by Komoneed | Jun 30, 2024
Yarra Valley Water has launched its new Community Grants Program to support local groups that help build thriving and sustainable communities. Applications are open now, and close at 5 pm on Sunday, 14 July 2024.
Not-for-profit organisations based in Yarra Valley Water’s service area, or those that provide services in the area, are eligible to apply.
Grants of up to $15,000 are available for larger initiatives, and up to $5000 for smaller projects.
This initiative aims to support projects that save water, educate communities on efficient water usage, improve habitats and strengthen community connections.
Pat McCafferty, Yarra Valley Water Managing Director, said: “We’re looking for community organisations and education bodies who share our vision of driving a sustainable water future.
“There are many charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations doing incredible work. By supporting these groups, we ensure they can continue to have a positive impact on the communities they serve.”
Examples of eligible projects include the installation of water tanks, efficient irrigation systems, community gardens and habitat restoration. Projects could also include the purchase of water-saving dishwashers, washing machines and efficient showers. Community groups such as sports clubs, community kitchens, schools or animal shelters in Yarra Valley Water’s service area are encouraged to apply for funding to support projects that:
help communities thrive through education and connection
improve water efficiency and conservation
boost community water awareness
promote sustainable water use
improve habitats and care for the natural ecosystem.
For more information and to apply for a community grant, click here.
Image credit: Yarra Valley Water.
by Komoneed | Jun 30, 2024
The health care sector is uniquely positioned to be a leader in sustainability by implementing practices that mitigate the harms of the climate crisis while advancing public health.
by Komoneed | Jun 30, 2024
Peugeot’s seven-seat electric car offers big practicality and no small amount of style.
by Komoneed | Jun 28, 2024
The federal government has determined that lithium for batteries is a sovereignty issue to Australia on the expectation that lithium will be core to the future of energy. In an effort to improve domestic capabilities, the government is investing heavily in the construction of lithium hydroxide plants and the support for lithium mining and processing, and for battery manufacturing.
However, this lithium-centric approach may not be the panacea for Australia’s energy challenges, and the excessive focus currently could, counter-intuitively, cost us sovereign resilience in the longer term.
Lithium-ion batteries certainly have a key role to play in both energy storage and use. They are indispensable for applications such as electric cars and home appliances, and will be central in helping us move away from carbon-emitting transport.
However, they also have inefficiencies and risks that mean they’re not appropriate for every application. The highly reactive nature of lithium poses safety concerns, with risks of fire and explosion if not managed properly. As the number of devices with batteries increases, storage, disposal and recycling all become major challenges. Currently, the recycling of lithium-ion batteries is done in China, and transporting all those batteries is a safety concern. Additionally, the recycling process itself is highly toxic.
Moreover, the environmental footprint of lithium batteries cannot be overlooked. The extraction and processing of lithium bear significant ecological impacts, including water pollution and habitat disruption.
Another issue is that there is more in lithium batteries than just the lithium itself. The technology’s reliance on other scarce materials, such as cobalt, nickel and graphite, further complicates the sustainability equation. Whenever Australia relies on supply chains from overseas markets, particularly those in geopolitically sensitive regions, there is a level of risk to sovereignty that needs to be managed — a risk best mitigated by finding alternatives.
Finally, there’s the simple reality that lithium batteries are inefficient for many storage activities. The batteries do work, but the economics make it difficult to scale to underpin and guarantee grid resilience. That, coupled with the limited duration of energy storage that they provide means that they are insufficient to allow us to move the grid away from carbon-emitting fossil fuels in full. For that, you need economically viable storage with a duration of 12 hours or longer, and it is currently difficult, expensive and inefficient to press lithium into service that way, at a grid level.
For Australia to achieve true energy sovereignty — a state where it is not overly dependent on external sources for energy or infrastructure, the government needs to not focus on lithium, but invest broadly. The government’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ policy has the right intent. As do the initiatives that were announced through the budget. These programs aim to develop homegrown technologies and manufacturing capabilities, reducing reliance on international supply chains.
But a lot more needs to be done, and Australia needs to scale rapidly in several areas. There are several proven energy storage technologies beyond lithium, such as flow batteries and compressed air energy storage, which offer the potential for large-scale, long-duration energy storage. The best solution is to acknowledge that we’re currently playing catch-up and invest in lithium… but also recognise that we don’t want to fall behind with other emerging technologies, and so invest in those too so that we can approach the transition with a mix of technologies. This is also the only way that we can scale to fill the total capacity that we require.
Investing in the modernisation of the electricity grid to better integrate renewable sources and in energy efficiency measures for industries and homes is also crucial. Resilience in Australian energy should mean community-level generation and distribution, rather than the highly centralised and inefficient grid that we currently rely on.
Such a diversified investment approach would not only address the immediate needs of the energy sector but also foster long-term economic growth, job creation and environmental stewardship.
Dr Thomas Nann, a former professor of chemistry and nano technologist, is the inventor of a water-based, non-flammable battery technology.
Top image credit: iStock.com/PhonlamaiPhoto
by Komoneed | Jun 28, 2024
Hunter Water has significantly bolstered its water supply infrastructure with the installation of a 3 km water trunk main in Black Hill. The additional trunk main will reinforce water supply capabilities by increasing supply from Black Hill 1 Reservoir.
Hunter Water Group Manager Asset Solutions Justin Watts said the upgrades will help to ensure the infrastructure continues to operate safely and reliably, as well as catering for population growth.
“The Black Hill Trunkmain Duplication Project marks a significant milestone in our commitment to ensuring a resilient and sustainable water supply for the communities we serve,” Watts said.
“These improvements will accommodate future growth in the Cameron Park area and fortify water reliability in Maryland, Fletcher and Minmi by providing a new pipeline linked with our bulk water supply network.
“By duplicating the existing infrastructure, we are not only preparing for future growth but also strengthening our ability to deliver reliable water services.”
Location of trunk main duplication upgrades in Black Hill.
The duplicate pipeline was constructed from John Renshaw Drive to Black Hill, entirely within the confines of the existing pipeline corridor.
“In order to complete this work, our Hunter Water crews completed trenching and under-boring along the new pipeline route — all while working closely with the local community to minimise impacts from the construction,” Watts said.
“These upgrades are a crucial component of Hunter Water’s overarching program aimed at the replacement and enhancement of water- and wastewater-related assets throughout our area of operations,” he added.
Hunter Water has another water main project that is about to commence, involving replacement of 1.4 km of pipeline between O’Connells Road and Reflection Drive in Louth Park. This pipeline replacement will assist with improving water efficiency, as well as preventing leaks.
The utility said these upgrades are part of an extensive program of works to improve assets and replace aging infrastructure across the region.
More information about the upgrades is available at: hunterwater.com.au/community/major-projects-in-your-area.
Top image caption: Trunk main duplication work in progress at Black Hill. Images courtesy of Hunter Water.
