Energy Technology
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Download the PDF version of this document: Energy Technology Factsheet
Victoria – opportunities for energetic business
The Australian state of Victoria is a powerhouse of energy industry innovation and technological development.For international and local companies ready to meet the challenges of a carbon constrained economy, and be first to market with next generation energy technology, the time is right to invest in Victoria.
The Victorian and Australian governments have created an exciting investment climate designed to make swift gains in renewable energy technology and lead the world in cleaner technologies for the fossil fuel energy sector. Victoria also offers investors a strong and vibrant economy, a highly-skilled workforce, access to cutting-edge research institutes and universities, advanced infrastructure and time zones that access South-East Asia and bridge US and European markets.
And with the capital city, Melbourne, enjoying a reputation as one of the word’s most liveable cities, now is the time to make your move - to Victoria.
‘Australian national and state governments are committed to meeting our international responsibilities in facing the global challenge of climate change.’ |
Victorian Government support
The Victorian Government has committed more than A$390 million to drive advances in pre-commercial low emission energy technologies covering coal, carbon capture and storage, and renewable energy through its Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS).In July 2010, A$41 million was announced to support research and development and pilot scale demonstrations of leading pre-commercial sustainable energy technologies such as solar, geothermal, energy storage and biomass.
Support through ETIS to date includes:
- A$50 million grant to establish one of the world’s largest and most efficient solar photovoltaic concentrator demonstration projects near Mildura. New technology for this project has already been demonstrated at pilot scale near Bendigo as part of the first stage for the major power plant.
- A$50 million grant to support Victorian energy technology company HRL to construct the world’s largest, commercial scale low emission coal technology demonstration plant, based on integrated drying gasification combined cycle technology. Construction of the Latrobe Valley plant is expected to begin in 2011 and will generate up to 600 MW of power.
A$110 million is also available to support large-scale demonstration of new pre-commercial carbon capture and storage technologies. A$29 million of this funding has been committed towards five such projects for pre-feasibility studies.
The Victorian Government has also announced funding of A$100 million to develop a new large-scale solar power station in Victoria.
Victoria’s energy resources
Victoria’s primary energy source derives from the vast brown coal deposits in the Latrobe Valley, 150 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. These vast reserves have the capacity to supply Victoria with the foundation for its energy needs for at least another 500 years.The state’s privatised energy market (electricity and gas) has allowed consumers to choose their own electricity retailer since 2002. The current installed electricity capacity is more than 9,500MW, with peak demands of over 10,000MW met by importing power from other Australian states.
Gas supplies in Victoria are substantial. At current rates of production, there is enough natural offshore gas for 20 to 25 years. Demand for energy in Victoria is expected to continue growing significantly over the next 20 years. A variety of sustainable energy sources are already commercially available in Victoria. In addition to hydro, approximately 4 per cent of energy is derived from renewable resources. Melbourne has more solar radiation than Barcelona, local wind energy has the installed capacity of 428MW, wave resources are world-class, particularly west of Cape Otway, and there is significant potential from farming and industrial waste.
Victoria’s energy mix: Electricity generation capacity at 2009
Victoria’s Emissions Profile (2007) in Mt CO2-e [Total 121.5 Mt CO2-e]
 |
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| Electricity generation | 62.8 Mt (51.7%) | |
| Transport energy | 19.3 Mt (15.9%) | |
| Other stationary energy | 17.0 Mt (14%) | |
| Agriculture | 14.4 Mt (11.9%) | |
| Other | 3.4 Mt (2.8%) | |
| Industrial processes | 2.6 Mt (2.1%) | |
| Fugitive fuels | 2.0 Mt (1.6%) | |
Total: |
121.5 Mt CO2-e |
|
Australian Government support
The Commonwealth Government has committed more than A$4.5 billion to its Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) announced in May 2009. The CEI supports the research, development and demonstration of low-emission energy technologies, including industrial scale carbon capture and storage and renewable energy, and has three components:- CCS Flagships Program: A$2.425 billion to support construction and demonstration of large-scale integrated CCS projects in Australia, which may include gasification, post-combustion capture, oxy-firing and transport and storage technologies. The target is to create 1000MW of low emission fossil fuel generation. Victoria is one of four states short-listed with its ‘CarbonNet’ proposal.
- Solar Flagships Program: A$1.5 billion to support construction and demonstration of large-scale solar power stations in Australia, which may include solar thermal, photovoltaic and energy storage technologies. The target size is 1000MW of electricity generation.
- Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE): A$560 million to establish a new body to promote the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy technologies, through a commercial investment approach. The development and demonstration of industrial- scale CCS and solar power stations will accelerate the commercialisation of these critical technologies, and underpin the transition to a low-emission energy economy. These programs, along with those already under way, will create a world-class portfolio of Australian clean energy technology projects. Victorian projects have a strong success rate attracting funding from the Australian Government.
Australian Government action on climate change
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring Australia meets its responsibilities in facing global challenges. Initiatives include:- ratifying the Kyoto Protocol; Australia has committed to ensuring its greenhouse emissions from 2008 to 2012 are no more than 8 per cent above 1990 levels
- reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 60 per cent on 2000 levels by 2050
- setting a 20 per cent target for renewable energy to be reached by 2020 to dramatically increase the use of renewable energy
- investing in research and development on low emissions technologies
- assisting households and businesses to use energy wisely
- managing our land to reduce emissions.
- www.climatechange.gov.au
Source: Australian Government, Department of Climate Change
Victoria – the place to be for innovation
Victoria has a strong and resilient economy recording positive growth during the global financial crisis, a skilled and innovative workforce and the political commitment to make it a world leader in the development of new low emission energy technologies.Strong economy Australia and Victoria enjoy strong and stable economies, with Victoria displaying consistent economic growth of more than three per cent over the past 14 years.
Political will The Victorian and Australian governments have policies in place to support the swift technological advances necessary to reduce carbon emissions from the energy sector.
Strategic location Victoria’s advantageous time zone provides ready access to the Asian market, while bridging North American and European business hours. Melbourne serves as a focal point for economic activity and acts as a centre for transport, manufacturing and is a service industry hub in Australia.
Sound legal framework Australia’s intellectual property system and business framework is well regarded internationally as providing a stable business environment that is conducive to enterprise and protective of innovation.
Skills Victoria has a population of five million including 2.3 million workers, almost half of which are under 35 years old. Its workforce is highly skilled, renowned for its propensity for innovation and has one of the highest rates of tertiary participation in the Asia- Pacific region. Victoria also boasts a multilingual and multicultural population. More than 150 languages are spoken in the state which is home to people from more than 230 nations.
Enviable lifestyle The Victorian capital city of Melbourne is regarded as one of the world’s most liveable cities and has wellestablished and advanced infrastructure supporting a strong manufacturing and agricultural base, an internationally focused service industry and worldclass research.
The Latrobe Valley is a location known for its natural beauty and is only one hour away from snowfields and pristine beaches. It has strong infrastructure in transport, education and housing as well as substantial commercial and industrial capability.
Technology Melbourne is Australia’s knowledge, innovation and technology capital and is home to a large cluster of research institutes, universities, Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) and technology parks, ready to collaborate on innovative cross-sector projects.
For more information contact
Energy Technology InnovationDepartment of Primary Industries
1 Spring St (GPO Box 4440)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 3001
Telephone: +61 3 9658 4193
Facsimile: +61 3 9658 4916
Email: dpi.etis@dpi.vic.gov.au
ISBN 978-1-74264-452-3 (print)
ISBN 978-1-74264-453-0 (online)
