourne Australian Carbon Trading Expo 2011 http://www.carbonexpo.com.au/ 

11–12 May in Brisbane 4th Surat Basin Coal & Energy Conference http://www.informa.com.au 

21–25 May in Broken Hill Australian Resources and Energy Conference http://www.symposium.net.au 

7–10 June in Melbourne Smart Electricity World Australia 2011 http://www.terrapinn.com 

9–10 June in New Plymouth, NZ ENEX – New Zealand’s Oil & Gas Event http://www.enex.co.nz 

12–13 October in Melbourne All-Energy Australia 2011 http://www.all-energy.com.au 

Please note that the events listed here are based on information provided by event organisers. The AIE does not necessarily 

endorse the views of the speakers. The events are brought to the attention of members as potentially contributing to discussion 

on relevant energy issues. If you know of any conferences or other major events in our region that would be of interest to AIE 

members and will be held in 2011, please email date, location, title and web link to editor@aie.org.au 

other Events 2011: International 

For global energy events, see the following websites: 

http://www.conferencealerts.com/energy.htm http://www.ieee.org 

http://www.energyiq.co.uk/Energy.aspx http://www.pmaconference.com/ 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/calendar/meetings.htm http://www.bvents.com 

http://www.econference.com.au http://www.expopromoter.com

Origin Energy's Purari Hydropower Project - Australian Institute of ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?