DOCSLIB.ORG

Approvals Process for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Approvals Process for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE Inquiry into the Approvals Process for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria FEBRUARY 2010 Ordered to be printed Victorian Government Printer 2010 Parliamentary Paper No. 281 Session 2006–10 Inquiry into the Approvals Process for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria Parliament of Victoria Environment and Natural Resources Committee Inquiry into the Approvals Process for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria ISBN 978-0-9807561-0-4 The Committee would like to thank: • Mr Fei Li for allowing his photo of a wind turbine at Wonthaggi, Victoria – to be reproduced on the front cover • Solar Sytems Pty Ltd for allowing a photo of the trial solar project at Bridgewater, Victoria – to be reproduced on the front cover • Pacific Hydro for allowing photos of wind farms to be reproduced throughout the report This report is printed on 100% recycled paper. Table of contents Table of figures ............................................................................................................................... vii Committee members ....................................................................................................................... ix Terms of reference........................................................................................................................... xi Chair’s foreword ............................................................................................................................ xiii Executive summary ........................................................................................................................ xv Recommendations....................................................................................................................... xxiii Glossary ....................................................................................................................................... xxxi Acronyms and abbreviations..................................................................................................... xxxv Chapter 1: Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 Background to the inquiry.......................................................................................................................1 Scope of the inquiry................................................................................................................................2 Inquiry process .......................................................................................................................................2 Issues raised during the inquiry..............................................................................................................3 Inquiry report ..........................................................................................................................................4 Chapter 2: Victoria’s renewable energy resources................................................................. 5 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................5 Types of renewable energy in Victoria....................................................................................................8 Wind .................................................................................................................................................8 Bioenergy .......................................................................................................................................11 Hydroelectricity...............................................................................................................................15 Geothermal.....................................................................................................................................17 Solar...............................................................................................................................................20 Marine – wave and tidal..................................................................................................................23 Current forecast sources of renewable energy.....................................................................................27 Chapter 3: Policy and regulatory framework for renewable energy projects in Victoria... 29 Introduction...........................................................................................................................................29 International legal framework................................................................................................................29 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ..........................................................30 Kyoto Protocol................................................................................................................................30 A post-Kyoto framework .................................................................................................................30 National policy framework for renewable energy..................................................................................31 Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme..............................................................................................32 Renewable Energy Targets............................................................................................................33 – i – Inquiry into the Approvals Process for Renewable Energy Projects in Victoria Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.................................................................................33 Expanded Renewable Energy Target..................................................................................34 Commonwealth renewable energy projects.........................................................................38 Victorian policy and funding framework for renewable energy..............................................................40 Victorian climate change policy ......................................................................................................40 Victorian Renewable Energy Initiatives ..........................................................................................43 The Victorian Energy Technology Innovation Strategy........................................................43 GreenPower ........................................................................................................................43 Solar feed-in tariff ................................................................................................................44 Key planning approval and environmental assessment processes ......................................................45 Overview.........................................................................................................................................45 First stage: pre-application consultation .........................................................................................49 Second stage: primary consent phase ...........................................................................................50 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act process ...................................50 The Environment Effects Statement process.......................................................................52 Planning permit process ......................................................................................................54 Third stage: secondary consent phase...........................................................................................56 Fourth stage: monitoring, enforcement and decommissioning .......................................................58 Ongoing reviews of key planning and environmental approvals.....................................................58 Geothermal energy approvals ........................................................................................................60 Other renewable energy project planning approval processes.......................................................61 Regulation of the Victorian energy sector.............................................................................................62 Introduction to the National Electricity Market ................................................................................63 The Victorian energy sector............................................................................................................65 Existing electricity infrastructure in Victoria .........................................................................65 Participants in Victoria’s electricity system ..........................................................................65 Victorian energy policy.........................................................................................................66 Victoria’s privatised energy sector.......................................................................................68 Connections to the transmission network: Victoria’s plan and procure model.....................69 Connecting to Victoria’s distribution network .......................................................................70 Recent reviews and developments in energy policy.......................................................................71 Review of energy market frameworks in light of climate change policies ............................71
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Report: the Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms
    The Senate Community Affairs References Committee The Social and Economic Impact of Rural Wind Farms June 2011 © Commonwealth of Australia 2011 ISBN 978-1-74229-462-9 Printed by the Senate Printing Unit, Parliament House, Canberra. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE 43rd Parliament Members Senator Rachel Siewert, Chair Western Australia, AG Senator Claire Moore, Deputy Chair Queensland, ALP Senator Judith Adams Western Australia, LP Senator Sue Boyce Queensland, LP Senator Carol Brown Tasmania, ALP Senator the Hon Helen Coonan New South Wales, LP Participating members Senator Steve Fielding Victoria, FFP Secretariat Dr Ian Holland, Committee Secretary Ms Toni Matulick, Committee Secretary Dr Timothy Kendall, Principal Research Officer Mr Terence Brown, Principal Research Officer Ms Sophie Dunstone, Senior Research Officer Ms Janice Webster, Senior Research Officer Ms Tegan Gaha, Administrative Officer Ms Christina Schwarz, Administrative Officer Mr Dylan Harrington, Administrative Officer PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Ph: 02 6277 3515 Fax: 02 6277 5829 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/index.htm iii TABLE OF CONTENTS MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE ...................................................................... iii ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................... vii RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER
    [Show full text]
  • Gippsland Roadmap
    9 Dec 2019 The Energy Innovation Foreword Co-operative1, which has 10 years of experience On behalf of the Victorian Government, I am pleased to present the Victorian Regional Renewable Energy Roadmaps. delivering community-based As we transition to cleaner energy with new opportunities for jobs and greater security of supply, we are looking to empower communities, accelerate renewable energy and build a more sustainable and prosperous energy efficiency and state. renewable energy initiatives in Victoria is leading the way to meet the challenges of climate change by enshrining our Victorian Renewable Energy Targets (VRET) into law: 25 per the Southern Gippsland region, cent by 2020, rising to 40 per cent by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030. Achieving the 2030 target is expected to boost the Victorian economy by $5.8 billion - driving metro, regional and rural industry and supply chain developed this document in development. It will create around 4,000 full time jobs a year and cut power costs. partnership with Community It will also give the renewable energy sector the confidence it needs to invest in renewable projects and help Victorians take control of their energy needs. Power Agency (community Communities across Barwon South West, Gippsland, Grampians and Loddon Mallee have been involved in discussions to help define how Victoria engagement and community- transitions to a renewable energy economy. These Roadmaps articulate our regional communities’ vision for a renewable energy future, identify opportunities to attract investment and better owned renewable energy understand their community’s engagement and capacity to transition to specialists)2, Mondo renewable energy.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution Annual Planning Report
    DISTRIBUTION ANNUAL PLANNING REPORT December 2018 Powercor Distribution Annual Planning Report – December 2018 Disclaimer The purpose of this document is to provide information about actual and forecast constraints on Powercor’s distribution network and details of these constraints, where they are expected to arise within the forward planning period. This document is not intended to be used for other purposes, such as making decisions to invest in generation, transmission or distribution capacity. Whilst care was taken in the preparation of the information in this document, and it is provided in good faith, Powercor accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage that may be incurred by any person acting in reliance on this information or assumptions drawn from it. This Distribution Annual Planning Report (DAPR) has been prepared in accordance with the National Electricity Rules (NER), in particular Schedule 5.8, as well as the Electricity Distribution Code. This document contains certain predictions, estimates and statements that reflect various assumptions concerning, amongst other things, economic growth and load growth forecasts that, by their nature, may or may not prove to be correct. This document also contains statements about Powercor’s plans. These plans may change from time to time without notice and should therefore be confirmed with Powercor before any action is taken based on this document. Powercor advises that anyone proposing to use the information in this document should verify its reliability, accuracy and completeness before committing to any course of action. Powercor makes no warranties or representations as to the document’s reliability, accuracy and completeness and Powercor specifically disclaims any liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions.
    [Show full text]
  • Alinta Energy Sustainability Report 2018/19
    Alinta Energy Sustainability Report 2018/19 ABN 39 149 229 998 Contents A message from our Managing Director and CEO 2 Employment 50 FY19 highlights 4 Employment at Alinta Energy 52 Key sustainability performance measures 6 Employee engagement 53 Employee data 54 Our business 8 Supporting our people 55 Offices 10 Ownership 10 Our communities 60 Where we operate 12 Community development program 62 Electricity generation portfolio 14 Employee volunteering 62 Sales and customers 17 Sponsorships, donations and partnerships 64 Vision and values 18 Excellence Awards – community contribution 64 Business structure and governance 19 Community impacts from operations 65 Executive leadership team 20 Management committees 21 Markets and customers 66 Board biographies 21 Customer service 68 Risk management and compliance 23 Branding 72 Economic health 24 New products and projects 74 Market regulation and compliance 74 Safety 26 Fusion – our transformation program 77 Safety performance 28 Safety governance 29 Our report 80 Safety and wellbeing initiatives and programs 32 Reporting principles 82 Glossary 83 Environment 34 GRI and UNSDG content index 85 Climate change and energy industry 36 Sustainability materiality assessment 88 National government programs, policies and targets 39 Deloitte Assurance Report 96 State government programs, policies and targets 40 Energy consumption and emissions 42 Our approach to renewable energy 43 Energy efficiency and emission reduction projects 45 Environmental compliance 46 Waste and water 47 Case study 48 2018/19 Alinta Energy - Sustainability Report Page 1 Changes to our vision and leadership A message My comment above on our new vision to be the best energy company sounds a little different than in the past.
    [Show full text]
  • Wind Energy in NSW: Myths and Facts
    Wind Energy in NSW: Myths and Facts 1 INTRODUCTION Wind farms produce clean energy, generate jobs and income in regional areas and have minimal environmental impacts if appropriately located. Wind farms are now increasingly commonplace and accepted by communities in many parts of the world, but they are quite new to NSW. To increase community understanding and involvement in renewable energy, the NSW Government has established six Renewable Energy Precincts in areas of NSW with the best known wind resources. As part of the Renewable Energy Precincts initiative, the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) has compiled the following information to increase community understanding about wind energy. The technical information has been reviewed by the Centre for Environmental and Energy Markets, University of NSW. The Wind Energy Fact Sheet is a shorter and less technical brochure based on the Wind Energy in NSW: Myths and Facts. The brochure is available for download at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/climatechange/10923windfacts.pdf. For further renewable energy information resources, please visit the Renewable Energy Precincts Resources webpage at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/climatechange/reprecinctresources.htm. 2 CONTENTS CONTENTS ...............................................................................................................3 WIND FARM NOISE ..................................................................................................4 WIND TURBINES AND SHADOW FLICKER...........................................................11
    [Show full text]
  • National Greenpower Accreditation Program Annual Compliance Audit
    National GreenPower Accreditation Program Annual Compliance Audit 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 Publisher NSW Department of Water and Energy Level 17, 227 Elizabeth Street GPO Box 3889 Sydney NSW 2001 T 02 8281 7777 F 02 8281 7799 [email protected] www.dwe.nsw.gov.au National GreenPower Accreditation Program Annual Compliance Audit 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 December 2008 ISBN 978 0 7347 5501 8 Acknowledgements We would like to thank the National GreenPower Steering Group (NGPSG) for their ongoing support of the GreenPower Program. The NGPSG is made up of representatives from the NSW, VIC, SA, QLD, WA and ACT governments. The Commonwealth, TAS and NT are observer members of the NGPSG. The 2007 GreenPower Compliance Audit was completed by URS Australia Pty Ltd for the NSW Department of Water and Energy, on behalf of the National GreenPower Steering Group. © State of New South Wales through the Department of Water and Energy, 2008 This work may be freely reproduced and distributed for most purposes, however some restrictions apply. Contact the Department of Water and Energy for copyright information. Disclaimer: While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that this document is correct at the time of publication, the State of New South Wales, its agents and employees, disclaim any and all liability to any person in respect of anything or the consequences of anything done or omitted to be done in reliance upon the whole or any part of this document. DWE 08_258 National GreenPower Accreditation Program Annual Compliance Audit 2007 Contents Section 1 | Introduction.......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES Wind's Growing
    BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES Wind’s Growing Role in Regional Australia 1 This report has been compiled from research and interviews in respect of select wind farm projects in Australia. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Estimates where given are based on evidence available procured through research and interviews.To the best of our knowledge, the information contained herein is accurate and reliable as of the date PHOTO (COVER): of publication; however, we do not assume any liability whatsoever for Pouring a concrete turbine the accuracy and completeness of the above information. footing. © Sapphire Wind Farm. This report does not purport to give nor contain any advice, including PHOTO (ABOVE): Local farmers discuss wind legal or fnancial advice and is not a substitute for advice, and no person farm projects in NSW Southern may rely on this report without the express consent of the author. Tablelands. © AWA. 2 BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES Wind’s Growing Role in Regional Australia CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Wind Delivers New Benefits for Regional Australia 4 Sharing Community Benefits 6 Community Enhancement Funds 8 Addressing Community Needs Through Community Enhancement Funds 11 Additional Benefts Beyond Community Enhancement Funds 15 Community Initiated Wind Farms 16 Community Co-ownership and Co-investment Models 19 Payments to Host Landholders 20 Payments to Neighbours 23 Doing Business 24 Local Jobs and Investment 25 Contributions to Councils 26 Appendix A – Community Enhancement Funds 29 Appendix B – Methodology 31 References
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report
    RELIABILITY PANEL Reliability Panel AEMC FINAL REPORT 2020 ANNUAL MARKET REVIEW PERFORMANCE REVIEW 20 MAY 2021 Reliability Panel AEMC Final report Final Report 20 May 2021 INQUIRIES Reliability Panel c/- Australian Energy Market Commission GPO Box 2603 Sydney NSW 2000 E [email protected] T (02) 8296 7800 Reference: REL0081 CITATION Reliability Panel, 2020 Annual Market Performance Review, Final report, 20 May 2021 ABOUT THE RELIABILITY PANEL The Panel is a specialist body established by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) in accordance with section 38 of the National Electricity Law and the National Electricity Rules. The Panel comprises industry and consumer representatives. It is responsible for monitoring, reviewing and reporting on reliability, security and safety on the national electricity system, and advising the AEMC in respect of such matters. This work is copyright. The Copyright Act 1968 permits fair dealing for study, research, news reporting, criticism and review. Selected passages, tables or diagrams may be reproduced for such purposes provided acknowledgement of the source is included. Reliability Panel AEMC Final report Final Report 20 May 2021 RELIABILITY PANEL MEMBERS Charles Popple (Chairman), Chairman and AEMC Commissioner Stephen Clark, Marinus Link Project Director, TasNetworks Kathy Danaher, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, Sun Metals Craig Memery, Director - Energy + Water Consumer's Advocacy Program, PIAC Ken Harper, Group Manager Operational Support, AEMO Keith Robertson, General Manager Regulatory Policy, Origin Energy Ken Woolley, Executive Director Merchant Energy, Alinta Energy John Titchen, Managing Director, Goldwind Australia David Salisbury, Executive Manager Engineering, Essential Energy Reliability Panel AEMC Final report Final Report 20 May 2021 FOREWORD I am pleased to present this report setting out the findings of the Reliability Panel's (Panel) annual review of market performance, for the period 2019-20.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Report
    The Senate Select Committee on Wind Turbines Final report August 2015 Commonwealth of Australia 2015 ISBN 978-1-76010-260-9 Secretariat Ms Jeanette Radcliffe (Committee Secretary) Ms Jackie Morris (Acting Secretary) Dr Richard Grant (Principal Research Officer) Ms Kate Gauthier (Principal Research Officer) Ms Trish Carling (Senior Research Officer) Mr Tasman Larnach (Senior Research Officer) Dr Joshua Forkert (Senior Research Officer) Ms Carol Stewart (Administrative Officer) Ms Kimberley Balaga (Administrative Officer) Ms Sarah Batts (Administrative Officer) PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Phone: 02 6277 3241 Fax: 02 6277 5829 E-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.aph.gov.au/select_windturbines This document was produced by the Senate Select Wind Turbines Committee Secretariat and printed by the Senate Printing Unit, Parliament House, Canberra. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License. The details of this licence are available on the Creative Commons website: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/au/ ii MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE 44th Parliament Members Senator John Madigan, Chair Victoria, IND Senator Bob Day AO, Deputy Chair South Australia, FFP Senator Chris Back Western Australia, LP Senator Matthew Canavan Queensland, NATS Senator David Leyonhjelm New South Wales, LDP Senator Anne Urquhart Tasmania, ALP Substitute members Senator Gavin Marshall Victoria, ALP for Senator Anne Urquhart (from 18 May to 18 May 2015) Participating members for this inquiry Senator Nick Xenophon South Australia, IND Senator the Hon Doug Cameron New South Wales, ALP iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Membership of the Committee ........................................................................ iii Tables and Figures ............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Show Report
    POST-SHOW REPORT 2016 sponsors and exhibitors included: +61 (0)2 8188 7597 [email protected] www.energyweek.com.au | 1 AUSTRALIAN ENERGY WEEK 2016 REVIEW FROM THE CHAIR Dear Energy Executive, More than 400 attendees at Australian Energy Week in Melbourne in mid-June had the benefit of 88 expert presenters and panelists over 4 days, across 8 different tracks. They covered a wide range of issues that stand between the Australian community and achievement of the CoAG Energy Council’s recently-announced goal of integrating energy and climate change policies to deliver secure supply and the lowest possible prices. Not surprisingly, much of the speakers’ focus - and the audience’s questions - was on the drivers for change and the need for a durable, bipartisan approach to settle investors’ nerves and to encourage lenders’ support for new developments. One of the most interesting questions was posed by speaker Roberto Bocco, Head of Energy Industries at the World Economic Forum. “We are witnessing a continuous trend for decarbonisation,” he said, “but what if the future of energy is different from what we are expecting?” Diversity among leading nations pursuing the transformation of electricity supply, he pointed out, highlights that there is no single pathway to a more affordable, sustainable and secure energy system. The capacity of the Australian Energy Week presenters to pursue the prospects of diversity and the differing pathways to our national energy future was, I think, the major strength of the conference - which will be held again in Melbourne in May next year. Feedback from the attendees thronging the Albert Park venue for the event repeatedly pointed to the benefits of being exposed to a wide range of views in an environment notable for calm discussion - and, having organised and participated in a multitude of conferences over the past 35 years, I was struck by the high level of networking I saw around me.
    [Show full text]
  • Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide 2021
    FREE TARGET ONE MILLION ONE MILLION VICTORIANS FISHING #target1million VICTORIAN RECREATIONAL FISHING A GUIDE TO FISHING RULES AND PRACTICES 2021 GUIDE 2 Introduction 55 Waters with varying bag and size limits 2 (trout and salmon) 4 Message from the Minister 56 Trout and salmon regulations 5 About this guide 60 Year-round trout and salmon fisheries 6 Target One Million 61 Trout and salmon family fishing lakes 9 Marine and estuarine fishing 63 Spiny crays 10 Marine and estuarine scale fish 66 Yabbies 20 Sharks, skates and rays 68 Freshwater shrimp and mussels 23 Crabs INTRODUCTION 69 Freshwater fishing restrictions 24 Shrimps and prawns 70 Freshwater fishing equipment 26 Rock lobster 70 Using equipment in inland waters 30 Shellfish 74 Illegal fishing equipment 33 Squid, octopus and cuttlefish 74 Bait and berley 34 Molluscs 76 Recreational fishing licence 34 Other invertebrates 76 Licence information 35 Marine fishing equipment 78 Your fishing licence fees at work 36 Using equipment in marine waters 82 Recreational harvest food safety 40 Illegal fishing equipment 82 Food safety 40 Bait and berley 84 Responsible fishing behaviours 41 Waters closed to recreational fishing 85 Fishing definitions 41 Marine waters closed to recreational fishing 86 Recreational fishing water definitions 41 Aquaculture fisheries reserves 86 Water definitions 42 Victoria’s marine national parks 88 Regulation enforcement and sanctuaries 88 Fisheries officers 42 Boundary markers 89 Reporting illegal fishing 43 Restricted areas 89 Rule reminders 44 Intertidal zone
    [Show full text]
  • Clean Energy Australia
    CLEAN ENERGY AUSTRALIA REPORT 2016 Image: Hornsdale Wind Farm, South Australia Cover image: Nyngan Solar Farm, New South Wales CONTENTS 05 Introduction 06 Executive summary 07 About us 08 2016 snapshot 12 Industry gears up to meet the RET 14 Jobs and investment in renewable energy by state 18 Industry outlook 2017 – 2020 24 Employment 26 Investment 28 Electricity prices 30 Energy security 32 Energy storage 34 Technology profiles 34 Bioenergy 36 Hydro 38 Marine 40 Solar: household and commercial systems up to 100 kW 46 Solar: medium-scale systems between 100 kW and 5 MW 48 Solar: large-scale systems larger than 5 MW 52 Solar water heating 54 Wind power 58 Appendices It’s boom time for large-scale renewable energy. Image: Greenough River Solar Farm, Western Australia INTRODUCTION Kane Thornton Chief Executive, Clean Energy Council It’s boom time for large-scale of generating their own renewable renewable energy. With only a few energy to manage electricity prices that years remaining to meet the large-scale continue to rise following a decade of part of the Renewable Energy Target energy and climate policy uncertainty. (RET), 2017 is set to be the biggest year The business case is helped by for the industry since the iconic Snowy Bloomberg New Energy Finance Hydro Scheme was finished more than analysis which confirms renewable half a century ago. energy is now the cheapest type of While only a handful of large-scale new power generation that can be renewable energy projects were built in Australia, undercutting the completed in 2016, project planning skyrocketing price of gas and well below and deal-making continued in earnest new coal – and that’s if it is possible to throughout the year.
    [Show full text]