The Social Shaping of Wind Power in Australia Andrea Maree Bunting University of Wollongong

University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2003 The social shaping of wind power in Australia Andrea Maree Bunting University of Wollongong Recommended Citation Bunting, Andrea Maree, The ocs ial shaping of wind power in Australia, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication, University of Wollongong, 2003. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/2073 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] THE SOCIAL SHAPING OF WIND POWER IN AUSTRALIA A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY from UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG by ANDREA MAREE BUNTING Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Graduate Diploma of Education Master of Science SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION 2003 Hi CERTIFICATION I, Andrea Maree Bunting, declare that this thesis, submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in the Science, Technology and Society Program, School of Social Sciences, Media and Communication, University of Wollongong, is wholly my own work unless otherwise referenced or acknowledged. The document has not been submitted for qualifications at any other academic institution. Andrea M. Bunting May 1,2003 Table of Contents v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS x ABSTRACT xm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS xv CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1 1.2 CASE STUDY: WIND POWER IN AUSTRALIA 3 1.3 THE SOCIAL SHAPING OF WIND POWER 6 1.4 RESEARCH APPROACH 8 1.5 OVERVIEW OF THESIS 10 CHAPTER 2: SOCIAL SHAPING OF TECHNOLOGY APPROACHES 13 2.1 INTRODUCTION 13 2.2 CONTEXTUAL APPROACHES 21 2.2.1 Introduction 21 2.2.2 Nondecision-making 23 2.2.3 Factors Assisting or Hindering New Environmental Technologies 25 2.2.4 Sociotechnical Systems 27 2.2.5 The Compatibility of New Technologies with Existing Systems 30 2.2.6 Technological Regimes and Technological Niches. 39 2.3 THE SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY 43 2.3.1 Introduction 43 2.3.2 How to be 'Symmetrical'? 47 2.3.3 The SCOT Approach and Political Commitment 49 2.3.4 The Neutrality versus Commitment Debate 54 2.3.5 Relevant Social Groups 59 2.3.6 The Adequacy of SCOT as an Explanatory Framework 67 2.4 FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS 69 CHAPTER 3: THE IDEA OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 71 3.1 INTRODUCTION 71 3.2 ENVIRONMENTALISM 73 3.2.1 The Phases of Environmentalism 73 3.2.2 Environmentalism in Australia 76 3.3 ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY 79 3.3.1 Introduction 79 3.3.2 The Origins and Beliefs of the Alternative Technology Movement 81 3.3.3 The Alternative Technology Movement in Australia 92 3.3.4 The Dilution of the Alternative Technology Ideal 93 vi Andrea Bunting. The Social Shaping of Wind Power in Australia 98 3.3.5 Revolution or Reform 102 3.3.6 Politics of the AT movement 107 3.4 CONCLUSION CHAPTER 4: AUSTRALIAN ENERGY SECTOR STRUCTURE AND POLICIES PRE-1988...109 109 4.1 INTRODUCTION 4.2 POLITICAL ECONOMY n 1 14 4.3 PUBLIC ENTERPRISES ll 4.4 THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTRICITY SUPPLY INDUSTRY 116 4.4.1 Introduction 1I6 4.4.2 History and General Features of the Electricity Supply Industry 118 4.4.3 The Environmental Challenge •'•" 4.4.4 The Shift towards a Commercial Focus and Greater Accountability 125 4.4.5 Private versus Public Power '" 4.4.6 The SECVand Renewable Energy 136 4.4.7 Overview '"*-* 4.5 RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICIES 142 4.5.1 Introduction 142 4.5.2 Federal 142 4.5.3 Victoria. J53 4.5.4 New South Wales 157 4.5.5 Other States 158 4.5.6 Overview 160 4.6 OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTORS 161 4.6.1 Introduction 161 4.6.2 Renewable Energy Associations 161 4.6.3 The Alternative Technology Association 162 4.6.4 Wind Energy Researchers 163 4.6.5 The Wind Energy Industry 164 4.6.6 The Australasian Wind Energy Association 165 4.7 CONCLUSION 168 CHAPTER 5: WIND POWER IN THE 1980S 169 5.1 INTRODUCTION 169 5.2 TURBINE SIZE 170 5.3 PRIVATE WIND TURBINES 174 5.3.1 Barriers to Private WindTurbines 774 5.3.2 Moora Moora 176 5.3.3 Mars Confectionery 777 5.3.4 Tasmanian Wind Enterprises 775 5.3.5 Overview 779 Table of Contents vii 5.4 WIND ENERGY FOR REMOTE AREAS 180 5.4.1 Introduction 750 5.4.2 Western Australia 752 5.4.3 Bass Strait Islands 186 5.4.4 New South Wales 797 5.4.5 Queensland and the Northern Territory 195 5.4.6 Overview 795 5.5 WIND POWER IN THE GRID AREAS 200 5.5.7 Introduction 200 5.5.2 Capacity Credit 201 5.5.3 South Australia 205 5.5.4 Victoria 213 5.5.5 Tasmania 227 5.5.6 Overview 231 5.6 CONCLUSION 232 CHAPTER 6: THE AGE OF GREEN BUSINESS 235 6.1 INTRODUCTION 235 6.2 ENVIRONMENTALISM 236 6.3 THE GREENING OF BUSINESS 238 6.3.1 Introduction 238 6.3.2 Ecological Modernisation 239 6.3.3 Consequences for Wind Power 245 6.4 ENVIRONMENTAL ACCEPTABILITY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATORS 246 6.4.1 Introduction 246 6.4.2 Green Power 248 6.4.3 The Mandatory Renewable Energy Target 253 6.5 CONTROVERSIES OVER WIND POWER DEVELOPMENTS 254 6.5.1 Introduction 254 6.5.2 The Portland Wind Farm Controversy 255 6.5.3 Competitive Wind Power Markets and Wind Farm Siting 260 6.5.4 Energy Supply and Demand 262 6.5.5 Ownership and Control 263 6.5.6 Environmental Trade-Offs 264 6.5.7 Images of Wind Power 265 6.6 THE SHIFTING SUPPORT BASE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES 266 6.7 CONCLUSION 270 CHAPTER 7: AUSTRALIAN ENERGY SECTOR- POST 1988 273 7.1 INTRODUCTION 273 7.2 PUBLIC ENTERPRISES 274 viii Andrea Bunting. The Social Shaping of Wind Power in Australia 7.3 RESTRUCTURING OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY INDUSTRY 278 7.3.1 Introduction 278 7.3.2 The ESI in Transition 278 7.3.3 The Federal Government's Restructuring Push 280 7.3.4 Restructuring of ESI in Victoria 282 7.3.5 Restructuring of ESI in NSW. 284 7.3.6 Recent Developments in the National Electricity Market. 285 7.3.7 Overview 286 7.4 RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICIES 288 7.4.1 Introduction 288 7.4.2 Federal and National 289 7.4.3 Victoria. 302 7.4.4 New South Wales 310 7.4.5 Other States 316 7.4.6 Overview 3*2 7.5 OTHER RENEWABLE ENERGY ACTORS 323 7.5.7 Renewable Energy Associations and Industry 323 7.5.2 The Wind Energy Industry 325 7.5.3 Overview 327 7.6 CONCLUSION 327 CHAPTER 8: WIND POWER IN AUSTRALIA POST 1988 329 8.1 INTRODUCTION 329 8.2 WIND POWER FOR REMOTE AREAS 330 52.7 Introduction 330 8.2.2 Increasing the Penetration of Wind Power in Wind-Diesel Systems 332 8.2.3 Thursday Island - Queensland. 335 8.2.4 Bass Strait Islands - Tasmania 337 8.2.5 South Australia 340 8.2.6 Western Australia 343 8.2.7 Overview 347 8.3 GRID-CONNECTED WIND POWER 348 5.3.7 Introduction 348 8.3.2 The Period 1988 to 1995 349 8.3.3 The Impact of Green Power and the Promise of a Mandatory Target 357 8.3.4 The MRET Wind Rush 363 8.3.5 Community-Led Wind Developments 365 8.3.6 Overview 367 8.4 THE VALUE OF WIND POWER TO THE GRID 367 8.4.1 The Effect of Wind Generation on Supply-Demand Balance 367 8.4.2 Wind Generation and Electricity Networks 375 Table of Contents ix 8.4.3 Overview 353 8.5 CONCLUSION 383 CHAPTER 9: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS 385 9.1 INTRODUCTION 385 9.2 REQUIREMENTS FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE TREATMENT OF WIND POWER 385 9.3 THE COMPATIBILITY OF WIND POWER WITH THE ELECTRICITY SYSTEM 392 9.4 INSTITUTIONAL INTERESTS 397 9.4.1 Introduction 397 9.4.2 Institutional Interests Built into the Australian Electricity Sector 399 9.4.3 The Effect of Usage of Wind Power on Institutional Interests 403 9.5 CHANGE AGENTS 411 9.6 THE MEANING OF WIND POWER 416 9.7 CONTINGENCY AND INEVITABILITY 418 9.8 LESSONS FOR WIND POWER ADVOCATES 424 BIBLIOGRAPHY 427 PUBLICATIONS AND CONFERENCE PAPERS OF RELEVANCE TO THESIS 456 x Andrea Bunting. The Social Shaping of Wind Power in Australia List of Abbreviations ABARE Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics AC alternating current ACF Australian Conservation Foundation ACRE Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy ACT Australian Capital Territory AEA Australian Ecogeneration Association AGO Australian Greenhouse Office ALP Australian Labor Party ANZECC Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council ANZMEC Australian and New Zealand Minerals and Energy Council ANZSES Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society APACE Appropriate Technology for Community and Environment AT alternative technology ATA Alternative Technology Association ATC Alternative Technology Co-operative ATRA Appropriate Technology Retailers Association AusWEA Australasian Wind Enerigy Association (1980-87) AusWEA Australian Wind Energy Association (1999- ) BESD Brunswick Electricity Supply Department CCGT combined-cycle gas turbine CERES Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies CHP combined heat and power co2 carbon dioxide COAG Council of Australian Governments CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation CSM coal seam methane DH district heating DITR Department of Industry, Technology and Resources DME Department of Minerals and Energy DNSP Distribution Network Service Provider DPIE Department of Primary Industries and Energy DUOS Distribution Use of System EANSW Energy Authority of New South Wales EEC Energy Equity Corporation EES Environmental Effects Statement EEV Energy Efficiency Victoria Elcom Electricity Commission of New South Wales EPOR empirical programme of relativism ERDC Energy Research and Development Corporation ESI electricity supply industry ETSA Electricity Trust of South Australia) FCAS frequency control ancillary services FNQEB Far North Queensland Electricity Board List of

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