Powerlink will work collaboratively alongside 11 regional NRM organisations, on key aspects including the management of environmental offsets to ensure social and environmental benefits for communities, landscapes and future generations.

Related article: Work begins on Queensland’s CopperString 2032

It recognises the opportunity to develop projects across Queensland that support both sectors to be nature positive, while balancing affordability, security and reliability of the electricity network. The partnership also helps to facilitate the successful transition of an electricity network which is becoming more weather affected.

Powerlink executive general manager of network and business development Stewart Bell said, “Powerlink is playing a vital role in delivering Queensland’s transition to a renewable energy future by building the connections between generators and Queenslanders.

“Partnerships like this will also allow us to make meaningful contributions to enhancing Queensland’s natural resources.

“We see this is as not only a way to offset environmental impacts but also to understand how we can do more to ensure future generations can benefit from the rich environment Queensland has to offer.”

Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland CEO Chris Norman said, “The purpose of this agreement is to drive innovation that supports both the energy and natural resource management sector to be nature positive.

“We are hoping to develop a program of collaborative offsets with an initial focus on environmental restoration offsets.

Related article: Endangered parrots arrive at Tasmanian Gas Pipeline

“Like Powerlink, we have a long-term vision for a healthier environment built on foundations of dedication and trust.

“Together we want to develop leading practice around strategic environmental offsets and limit the impacts any action—such as renewable energy projects—might have on the environment.”

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By July 2024, the government will release new statewide maps that identify key habitat areas for native wildlife which will help renewable energy developers and planners to build renewable energy in areas that will have the least impact on wildlife.

Related article: Ark Energy scraps proposed Wooroora Station Wind Farm

Program funding will contribute to research projects and spatial analysis to identify risks and fill critical knowledge gaps on the best approaches to reducing any adverse environmental impacts from wind farms.

The news was welcomed by Clean Energy Council director of energy generation and storage Dr Nicholas Aberle.

“We are pleased that the Victorian government has committed to an important program of work to address the uncertainty that has affected the wind industry in recent years,” Dr Aberle said.

“A lack of policy direction to assess and mitigate risks to biodiversity has contributed to significant delays in project assessment, especially for wind farms.”

No wind farms were approved in Victoria during 2023, due in large part to systemic ambiguity within government departments about these risks and how these can be appropriately avoided, mitigated and managed.

In 2023, high-profile planning recommendations at the Willatook wind farm project with regard to bird and bat guidelines exacerbated confusion about how renewable energy project proposals are assessed, creating a chilling effect on the investment environment in Victoria.

“Wind farms do have some environmental impacts, but these are well down the list of threats to any species or ecosystem, when compared to other issues, including feral cat and fox predation and wetland degradation, among others,” Dr Aberle said.

Related article: 1.5GW Yanco Delta Wind Farm gets government go-ahead

“By contrast, climate change is one of the most significant and complex threats to biodiversity, which is precisely what renewable energy is uniquely placed to address.

“Better knowledge of species most at risk will give industry and government departments the certainty needed to approve and build wind farms with sound mitigation and management practices.”

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Related article: Ark Energy withdraws plans for Western Plains Wind Farm

The final proposal involved 42 wind turbines with an expected generation capacity of almost 300MW to be located on Wooroora Station, a cattle-grazing property near Ravenshoe in the Atherton Tablelands region of north Queensland. The property, which already contains a substation and high-voltage powerlines, is near national parks that form part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area.

The proposal was referred to DCCEEW for review under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in July 2021 and had been in the federal environmental assessment process for almost three years.

Over that time it had been granted development consent by the Queensland Government, gone through two major redesigns to reduce environmental impacts and DCCEEW had extended the due date for its decision five times, the latest extending the date to 25 June 2024.

Ark Energy project lead and acting general manager development Queensland Damian Vermey said, “After consideration we decided to withdraw the referral. A massive effort was made over many years to evolve a proposal that we believed offered significant benefits and environmental net gains, but we acknowledge others may have a different view.

“We remain proud of all the work that was done to minimise environmental impacts as well as the proposal’s industry-leading commitments to provide conservation benefits, net positive environmental outcomes, and meaningful benefits for the Traditional Owners and local community.

“We appreciate this outcome is also disappointing for all those supporters who were looking forward to the project, including the Traditional Owners, community members and local businesses.

Related article: Ark Energy breaks ground for landmark SunHQ

“We sincerely thank the many stakeholders we have worked with over the course of this project, including environment organisations that helped guide design improvements, and of course all those who showed support for the project.”

Ark Energy also withdrew plans for its 50.4MW Western Plains Wind Farm in Tasmania in late October 2023, saying it would instead focus on developing larger utility-scale wind projects.

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If the Winds of Change discussion paper was adopted, future conflict with the Commonwealth Government, as seen with the Port of Hastings rejection, could be averted, the group says.

Related article: Australia’s third—and smallest—offshore wind zone declared

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek rejected the Port project in January because of the unacceptable risk to an internationally recognised Ramsar wetland. While the Victorian Government vowed to contest the decision, a smarter approach to marine planning would give certainty to the renewables industry and nature protection.

The Winds of Change discussion paper makes 10 recommendations to address risks early in the offshore energy process, including:

• Making the environment a core criterion from the outset—e.g. when offshore wind zones are designated, and licences awarded to developers
• Developing criteria for all renewable energy zones to stop development in high-value areas—e.g. marine national parks and sanctuaries, national parks, areas of wildlife aggregation and cultural significance
• Identifying suitable sites and no-go areas for renewable energy through upfront marine spatial planning.

VNPA marine nature conservation campaigner Shannon Hurley described the discussion paper as a blueprint for an environmentally responsible shift to renewables.

“Our marine wildlife and habitats are an integral part of the climate solution. If left unprotected and overlooked in the rapid energy transition, we risk creating as many problems as we solve,” she said.

“We’ve created a comprehensive plan for federal and state governments to make sure our natural environment is not sacrificed for the energy transition.

“We can improve the costly and time-intensive single project approval processes hampering the shift to renewables.

“We can nip in the bud the sort of issues that led to the Port of Hastings project being rejected because of unacceptable environmental risks.

“Victoria’s coastlines and marine waters are some of the most important areas in the country for Southern Right Whales and Pygmy Blue Whales, and vital for seabirds such as shearwaters and albatrosses, and deep rocky reefs and sponge gardens.

Related article: Consultation opens for Bunbury offshore wind zone in WA

“Properly managed wind projects will help Victoria lead Australia’s response to our rapidly warming climate and meet ambitious net-zero targets by 2045.

“This plan gives Victoria the opportunity to win the crucial social licence from local communities, reduce investment risks and speed up the right renewable projects.”

The post Paper reveals offshore wind projects can protect habitats appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Related article: Plibersek vetoes Vic’s renewables terminal at Port Hastings

ACEN Australia plans to build a 100-turbine wind farm on the island after successfully overturning an environmental condition in November that required the turbines to cease operation for five months of the year during the migration of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot.

CHCAN wants the seasonal turbine shutdown condition upheld, with chair Steve Pilkington saying, “We’ve been fighting this project for four years, and … we’ve had a logical argument that this is the most important environmental place that you could pick to have a wind farm, and it’s wrong.”

ACEN Australia won the right to operate its turbines year-round following a comprehensive environmental assessment and agreeing to measures that included reducing the number of wind turbines and their heights, refining the footprint of the project and incorporating technology designed to prevent turbine blades hitting birds.

In addition, ACEN Australia must pay $100,000 for every death of a wedge-tailed eagle or orange-bellied parrot caused by its wind turbines.

The Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal said the wind project posed a “very low” risk to the recovery of the orange-bellied parrot.

Related article: Ark Energy withdraws plans for Western Plains Wind Farm

The case is expected to go before the Supreme Court of Tasmania in late February.

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The transmission network identified a non-operational area at Molong substation near Orange as a potential site for a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement to protect native flora and fauna.

Related article: Transgrid establishes Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements

Yura Ngura Indigenous advisory manager for Transgrid Sherrie Anderson said, “This project is not only helping protect the environment but is also part of our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan to work with Traditional Owners to support Indigenous employment.

“Transgrid is committed to caring for Country and we consulted with Muru Mittigar and the Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council to help progress rehabilitation works at the Molong site and it’s really exciting to see this initiative underway,” she said.

Indigenous Social Enterprise Muru Mittigar will project manage the rehabilitation works and engage direct Indigenous employees from Orange Local Aboriginal Land Council to carry out ecological work.

Muru Mittigar technical manager Wayne Williams said, “It’s important for us to look at opportunities for Indigenous employment. It’s good that Transgrid have accepted the opportunities that Land Councils and Aboriginal companies are trying to do and they’re willing to move forward.

“We all have a common goal. It’s about caring for Country. If you could do this everywhere that would be absolutely wonderful.”

Work at Molong has begun with 15 plots marked out to assess different weed control methods.

“We have five plots being undertaken with fire management practices, five with pesticide weed spraying and five with natural re-growth, to compare the difference between the plots,” Williams said.

The rehabilitation work will continue into 2024. Once completed the Molong site will be revaluated for its potential to enter into a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement (BSA).

Related article: Transgrid invites landowners to join biodiversity program

BSAs will offset the biodiversity impact major transmission projects and provide opportunities to perpetually preserve biodiversity on large swathes of land.

Transgrid is finalising a BSA on an 8,700ha property in south-western NSW, which will ensure the protection of five threatened species and will become one of the biggest BSAs in NSW history.

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On Friday, Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny released her assessment of the project, following the preparation of an environmental effects statement and completion of a planning inquiry.

Related article: GenCost: Wind, solar still lowest cost new build generation

Her recommendations included widened turbine-free buffer zones for endangered brolga and bats, which would reduce the number of turbines and the farm’s energy output, along with a five-month moratorium on construction throughout the brolga breeding season.

Clean Energy Council director of energy generation and storage Dr Nicholas Aberle said the decision reveals the urgency of reform to address broader challenges affecting the confidence of investors and industry in responsibly developing new projects critical to climate action and the energy transition.

“The decision relies on draft brolga standards which have not been finalised or approved by government, and European standards developed for European bats.

“The arbitrary requirement for a five-month window in which construction is not allowed to proceed has been imposed without being evaluated through an already time-intensive Environmental Effects Statement process. This is not supported by evidence and is simply not workable in practice for any wind farm.”

Dr Aberle said unpredictability from planning processes created unnecessary risk for investors, which would affect decisions to support future project development, particularly where other jurisdictions are taking supportive action to expedite approvals processes.

Related article: Clean energy investment pipeline battles headwinds

“Industry are conscious of the importance of minimising the environmental impacts of clean energy projects, but without reform to approvals processes for these projects, we cannot effectively address the climate crisis that is threatening every single species and ecosystem on the planet.

“The Clean Energy Council are in ongoing discussions with the Victorian Government to discuss how these challenges can be solved, so that this unfortunate outcome does not occur again, with little or no forewarning.”

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Transgrid is establishing one of the biggest Biodiversity Stewardship Agreements in New South Wales history, protecting valuable habitat and one of Australia’s most endangered birds across a vast property as part of the nation’s largest electricity transmission project.

It comes as the transmission infrastructure leader updates its Biodiversity Strategy to ensure a co-ordinated approach across its projects to minimising ecological impacts.

Related article: It’s time to better manage biodiversity in Australia

“Transgrid is leading the transition to a clean energy future, and this gives us the opportunity to be at the forefront of preserving NSW’s valuable biodiversity,” Transgrid CEO Brett Redman said.

“We are committed to making a positive contribution to our social licence and leaving a lasting legacy in communities where we operate.”

Transgrid is finalising a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement (BSA) on an 8,700ha property in southwestern NSW, ensuring the protection of five threatened species of flora and fauna including the critically endangered Plains-wanderer, as well as a threatened ecological community of Weeping Myall.

The property has a unique mix of native grasslands and red clay habitats occupied by a significant population of Plains-wanderer birds. It also adjoins a national park, significantly increasing the conservation area.

The NSW Government has also approved the company’s first BSA on a 6,600ha property called Big Bend at Rufus near the NSW-Victoria border. This will result in the protection of four threatened species of flora including the largest population of the critically endangered Desert Hopbush.

“These key sites have been extensively studied by the experts and management plans are being put in place to protect and enhance significant species and their habitats in perpetuity,” Redman said.

Transgrid has also signed memorandums of understanding with the owners of another three sites totalling 6,800ha in south-west NSW to investigate additional BSAs.

The BSAs will offset the biodiversity impact of most of Transgrid’s $1.8 billion EnergyConnect interconnector—the nation’s largest transmission project—from Wagga Wagga to the South Australian border.

Related article: Transgrid invites landowners to join biodiversity program

Transgrid is also calling for expressions of interest from landowners for potential BSAs as part of its HumeLink project which will connect Wagga Wagga, Bannaby and Maragle.

“We are inviting landowners to partner with us on this important journey,” Redman said.

Transgrid is legally required to avoid and minimise biodiversity impacts during major transmission project lifecycles, including route selection, concept design, environmental assessment, construction and operation.

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According to a report in WA Today, there are 26 methane gas leaks in the field. Methane is more than 80 times worse for global warming than carbon dioxide.

Related article: Santos rejects allegations of human rights violations

“The question today for the Climate Change Minister, Chris Bowen, is how many of his carbon-cutting initiatives are being cancelled out by these rogue methane emissions,” he said.

“We have no idea how many of the 90 or so other retired gas fields are also leaking, because nobody is monitoring them.

Related article: Worker dies at Woodside’s North Rankin gas platform

“If Santos can’t clean up this mess then engineers from Europe, where world’s best practice in well decommissioning takes place, should be brought in to solve the problem, and Santos should pay for it.”

“The federal government should indefinitely extend, and increase, the temporary decommissioning levy that the industry is now paying so that all abandoned wells can be properly sealed.”

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In a press conference, Mr Turnbull reminded the former PM that the target was settled under his leadership just 18 months ago.

“It was restructured under the government of my predecessor, Mr Abbott, and as a consequence of that, as he said at the time, it created certainty for investment in the renewables energy space,” Mr Turnbull said at the joint press conference with Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.

“We’re committed to the Renewable Energy Target, as restructured at the time. And it will not be changed.

“As Mr Abbott said at the time, it was a great effort by the ministers, the Minister for Industry and Minister for the Environment at the time.

“Much of it received bipartisan support. But the important thing was, that it restored certainty to the industry.”

The statement came after Mr Abbott continued to attack the renewable energy target on the weekend.

He warned the audience at a Young Liberals conference in Adelaide that power was getting more expensive and less reliable because the Turnbull government was making it harder to use coal and gas through the target.

He said while he was prime minister, he had been successful in reducing the RET from 27 per cent to 23 per cent, but noted it was “still too high” because mining operations like Alcoa, Arrium, Port Pirie and Roxby Downs were in trouble.

“The public are not mugs. We can’t credibly attack Labor merely for being worse than us. This is why our first big fight this year must be to stop any further mandatory use of renewable power,” Mr Abbott told the audience.

“Labor wants to more than double the renewable energy target­ to 50 per cent. That means a $50 billion overbuild of unnecessary wind turbines costing each household $5000 — and that’s just for starters.”

Australia’s RET is to ensure that at least 33,000 GWh of Australia’s energy comes from renewable sources by 2020.

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The new Code of Practice delivers a more practical, streamlined and user friendly document, with a significant focus on collaboration and co-operation.

The code details how Powerlink, Ergon Energy and Energex will maintain electricity corridors and infrastructure in Queensland’s national parks and state forests, including sensitive Wet Tropics World Heritage listed areas.

It was negotiated between the three QESI entities and state government departments DNPSR – which includes the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) – and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) and HQ Plantations, which holds the Queensland Government’s plantation forestry leases, were also parties to the negotiation of the code.

Powerlink chief executive Merryn York joined representatives from the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing (DNPSR) in signing the document and said the code provided a framework for innovative and efficient practice that delivers responsible and cost-effective environmental management.

“We set out to ensure the new code provided a clear framework for communication, collaboration and appropriate and transparent environmental controls for all parties to the agreement,” Ms York said.

“It’s also rewarding to see that through our demonstration of collaborative engagement, Powerlink has significantly strengthened its positive and productive relationship with DNPSR and QPWS as a result of the process.

“The code provides clarity regarding expectations for environmental management, and removes uncertainties which were contributing to operational inefficiency.”

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Last Friday it was announced administrators PPB Advisory had been called in to work with Linc’s management on options including a possible restructure.

After receiving legal and financial advice and considering commercial prospects, the board decided it was in the best interests of the company to make the move.

The announcement comes one month after the company was committed to stand trial on five charges relating to breaches in Queensland’s environmental laws at its underground coal gasification site.

The state’s environment department accused the company of wilfully causing serious harm at its trial site near Chinchilla on the Darling Downs.

If found guilty, the company could face up to $56 million in fines. However, a report by not-for-profit law firm Environmental Justice Australia has found mining companies are using legal loopholes to delay or minimise their rehabilitation obligations.

Linc Energy argued the case against it was circumstantial and that it is innocent.

Administrator Stephen Longley said they were focused on working with Linc to review the company’s operations and assets in Australia and the United States.

“We are confident that upon completion of this review, we can work towards establishing a deed of company arrangement that has the potential to facilitate a future restructure of the business,” he said.

– ABC News

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