Global Warming the next "Tsunami"©
Environment strategy for The Greater West of Sydney -Australia -Jan 05
1. Urban Transport Pollution
1 Urban transport as relating to transit buses and the federal government’s AUD$67m national hydrogen depot and up to ninety (90) fuel cell powered buses program, will require the OWS to plan for depots soon to facilitate the best location etcetera for one in The Greater West. This I believe needs planning for to facilitate perhaps the best economic impact along with the environmental impact, for say Liverpool City. Moorebank Technology Park is something that needs activating in year 2005.
The federal hydrogen depot and F.C.B. program will mean NSW will receive its quota over time. Hydrogen depots apart from their strategic placement, facilitate as well a H2 supply for blending with compressed natural gas (CNG) to form HCNG (20%H2). Tasman Resources of Western Australia in late 2004 were contracted to refit 10,000 buses in China to run on HCNG for the 2008 Olympic games. The two(2) technologies can “run” together over time as depicted in the Urban Transport Pollution report. With NSW now expanding its transit bus “T Way” system by AUD$500m,more demand will mean more buses and associated pollution over time.
With mature HCNG bus engine technology becoming increasingly available in year 2005,and adding the fact of the federal hydrogen depot and FCB program being implemented, it is expected that the NSW state government develop prepared strategies to embrace what is going to happen. The OWS will as well be required to examine its impact for the Greater West.
1.1 Urban Transport –New business opportunities
Much more can as well be generated from such an urban transport pollution initiative as suggested above. A trial of fuel cell powered vehicles (FCVs) could as well be facilitated by a hydrogen depot. This would extend the NSW government’s Toyota Prius “green” fleet program another “Step”. The CSIRO is now linked with GM(US)/Holden(Australia) to develop hybrid power plants for transport, petrol /electric engines and their electric drive systems . Heavy-duty electric drive systems for heavy transport vehicles can as well be developed by industry in NSW,along with HCNG engine technologies for truck applications.
Hydrogen production, storage and dispensation technologies will need to be implemented to facilitate the quantity of fuel cell powered buses that NSW will receive over the next few years. This is not difficult but allows for hydrogen production from renewable energy in strategic locations. Most hydrogen will come from surplus industrial processes firstly, then from the reformation of natural gas. Renewable energy must be demonstrated very effectively and will allow Australian technologies to be used. A monopoly by BOC gases or Air Liquide is not desirable here although they will invariably gain significant hydrogen production business under the federal program.
Location of the facilities is as well important as Liverpool City by example needs technological stimulation as relating to Moorebank Technology Park. A tremendous opportunity arises where a hydrogen depot could be located onsite thus stimulating attention to the park and hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
2.0 Decentralised Power and Water Systems -Housing and Industry
2 The “Smart House” project was written in year 2003 at Minister Beamer’s request, to depict future housing and industry supplying their own power and water. The Liverpool City Council Linc Group with several core members, are already planning new architectural efficient housing designs in accordance with the “Smart House” concept; The Linc Group meets in January 2005.
The institute with its consultant helper HECRESA, strongly represented to the NSW government during year 2003,the dangers of electrical power demand in NSW to year 2006 and the water and power demands of new large housing estates planned for The Greater West.
This was directly stated to Minister Beamer on the 11.8.03 in a meeting at Parliament House Sydney. HECRESA as well made contact with several sheet metal companies in late 2003 and year 2004,advising of the business opportunity of making rainwater tanks for new houses. HECRESA as well linked with Ecosmarte Australasia as their products can purify large rainwater tanks without chlorine. Some very powerful structural links were thus developed to assist in actually getting rainwater tanks built and the water purified. These links continue to be developed in year 2005.
Housing and industry supplying their own power is something the institute has been seeking since 2003.A demonstration of up to one hundred (100) houses powered by a solar PV / fuel cell hybrid power plant is sought in year 2005.This can be scaled down to 20-50 houses and involve small industry. The houses would be architecturally designed to be energy efficient, self-powered as above, and harness rainwater and recycle wastewater. I believe that progression on such a program should commence in year 2005.The federal “solar cities” program could as well be incorporated where applicable for housing and or industry.
3.0 Sustainable Living – 2020 and beyond
3 Sustainable Living has been topical for some time, but harnessing Australia’s natural advantages has been something lacking as well for sometime. Communication technology and its growth cannot be ignored anymore, for it already allows for a decentralised workstation 30-50 miles away from any CBD. This allows for affordable and sustainable living, both of which must be encouraged by government leadership and corporate participation.
4.0 Education & Outreach
4 The NSW government has a number of programs for schools in NSW to educate children on renewable energy, energy efficiency and the environment. Fuel Cell Institute of Australia Pty Limited has progressed hydrogen and fuel cell science/engineering education via a national three (3) report series since April 2003.The reports are in most libraries in The Greater West, and a pilot program will commence early in year 2005 with Fairvale High school. The FCIA as well was recognised as a short listed finalist in the corporate category for educational/awareness at the year 2004 Energy &Water Green Globe Awards.
The Hydrogen Institute has received permission to progress its integrated approach to tackle environmental pollution in The Greater West, including hydrogen and fuel cell science/engineering education for schools as a means to reduce pollution via new technologies.
The federal government in November 2004 announced an AUD$39m program for Australian school projects dealing with innovative science, technology and maths projects. Schools in The Greater West can apply for funding via EOI by Feb.25 2005.Many projects not only can facilitate hydrogen and fuel cell science/ technologies, but be environmentally based as well.
Environmental awareness can thus be obtained through schools in The Greater West, where such schools can cooperatively participate in projects which use these new technologies. The OWS could thus participate in this process. Fairvale High school will apply for federal funding associated with its pilot program in year 2005,which will probably involve a number of schools and workshops. Schools could where applicable add a fuel cell power unit to their existing solar cell arrays, to demonstrate a hybrid power plant and achieve decentralised status.
This short B&W communicative report was produced by:
HECRESA consulting Jan 2005:.
HECRESA consulting also operates for the National Hydrogen Institute of Australia and Fuel Cell Institute of Australia. Reports for 2003 included The National Hydrogen Report-June-03, Fuel Cell Products Reference Manual-03, The Living Murray Proposal-03, Solar Thermal Technology Applications for Australia-03, Decentralised Power & Water Systems (Australia)-03, Smart House Project proposal-03, Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Educational Display Centre proposal-03, The Hydrogen Economy / Fuel Cell Vehicles-03, The Hydrogen Commercial Plan-01+..: Year 2004: Suggested Energy Directions for Australia to year 2020-Mar04 , Urban Transport Pollution Reduction proposal-Apr04, Greenhouse Strategy Suggestions NSW May04, Fuel Cell Science Educational Pilot Program For Principals and Teachers-July04, Education in Australia; suggested teaching material on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies-Aug04,High Schools in NSW(H2 & Fuel Cell Science & Engineering Education)-September 04,Sustainable Living to year 2020-Master Plan-short summary(communicative purposes)September 04.Reports for 2005: Global Warming –The next “Tsunami”-Jan 05, The Greenhouse Challenge for Energy( Gov. of Victoria) -Position Paper Comments & Suggestions-Jan05.
These reports were distributed to Minister Diane Beamer August-2003, Minster Craig Knowles-2004, Minister Frank Sartor-2004, ALP Leader Mark Latham-2001-2004, Premier Geoff Gallop WA-2004, The Cabinet of Victoria-2004, The Cabinet of Queensland-2004, Senator Bob Brown-04, and The Senate of Australia 03,04.These reports are now distributed to a much wider audience.
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