Sustainability Matters Oct/Nov 2012 by Westwick-Farrow Media

2 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

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contents

October/November 2012

Emerging thermal technologies and their role in energy production

Leading the way Pooling together for success with water

Case studies

Financing energy-efficiency improvement works

The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo 2012: don’t let it go to waste

You can lead a horse to recycled water...

Research & development

Major advance in generating electricity from wastewater

Products & services

32 Autonomous water quality and environmental monitoring 37

Resource centre

Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide y our sustainability development

In my opinion

Government freezes energy grants, putting strain on energy efficiency

oing back to basics is sometimes more rewarding than you expect. Being able to open a window rather than switching on an air conditioner can provide a more sustainable solution. On my recent Sustainable Sydney Walking Tour (organised by the Green Building Council of Australia and Better Buildings Partnership) I was impressed by the technology being used in some of the ‘greenest’ buildings in Sydney. It was also good to see that the basics of natural ventilation and cooling have not been forgotten. 30 The Bond was one of the first buildings to receive a 5-star rating in Australia and it’s still impressive today. The building is visually stunning, with a four-storey convict-hewn sandstone wall feature that also provides natural cooling for the building’s atrium. Mixed mode ventilation to some internal meeting rooms, passive chilled beam cooling and a single-pass ventilation system all contribute to a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over that of a typical office building. 161 Castlereagh Street is currently under construction and has been designed to facilitate the introduction of outside air at 150% of the ventilation rate required by Australian standards. And the GBCA GreenHouse is a good example of what a retrofit can achieve. It has a raised floor air displacement system and CO2 sensors throughout the space to ensure air is supplied into occupied areas only. As a result, no supplementary air conditioning is required. Many of the buildings within the city still have their windows sealed shut but it’s good to see some shining examples of what is possible. Carolyn Jackson sm@westwick-farrow.com.au

Westwick-Farrow Media is committed to using environmentally responsible print services to produce our publications. PAPER This edition is printed on recycled paper (FSC Mixed Sources Certified) from an elemental chlorine free process. PRINT It is printed by Webstar (ISO12647-2, FSC COC and PEFC certified), using soy-based inks and CTP plate processing. WRAPPER It is delivered in a totally degradable plastic wrapper.

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October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 3

Emerging thermal technologies and their role in energy production Dominic Schliebs*

Each year, millions of tonnes of waste materials are sent to landfills across Australia. While Australians are very good at recycling, there will always be waste that is not physically able to be recycled, or where it is not financially viable. Much of that waste, however, has a significant energy content, and a large portion of that energy is from renewable sources.

here are a number of options for recovering energy from waste - landfills with gas collection, incineration and anaerobic digestion are common forms, but emerging technologies based on pyrolysis and gasification reactions are also of particular interest. These processes have actually been around for a very long time; pyrolysis is what we use to turn wood into smokeless charcoal and gasification of coal was used to make ‘town gas’ in the 19th century for street lighting in London and other major cities. Plants were phased out from the 1950s with the discovery of, and access to, massive reserves of natural gas, but there has been a recent resurgence as an alternative to convert waste material into energy.

How do they work?

We know that when enough heat is applied to a carbon-based fuel like waste in the presence of oxygen, it burns and is converted to carbon dioxide. Lots of heat is released and all that is left of the waste is some unburnable ash. What’s really happening, however, is that the carbon is first vapourised into a gas and those vapours burn as a visible flame. That initial vapourisation stage is actually pyrolysis and if no oxygen is available, the vapours can be captured and used. Some vapours remain as gas while others can be condensed into liquid oil. The remaining solid, char, still contains lots of carbon and all three products - solid, liquid and gas - have a number of potential uses. Pyrolysis requires a constant heat source but the trade-off for this energy input is that all three products contain significant energy content.

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Gasification fits in somewhere between pyrolysis and combustion, where there is oxygen available but it is limited and carefully controlled. The partial combustion reactions that occur heat the process and result in a synthesised gas comprising mostly carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Feedstocks Essentially almost any carbon-based waste or biomass stream, including a number of materials with little other value, can go into these systems - from household or municipal solid waste and residual plastics to garden organics, paper and cardboard and waste wood. Some systems are designed to specifically receive certain feedstocks but others can take a range of materials. In most cases, particularly when looking at mixed waste streams or wet materials, pre-processing and drying of the feed will be necessary.

What are the benefits? Unlike large-scale incineration plants, most pyrolysis and gasification plants are designed, and financially viable, for small to medium scales - anywhere from 5000 to 100,000 tonnes per annum. These smaller plants can be positioned closer to population centres, reducing waste transport costs and allowing other industries to use excess heat and power from the plant. Considering most pyrolysis systems can fit into a standard industrial shed, they should also have a smoother ride through the approvals process and much less local opposition. The plants can also be more efficient in recovering energy than incineration, which requires up to twice as much air input than is needed to actually burn the waste. All that unnecessary cold air, 79%

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Waste to energy ÂŠ iStockphoto.com/Andrew Johnson

of which is nitrogen and of no use, sucks energy from the process. In pyrolysis and gasification, air input can be more carefully controlled and there is much less combustion air. The real advantage, however, is the potential to use the synthesised gas (syngas) in other power production systems such as efficient gas engine generators which could also provide heat and cooling in a cogeneration or trigeneration system.

The challenges Well-publicised failures, such as the SWERF project in Wollongong and the Thermoselect plant in Germany, have resulted in the waste industry now being very nervous about dabbling in new technologies and being the first to take a risk. The cost to develop and test a new process like this can be massive and a lot of the companies developing these systems are small independent companies with limited resources who are very protective of their ideas. This means there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t any sharing or learning from mistakes across the industry.

Potential applications in Australia These systems are designed for small- to medium-sized plants, which will suit smaller Australian cities and regional centres. They are more affordable and a palatable investment for councils that could potentially procure one on their own. Biochar is a real attraction in Australia. We have a carbon pricing scheme that recognises biochar as a permanent carbon sink that can generate carbon credits. There is also an abundance of arid and degraded land that would benefit from biochar application. Pacific Pyrolysis is a small Australian company that has developed a slow pyrolysis system, mainly focusing on making quality biochar from garden and wood waste for sale as a soil amendment. They have been very active in biochar research in Australia and are in the process of commercialising

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Unlike large-scale incineration plants, most pyrolysis and gasification plants are designed, and financially viable, for small to medium scales - anywhere from 5000 to 100,000 tonnes per annum. their technology. The first commercial demonstration plant looks likely to be in Melbourne, having recently been given $4.5 million in state government funding. It will process 30,000 tpa of garden and wood waste, producing 5000 tpa of biochar and at least 1 MW of power. They have also been working with Ballina Shire Council on a similar project which has recently been offered a small amount of federal government funding. As well as Ballina Shire Council, the City of Sydney has expressed interest in such technologies to produce gas from waste and biomass to fuel its planned trigeneration network. The ACT has also given serious consideration to these options to manage urban biomass and waste wood.

What happens next? At the moment, landfill is still the main choice when it comes to managing residual waste in Australia, but that is set to change with rising costs and landfill levies in many states. Financially there is no reason why these projects could not be viable now in some cases, with good revenues available for both inputs (gate fees) and outputs of the process (energy sales, products, carbon credits). There is still some process risk associated with the new technologies that are not commercially proven, so early

adopters who are willing to take the risk need to be supported. Governments have recognised this and there are some grants being offered. Most importantly though, technology developers need to make sure their process works before they launch it commercially. Any problems with the first commercial plant will be well publicised and disastrous for the technology and industry as a whole, but success stories will provide the opportunity to educate the public and turn around negative attitudes of the past. Nevertheless, these technologies could provide a great alternative for managing waste materials in Australia and generating renewable energy in the not-too-distant future. Hyder Consulting (Aust) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R216

*Dominic Schliebs is a senior consultant in Hyderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Waste and Resource Management team. He has a particular interest in waste-to-energy technologies after spending time in the UK working thermal treatment projects and developing new pyrolysis technologies.

October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 5

Leading the way WaterAUSTRALIA has a mission to create growth and international business opportunities for companies that supply to the water sector. Les Targ*, CEO waterAUSTRALIA, talks to Sustainability Matters about t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n ’s achievements to date and what he sees for the future of the water industry.

Pooling together for success with water

he paradigm shift for the water industry in Australia will be about creating watersmart cities. In fact, the Corporate Research Centre (CRC) for Water Sensitive Cities has been established around this concept.

Water-smart cities will result from smaller, local decentralised plants that don’t require a vast amount of energy to distribute the water. Not huge, central, carbon-intensive water supply and treatment facilities but rather smaller, more regional water supplies to make clever use of water. Stormwater recycling and water-smart building precincts look set for the future, but the industry must also realise there is more than one stakeholder when it comes to water. It’s not just the consumer; it’s about balancing the needs for recreation, aesthetics, consumers and industry. Many water infrastructure and technology supply companies in Australia complained that they missed out on contracts associated with the recent boom in desalination plant construction, but that boat has now sailed. It’s unlikely that there will be any further construction of desalination plants in the near future in Australia. To form closer collaboration between utilities and the companies that supply the entire water supply chain, a ‘compact’ was launched in April. Called

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the Australian Water Supplier Compact, it is the first of its kind arising under the government’s ‘Buy Australian at Home and Abroad’ and the related Supplier Advocates program. The focus is on future utility needs, not the past, and how Australian suppliers can form an invaluable industrial base tuned to those future needs. Water-smart cities are an important aspect of this future. The compact is an agreement between Australia’s urban water utilities, represented by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) and Australian companies that supply into the water sector, represented by waterAUSTRALIA and the Water Supplier Advocate. Bob Herbert, former CEO of the Australian Industry Group (Ai Group), is the current Water Supplier Advocate. He was appointed to that position by the federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, in 2010.

Success in Singapore waterAUSTRALIA’s close collaboration with Herbert and government agencies has been instrumental in our many achievements, including the recent success at this year’s Singapore International Water Week (SIWW). For us, it is more than just providing companies with exhibition space - we worked with our participating companies before the event to understand the outcomes they were seeking and to identify what sort of contacts they would like to meet to facilitate those outcomes. Together with Austrade Singapore, business matching was organised. The Parliamentary Secretary for Urban Water and Sustainability, Senator Don Farrell, provided important high level support to our Australian exhibitors. Consequently, the nine SMEs that took part were surveyed after the show and they identified in excess of

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Power

Leading the way

Australian companies cannot win contracts in the US sitting at their desks back here and filling out tenders. They must have a geographical presence and this is what waterAustralia is facilitating. $50 million worth of opportunities and strong leads, which they are now closing into orders. For a large exhibition such as SIWW, standing out in the space is important and by pooling together the resources of 20 organisations, including SMEs, R&D, the AWA and WSAA, this was achieved. Our stand was a highly visible, which created great interest and plenty of traffic.

US strategy Our US strategy is a still major component of what we are working on now. It all started back in January 2011 with our first outing to the US during the G’day US Water Week. We showcased six SMEs and $150 million worth of opportunities were identified. Some of those opportunities are now underway. On the back of this success, we have been awarded funding under the SAMP (Supplier Access to Major Projects) program administered by Industry Capability Network (ICN). This funding has been complemented by contributions from four state governments, other commonwealth agencies, including SEWPaC, waterAustralia and industry to provide around $1.5 million over two years to implement the US strategy. Australian companies cannot win contracts in the US sitting at their desks back here and filling out tenders. They must have a geographical presence and this is what waterAustralia is facilitating. We have now appointed Rubin Mallows Worldwide as our US representative. Ken Rubin is the managing director and he recently participated in a series of capital city forums in Australia. Our next mission in the US is a pavilion at WEFTEC, New Orleans in October. We’re hop-

Background to waterAUSTRALIA waterAUSTRALIA was formed to fill a gap in Australian industry’s attempts to win international business on the back of Australia’s successful water achievements. It is the industry’s promotion and business facilitation body, is part of the private sector and is purely geared to facilitating more business domestically and internationally for Australian water technology, infrastructure and services suppliers. As such, it engages in range of programs based on members’ priorities. These include international promotion of the Australian water sector behind the waterAUSTRALIA brand, helping companies access new and difficult markets and undertake advocacy on business development and facilitation matters affecting the industry. The Australian Water Association (AWA) is a major supporter and funder of waterAUSTRALIA. AWA provides this support so that its corporate members are afforded every opportunity to maintain sustainable businesses which, in turn, ensures that the industry’s world leading professional capability can be retained and developed.

ing to achieve the same success as we achieved in Singapore.

Water and coal seam gas Australia’s coal seam gas (CSG) industry has several major water issues to address. Industry Capability Teams have identified CSG as a market they wish to access, but for most of our team members a substantial amount of preparation is needed for them to understand the requirements. CSG companies have advised us that they would like to be introduced to Australian companies that may be able to help address the water issues, but only to those companies that understand their requirements. Workshops will be conducted to prepare team members, and those companies assessed as ready will be given the opportunity to present to CSG customers, perhaps as soon as November. In the face of sharply reducing utility capital expenditure programs, the waterAUSTRALIA initiative is more important than ever.

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*Les Targ has over 30 years’ experience as a CEO, director and senior executive, both in the government and private sector. In the earlier part of his career, he was part of the small team that transformed the then governmentowned defence industrial base into highly effective commercial companies. He joined the largest of those, Australian Defence Industries, as Group General Manager International Business and then, briefly before its privatisation, CEO. During this time, the company emerged as the number one defence company in Australia. He then joined Australian Wool Innovation, the R&D and marketing body of the Australian wool industry, carrying out a series of major projects, including acquiring and managing the iconic Woolmark brand. Les also operates his own business providing strategic management advice to small business owners. He is Chairman of the National Auction Selling Committee for the wool industry.

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From ITT comes Xylem. Historically, ITT Water & Wastewater was part of the ITT Corporation, a global engineering and manufacturing company providing advanced technical and operational services to markets within Defence, Aerospace and Fluid Technology. We are 12,000 people unified in a common purpose: creating innovative solutions to global water challenges. We know this is only achieved when partnering closely with our customers. We are committed to continuing the product innovation and forward thinking youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to expect from the collection of market-leading brands in the Xylem portfolio. We are 12,000 people unified in a common purpose: creating innovative solutions to global water challenges. We know this is only achieved when partnering closely with our customers. We are committed to continuing the product innovation and forward thinking youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to expect from the collection of market-leading brands in the Xylem portfolio.

Tel 13 19 14 www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 9

case study

Managing solar for remote communities

ncorporating a high level of PV power generation into a diesel power station can cause qualityof-supply concerns when the solar power level changes abruptly, such as from passing cloud on a sunny day, as diesel engines require at least a few minutes to adjust to significant power changes on the local grid. There can also be short periods when the level of generated solar power gets close to or exceeds the local community consumption level, or where a power distribution feeder fault occurs, which requires the power output of the solar generating plant to be under direct and immediate control of the power

The system allows larger concentrations of PV to be incorporated as well as lowering the unnecessary cycling of plant due to dips in PV output resulting from intermittent cloud cover. This development enhances remote areas communities through power consistency, and availability, while also enhancing the cost-effectiveness of their power suppliers.MPower Projects Managing Director Anthony Csillag.

station. Both of these concerns could, if not managed properly, lead to unacceptable levels of electricity voltage and frequency changes or possibly even power station outages due to protection devices tripping. The Grid Stability System (GSS) from MPower can be used to manage a solar generating plant. The system is designed to minimise power fluctuations from solar generating plants into remote area diesel power stations by incorporating battery storage and control of battery energy to stabilise power production from PV power plants. The same concept could be applied to controlling and compensating for wind farm power variability. “The system allows larger concentrations of PV to be incorporated as well as lowering the unnecessary cycling of plant due to dips in PV output resulting from intermittent cloud cover. This development enhances remote areas communities through power consistency, and availability, while also enhancing the cost-effectiveness of their power suppliers,’’ MPower Projects Managing Director Anthony Csillag said. “It’s a winwin situation.’’ Techniques and control systems used for the oil and gas industry, along with specialised battery management for remote area applications, make the GSS a convenient and suitable product for these remote area solar power systems. The containerised product is the hub of the solar power plant, combining the control and electrical distribution to the photovoltaic modules and solar power inverters as well as the electrical

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and fibre-optic point of connection to the diesel power station. Automated processes, and remote communications to MPower’s service group, allow the product to operate with minimal local maintenance. “While the Grid Stability System offers many advantages for remote area power and solar, its full benefits are yet to be realised and we believe it will have a significant impact on the power industry in the long term,’’ Csillag said. This impact may soon be seen, as MPower is already working with energy providers to use the GSS as support for the single wire earth return (SWER) networks that form much of rural Australia’s ailing power transmission and distribution system. “Single wire earth return (SWER) distribution systems have been the traditional means of supplying power to remote areas, with dispersed customers over long distances,’’ Csillag explained. “It’s estimated that over 190,000 km of SWER networks have been built in Australia in the last 50 years and, due to steady growth in electricity demand and urban encroachment, much of the network is now reaching or exceeding its capacity. “Upgrading or replacement of the network represents a significant capital cost. It has been estimated, for example, that to replace Victoria’s bare wire rural network alone would cost in the range $12-20 billion, with SWER line upgrades often exceeding $25,000 per customer.’’ MPower Products Pty Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q866

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HI 9829 • HI 98290

GPS Multiparameter Meter with Autonomously Logging Probe pH/ORP/ISE, EC/TDS/Resistivity/Salinity/Seawater, Turbidity, DO, Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Field replaceable sensors including turbidity sensor Ammonium, chloride and nitrate ISE’s Logging from probe or meter (45,000 sample data sets on meter, 12,000 sample data sets on probe) Fully customizable instrument, probe, sensors and measurement specifications Display from 1 to 12 parameters with font dimension adjustment Contextual help screens Auto recognition of all sensors Rugged probe with stainless steel tip has a diameter under 2” for wells and pipes Track measurement locations with 12 channel GPS (HI98290) and embed location with data to view on the display or PC using popular mapping software Fast Tracker™-Tag I.D. System simplifies periodic monitoring Features a built-in barometer for DO concentration compensation Quick or independent sensor calibration feature Measurement check eliminates erroneous readings Logged data can be displayed as graphs and saved as Excel files Graphic LCD with backlight USB for PC connectivity Good Laboratory Practice feature with last five parameter calibrations recorded Meter accepts both alkaline and rechargeable batteries Waterproof protection for meter (IP67) and probes (IP68)

For more information call

03 9769 0666

Fax: 03 9769 0699 Email: sales@hannainst.com.au Web: www.hannainst.com.au & www.hannachecker.com.au www.SustainabilityMatters.net.au

October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 11

case studies index

Community solution to tackle e-waste

 Managing solar for remote communities

 Community solution to tackle e-waste

 The value of measuring your ‘footprint’

 School installs 60 kW solar PV system

 Optimising energy at wastewater plant

 Sustainable water management for industrial hub

10 12 14 16 20 20

research & development index  Salt-based battery could solve

storage challenges for sustainable energy 26

 Solar expertise turns

competitors into collaborators 28

Australians are among the highest users of new technology in the world. Our love affair with new gadgets is generating a mountain of e-waste each year, to the point that it is one of the fastest growing waste types in the country. The Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that 16 million units reached their end of life in 2007-08, with 88% going to landfill. Broadly, there are two main methods for diverting e-waste from landfill - electronics can be automatically shredded or manually disassembled. Buyequip supports manual disassembly, saying it provides the best economic and environmental return. However, the labour-intensive process of dismantling electronics places economic limits on how much material can be recycled. Buyequip has now partnered with prison industries at the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre (SQCC) near Gatton. This partnership is boosting material recovery rates while providing important employment opportunities for prisoners. Buyequip transports e-waste to the prison to be dismantled before the components are sent to downstream processors who recover recyclable materials such as plastics, aluminium and copper. The partnership is nearly as old as the prison, which is operated by Serco and opened in January. In just a short time, the partnership has diverted an estimated 23 tonnes of e-waste from landfill. Buyequip director Brett Hyde said Serco’s ecofriendly philosophy and public-service ethos aligned with his own company’s goals of environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

“E-waste is a huge problem and while there is no magic bullet, partnerships such as this one with Serco are another step in coming up with a community-wide solution,” he said. “By partnering with Serco we are helping to solve the problems created by thousands of dumped computers and televisions while equipping prisoners with the skills required to hold down a job on their release.” Both organisations benefit from the partnership because Buyequip employs a labour-intensive process and the industries program engages in labour-intensive tasks. Prisoner demand for places in the industries program usually outstrips supply, which is why Serco favours labour-intensive work that gives the prisoners a better chance to participate. Hyde said although the extra material recovered by prison industries had marginal economic value, the real benefit was the saving to the community from diverting the waste from landfill. SQCC Assistant Director of Business and Finance Jeff Ticehurst said for many prisoners, the industries program was their first taste of full-time paid employment. “Industries’ main goal is rehabilitation, as exposure to a work environment builds the prisoners’ self-confidence and prepares them for a productive working life on their release,” said Ticehurst. “To make it real we have to work in a commercial environment and to do that we partner with business. The fact Buyeuip shares our own values on community and environmental responsibility makes the partnership a natural fit.” Both Buyequip and Serco can see the potential to build on the partnership they’ve forged. Serco is a registered training organisation and Ticehurst said it would make sense to introduce a Certificate II in Waste Management to complement the work the prisoners were doing. Hyde said government action and changing technology would drive jobs growth in the e-waste sector over the next decade. “New legislation requires manufacturers to take responsibility for their products at the end of their life, there are more electronic devices in the home, and the country is switching from analog to digital television. Recycling this e-waste will require an army of workers,” he said. Buyequip Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R536

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case studies The value of measuring your ‘footprint’ new users. Users find it straightforward to monitor and interrogate data, and to create reports and analysis, with Footprint’s click and drag tools and well-designed graphical interface,” said Lambe. Footprint can be used on PCs and mobile platforms, such as smartphones and tablets, putting real-time information at the users’ fingertips.

Businesses are dealing with not only rising energy and water prices but also increasing regulatory pressure on their capacity to better manage water and energy consumption. No matter what size the operation, every manager knows that “you can’t manage what you can’t measure”. Footprint is an online monitoring tool developed by Melbournebased iota. Using the tool, organisations can monitor and quickly review every aspect of their environmental footprint, including: • energy and water consumption • petrol, diesel and LPG consumption • trade waste discharge • bore water and recycled water consumption • stormwater harvesting projects • refrigerant leakage • corporate transport including flights and vehicle mileage • corporate and community waste to landfill Data is stored permanently and centrally so years of background and comparative information can be used to manage, analyse and report on performance. The City of Greater Dandenong uses Footprint to monitor water and electricity usage across meters in 18 locations. By using real-time monitoring, the council has been able to detect and address water leaks at every monitored meter and identify ways to save electricity by fixing faulty equipment and changing practices. Water savings to date have been measured at 329,802 litres per day and electricity consumption has also been reduced substantially, cutting waste and reducing costs. Jean-Paul Lambe, Manager of iota services, said the technology, which consists of a dynamic web-based monitoring platform, can help all kinds of organisations. “Our customers include small and large businesses, local governments and schools. Whatever kind of organisation you are running, these days you need to be able to measure and control your environmental footprint,” said Lambe. While other monitoring tools are available, Footprint provides a comprehensive picture of performance, in real time, across the organisation’s entire carbon footprint. It is a fully integrated resource for monitoring and reporting on a wide range of sustainabilityrelated data, from single sites or across a range of sites. “Having such a comprehensive picture in one integrated system makes it easier and faster to fulfil reporting obligations and train

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Ready access to this quality and quantity of data helps organisations monitor and report on their environmental performance - it also gives them the opportunity to identify issues and reduce their footprint. “The Footprint solution is cost effective, as each customer only pays for what they need from the platform’s modular design,” continued Lambe. Using current rebates under the Victorian State Government’s Living Victoria Water Rebate program, small businesses (up to 50 FTE employees) in Victoria can claim 50% of the cost of buying a range of approved items, until the end of June 2015 (up to a total of $2000). iota has been established by Melbourne water retailer South East Water to capture innovation from across the organisation and turn ideas into proven technologies. Iota Services Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R524

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CASE STUDY

Project Scope

Energy Australia Learning Centre Trigeneration System

The new Energy Australia Learning Centre will be the country’s largest electrical learning centre and will be home to the next generation of front line energy workers. The Learning Centre will also become the headquarters of the electricity provider’s smart grid operations and energy efficiency centre.

system installed is a high life expectancy grid paralleled Cogeneration system and waste heat cooling system. This system is illustrated and described below.

Urban energy was engaged to design, project manage, supply and install an efficient alternative energy system to the facility in order to reduce the electricity usage and reduce the running costs for the centre and to provide an efficient source of cooling and heating for the centre. The

2. Creates heat for use in the hot water generation of the Centre

System Design 1. Creates electricity for use within the facility

3. Creates cooling for the centre Both the hot water and chilled water are produced for “free” from the waste heat of the Trigeneration Plant.

SPECIFICATIONS CO-GENERATION SYSTEM 120kW Cogeneration System Daily electrical output Daily Thermal output ABSORPTION CHILLER 98kW Absorption Chiller Daily Thermal (cooling) output

Parallel Grid connected 120kW natural gas cogeneration system and waste heat recovery absorption chiller (Trigeneration). The system utilises a sophisticated Cogeneration system and waste heat recovery Absorption Chiller to efficiently generate a proportion of the electricity used by the centre and efficiently generate cooling. This system is designed to operate for 15 hours of the day over the peak and shoulder electricity tariff periods.

1,470 kWh

Electricity

Fuel

Heat Heat

Urban Energy’s Trigeneration systems can reach efficiencies of 95% and achieve full synchronisation to the grid in around 45 seconds. Shown here is a simple energy schematic to graphically show how a Trigeneration system operates.

1,800 kWh 2,445kWh

Cooling

CARBON DIOXIDE AND COST SAVINGS OF SYSTEM ARE EQUIVALENT TO By installing this efficient alternative energy electricity generation and waste heat hybrid system, Energy Australia has reduced the running costs of the centre and saved significant quantities of carbon dioxide, the main contributor to global warming. Estimated Saving of 527 Tonnes CO2 per year compared with a Purchasing electricity from the grid and buying Gas to generate heat.

Planting 2,635 trees per year or

Taking 117 cars off the road per year

This new Trigeneration system reduces the CO2 output of the Centre by an estimated 40% as well as reducing the running cost of the facility by 35%.

Urban Energy Australasia Pty Ltd 1/10 Anella Avenue Castle Hill NSW 2154 Ph: 1300 66 99 81 Fax: (02) 8850 6344 sales@urbanenergy.com.au www.urbanenergy.com.au

case studies School installs 60 kW solar PV system Autonomous Energy has designed, installed and commissioned a 60 kW solar PV system at Pymble Ladies’ College. The system was installed in two phases; the first phase (16 kW) was commissioned in July 2011 and the second phase (60 kW) went live in February 2012. This industrial-sized solar PV system is part of Pymble Ladies’ College’s dedicated Environmental Management Plan and commitment t o s u s t a i n a b i l i t y. T h e system comprises 215 W multicrystalline PV solar modules manufactured by Kyocera. The array is mounted on engineered, s o l a r- s p e c i f i c m o u n t i n g equipment and is connected to SMA threephase inverters via (USE-2 rated) DC solar cabling. The inverters connect to the electricity network via a solar distribution board and a digital bidirectional CT meter, which enables Pymble Ladies’ College to use the solar electricity first and export any excess electricity produced to the electricity network. A specialised solar data monitoring system has also been installed, which collects and displays a range of data including solar power output from the inverters, sunlight levels, ambient temperature, cell temperature and much more. This data is presented

on a customised online web portal and is used by staff and students at the college for educational purposes as well as by Autonomous Energy for ongoing system performance monitoring and reporting. “Pymble Ladies’ College is committed to environmental awareness, sustainability, recycling and carbon emission reduction,” said David Sexton, Head of Operational Services, Pymble Ladies’ College. “In partnership with Autonomous Energy, we have commissioned and installed a number of key energy-saving initiatives that includes the largest solar panel system in an Australian school, an upgrade to energyefficient lighting and the implementation of a comprehensive energy audit program. Pymble’s original plan to install a 16 kW solar system was significantly expanded to 60 kW following the exploration of the wider benefits of the system for the college and its community.” Using CEC guidelines, Autonomous Energy has conservatively estimated that the system will produce approximately 86,403 kW hours pa and reduce GHG emissions by 91,588 kg CO2e pa. Autonomous Energy Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R537

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Rising energy prices are foremost in people’s thoughts these days and although most are aware that investing in energy efficiency ‘pays back’, split incentives can be a barrier to investment. Environmental upgrade agreements (EUAs) are a new finance mechanism that promises to overcome this barrier.

Financing energyefficiency improvement works

Chris Nunn, NDY Sustainability Leader*

E The scheme creates a mutually beneficial outcome for both property owners and tenants, overcoming the split incentive problem by allowing owners to share upgrade costs with tenants who benefit from reduced energy costs.

nergy retrofits can save building owners and tenants money; improve reliability and occupant comfort; improve brand reputation by demonstrating leadership; help meet legal and corporate social responsibility requirements; attract and retain the best staff; improve NABERS ratings; and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, take-up is often limited by what is known as the ‘split incentive problem’. A split incentive occurs in a transaction where the benefits do not accrue to the person who pays for the transaction. In a typical commercial office the following illustrates the problem. The owner invests capital in energyefficiency improvements; energy bills go down; the tenant pays the bill, so

18 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

the tenant receives the benefits. What’s in it for the owner? In this situation, no one wants to pay for efficiency upgrades because the incentives don’t align. EUAs are a new way to fund energyefficiency improvements at existing buildings. EUAs are a contract between a building owner, a financier and a local council to fund environmental improvements to an existing building. Environmental upgrade finance provides upfront access to capital with repayments made via the savings achieved in reduced energy bills. The scheme creates a mutually beneficial outcome for both property owners and tenants, overcoming the split incentive problem by allowing owners to share upgrade costs with tenants who benefit from reduced energy costs. The EUA process is initiated by a building owner engaging the professional services of a company such as NDY to identify, design and cost energy-efficiency improvements. Once the building owner knows what they want to do and how much it will cost, they can consider the variety of ways they can fund the works. If the building is in one of the participating local government areas, then the building owner should consider funding the environmental improvement works using an EUA. An EUA is a voluntary contractual agreement between a building owner, a finance provider and a local council, whereby: • t he building owner agrees to implement a package of environmental upgrade works at their building (such as energy-efficiency improve-

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retrofit financing

ments to the lighting, ventilation or cooling systems); • a finance provider agrees to advance capital to the building owner to fund the environmental upgrade works; and • t he money is repaid to the lender through council rates. The local authority levies a charge on the land to the value of the environmental upgrade works, and then collects quarterly repayments as a line item on top of the normal council rates. The owner can pass the costs of the upgrade works onto the tenant. EUAs are suitable for building upgrade packages for both tenants and base building systems. EUAs offer many benefits to building owners including: improved cash flow by displacing the need for upfront capital expenditure on energyefficiency upgrade works; addressing the split incentive issue by enabling tenant contributions; making available cheap capital at a fixed rate over a longer term than typical bank financing; the EUA runs with the land, so if ownership of the property changes, the structured repayments remain with the property; energy-efficiency savings can be used to service the debt; and the energy-efficiency improvements have the potential to improve the asset value and NABERS ratings, and help attract and retain tenants with a more efficient building. EUAs also offer benefits to tenants as a cost-neutral way to improve the working environment, reduce operating costs and energy bills, and satisfy the desire for organisations and their staff to occupy energy-efficient workplaces. The amount of the EUA charge passed on to the tenant must be less than or equal to the energy savings they will realise - so that the tenant is guaran-

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teed to not be put at a disadvantage under an EUA. Legislation enabling EUAs is in place for the City of Melbourne and all of NSW. The Cities of Sydney, Newcastle and Parramatta are currently offering EUAs, with North Sydney Council, Penrith City Council, Newcastle City Council, Wollongong City Council and Lake Macquarie City Council expected to participate in the near future. Many other local authorities are watching with interest and may also join the scheme once the first few projects demonstrate the model is sound.

How NDY can help A key element in making an EUA work is to have a package of energy-efficiency upgrade works that has been designed, costed and is ready to implement. This forms the starting point for entering into an EUA. NDY can help existing building owners unlock funding through EUAs, by working with the building owner to develop a package of environmental upgrade works, which might include: • u nderstanding your current environmental performance (eg, BEECs, NABERS and Green Star ratings); • i dentifying energy-efficiency opportunities at specific buildings and facilities; • e nergy modelling to quantify the energy savings of selected measures (eg, to identify a package of works that would result in a NABERS Of-

fice Base Building Energy rating of 5 Stars); • d eveloping energy-savings calculations, cost estimates, and establishing payback periods; • d esigning the proposed upgrade works; and • h elping you to enter into an EUA with a finance provider and the local authority. If you are looking to retrofit your office or whole building, or improve business operations by investing in sustainable equipment, and you have a building in one of the participating local council areas, EUAs are an option that could help finance the greening of your office building or tenancy. Norman Disney & Young Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R552

*Chris Nunn has 10 years’ experience specialising in sustainability and energy consultancy. Key areas of expertise include the development of sustainability strategies, integrated sustainable building design advice, carbon footprinting, options appraisal and prioritisation, the application of green building rating tools such as Green Star, BREEAM and LEED, and the implementation and operation of ISO14001 compliant Environmental Management Systems.

October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 19

case studies Optimising energy at wastewater plant

Sustainable water management for industrial hub

The Bolivar Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is claimed to be the largest wastewater treatment plant in the Adelaide region, processing almost 70% of Adelaide’s metropolitan wastewater. The South Australian Government has approved a $25.8 million project for SA Water to optimise the energy utilisation on the site. This project will provide a major upgrade to the WWTP power supply by the installation of on-site electricity generation fuelled with the digester gas produced during the treatment plant process. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and support for renewable energy projects are aligned with the state’s strategic plan. Clarke Energy Australia was awarded the contract to design and construct the turnkey gas to power cogeneration plant using GE Jenbacher gas engines and to fully integrate the electricity generated into the existing electrical infrastructure. Clarke Energy’s cogeneration power plant design provides three GE Jenbacher high electrical efficient dual-fuel gas engines installed inside the existing power house, each producing 2.4 MWe. The gas engines will operate either solely on digester gas or a blended mix with natural gas during times of low digester gas production. The gas engines will also produce hot water to supply the heat to the plant digesters that is necessary to sustain the treatment process. The low-carbon emission electricity generated will result in a significant reduction in site greenhouse gas emissions of more than 11,000 tonnes per annum. The project is due to be commissioned in July 2013 and handed over to the facility’s operations and maintenance alliance contractor, Allwater. Once completed, the plant will generate up to 85% of the plant’s annual electricity demand. This means annual electricity savings of $1.3 million with a capital payback period estimated at eight years. Additionally, it is estimated electricity market revenue of $0.7 million per annum will be earned and approximately $0.9 million worth of additional Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be created. Clarke Energy’s Managing Director, Greg Columbus, said: “As a local South Australian-based business, we are proud to be working with SA Water. Projects such as this typify the added value Clarke Energy brings to the GE Jenbacher product ensuring a sustainable long-term solution for our customers long after the installation is completed.”

Heavy industry commonly has a high water supply demand, which not only requires expensive water and wastewater infrastructure but also uses a significant amount of energy in pumping water from source to user and return for treatment. Faced with these challenges, Albury City Council has adopted a non-conventional approach to the provision of water and sewer infrastructure for Nexus, the city’s 187 hectare precinct for large and heavy industry.

Clarke Energy Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R340

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Released in November 2011, the Nexus industrial precinct is located adjacent to the Hume Freeway on the northern edge of Albury. It incorporates the existing businesses Norske Skog, Overall Forge and the Ettamogah Rail Hub. Facing significant duplication costs for water and wastewater infrastructure to the Nexus precinct, AlburyCity engaged consultants GHD to develop the concept design and cost estimates for these services for Nexus. In doing so, the opportunities for an Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) strategy became apparent. Traditional methods of servicing industrial development lots to meet the requirements of high water supply demand industries results in overcapitalisation of infrastructure. The basic principles of IWCM consider the whole of catchment integration of natural resource use and management. It addresses all water users, water sources and their sustainable and equitable use. This strategy is a significant divergence from the traditional approaches to industrial development. The existing water infrastructure to the Nexus precinct will be used solely for potable purposes. Tenants will be required to capture roof water for all for non-potable water uses, process water and site landscaping irrigation. The Norse Skog paper mill sources its water via an AlburyCity pipeline direct from the Murray River and has its own high-capacity water treatment plant. If new industry locating in Nexus requires significant volumes of process water, there is capacity for Norse Skog to supply raw water, potable water or a combination of treated process water and cooling water. In addition, the development standards for the precinct will require the use of water-sensitive urban-design measures. Determining potential demands of the sewage discharge for industrial areas is highly uncertain as the actual flows will be dependent upon the industries. To manage this uncertainty, it is proposed to utilise spare capacity in the existing Norse Skog owned and operated sewage treatment plant, while simultaneously preparing to extend the AlburyCity sewerage infrastructure to Nexus. This allows for a staged extension of Albury’s sewerage network, reducing upfront capital outlay while the uptake of sites in Nexus occurs. The implementation of this IWCM strategy will enable a lower capital cost implementation for the council and also reduces service contributions for business developing within Nexus.

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October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 21

NEW White Papers

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Implementing energy-efficient data centres It is possible to dramatically reduce the electrical consumption of data centres through appropriate design of the data centre physical infrastructure and through the design of the IT architecture. This paper explains how to quantify the electricity savings and greatly reduce electrical power consumption.

Reducing the carbon footprint of sewage pumping stations Carbon is ‘produced’ whenever a crew jumps into the truck to go to site; whenever the pumps are energised and running. This paper describes the vastly improved use of energy, and hence reduced carbon production, when self-priming pumps are used instead of submersible pumps.

Advanced pressure diagnostics provide valuable insight into your process Advanced pressure diagnostic technology provides a means for early detection of abnormal situations in a process environment and enables the user to proactively respond to changes in the process, troubleshoot and prevent future shutdowns. Find out how it can help prevent abnormal situations in your plant.

A guide to EN Standards for gloves Hand injuries are the main contributor to overall injuries sustained by workers in Australia. It is therefore important that both employers and employees are well-versed in standards for protective gloves. This white paper provides detailed insights on different risk categories and standards for protective gloves.

For these and more White Paper downloads, visit www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/white_papers

The Aus Waste & Recycling Expo 2012: don’t let it go to waste An increasing recognition of the importance of resource conservation has moved the industry’s focus from simply managing waste to waste prevention and resource management. The Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) is intended to cater to this need. This industry event is supported by the Waste Management Association of Australia (WMAA) and several other key waste and recycling industry bodies. The trade show will be held from 21-22 November 2012 at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour. Now in its third year, the show has expanded to include over 100 exhibits of new products and services. Equipment, recycled products, processing technologies, software, professional services, bins, liners, trucks, sorting equipment and more will be on display. There will also be live demonstrations. The AWT Pavilion will specifically showcase alternative waste treatment technologies for various waste streams, including mixed solid waste, clinical waste and source separated organics. Technology providers and end users will inform attendees about the opportunities and risks of various technology solutions. Several seminars and workshops will be held over the course of the two days. The seminar on food waste will include a keynote speech by 2010 NSW Australian of the Year Jon Dee, and will include discussion on, among other things, the Better Building Partnership commercial organics trial and councils leading the way. In the seminar on the City of Sydney, Allan Jones, Chief Development Officer, Energy and Climate Change of the City of Sydney, will discuss the city’s innovative waste strategy. Other seminar and workshop topics include: carbon; recycling in facilities; recycling solutions for difficult waste streams; social enterprise; TV and computer scheme; green buildings; large waste processing infrastructure; waste reduction in industry, mining and agriculture; and more. On top of all this, there will be several networking functions held throughout the event, including the CEO and Councillor Forums. With over 1500 delegates from 16 countries registered for last year’s event, attendees are sure to find someone to talk to. With the exception of some seminars and workshops, AWRE 2012 is free for all industry professionals. General registration is open now. Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R613

For more information or to register, visit www.awre.com.au.

22 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

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Thinking inside the box?

Competence, capability, quality For decentralised control cabinets, think Bürkert. We’re just finishing up this six panels at our Sydney Sydney Systemhaus. Our facility is ISO 9001 certified for the ‘development, assembly and distribution of customised system solutions,’ making Bürkert the ideal partner for large and small scope projects. In addition to standard panels, we engineer custom panels with pneumatics, I/O, transmitters and programming designed to meet your wider control system needs. And if you’re thinking outside the box, we can help with field instrumentation too. Call Bürkert.

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We make ideas flow

Australia’s water supply is far from plentiful, so water recycling is a key method of managing this precious resource. But many Australians are still opposed to the use of recycled water - especially when it comes to their drinking supplies.

You can lead a horse to recycled water... Lauren Davis

ater recycling has been present in Australia for several decades now. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, it was used as an alternative to discharging wastewater into rivers and the sea. Its role slowly expanded over the years until it was accelerated by the drought from 2002-2010 to include applications for industry, farming, domestic use and, recently, as an option to augment drinking water supplies.

Of the water recycling schemes currently in place, some of the larger ones include: • The Northern Adelaide Plains Recycling Scheme, which is reducing the amount of wastewater entering Gulf St Vincent and producing high-quality water for irrigation in the region. • The St Marys Water Recycling Plant, which is producing high-grade water to help maintain the flow of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and to reduce the volume of nutrients entering the river. • The Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme, which is producing highquality water for two power stations and can supplement Wivenhoe Dam, Brisbane’s main drinking water supply, if needed. Furthermore, the Water Services Association of Australia recently released a series of case studies outlining innovative methods of water recycling in the urban water industry. These include the Rosehill Recycled Water Scheme, which encourages industrial and irrigation customers to use recycled water instead of drinking water; and Water Corporation’s Groundwater Replenishment Trial, in which recycled water is treated to drinking water standards and recharged back into a deep confined aquifer where it is stored for later use.

Keeping it on the agenda

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There are no doubt plenty of options for recycled water, and it is up to the Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence to ensure that these options are kept on the government policy agenda of securing the future water supply for the country. A recipient of $20 million worth of funding over five years through the government’s Water for the Future initiative, the centre aims to enhance the management and use of water recycling nationally and internationally through industry and research partnerships, working closely with government agencies such as water utilities, health departments and economic regulators at the regional, state and federal level.

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Water re-use/desalination

The research outcomes generated by the centre are reported to state and national government organisations such as the National Recycled Water Regulators Forum, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the National Water Commission. Such research is outlined below.

Economic benefits of water recycling The centre is currently funding several projects that are investigating the economic benefits of water recycling. ‘The economic viability of recycled water schemes for non-potable use’, led by Marsden Jacob Associates, is a project to identify areas where non-potable recycled water schemes are economically viable and to develop the first national assessment framework to enhance the value of such schemes. The framework will distinguish between values held by different parties and will be based on the analysis of six modules: value of recycled water to water authorities/businesses; value of recycled water to users; value of recycled water to the community; value of recycled water to the environment; commercial and institutional issues; pricing implications. It will identify locations and circumstances for the greatest economic viability for schemes and eventually be turned into a practical tool to assess business cases for projects. ‘Opportunities to expand recycled water with Australian food processing and manufacturing’ is being led by CSIRO. The main focus of the project is to collaborate with industry to demonstrate higher-value water recycling opportunities that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to the agrifood industry and community, through integrated systems analysis, technology assessment and targeted research. The project will focus on addressing current industry challenges, including regulatory and policy pressures, developing strategies to increase acceptance by consumers and enhance the sustainability positioning with customers.

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The project will address water recycling interests with stakeholders in meat, dairy, horticulture and broader food manufacturing and retail sectors. ‘Building industry capability to make recycled water investment decisions’ is being led by the University of Technology, Sydney. The project’s aim is to identify the benefits of recycled water schemes, and to use this to shape the knowledge and actions of key players in assessing whether recycling makes sense. This knowledge will allow more transparent and equitable sharing of costs, risks and benefits in environmental, economic and social terms at individual project level. The project aims to refine the approaches to investment decisions, therefore helping to improve the financial performance of recycling projects and enable public and private proponents to build better business cases for recycling schemes.

Achieving public acceptance of water recycling With all these benefits identified, they need to be communicated to the public in order to increase acceptance of, among other things, recycling drinking water. This is the aim of the National Demonstration Education and Engagement Program, coordinated by the University of New South Wales in partnership with a consortium of 24 organisations from Australia and overseas, including water utilities, universities and private companies. This $10 million program is focused on providing a national (and potentially international) communication network so that the public, politicians, local interest groups, the media and elements of the private sector that are engaged in developing water policy can access resources which will enable stakeholders to be better informed and to engage in the decision-making process. The program is developing tools, methods and materials which will provide consistent information across Australia, helping to increase understanding, dis-

pel fear and achieve acceptance of water re-use as an alternative drinking water supply. The R&D program involves three research streams: • Stream one is investigating water quality data, the reliability of treatment technology and an assessment of drinking water production from schemes in Australia, USA, Europe and Singapore. It aims to show that the whole treatment system from catchment to tap is safe and reliable. • Stream two is an evaluation of social, economic and governance challenges, with recommendations about how to overcome these challenges. • Stream three is developing and testing options for a national education and engagement program, mapping the influence of traditional media, grassroots community activism, science communication and new media in influencing the community and policy makers. Each of the streams will produce content and findings that feed into the work of the other streams. Content will be created and shared in various formats - including video, audio, graphics and text - on a variety of online platforms with water re-use projects across Australia and around the world.

The future? With so many schemes and so much funding, it is hopeful that Australia will move forward into new and innovative areas of water recycling. International schemes for recycled drinking water are already in place: the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment Scheme near Los Angeles produces water that exceeds federal drinking water standards and injects it into a large underground aquifer; and Singapore has been active in developing recycled water schemes to meet their water needs. Both these areas are participating in the National Demonstration Education and Engagement Program, so it seems only a matter of time before Australia joins them in drinking from the tap of recycled water.

October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 25

research & development Salt-based battery could solve storage challenges for sustainable energy Murdoch University researchers have come up with a potential solution to one of sustainable energy’s greatest challenges: power storage for use in non-generation times. According to project leaders Drs Manickam Minakshi and Danielle Meyrick of Murdoch’s School of Chemical and Mathematical Sciences, while the efficiency of wind and solar technologies has improved rapidly, one major problem has remained unsolved. “The central obstacle facing sustainable energy is unreliability. Wind turbines don’t turn on a still day. Solar doesn’t work at night and can be hampered in the day by cloud, dust or snow coverage,” Dr Minakshi said. “To provide power at non-generation times, excess energy needs to be stored in batteries, but storage technologies now being considered, such as molten salt or molten sulfur, work at high temperatures, making them expensive and impractical.” “Our water-based sodium-ion battery has shown excellent potential for affordable, low-temperature storage.” Dr Minakshi said he was drawn to sodium because its chemical properties were similar to lithium, the element that powers most portable electronic devices.

26 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

His challenge was to find material for cathodes and anodes capable of accommodating sodium’s ionic size - which is 2.5 times larger than that of lithium. “Ions travel out of the cathode and into the anode to form a current. As an imperfect analogy, you can think of them as mesh filters that ions pass through. We had to find materials with larger gaps in their mesh,” Dr Minakshi said. Dr Minakshi tested various metals and phosphates, eventually finding success with manganese dioxide as the cathode and a novel olivine sodium phosphate as the anode. The result is a safe, costeffective battery with high energy density. “While the technology is too bulky for portable devices, it has excellent potential for large-scale use, including storing energy from wind turbines and solar farms for later feeding into local electricity grids, as well as use in industry,” Dr Minakshi said. The battery has the added advantage of being based on globally abundant and affordable sodium, iron and manganese - putting green energy potential in the hands of the developing world. “Our research has reached the stage where we’re ready to move beyond our lab towards larger-scale commercialisation,” Dr Minakshi said.

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Research at Oregon State University by engineer Hong Liu has discovered improved ways to produce electricity from sewage using microbial fuel cells.

Major advance in generating electricity from wastewater

Researchers say this could eventually change the way that wastewater is treated all ov er t h e w o r l d , replacing the widely used “activated sludge” process that has been in use for almost a century.

ngineers at Oregon State University (OSU) have made a breakthrough in the performance of microbial fuel cells that can produce electricity directly from wastewater, opening the door to a future in which waste treatment plants will not only power themselves, but will sell excess electricity. The new technology developed at OSU can now produce 10 to 50 more times the electricity, per volume, than most other approaches using microbial fuel cells and 100 times more electricity than some. Researchers say this could eventually change the way that wastewater is treated

all over the world, replacing the widely used “activated sludge” process that has been in use for almost a century. The new approach would produce significant amounts of electricity while effectively cleaning the wastewater. The findings have just been published in Energy and Environmental Science, a professional journal, in work funded by the National Science Foundation. “If this technology works on a commercial scale the way we believe it will, the treatment of wastewater could be a huge energy producer, not a huge energy cost,” said Hong Liu, an associate professor in the OSU Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering. “This could have an impact around the world, save a great deal of money, provide better water treatment and promote energy sustainability.” Experts estimate that about 3% of the electrical energy consumed in the United States and other developed countries is used to treat wastewater, and a majority of that electricity is produced by fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. But the biodegradable characteristics of wastewater, if tapped to their full potential, could theoretically provide many times the energy that is now being used to process them, with no additional greenhouse emissions. OSU researchers reported several years ago on the promise of this technology, but at that time the systems in use produced far less electrical power. With new concepts - reduced anode-cathode spacing, evolved microbes and new separator materials - the technology can now produce more than two kilowatts per cubic metre of liquid reactor volume. This amount of power density far exceeds anything else done with microbial fuel cells.

October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 27

Electricity from sewage

The system also works better than an alternative approach to creating electricity from wastewater, based on anaerobic digestion that produces methane. It treats the wastewater more effectively and doesn’t have any of the environmental drawbacks of that technology, such as production of unwanted hydrogen sulfide or possible release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The OSU system has now been proved at a substantial scale in the laboratory, Liu said, and the next step would be a pilot study. Funding is now being sought for such a test. A good candidate, she said, might initially be a food processing plant, which is a contained system that produces a steady supply of certain types of wastewater that would provide significant amounts of electricity. Continued research should also find even more optimal use of necessary microbes, reduced material costs and improved function of the technology at commercial scales, OSU scientists said.

Once advances are made to reduce high initial costs, researchers estimate that the capital construction costs of this new technology should be comparable to that of the activated sludge systems now in widespread use today and even less expensive when future sales of excess electricity are factored in. This technology cleans sewage by a very different approach than the aerobic bacteria used in the past. Bacteria oxidise the organic matter and, in the process, produce electrons that run from the anode to the cathode within the fuel cell, creating an electrical current. Almost any type of organic waste material can be used to produce electricity - not only wastewater, but also grass straw, animal waste and by-products from such operations as the wine, beer and dairy industries.

Photo courtesy of Oregon State University

The approach may also have special value in developing nations, where access to electricity is limited and sewage treatment at remote sites is difficult or impossible as a result. The ability of microbes to produce electricity has been known for decades, but only recently have technological advances made their production of electricity high enough to be of commercial use. Oregan State University http://oregonstate.edu

research & development and quicken this patterning using aluminium anodisation, a process whereby a chemical coating is formed on a metal surface to protect against corrosion. “When you anodise aluminium you can create a porous insulating layer,” said Dr Lennon. “This © iStockphoto.com/Nicolas Loran means we can effectively turn an aluminium layer on An advanced processing technology being pioneered at UNSW to a silicon solar cell into a dielectric layer with lots of little holes, which improve the efficiency of first-generation silicon solar cells has turned is exactly what we want.” The UNSW team has made prototypes of cells using this technique. two solar manufacturers into unlikely collaborators. The School of Photovoltaics and Renewable Energy Engineering They are now working on understanding how the metal contacts form (SPREE) has signed a collaborative research agreement with Suntech in order to improve cell efficiencies and refining the technique so it Power and Hanwha Solar, the first such agreement between the school can produce competitive results on an industrial scale. “We need to make the process robust, with predictable high and two competing companies. Both manufacturers are interested in an experimental technology whereby tiny metal contact regions can be efficiencies for manufacturers, and we need to make it cost effective,” ‘self-patterned’ into a solar cell’s electric insulator, which rests between said Dr Lennon. Dr Lennon, who helped broker the collaborative research agreement, says this is an example of two companies realising the silicon wafer and the aluminium back-plate. “Currently, closely spaced small-area metal contact regions in an they can achieve more as partners than as competitors and says their insulating layer can only be formed by deliberately patterning the holes support could open the door for faster commercialisation. “Both Hanwha and Suntech operate high-volume solar with a laser scanning over the surface, which is quite slow,” said Dr Alison Lennon, a senior lecturer from SPREE. “Other methods, such manufacturing plants, and both are within the top 10 silicon solar cell as aerosol and ink-jet printing, have been explored; however, these manufacturers in the world. So if we can demonstrate the viability of methods are currently too slow and have not been able to demonstrate this technology, we are both in a position to move the technology into manufacture relatively quickly,” noted Dr Paul Basore and Dr Renate the required patterning reliability.” Taking cues from the metals processing industry, Dr Lennon and Egan, the Advanced R&D Directors for Hanwha Solar and Suntech her PhD students are investigating a radical approach to automate Power, respectively.

Solar expertise turns competitors into collaborators

28 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

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Contents 1 2 7 7 9 10

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©2012 Schneider Electric, APC, InRow, EcoBreeze, and Business-wise, Future-driven are trademarks owned by Schneider Electric SAS or its affiliated companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 78 Waterloo Road, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 AUSTRALIA • 998-5973-AU *Authorised under NSW Permit No. LTPM/12/00526, ACT Permit No. TP 12/02264. Promotion commences 1st July 2012 and closes 31st December 2012. Full terms and conditions available online.

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Peristaltic metering pump The Flex Pro Peristaltic Metering Pump has a number of significant design features that make it a suitable choice when selecting a metering pump. These include a full IP66 washdown-rated housing, bidirectional flow and digital controls. The pump features flow rates up to 600 L/h, pressures up to 8.6 bar and a turn down ratio of 2500:1. With no valves to clog and no moving parts in the fluid stream, the pumps are suitable for flocculants, slurries, shearsensitive fluids, gaseous liquids, viscous fluids, chlorination, and food and beverage applications. The product is available in three different size models with different materials to choose from. Each model comes in two versions - ‘F’ version for simple variable speed and ‘V’ version with additional electronic control capabilities including for batch dispensing, 4-20 mA or 0-10 VDC inputs, ppm dosing, pulsed inputs, etc. Its long-life tubing is easily replaced. The Tube Failure Detection system is able to detect a range of chemicals. In situations where tube failure has been detected it will automatically shut off, sound an alarm or send a signal to an external device.

Sewer leakage detection equipment The Electro Scan ES-38 scanner for sewer laterals and ES-660 scanner for sewer mains will be introduced to the Australian market by UVS in October. The ES-38 is used for scanning sewer laterals, from a clean out, without the need to access the lateral from the main line. This is achieved by a small probe with diameter 50 mm and length 150 mm is attached. The ES-660 series, which is used for sewer mains, is designed for scanning sewer pipe from 152 to 1524 mm in diameter. The equipment comes with Electro Scan’s CloudConnect Smartphone application, for use on Apple iPhones and Android smartphones. The application stores the scan and location information, then displays a graph from which defects can be identified. The app can email the scan and generate a printout on a ruggedised field printer.

Toolkwip Pumps Pty Ltd

UVS Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R207

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R551

30 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

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Soil pollution monitoring OTEK Australia has combined two contaminated land assessment technologies for the environmental sector. The combination of Direct Sensing Tools and an EnCore sampler increases the reliability of analytical results and enables contamination data to be processed in real time, making the process faster than previous approaches. The tools provide reliable information that is particularly important when developing industrial or contaminated land, especially for residential developments and resource sector projects. The costs of using the new technologies is claimed to be lower than traditional methods and can provide greater long-term benefits and certainty around the clean-up activity that is required. The tools include a soil conductivity/membrane interface probe, an ultraviolet optical screening tool and a hydraulic profiling tool. With the help of the professional team at South Western Drilling, the tools are pushed into the ground where they collect detailed information on chemicals that have leaked into the land. The data collected is then analysed by a sophisticated computer set-up and then interpreted by OTEK consultants to deliver a rapid, accurate picture of contamination. The typical techniques currently used in Australia provide only 25-100 data points to analyse per day whereas this new technology results in 9000-18,000 data points, which increases the reliability of results. Otek Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R214

Room cooling range for data centres The Uniflair Chilled Water range offers flexible cooling products suitable for any density racked and non-racked IT loads. The products meet the diverse requirements of the data centre environment to provide efficient cooling at the room level. The range offers assemble-to-order products that provide variable fan technology and intelligent control for an efficient solution. Each product contains the following features: backward curved EC fans; immersed electrode humidifier; highefficiency air filters; chilled water two- or three-way valve and actuator; cooling coil; temperature and humidity sensor; manual disconnect switch; user interface; microprocessor controller; integrated airflow switches; front service access. APC by Schneider Electric Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R301

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October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 31

The use of Hannaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s microprocessorbased multiparameter intelligent probes with HI 98290 meter will provide reliable data collection that can lead to an improved scientific understanding of the interconnections between natural, chemical and geological processes and manmade pollution.

Autonomous water quality & environmental monitoring

he Hanna equipment collects data that can effectively evaluate applications for waste-discharge permits and remediate contaminated sites, and to protect or restore biological resources. When data collection or monitoring requires tracking, two kinds of methods can be included with the data - time stamp and location. The time stamp is the date and time when the measurement was taken determined by the internal clock of the meter. The location of measurement is provided by either a global positioning system (GPS) tracking solution or a Tag ID system using ID-encoded TAGs mounted at the location sites.

The HI 98290 meter is rugged, waterproof and easy to use. It displays one to 12 parameters simultaneously from up to 15 user-selectable parameters (measured and calculated). The meter has a log memory of up to 45,000 samples with 15 measurements, each including GPS data, with user-selectable logging intervals from 1 s to 3 h. Combined with one of the HI 76x9829 series probes, the meter can measure water quality parameters such as pH, ORP, conductivity, turbidity, temperature, ions (ammonium, nitrate, chloride), dissolved oxygen concentration, resistivity, TDS, salinity and seawater specific gravity. Atmospheric pressure is measured for DO compensation. The meter with the GPS option incorporates a 12-channel built-in GPS receiver and antenna that provides position accuracy. Measurements from specific locations are tracked with detailed coordinate information that can be viewed immediately on the display. Users can connect to GPS tracking software such as Google Maps^ to view locations where samples have been taken. Measurement information is shown right on the map (1000 samples - user selectable). ^Note: Hanna Instruments has no affiliation with Google

Tag Identification System Hannaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fact Tracker - Tag Identification System simplifies test logging. iButtons with a unique ID can be installed at various sampling sites. When the matching connector on the meter contacts the location button, measurements are logged and labelled with the alphanumeric userentered location ID. Location, date, time and measurements are logged into the meter, and can be transferred to a PC. The Fast Tracker system complements the GPS for comprehensive tracking.

32 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012 ÂŠ iStockphoto.com/kokouu

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Water analysis

Sensors Sensor replacement is quick and easy with screw type connectors and colourcoded sensors. The meter automatically recognises sensor presence. There are a range of sensors available that allow the user to configure the probe as required: • Dissolved oxygen - The HI 7609829-2 galvanic DO sensor does not require polarisation. The sensor uses replaceable cap for ease of maintenance and a safe, non-toxic electrolyte. DO readings are compensated for the effects of temperature (using the probes built-in

ity, salinity, specific gravity and TDS determinations are possible with this sensor. HI 7609829-4 EC/turbidity sensor is field replaceable and offers readings from both parameters at the same time. The new turbidity sensor is a replaceable design for instantaneous turbidity readings that conform to ISO 7027 standards. It provides measurements from 0.0 to 50.0 FNU, and 50 to 1000 FNU. • p H and pH/ORP - These sensors have PEI bodies for strength, doublejunction design and are gel-filled

to increase resistance to contamination. pH reading in mV is also

Autonomous probe logging The HI 7629829 or HI 7639829 intelligent logging probes can be left at the application site to autonomously log results without the aid of the meter or a PC. The probes have a logging memory that allows storage of up to 140,000 individual samples or 12,000 complete sample data sets with date and time stamp, thus permitting up to a 35 day deployment with all channels logging at 10 min intervals. Logging probes are powered with either rechargeable or alkaline batteries. When it’s time to retrieve the results from the probe, the measurement data can be easily transferred to the meter or PC using HI 929829 software. As the GPS receiver is located in the meter, the probe cannot autonomously log GPS data.

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temperature sensor) and atmospheric pressure (using the HI 98290 internal atmospheric pressure sensor). • Conductivity and conductivity/turbidity - The HI 7609829-3 4-electrode conductivity probe uses a polarographic measurement principle and ensures stable conductivity readings that are immune to polarisation or surface coating. Absolute conductivity, temperature compensated conductiv-

displayed, making it suitable for troubleshooting. • ISE - An ISE sensor can be used in place of the pH sensor and is automatically recognised. A choice of three ion selective electrodes is available for nitrate, ammonium and chloride. Each ISE is a combination electrode incorporating a constant reference spiral; all potentiometric probes feature a double-junction and solid-gelled reference design. By using conductivity, the meter can convert ion activity measurements to concentration units. • Temperature - The probe incorporates a built-in temperature sensor for compensation of all parameters. Hanna Instruments Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R557

October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 33

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Interchangeable waste recycling system The MultiSort recycling system is a flexible and interchangeable waste recycling system designed to cater to each userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s specific waste needs. Available in 40, 60 and 73 L capacity, the system features a wide range of colours, specifically designed apertures and effective graphics, plus optional features such as lockable lids and steel case frames. The high quality of design and manufacture ensures this durable system is suitable for all environments, including heavy-duty workplace situations.

Pressure transmitter The Mercoid Series 3200G Smart Pressure Transmitter is a microprocessor-based, highperformance transmitter which has flexible pressure calibration and push-

Source Separation Systems Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R541

HORIBA U-50 MULTI-PARAMETER WATER QUALITY METERS

pH Oxidation Reduction Potential Dissolved Oxygen Conductivity Salinity Total Dissolved Solids Seawater Specific Gravity Temperature Turbidity Water Depth GPS

AUSTRALIAN SCIENTIFIC Pty Ltd

PO Box 335 Kotara NSW 2289 - Ph 1800 021 083 - Fax 02 4956 2525 sales@austscientific.com.au - www.austscientific.com.au

34 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

button configuration, and is programmable using HART Communication. The product is capable of being configured with the zero and span buttons, so a field calibrator is not required for configuration. The transmitter software compensates for thermal effects, improving performance. EEPROM stores configuration settings and stores sensor correction coefficients in the event of shutdowns or power loss. The 100:1 rangeability allows the smart transmitter to be configured to fit any application. The device is highly accurate to Âą0.075%. It is FM approved for use in hazardous (classified) locations. Dwyer Instruments (Aust) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R276

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Thermal destratification fan Thermal destratification can provide a simple way to reduce building energy use and improve occupant comfort. Cold air falls making hot air rise - this is known as thermal stratification. This simple occurrence in all of our buildings creates layers of different temperatures inside the building space, resulting in the air-conditioning system overdelivering either cold or hot air to compensate for this stratification or expending large amounts of energy to push air through ducts, etc, around the space to minimise hot and cold spots. The Airius Air Pear thermal destratification fan can provide a solution. Using a low amount of energy, the unit thermally equalises the space while also moving air around. The air is moved in any direction without turbulence and noise (or ducts) and in many cases in non-conditioned buildings the unit will be more effective to run than ceiling fans. The fan is easy to install and can be used in any type of building. Key features include the stator and fan design interaction and the fan motors. With a large range of sizes, the units are also rebuildable and the smaller units use around 13-25 W. An air cleaning option known as a PHI cell will remove smells, smoke, VOCs, mould, viruses and bacteria using no filter for 25,000 h. Most paybacks are claimed to be achieved in around 12-18 months but in some cases they can be as low as three months. The fan is suitable for a variety of applications, including retail stores, schools, hospitals, showrooms, indoor pools, theatres, gymnasiums, aged-care facilities, food processing plants, cold storerooms, atriums, warehouses and offices. VIM Sustainability Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R339

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October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 35

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Process valve control head Bürkert’s Type 8681 Control Head, integrating pneumatic actuation, feedback, diagnostics and fieldbus interface, has been engineered to assemble with all commercially available hygienic ball valves, butterfly valves, single-seat, double-seat and mix-proof valve configurations. It offers the same control features as the company’s Element angle-seat, globe and diaphragm valves. Designed for use in hygienic processes in the dairy, food/beverage, biotechnology or pharmaceutical industries, the head has a smooth and chemically resistant IP65/67 enclosure that is easily cleaned and suited to use in washdown areas. The contactless internal positioning system negates internal wear and there are manual overrides on the pneumatic pilots. The product is designed for longevity and functionality within the sanitary process environment. The product’s super-bright LED position indication is designed to be visible from across the plant floor. The green, amber and red LEDs indicate valve switching position, or maintenance/fault requirement, with status/colour settings customised via DIP switch. This feature is suitable in dairy and food/beverage plants, where process machinery commonly spans a wide distance or stretches high above walkways. The control head controls strokes up to 85 mm with three positions, with 200 L/ min pneumatic air for each pilot valve, and is certified for explosive environments, with ATEX Cat 3, Zone 2/22. Other features include: automatic configuration ‘teachin’ software that autocommissions the control head; the ability to adjust chamber switching speed individually in both directions of movement; and a non-return valve to prevent faulty switching due to back-pressure. Burkert Fluid Control Systems Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q979

36 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

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Resource centre Legislation, governance, programs and industry links to help guide your sustainability development.

Returning Australia’s water systems to sustainability The National Water Commission has released a new report, ‘Assessing water stress in Australian catchments and aquifers’, which indicates those surface and groundwater systems that are stressed due to water extraction, regulation or altered flows. The report is available at www.nwc.gov.au/publications/topic/planning/water-stress.

Groundwater atlas goes online The Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Atlas, funded by the National Water Commission and hosted by the Bureau of Meteorology, presents a comprehensive picture of Australia’s groundwater-dependent ecosystems.The atlas was developed by the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, with project consultancy services provided by Sinclair Knight Merz and Cohga, and vital inputs from state and territory water agencies. It is available at www.bom.gov.au/water/groundwater/gde.

Publication of ‘Beneficial reuse and resource recovery of waste materials’ and ‘Australian Waste Definitions’ The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has published two new reports. The ‘Beneficial reuse and resource recovery of waste materials’ report provides an inventory of the approaches, overarching objectives and guiding principles used by the states and territories to encourage re-use and resource recovery. The report identifies the objectives and principles that are directly related to beneficial re-use and resource recovery. To provide a more complete inventory, some objectives and principles that are indirectly related to beneficial re-use and resource recovery have also been included. The report can be accessed at www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/publications/ reuse-resource-recovery.html ‘Australian Waste Definitions’ is a compilation of waste definitions for the Australian Government and each state and territory. The definitions were compiled from legislation, regulations, subordinate instruments, policy and strategy documents. The report includes a summary table listing some key or absent definitions related to waste and resource recovery by jurisdiction. It also highlights some of the different waste classifications used in jurisdictions for different purposes. The compilation can be accessed at www.environment.gov.au/wastepolicy/publications/australian-waste-definitions.html

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October/November 2012 - Sustainability Matters 37

Government freezes energy grants, putting strain on energy efficiency

In my opinion

T Val Duncan, Managing Director, Energy Action

There are still ways to implement efficiencies

without

need to invest heavily. The

first

step

understanding

is the

relationship between your key business drivers and your energy usage and spend.

the

he government has been supportive of businesses wanting to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions and has put several schemes in place. As part of these plans, in 2011 they pledged $1.2 billion in grants under the Clean Technology Investment and Innovation programs, a central part of the Clean Energy Future Plan, with $800m for the manufacturing industry through the Clean Technology Investment Program. A further $200m was set aside specifically for the Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program. The remaining $200m was assigned to the Clean Technology Innovation Program. These grants have significantly reduced the cost of investing in energy efficiency for many businesses with a wide range of projects attracting grant funding (including replacing outdated equipment). Although the Clean Technology grants have proved both effective and popular, the government has put the grants on ‘pause’ subject to a full budget review. As one of the major barriers to organisations implementing efficiency plans is cashflow, the freeze is a real blow for Australian businesses. Many may have already spent time educating themselves about energy efficiency grants or invested time completing the complex grant application process, only to be disappointed. Despite the freeze, the temporary pause on these grants needn’t mean the end of Australian businesses’ efficiency plans. There are still ways to implement efficiencies without the need to invest heavily. The first step is understanding the relationship between your key business drivers and your energy usage and spend. Your strategy and business cases for investment should reflect this. Saving energy makes good sense in terms of the environment, your operating expenses and your business outputs (be they hard measures such as tonnes of product or soft measures such as customer comfort and security). However, businesses need to understand that in some cases, energy efficiency may require a level of sacrifice in exchange for lower energy costs (ie,

38 Sustainability Matters - October/November 2012

sacrificing funds, physical square metres on site, delays in productivity while projects are being implemented, etc). In return for this sacrifice, not only can they achieve savings and reduced consumption, but often improved quality, productivity or even staff/ customer experience. There are ways to minimise the impact of these sacrifices and make becoming more energy-efficient a simpler process. For example, Energy Action works with Low Carbon Australia to provide finance solutions and advice to organisations that want to upgrade to the latest energy-efficient technologies while managing cashflow. Another way to quickly and easily achieve energy and cost efficiencies, without the need for funding, is monitoring bills. This may sound like a basic task, but with all the jargon, technical information and complex calculations, energy bills can be confusing and difficult to understand for Australian businesses. Because of this, many discrepancies between what organisations should be paying and what they’re actually paying go undetected. Sometimes the difference may only be a few dollars, but in many cases it can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Another major and well-publicised change implemented by the government in recent months is the introduction of a price on carbon. While there is a general agreement that businesses should endeavour to minimise their carbon footprint, the introduction of the ‘tax’ has caused much confusion and worry among Australian businesses. Part of this is due to the confusion surrounding the carbon pass-through process, as the Clean Energy Future policy failed to provide energy retailers with specific guidelines on how carbon should be passed through to consumers. Whilst the initiatives being introduced by the federal and state governments have significant strengths, it’s often the lack of clear guidelines incorporated into the policy for implementation and execution that is the cause of confusion for stakeholders, including energy retailers. Businesses should be seeking third-party guidance to understand how carbon costs are being passed through on in their bills.

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