Solar-powered car departs Newcastle for Australian round trip

BY DAKOTA TAIT

An electric car has embarked on the first leg of a round trip of Australia on Friday, departing Newcastle for a journey largely powered by the sun.

The University of Newcastle team is attempting to cover just over 15,000 kilometres in a few months, aiming to cover around 130 kilometres a day.

The vehicle will be charged mostly by solar panels, though they'll use conventional charging points in urban areas.

Professor Paul Dastoor, Director of the Centre for Organic Electronics, says it's a chance to do away of some of the so-called 'range anxiety' around long-distance trips. 

"We're taking an electric vehicle - a Tesla - anti-clockwise around Australia, charged by printed solar," he said. "The sort of lightweight renewable energy technology we've developed here at the University of Newcastle."

"It's our first opportunity to road-test printed solar. This journey is all about expanding people's appreciation of electric vehicles."

Each of the 18 printed solar sheets is 18 metres long and weighs 12 kilograms, but they will be rolled up and stored in the boot while the car's on the road.

It takes around six hours to charge the car for 160 kilometres of driving, but the team's estimated the charging costs for the entire trip at just $80.

The team will also be visiting schools around the country to deliver a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Roadshow. 

"It gives us an opportunity to actually test the technology we've developed and also to deliver an education program across Australia," Prof Dastoor said.

"Being able to go out to regional, rural, and outback schools, and talk to them about how the science they're learning in their classroom translates to university studies, to research, and then ultimately, technology that will change people's lives."

Image credit: Charge Around Australia.

Solar Set to Help Water Bills and the Environment

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

Hunter Water is aiming to reduce costs for its customers as well as its impact on the environment through a $15 million upgrade of the utility's energy systems.

The NSW Government programme will contribute to Hunter Water's plans to become "carbon neutral" by 2030.

The corporation cites electricity costs as one of its major expenses, accounting for about 10 per cent of annual costs.

An array of solar panels have been constructed and are now ready for installation at the Branxton Wastewater Treatment Works. The corporations's Managing Director, Darren Cleary, says the plans are "a win for both our customers and the environment".

"The solar array at Branxton is the first project in a $15 million programme of works over the next four years with the aim of reducing our carbon footprint and reducing our electricity costs.

"We hope the project will deliver a reduction in our carbon emissions by 7,200 tonnes per year. That's the equivalent of taking 1,500 cars a year off the road as well as delivering savings for our electricity bill of over one million dollars each year," Mr Cleary said.

"So, a great outcome for both our customers and the environment."

The project was announced by NSW Water Minister, Melinda Pavey, who says a range of other sites are being shortlisted for solar upgrades.

“This investment is all about innovation and supporting jobs in the Hunter while also reducing Hunter Water’s electricity bill,” Mrs Pavey said.

“The 100 kilowatt system at Branxton Wastewater Treatment Works is the first in Hunter Water’s push for many solar projects, with savings generated helping to maintain affordable bills,” she said.

Sites at Morpeth, Kurri Kurri, and Raymond Terrace are among 20 which are part of the initial rollout.

It's expected the 252-panel installation at Branxton will contribute to an eventual $1.5 million electricity saving each year.

Hunter Water says its also considering other ways of reducing its environmental impacts while being mindful of household water bills.

"We'll continue to look at the technology as it evolves, as well as emerging technologies such as battery storage technology and floating solar," Mr Cleary said.

"We'll be pursuing these opportunities wherever they're viable."

The water utility says the project will deliver a 7.37% reduction in its electricity usage.

"Looking at our energy costs is really a great sustainability outcome. It has the benefits of both reducing costs - which is great for our customers - as well as reducing our environmental impact by reducing our carbon emissions," Mr Cleary said.

Mr Cleary says the solar upgrades are just one aspect of a range of new technologies being used in the Hunter region's water system.

"We've just commissioned a smart control system for our water network that looks at optimising our pumping regime to to minimise electricity use and energy costs. So it's a major focus of our organisation and that's because it has the dual benefits of reducing our resource consumption by reducing our carbon emissions and how much electricity we consume as well as reducing costs," he said.

Hunter Water says more information of its sustainability initiatives can be found at www.hunterwater.com.au/our-water/sustainability

The $15 million solar project is hoped to reduce carbon emissions as well as provide savings for customers. Image: Hunter Water

Five-megawatt Solar Farm and Resource Recovery Center opens at Summer Hill

BY ISABEL EVERETT

An $8 million dollar, five-megawatt solar farm and $6 million dollar resource recovery center has opened at Summer Hill Waste Management center.

The solar farm spans the length of 5 football fields, sitting on a previous land fill site, and is expected to save rate payers around $9 million dollars over its 25-year life span. 

The farm will produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 1,300 households, significantly cutting councils electricity costs. 

"Its an impressive site to see whats on the surface, but to also understand that this is on a prior landfill site that wasn't capable of any agricultural purpose, so to give it such a good environmental purpose is really clever," Port Stephens MP and Shadow Minister for the Environment Kate Washington said. 

A recent purchase-power agreement to source electricity from the state's largest wind farm, moves Newcastle city council to become the first local government in NSW to move to 100 percent renewable's as of next year. 

"Newcastle city council is the first council to have created and built a solar farm and as of January first, all of councils operations will be sourced from renewable energy and that's a remarkable outcome," Kate Washington said.  

Newcastle residents can drop off pre-sorted recyclables such as scrap metals, sorted yellow bin recyclables, paper and cardboard, clean untreated wood and soft plastic at the Resource Recovery Center free of charge, diverting around 5,700 tonnes of waste from landfill each year. 

"Newcastle city council is doing exactly what we need to see happening, they are giving people the opportunity to be more environmentally conscious," Kate Washington said. 

"Communities across the state are already there, they want to know what they can do to achieve better environmental outcomes, to reduce land fill and improve our sustainability." 

State MP for Port Stephens Kate Washington, Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Cr Peta Winney-Baartz 

State MP for Port Stephens Kate Washington, City of Newcastle Business Development Manager Mark Johnson,Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Hon Taylor Martin MLC and Cr Peta Winney-Baartz 

Summerhill Solar Farm a Shovel-load Closer to Reality

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The first sod has been turned today on a disused landfill site at Summerhill Waste Management Centre, marking the beginning of construction on the region's largest solar farm.

City of Newcastle is promising the five-megawatt solar arm will increase our energy generation tenfold and save ratepayers $9 million over its 25-year life.

The farm covers an area of about five football fields on the old Wallsend Borehole Colliery site.

It will consist of 14,500 solar arrays and will produce enough energy to run the equivalent of all the City of Newcastle's facilities during the day, normally amounting to $4 million a year.

It follows eight other solar installations at the Waratah Works Depot , Art Gallery, City, Wallsend and New Lambton libraries, No.1 and No.2 Sportsgrounds and Newcastle Museum.

  

A $6.5 million dollar loan from Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation is helping to finance the colossal project, with solar panels and infrastructure built by international property and infrastructure groups Lendlease and EMC.

"We are building sustainability into everything we do after reiterating our commitment last year to generate 30 per cent of our electricity needs from low-carbon sources and cut overall electricity usage by 30 per cent by 2020," Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

The new facility builds on one of Australia's most advanced renewable energy setups at a waste facility - with a 2.2megawatt landfill gas generator and a small wind turbine already located at Summerhill.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes and Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen turn the first sod at the Solar Farm.