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| OZ'PPORTUNITES - NUMERO 4 - AOUT 2009 |
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Bienvenue sur Oz'pportunités, la lettre du Service d'Appui aux Entreprises de la Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie Franco-Australienne (FACCI).
Vous trouverez dans ce quatrième numéro un dossier spécial sur les meilleurs salons professionnels d'Australie, un résumé de l'actualité des secteurs porteurs ainsi qu'une présentation des services d'appui aux entreprises proposés par la FACCI.
Nous vous invitons à surfer sur la vague d'opportunités que présente l'Australie ! |
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| ► L'actu des secteurs porteurs en Australie |
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21 Avril | World-leading carbon storage project to expand in Victoria
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Article paru le 21 Avril 2009 dans la lettre d'information publiée par " Invest Victoria "
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In a milestone at the world-leading carbon capture and storage (CCS) project underway in south-western Victoria, 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide has been injected underground in the first year, prompting plans for the project’s expansion.
The $40 million Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) Otway Project is the Australia’s first demonstration of the deep geological storage or geosequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most common greenhouse gas.
The trial has confirmed that carbon storage can be safely undertaken at an industrially-significant scale, with the carbon dioxide behaving as predicted by computer modelling.
Due to the success of the project to date, plans are currently underway to expand the trial with the potential for additional CO2 to be injected two kilometres underground into a depleted gas field, via a second well.
Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor said the project has helped put the international spotlight on Victoria’s climate change research.
“The second well proposal is still in the early stages of planning, but if it goes ahead it would provide a cost-effective way of carrying out additional verification and testing of the technology as the infrastructure is already in place. It would also provide further confirmation of the global significance of the research,” Mr Batchelor said.
The project includes a monitoring program, which international and national scientists believe to be the most comprehensive of its type in the world. Lessons learned from the project, particularly from the extensive monitoring, will be adopted by other geosequestration projects around the world.
“Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has the potential to make deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions and the Victorian Government, through projects such as this, is taking action to ensure Victoria is positioned as a global leader in CCS,” Mr Batchelor said.
Last year, the Victorian Government introduced the first stand-alone legislation in Australia for CCS - the Victorian Greenhouse Gas Geological Sequestration Act 2008. A discussion paper has been released seeking industry input to the preparation of guidelines and regulations to support the Act.
“The Victorian Government is investing in technology to test both the capture and storage of carbon but it is also important that we ensure the right regulatory framework is in place for CCS.
“The development of regulations and guidelines to support the Act will provide certainty for industry looking to invest in this technology, while also ensuring checks and balances are in place to protect the community, other resources and the environment, Mr Batchelor said.
Submissions are open until May 20, 2009, and the discussion paper is available to download at www.dpi.vic.gov.au.
It is expected that draft regulations will be released later this year for further public comment before the regulations and guidelines are finalised for the introduction of the Act no later than on January 1, 2010.
In addition to the CO2CRC Otway project, the Victorian Government has invested in CCS research including:
$110 million through the Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS) for large-scale carbon capture and storage demonstrations;
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$2.5 million for the Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Capture Project, which last year was the first project to capture CO2 from coal fired electricity generation in Australia; and
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$5.2 million to undertake 3D modelling to help identify areas which may be suitable for carbon storage - preliminary results have already identified offshore areas with excellent potential
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29 Avril | Funding Opportunity for Investors in Green Automotive Technology
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Article paru le 29 Avril 2009 sur le site web de "Austrade"
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The A$1.3 billion Green Car Innovation Fund has opened for business. The fund will provide assistance on a co-investment basis, over ten years, to design, develop and manufacture low emission, fuel-efficient cars and components in Australia.
For foreign companies with innovative technologies, this fund provides opportunities to establish an Australian presence, partner with Australian entities or further develop their existing Australian operations or subsidiaries.
An important feature of the fund will be the ability to lodge applications at any time. This will provide applicants with the flexibility to meet their individual investment and decision-making cycles.
Announcing that funds will be available from 1 July 2009, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr said ‘this fund is about working in partnership with the industry to make it more creative, greener, more competitive, and more productive’.
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Pour plus d'informations, visiter :
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28 Mai | Australian Carbon Trust announcement
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Article paru le 28 Mai 2009 sur le site web du "Prime Minister of Australia " www.pm.gov.au
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The Australian Government is committing $75.8 million over five years to establish the Australian Carbon Trust to support households and businesses to engage on climate change, particularly though cutting energy use.
The new Australian Carbon Trust will allocate:
• $25.8 million over five years to establish the Energy Efficiency Savings Pledge Fund to help households and small businesses understand the greenhouse gas benefits and dollar savings to be gained from cutting energy use.
Web-based tools provided by the government will enable households and small businesses to calculate their energy use and the dollar savings that can be made through actions to reduce energy use such as installing energy efficient appliances.
Individuals will then be able to pledge the savings, or any other amount, to the Energy Efficiency Savings Pledge Fund. The fund will buy and cancel carbon pollution permits to create additional emissions reductions. Pledges will be tax deductible.
• $50 million into an Energy Efficiency Trust that will provide seed funding to promote and demonstrate innovative energy efficiency activities for commercial businesses and other organisations.
Upfront investment in energy efficiency projects by the Trust will be repaid through energy savings, creating a revolving fund for further investment.
Through engaging with business and demonstrating the potential to reduce emissions and energy use while saving money and improving business performance, the Trust will have a lead role in showcasing energy efficiency opportunities.
As part of the $2.75 billion Climate Change Action Fund, the government will provide assistance to business and industry to improve energy efficiency and prepare for the impacts of the CPRS.
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Pour plus d'informations, visiter :
Australian Government's climate change priorities web site
Australian Carbon Trust
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02 Juin | Deferred start to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS)
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Article paru le 02 Juin 2009 sur le site web du gouvernement fédéral " Department of Environment and Water" www.environment.gov.au
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The Rudd Government recently announced that the start of the CPRS will be deferred by one year and will commence on 1st July 2011.
This decision has been taken to allow time for the Australian economy to recover from the global recession.
It was also announced that for the first year the permit price will be fixed at $10 per tonne before being opened to prevailing market price in subsequent years (with a ceiling price of $40 per tonne in the short term).
During 2009/10, eligible business can also receive funding to undertake energy efficiency measure from a new $200 million Climate Change Action Fund.
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Pour plus d'informations, visiter : Federal Government's CPRS statement |
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03 Juin | Green thumbs up for Silverton’s $2.2 billion wind farm
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Communiqué paru le 03 Juin 2009 sur le site web du "Premier of New South Wales " www.premier.nsw.gov.au
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The NSW Government has approved the first stage of the biggest wind farm in Australia creating more than 800 construction and operational jobs in Silverton near Broken Hill.
Premier Nathan Rees said the first stage of the $2.2 billion wind farm project will deliver 282 wind turbines which will generate enough green energy to power around 200,000 households.
“The construction of Silverton Wind Farm Developments’ (SWFD) wind farm is great news for jobs and the economy in the Far West and even better news for the environment,” Mr Rees said.
“A single wind turbine will generate enough energy to power up to 732 homes per year which is the equivalent of taking around 1,170 cars off the road annually.
“This development will be one of the world’s largest wind farms and has the potential to provide electricity to three states across the country.
“It will occupy about 32,000 hectares of Crown Land and will form a central part of the state’s electricity infrastructure.”
Mr Rees said the project will deliver 700 jobs to the Broken Hill area during the five-year construction period and 120 jobs during operation of the project.
“This wind farm will provide substantial direct and indirect benefits to the Broken Hill and Silverton communities with an injection of $700 million into the regional economy and up to $90 million into the local economy,” Mr Rees said.
“The local community will also benefit from SWFD’s commitment to establish a Community Fund for Silverton, providing for local infrastructure spending of at least $20,000 to $30,000 per year.”
Construction of the wind farm will be in two stages.
Stage two of the proposal includes a further 316 turbines and a 305-kilometre power line linking the Silverton Wind Farm to Victoria’s Red Cliffs substation and requires further environmental assessment and approval.
In approving the first stage the NSW Government has imposed a range of other conditions regarding noise, visual amenity and environmental impacts on the development.
These include ensuring the local community is consulted during the construction process and that Epuron adheres to the accepted noise guidelines.
Other conditions imposed on Epuron include the requirement to:
Cover the cost of providing reasonable landscaping treatments to screen dwellings or businesses located within a six kilometre radius of the turbines at the owner’s request;
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Prepare a Construction Environmental Management Plan, focusing on traffic, ecology, landscaping, heritage and water management; and
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Limit the area of vegetation that is to be cleared for construction and carry out revegetation using native plants and seed, sourced locally;
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Prepare an Operational Environmental Management Plan, focusing on noise and ecology management.
Mr Rees said the Government has negotiated to retain part of the revenues for projects beneficial to all Western Division landholders and not just the four pastoralist lease holders.
Since 2005 the NSW Government has approved 14 wind farms or 908 wind turbines with a total capacity output of 2486 Megawatts.
“When all of these wind farms are up and running they will save more than six million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually,” Mr Rees said.
“This is the same as taking over one million cars off the road and will have capacity to power approximately 800,000 houses.”
Silverton Wind Farm Developments Chairman, Rob Sauer, said the development has been a successful collaborative exercise between the Crown, the pastoralists and the developer.
“We would like to thank the NSW Government for putting in place a sound mechanism to provide land tenure suitable to a project of this scale and importance.
“We would also like to acknowledge the work of the pastoralists whose continued assistance has been invaluable in the development of the wind farm,” Mr Sauer said.
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23 Juin | Awash with wave power
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Article paru le 23 Juin 2009 dans la lettre d'information publiée par " Invest South Australia "
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South Australia has licensed its second wave-energy pilot plant.
Premier and Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change Mike Rann says Wave Rider Energy Pty Ltd will establish its world-first “wave energy converter” in a pilot plant off Elliston on the Eyre Peninsula.
Mr Rann says the Wave Rider Energy seabed lease follows the issuing in February of the State’s first wave-power licence to Carnegie Corporation, which will test a site along the Limestone Coast near Port MacDonnell.
“Wave energy represents a largely untapped sustainable energy resource and is one of the most environmentally benign forms of energy generation,” Mr Rann says.
“South Australia is said to have excellent wave-energy potential, due to the nature of its coastline and the power of waves generated in the Southern Ocean.”
Wave Rider Energy managing director Christian Gerlach says the location of the site - 800 metres off-shore at a depth of 30 metres - and its limestone seabed will result in minimal impact on the environment.
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01 Juillet | Securing our water future - Water for Good
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Article paru le 01 Juillet 2009 dans la lettre d'information publiée par " Invest South Australia "
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The State Government has outlined its plan to guarantee South Australia’s future water security to 2050 and beyond, diversify our water supplies and reduce reliance on the River Murray.
Premier Mike Rann and Minister for Water Security Karlene Maywald launched the plan, titled Water for Good, in Adelaide in front of 200 industry, government and community representatives.
The plan outlines more than 90 strategies to secure water supplies with more than 60 new actions such as:
- substantially increasing our current stormwater capture and reuse across South Australia, with a target to recycle up to 75 billion litres a year in the long term.
- new rebates for water-saving devices to further encourage water efficiency.
- a state-wide desalination policy to guide future plant proposals.
- appointing an independent regulator to oversee service standards and pricing for monopoly water and wastewater suppliers while retaining government ownership of water infrastructure.
- introducing legislation to foster a competitive water industry and allowing third-party access to government water infrastructure.
- Premier Rann says Water for Good is the blueprint that ensures South Australia remains a world leader in water management to support our economy, lifestyle and environment
“Our number one priority is ensuring South Australia has sufficient water supplies for future economic and population growth – our plan guarantees this.
“Already, South Australia leads the nation in stormwater harvesting, wastewater recycling, irrigation practices and rainwater tank ownership.
“This plan outlines new and effective ways to protect and supplement our water supplies both now and for the longer term.
“Our first step to this goal has been Adelaide’s expanded 100 GL desalination plant, currently under construction at Port Stanvac. The $1.83 billion plant will provide up to half of Adelaide’s drinking water and does not rely on rainfall, giving us the insurance we need against future climate variability.
“Stormwater will play a larger role in diversifying water supplies and in partnership with local government, we will send a funding submission to the Commonwealth immediately for assistance with projects identified in the plan.
Minister Maywald says the Stormwater Management Authority appointed independent consultants during development of the plan to determine where further stormwater capture and reuse could be feasibly established.
“These investigations found in the metropolitan area it is technically feasible to capture 60 billion litres of stormwater. The plan also targets up to 15 billion litres in regional South Australia in the longer term.
“With projects currently in operation, under construction or being scoped, we will harvest about 20 billion litres by 2013. The plan estimates an extra 42 billion litres can be captured for up to $700 million in the long term.
“The State Government has already committed to harvesting 1.2 billion litres at Cheltenham Park and given support to smaller projects, such as green village development Lochiel Park.
“In addition, the government will work with key stakeholders on new stormwater projects at the Adelaide Airport, Riverside Golf Club, Old Port Road, Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Barker Inlet wetlands, and further stages of Waterproofing Northern Adelaide and Water Proofing the South.
“From September this year, new rebates will be offered to encourage water efficiency, including $150 for hot water recirculators and $200 for covers and rollers for existing swimming pools.
“Garden goods rebates will increase from $50 to $100 for a range of products, including rainwater diverters, and washing machine rebates will apply to 4.5-star rated machines, up from 4-stars. This adds to existing rebates for low-flow showerheads, dual-flush toilets, rainwater tanks and home water audits.
“Water for Good also outlines how regional communities will play a key role in developing water demand and supply plans that account for future growth and local supply issues.”
Minister Maywald says the State Government will work with industry to modernise our water legislation to enable a new approach to managing a more competitive and diverse water industry.
“The first step will be the release of a detailed issues paper for consultation, which will drive the direction for new legislation, to be introduced to Parliament next year. It will be a single and modern Water Industry and Planning Act.
“We will develop a third-party access regime, allowing new suppliers to use our water delivery network and appoint an independent regulator to oversee pricing, licensing and consumer protection.
“These measures acknowledge calls to modernise our approach to water planning, price-setting, legislation and research.
“We will also continue to lead the nation in recycling treated wastewater. Currently, Adelaide recycles 30 per cent, compared with the national average for other metropolitan utilities of 13%. Projects are under way to increase our reuse capability to 45%.
“An important part of Water for Good will be an annual review on the progress of actions, to be delivered yearly by the Commissioner for Water Security. This provides accountability for all stakeholders to ensure strategies are delivered in the coming years, as our state continues to grow."
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07 Juillet | Cleaner options for Victoria’s coal: new Latrobe Valley projects
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Article paru le 07 Juillet 2009 dans la lettre d'information publiée par " Invest Victoria "
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Ignite Energy Resources (IER) and TRUenergy, one of Australia's largest, integrated energy businesses, are set to build a coal-to-liquids and coal drying demonstration project in the Latrobe Valley in a bid to create new and cleaner options for coal development in Victoria.
The project’s aim is to convert abundant, low-cost, high-moisture lignite into high-valued oil and coal products, in order to provide a cleaner, secure energy source, while significantly reducing CO2 emissions.
The new facility will be developed in three modules to process up to 60,000 tonnes of high moisture content brown coal per annum that will produce up to 60,000 barrels of IER high-grade oils and 18,000 tonnes of high-grade dry coal.
IER's proprietary supercritical water technology (patent pending) is central to the conversion process, transforming low ranked coals, including lignite, directly into high-valued oils and cleaner coal products.
Dr Len Humphreys CEO of IER said: "We are delighted that TRUenergy, who are committed to address climate change, is supporting the development of this plant. In a CO2 conscious world, we believe IER's technology can fundamentally change the way the world looks at lignite."
IER's operating reactor at Somersby, NSW converts one dry tonne of Gippsland Basin lignite into approximately two barrels of oil and 0.6 tonnes of high ranked coal. Independent expert reports predict that the Company's coal, compared to lignite, will reduce CO2 emissions by 40 per cent when used for power generation.
Subject to feasibility studies and based on the operating Somersby reactor design, IER will build and operate a commercial-scale reactor at the TRUenergy site at Yallourn in the Latrobe Valley. Work is expected to begin in mid-July with the initial plant operating by the second quarter of 2010.
IER has certain rights to significant, proven reserves of lignite through a Gippsland Basin Exploration Licence, and the company's modular plant design, using multiple reactors, allows for significant expansion beyond the initial 20,000 tonnes per annum scale.
Richard McIndoe, MD of TRUenergy said: "TRUenergy's involvement in this demonstration plant and support for Ignite's innovative approach is consistent with our strategy to support new technology initiatives that can help ensure a future for Victoria's brown coal. This is a resource that has a huge potential if solutions to its high carbon intensity can be developed and commercialised. We believe this is an important initiative."
Victorian Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor welcomed the announcement and said it was vital that both industry and government examine new and clean options for the development of Victoria’s vast brown coal resources.
“The Victorian Government has invested record levels in leveraging investment and job growth from the Latrobe Valley’s brown coal and, through projects such as this, it is fantastic to see industry also committing to the future development of our coal resource and the Latrobe Valley,” Mr Batchelor said.
“Projects such as this have the potential to help establish new non-power industries for coal development in the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland region.”
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30 Juillet | NSW launches clean energy prize at inaugural University Government Business Forum
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Article paru le 30 Juillet 2009 sur le site web du "NSW Department of State and Regional Development"
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NSW Premier Nathan Rees has announced a new $5 million international prize to keep the State at the forefront of clean energy.
The NSW Energy Challenge Prize was announced at an inaugural University Government Business Forum held on July 20 to bring together the three sectors to find new ways to tackle global challenges faced by NSW.
"This prize signals to the rest of the world that we are serious about research and innovation and serious about a clean energy solution for NSW," Mr Rees said.
Minister for Science and Medical Research Jodi McKay said identifying research priority areas will help consolidate NSW's position as Australia's leading green, clever State.
"Having a definitive approach to research across NSW will allow us to attract greater Commonwealth and international research funding, support new jobs and emerging industries and help NSW to become a globally competitive and highly skilled workforce," Ms McKay said.
Minister for Education and Training Verity Firth said the NSW university sector made an enormous contribution to the State with 11 NSW universities employing over 25,000 staff and educating over 300,000 students.
"This Forum is about finding ways to support and extend the engagement between universities, industry and the Government for the benefit of the State," Ms Firth said.
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30 Juillet | Australia's biggest desalination plant to secure water and jobs
Consortium Suez Environnement, Degremont, Thiess and Macquarie Capital Group selected |
Communiqué paru le 30 Juillet 2009 sur le site web du "Premier of Victoria" www.premier.vic.gov.au
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The Premier, John Brumby, today announced the AquaSure consortium had been awarded the contract to build Australia's biggest desalination plant, which will secure Victoria's water supplies, deliver as many as 1700 direct new jobs and help ease tough water restrictions.
Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government selected AquaSure, consisting of Suez Environnement, Degremont, Thiess and Macquarie Capital Group to build the $3.5 billion desalination plant, with key features including:
- A guarantee to deliver desalinated water by the end of 2011;
- Value for money for water users;
- Delivery of water to meet Victoria's high water quality standards;
- Flexibility to supply between 0 and 100 per cent of the plant's capacity in block increments;
- Proven and secure desalination technology; and
- Security of finance for the project in a constrained global economy.
"I am delighted to announce today that AquaSure will build Australia's biggest desalination plant near Wonthaggi," Mr Brumby said.
"This desalination plant will be operational from the end of 2011 and is critical to securing water supplies for Melbourne, Geelong and towns in Western Port and South Gippsland.
"Our Government is committed to Victoria's Desalination Project because we must deliver a solution that is not rainfall dependent in an era of climate change.
"Together with the Food Bowl Modernisation Project and Sugarloaf Pipeline, our new desalination plant will help ease water restrictions. I expect these projects will see our water storages begin to recover in 2012 and restrictions progressively eased.
"At the same time as securing our water supply, we are securing 1700 direct jobs and as many as 3050 indirect jobs during construction in a tough global economy."
Mr Brumby said AquaSure had committed to additional features and projects, to ensure Victoria's desalination plant was not only Australia's biggest, but Australia's most advanced, including:
- Secure underground power supply;
- Commitment to renewable energy projects to offset the plant's energy use;
- Minimising the impact on the local environment, including continued use of Williamson's Beach and
the best possible visual amenity at the plant site; and
- Delivering benefits to the local community, such as a new broadband fibre optic cable and a secure
local water supply.
Water Minister Tim Holding, said household water bills were increasing as a result of the water projects, but reiterated the Brumby Labor Government's commitment that average bills would not more than double by 2012.
"Importantly, Victoria's Desalination Project is being delivered as a Public Private Partnership which ensures that water remains in public hands and delivers value for money," Mr Holding said. Mr Holding said the bidders had been able to secure finance for the project in the most challenging economic climate since the Great Depression.
"The capacity of AquaSure to raise the necessary funds in such a tough global economic environment is a testament to the strong Victorian economy under the Brumby Labour Government," Mr Holding said.
"AquaSure will now seek to diversify its investor base, with the Victorian Government providing a Treasurer's Guarantee of Syndication. This means the State will be a lender of last resort if required, at commercial rates.
"This innovative arrangement will ensure the project can be delivered on time, despite the global financial crisis."
Mr Holding said the desalination plant was being built to deliver up to 150 billion litres of water a year, with the capacity to increase production to 200 billion litres if necessary.
"Victoria's desalination plant will give water users complete flexibility with the capacity for the Government to order water in annual block increments, starting at zero, then 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 billion litres as required," Mr Holding said.
An independent reviewer and environmental auditor will ensure quality design and environmental protection.
"Victoria has set high international standards for the project with strict environmental safeguards as well
as undersea inlet and outlet tunnels to minimise the impact on marine life," Mr Holding said.
"AquaSure has committed to develop, in partnership with AGL, the Oaklands Hill 63MW wind farm near Glenthompson which will create 200 new jobs.
Mr Brumby welcomed AquaSure's commitment to power the plant by the Government's preferred option; an underground power line travelling largely along the desalination pipeline alignment to Cranbourne.
"We listened to the local community and concluded that underground power was the preferred option to power the desalination plant," Mr Brumby said.
"By securing underground power, the project will have the least impact on landowners, farmers and other people living and working in the area.
"AquaSure has also committed to running a high speed broadband cable alongside the power line, in another great result for the local community."
Other local projects to be delivered with the desalination plant include:
- $12 million in road upgrades, many of which are underway; and
- Development of a housing strategy for workers coming to the region.
Mr Brumby thanked BassWater consisting of Veolia, John Holland and the Royal Bank of Scotland for their highly professional and competitive bid.
"I believe that either consortium could have successfully delivered the project, however BassWater was unsuccessful in its bid," he said.
Financial close on the contract will occur by 4 September. AquaSure will begin construction in October on the desalination project, which will include the plant at Wonthaggi, the 86-kilometre transfer pipeline to connect to Melbourne's existing network, the underground power source and renewable energy projects.
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