Role for wind and biomass, says WPC boss
His observation was based on the hard economics
of the cost of generating power from renewable sources. "Sure there is abundant wind and sun -- it's free. But what is not understood is the considerable cost involved in tapping into those resources and converting them into electricity," he told the World Renewable Energy Congress.
He also foreshadowed a shortfall in WA's effort to meet a target of 2% of its energy generation from renewable sources by 2010. He said Western Power would have to generate another 330 gigaWatt/hrs per year -- "that's the equivalent of 50 wind farms the size we have at Esperance" which he said was "a very significant ask."
Mr Eiszele said a number of factors, however, were pushing Western Power to generate electricity from sustainable sources -- the Greenhouse Gas Cooperative Agreement with the Australian Government, the 2% target by 2010, responsibility to the community and the organisation's corporate objectives.
He said he saw wind and biomass as the most likely areas for cost -effective energy generation, and tidal power in the North-West "maybe". Solar photo voltaic and solar thermal power generation were not helpful -- "on a cost basis" -- he said.
Mr Eiszele expected a 250% increase in the amount of energy Western Power generated from renewable sources in the next four years.
He used the congress to announce four measures to this end:
- a green tariff (a premium rate consumers can pay to get "green"-generated electricity and ensure their rates go into an investment pool for renewable energy development)
- a buy-back scheme for those who generate their own electricity (to be set at the same price Western Power charges for its power generation)
- a feasibility study on biomass generation
- building Australia's biggest wind farm at Albany
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