Future energy discussion raises heat

Local energy experts sparked a lively debate at the IChemE Energy for the Future seminar in Victoria last month.

Speakers from Greenearth Energy, Esso Australia Pty Ltd and TRUenergy shared their views on how Australia will meet future energy demands.

Whilst the TRUenegy and Esso representatives were grilled over their use of fossil fuels and questioned on what steps they were taking to reduce their energy footprint - both maintained they are also exploring other forms of renewable power to meet future energy requirements in a sustainable way.

TRUenergy generation development manager, Geoff Gay explained how the company is currently considering gas, coal and renewables for its 2.7m customer base in Victoria and New South Wales: “We are also investigating ways to sequester carbon storage from the use of fossil fuels and the huge coal resource in the La Trobe Valley has good storage potential for using coal in a sustainable way.

“Exploring renewables such as wind, solar and geothermal is underway and we already have a solar flagship The Roaring 40s. The business is currently looking at its existing generation fleet to help address the future challenges it faces, particularly with the issues we will have around carbon tax and policy uncertainty makes it hard to move forward and make commitments,” said Gay.

Kerrie-Anne Lanigan, Esso Australia's gas & power marketing director said that the organisation is also exploring economic choices for power generation and investigating how carbon taxes will influence any future decisions: "Natural gas is an attractive choice as it is abundant and a proven technology." Lanigan also acknowledged that protecting the environment for future generations is a priority and that improved technology plays a key role in efficiency, expanding supplies and mitigating emissions.

The final panelist was Richard MacRae from Greenearth Energy – one of Australasia’s foremost geothermal exploration and development companies, with interest in the Otway and Gippsland basins of Victoria and also Indonesia. Greenearth Energy is focusing on Hot Sedimentary Aquifier geothermal development which has been used around the world since 1980 and is currently operating a small plant in Queensland.

MacRae reported that by comparison to other energy types, geothermal is emission free and has a smaller footprint per MW. All parties agreed that energy efficiency on the fuels currently in use is a major focus, but warned that policy settings will drive the economics and that good governance will be needed to support successful implementation.