Energy Facilities WA
- Australian Energy Market Operator. Energy generation WA. (2015). Retrieved from http://wa.aemo.com.au/#generation-fuelmix
AEMO collects and collates a range of data relating to the Wholesale Electricity Market (WEM) within the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) in Western Australia. This site includes a realtime chart of energy use in WA.
Energy Sources Pros and Cons
- DLIST Benguela. (n.d.). Energy sources: What are the pros and cons. Retrieved from http://www.dlist.org/burning-issues/energy-sources-what-are-the-pros-and-consThis website gives a summary of the pros and cons of different forms of renewable and non renewable energy supply.
Introduction
Fossil fuel, any of a class of materials of biological origin occurring within the Earth’s crust that can be used as a source of energy.
Fossil fuels include coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils. All contain carbon and were formed as a result of geologic processes acting on the remains of organic matter produced by photosynthesis, a process that began in the Archean Eon more than 3 billion years ago. Most carbonaceous material occurring before the Devonian Period (approximately 415 million years ago) was derived from algae and bacteria. (Britannica, 2015)
Coal
Coal is a fossil fuel of sedimentary origin that has formed by coalification of vegetation over millions of years. Black coal consists of the higher rank anthracite, bituminous and sub-bituminous coals. The lower rank brown coal is sometimes known as lignite. In Australia coal deposits occur in all States and the Northern Territory and range from 15 million to 225 million years old. Read more on the Geoscience Australia site.
- Department of Finance. (2014). Generation. Retrieved from http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/Public_Utilities_Office/Energy_in_Western_Australia/Electricity/Generation.aspxGeneration involves the conversion of a fuel source into electricity. In Western Australia, the majority of electricity is generated using coal and gas, with smaller amounts coming from diesel and renewable sources (wind, solar and biomass).
- Griffin Coal. (n.d.) Coal education. Retrieved from http://www.griffincoal.com.au/coal-education/Coal is the most abundant and sustainable fossil fuel in the world. Its reserves are widely distributed making it the cheapest of the fossil fuels, both to mine and to use.
- Gill, S. (2015, October 21). A moral case for coal? That's just farcical. Age, The (Melbourne). p. 22.
The argument that burning coal exported by the Adani mine project will deliver health benefits to the world's poor is plain rubbish. - Australia's Coal Industry. (n.d.). Characteristics of the Australian Coal Industry. Retrieved from http://www.minerals.org.au/resources/coal/characteristics_of_the_australian_coal_industryCoal is the world’s fuel of choice for electricity generation – accounting for 41 per cent of global generation – because it is affordable and reliable. Further, coal is expected to remain the primary source of electricity for the foreseeable future. Coal is also an essential ingredient in the manufacture of steel and cement.
Gas
Western Australia is a large producer of gas compared to other states. Around 90% of Australia’s estimated recoverable reserves of conventional gas are in the Carnarvon Basin on WA’s North West Shelf. These gas fields support WA’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry, as well as the major domestic gas market in the South West. Read more on the finance.wa.gov.au site.
- Department of Finance. (2014). Generation. Retrieved from http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/Public_Utilities_Office/Energy_in_Western_Australia/Electricity/Generation.aspxGeneration involves the conversion of a fuel source into electricity. In Western Australia, the majority of electricity is generated using coal and gas, with smaller amounts coming from diesel and renewable sources (wind, solar and biomass).
- KPS. (n.d.). Natural Gas. Retrieved from http://www.kps.com.au/fuels-and-technology/natural-gas.htmlThe use of natural gas as a mine site power generation fuel has increased in recent years. Lower fuel costs and reduced carbon footprint will continue to drive this increase in markets with available and reliable gas supply.
- DomGas. (2009). The importance of gas supply. Retrieved from http://www.domgas.com.au/issues_supply.htmlSecure and affordable gas supply is critical for Western Australia and underpins jobs, investment and economic growth in the State.
Western Australia is the most energy and gas-dependent economy in Australia. Natural gas fuels half of WA’s primary energy and 70% of its electricity generation. This compares to 22% and 16% for Australia as a whole. - Smith, A. (2013, July 26). Let natural gas flow freely, and we'll all benefit. Sydney Morning Herald, The. p. 24.In recent months there has been a highly charged public debate about Australia's natural gas resources and how they are best used.
Advocates of an open economy would like to see Australia become a major supplier to the world. Others see the national interest best served by dedicating natural gas resources to local use.
One thing they agree on is that we are blessed with some of the world's most abundant natural gas resources. A recent government report found we have enough gas for domestic consumption for 184 years - not including future discoveries. If we include potential shale resources, there could be as much as 400 years' worth of gas. So the opportunities for export and domestic use are plentiful, but first we have to deal with the local debate on where these resources are best utilised for our national interest. - Haslam Mckenzie, F. (2013). Delivering Enduring Benefits from a Gas Development: governance and planning challenges in remote Western Australia. Australian Geographer, 44(3), 341-358. doi:10.1080/00049182.2013.817032
This paper reviews the complex and multifaceted adjustment pressures being experienced by Onslow, a small, remote town in Western Australia's Pilbara, as a result of a large gas development. Some members of the community are enthusiastic about the opportunities that the gas industry will bring, although the majority are wary of the negative impacts of rapid growth and corporate dominance observed in other Pilbara towns during the mining boom.
Diesel
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, combustible liquid used as fuel for diesel engines, ordinarily obtained from fractions of crude oil that are less volatile than the fractions used in gasoline. (Britannica, 2015).
- Department of Finance. (2014). Generation. Retrieved from http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/Public_Utilities_Office/Energy_in_Western_Australia/Electricity/Generation.aspxGeneration involves the conversion of a fuel source into electricity. In Western Australia, the majority of electricity is generated using coal and gas, with smaller amounts coming from diesel and renewable sources (wind, solar and biomass).
- KPS. (n.d.) Diesel. Retrieved from http://www.kps.com.au/fuels-and-technology/diesel.htmlDiesel fuelled power generation solutions dominate remote mine power generation in Australia. Generally, this is due to the absence of gas and electricity transmission infrastructure in remote mine locations.