Australia Highlights Gas And Wind Energy Projects Driving Investment

An additional 1582 megawatts of capacity was added to the Australian electricity grid in the six months to October 2009, with the completion of seven electricity generation projects, including one coal, one coal seam gas, two natural gas and three wind powered projects.

This was revealed in the ABARE report Electricity generation: major development projects – October 2009 listing released today by Dr Terry Sheales, Deputy Executive Director, ABARE. The report details electricity generation projects at various stages of development.

The report also notes that in October 2009 there were 18 projects at an advanced stage of development (defined as committed or under construction), with a total capacity of 3569 megawatts and an estimated capital cost of $5.3 billion. There was at least one project at an advanced stage of development in every state.

“The $5.3 billion of projects at an advanced stage of development in the electricity sector – which cover a wide range of fuels – will be important in meeting Australia’s growing demand for electricity,” said Dr Sheales.

Of the nine renewable electricity generation projects listed at an advanced stage of development in October 2009, eight were wind powered projects and one was a hydro project. Wind accounted for 733 megawatts (84 per cent) of advanced renewable additions to capacity. All eight wind projects are expected to be in operation by 2011.

“The number of wind projects at advanced and less advanced stages of development demonstrates the potential of wind energy to add significant renewable electricity generation capacity to the electricity grid,” Dr Sheales noted.

Non-renewable electricity generation projects accounted for nine of the 18 advanced projects on ABARE’s list, and around 76 per cent (or 2696 megawatts) of planned additional capacity. Natural gas fired projects accounted for 50 per cent of the announced capacity of advanced non-renewable electricity projects, while coal seam gas accounted for a further 29 per cent.
This report is compiled biannually, and contains information on electricity projects generated by coal, oil, natural gas, coal seam gas and renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, biomass and wave). This report complements ABARE’s biannual list of major mineral and energy development projects.

Topics: ABARE, Australia, clean energy, coal, economic development, economic growth, Economy, electricity, energy, environment, gas, Governance, natural gas, renewable energy, wind, wind energy, wind power

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