Industry News
Report on the failure of electricity privatisation
Economist Professor John Quiggin has released the report 'Electricity Privatisation in Australia: A Record of Failure'. The report examines 20 years of pro-privatisation reform, including a detailed economic examination of the outcomes of power sales in Victoria and South Australia. [ + ]
Learning & Teaching Sustainability website relaunches
More than 200 educators and researchers from nearly 60 Australian tertiary institutions have joined the Learning & Teaching Sustainability website - an online project to collaborate on sustainability education. [ + ]
Remote measurement of wind turbine oscillations
The Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation (IOSB) has created a way to remotely measure the oscillatory pattern of the rotors and masts of wind turbines. [ + ]
Some understanding but little action when it comes to sustainable food choices
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) has conducted a pan-European study into consumers' understanding of sustainability and food products. The results were published in the journal Food Policy. [ + ]
Controlling air flow decreases pollutants in piston engines
The Kansas State University Research Foundation, a non-profit corporation, has received a patent for a system that controls the air flow to pistons in reciprocating internal combustion engines. [ + ]
Screening biosolids for environmental contaminants
Duke University researchers have developed a method to determine the environmental impact of various chemicals in biosolids. Their research has been published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. [ + ]
Curtin researchers create extreme rechargeable batteries
Chemical engineers at Curtin University have discovered a way to make rechargeable batteries - such as those found in laptops - with extreme capacity, potentially powering electrical cars to run more than 300 km before needing a recharge. [ + ]
NZ Green Party launches Solar Homes policy
New Zealand's Green Party yesterday announced a policy intended to make it easier for households to afford solar power, thus removing a key barrier to the uptake of the technology. [ + ]
Free lecture on corporate social responsibility
Professor Dirk Matten will be presenting a Sydney Ideas lecture, titled The Enigma of the ‘Responsible’ Corporation, next week. The free lecture will be held on 18 February from 6-7.30 pm at the University of Sydney. [ + ]
Solar station to power desalination in Vanuatu
A containerised solar power system, dubbed the 'Solar Station', has arrived in Vanuatu as the first of a series designed to power fresh water production for 11,000 people on the islands. [ + ]
Two new appointments at Carbon Trade Exchange
Carbon Trade Exchange, an electronic carbon credit exchange platform, today announced the appointments of Peter Hawkes as chief general counsel and Mia Mather as operations manager, both effective immediately. [ + ]
Energy Matters enters distribution deal with Yingli Solar
Yingli Green Energy Australia has entered into a distribution agreement with Energy Matters, an Australia solar supply and installation company. [ + ]
TerraCycle to take on Australia's unrecyclables
Global recycling company TerraCycle, which currently operates in 23 countries including the US, Canada, the UK and New Zealand, has officially launched in Australia. [ + ]
Draft standards on energy audits open for public comment
Standards Australia has announced the release of three draft standards on energy audits for public comment. The standards are designed to assist organisations when deciding on what type of audit to implement. [ + ]
Aged care facility inspired by SolarMax
SolarMax has announced the installation of its grid-connected solar inverters at Yass Valley Aged Care (YVAC), a regional NSW aged care facility, through its installation partner, Ygrene Energy. [ + ]
