Fast Facts
- An Australian, world-leading renewable energy company
- As of March 2006 approx. 90 employees
- Pacific Hydro combines engineering excellence with social, environmental and financial responsibility
Main Projects
Operational
30 MW Ord Hydro – Largest Australian renewable energy project for over 20 years
70 MW Bakun Hydro – Largest overseas energy generation project by an Australian company (50 per cent owned by Pacific Hydro)
18.2 MW Codrington Wind Farm – Victoria’s first wind farm
12 MW Small Hydros – 3 in Victoria & 1 in NSW
52.5 MW Challicum Hills Wind Farm – Australia’s largest wind farm
76.3 MW Coya and Pangal Hydro Projects in Chile
6.5 MW Wainikasou Hydro Project in Fiji (50 per cent owned)
3 MW Nagado Hydro project in Fiji (50 per cent owned)
Under Construction
30 MW Stage 1 Portland Wind Project, Victoria Australia
155 MW La Higuera Hydro Project, Chile
10.8 MW
Extensive Development Pipeline
Australian Wind – 600 MW
Chilean Hydro – 700 MW
Australia's Electricity
90 per cent of Australia’s electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Only 10 per cent comes from renewable sources.
Electricity generation produces approximately 30 per cent of Australia's greenhouse emissions.
Source: http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/
Carbon trading
Carbon emissions trading involves the trading of permits to emit carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gases, calculated in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, tCO2e). It is one of the ways countries can meet their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions and thereby mitigate global warming.
The European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the largest multi-national, greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme in the world. It commenced operation in January 2005 and all 25-member states of the European Union participate in the scheme.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a carbon trading scheme being created by seven North-eastern and Mid-Atlantic American states; Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. The scheme is being developed and will go into effect in 2009.
AP6
While Australia is yet to strengthen its support for renewable energy, the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate between Australia, China, India, Korea, Japan and the US is an encouraging sign that stronger domestic action is on its way. The pact, formed on July 28 2005, allows the countries to set their own goals for emissions of greenhouse gases, with no enforcement measures. This is in contrast to the Kyoto Protocol, which requires industrial nations to accept legally binding emissions targets.
Partner countries agreed to co-operate on development and transfer of technology which enables reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. A Charter, Communique and Work Plan that "outline a ground-breaking new model of private-public taskforcess to address climate change, energy security and air pollution” has been agreed.
Member countries account for around 50% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, GDP and population.
Wind Energy
Wind energy is big business and is on target to supply 12 per cent of the world’s electricity by 2020.
- 2005 was another successful year for the wind industry. New installed capacity for the year reached 11,769 MW, bringing the cumulative worldwide installed capacity for wind energy to 59,322 MW.
- Installed wind generating capacity has increased on average by 20 per cent annually over the last five years (2001-2005)
Source: http://www.ewea.org
- Over the past decade the installed generation capacity for wind energy has increased at an average rate of 30 per cent per annum.
- Australia’s installed capacity at the end of 2005 was 708 MW.
Source: http://www.auswea.com.au
- Cost of wind production fallen 75 per cent since 1981
Source: http://www.thewind.info/standardsite/index.html
- Leading wind energy countries:
- Denmark generates 20 per cent of its electricity from the wind
- Germany and Spain aiming for 10 per cent by 2010
- 5000MW of wind capacity in Australia would deliver $10 billion of investment, 10,000 jobs and electricity for 2.5 million homes
Source: http://www.thewind.info/standardsite/index.html
Why Wind?
- Wind farms provide the cheapest form of environmentally friendly electricity and produce zero emissions
- Short construction timeframe allowing rapid deployment
- Small footprint - windmills take up only 1 per cent of a typical site
- Modern windmills repay their cost to the environment within three months of operation and produce 80 times more energy than was used in their manufacture
- Wind farms do not pose a major risk to birds and other wildlife whereas climate change threatens the extinction of up to 37% of all Australian species
- Wide popular support: 95 per cent of Victorians support wind energy
Source: Auspoll Survey 2002
Climate Change
- Climate change and the need for clean energy
From 1990 to 2100, the global average surface temperature is forecast to increase by 1.4-5.8C and global average sea levels are forecast to rise in the range of 9 to 88 cm. Given that worldwide demand for energy is increasing rapidly, the challenge will be to deliver global energy requirements in a sustainable way to help prevent further damage to our planet. Source: Australian Greenhouse Office
- Demand for renewable energy is growing
Renewable energy will play an increasing role in electricity production over the next 20 years. Consumption of hydropower and other renewable energy sources is expected to rise by 1.9 per cent annually as projected by the Energy Information Administration’s International Energy Outlook for 2004. Source: IEA 2006
- Our energy future – the importance of renewable energy
Total world energy consumption is projected to increase by approximately 52 per cent by 2030. Carbon dioxide emissions will rise from 24.0 billion metric tonnes in 2003 to 27.0 billion tonnes in 2010 and 37.0 billion tonnes in 2030. The developing world will account for 61 per cent of the increase because of reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. With this escalating demand for energy, the earth’s climate will be further threatened by greenhouse gases as CO2 increases, highlighting the need for an increase in renewable energy generation. Source: IEA 2006