Full Version - Essential Energy

More documents

Recommendations

Info

30 Energy efficiency research scholarship A research scholarship focusing on energy efficiency has been established by Country Energy and Charles Sturt University. The successful applicant will research ways to improve the use of energy in rural and regional areas, with a focus on marketing and economics issues. Focus areas will include electricity demand management options, demand for renewable energy and ways to increase customer acceptance of energy efficiency options and renewable energy. This will help us investigate attitudes toward energy use and conservation, make better planning decisions and ultimately reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Landmark deal A significant greenhouse gas abatement initiative with private forestry developer CO2 Group Limited was announced in April 2005 – representing the largest carbon sequestration (capture) deal under the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme. The unique partnership involves establishing up to 30,000 hectares of Mallee eucalypt trees across regional New South Wales in 2006, which will remain in place for 100 years under Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme rules. The trees will be planted in strips on existing farms to act as natural wind breaks and control soil erosion. Other benefits include greenhouse gas abatement, dry land salinity management and regional employment opportunities during both the establishment and ongoing support phases. Future goals – reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.2 million tonnes over six years – the equivalent of taking more than 177,000 cars off the road. Meeting greenhouse targets Country Energy met all organisational greenhouse gas abatement goals, Federal Government renewable energy targets, New South Wales Government greenhouse gas reduction targets and National Green Power accreditation targets this year. During the last compliance period, Country Energy sourced 100 per cent of green power sales from new (post 1997 built) renewable energy generators, including wind, solar and hydro. This is 20 per cent above minimum accreditation requirements. The Federal Government’s renewable energy target places a legal liability on wholesale electricity purchasers to proportionately contribute towards the generation of an additional 9,500 gigawatt hours of renewable energy by 2010. Country Energy’s target for the 2004 calendar year was met. Commenced in January 2003, the New South Wales greenhouse gas reduction scheme imposes mandatory greenhouse gas benchmarks on all New South Wales electricity retailers. The State greenhouse gas benchmark is set in terms of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) per capita. The initial level set for 2003 was 8.65 tonnes and the benchmark progressively drops to 7.27 tonnes in 2007 and will continue until 2012. Our 2004 calendar year target was met, with more than 80 per cent of contributions coming from landfill and waste mine gas generators. These generators prevent ozone depleting gases and are particularly environmentally-friendly. Commercial partnerships We continue to turn green energy into a commercial reality, by working with developers to secure new energy supplies that deliver environmental and regional sustainability benefits. The key criterion for potential partners is appropriate technologies, expertise and financial capabilities. Examples include – Eastern Star Gas – Narrabri Power Station While all generation technologies have a role to play in the future, Country Energy has a unique perspective on the commercial development of new gas-fired generation in regional New South Wales. Gas-fired power stations have both operational and environmental advantages in responding to the challenges of rising electricity demand. Opened in November 2004, the 10 megawatt Narrabri power station opened the door for natural gas to be delivered on a commercial basis from a New South Wales field for the first time. We have a 10-year commercial agreement to purchase all of the energy and associated greenhouse gas abatement certificates from the new station. For the next one to two years of full-time operation, the facility is expected to produce enough energy to power 13,000 homes and greenhouse gas abatement of 36,000 tonnes per annum – the equivalent of removing 12,000 cars from the road. COUNTRY ENERGY ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005
Our increasing involvement in projects such as this is helping to establish the infrastructure needed to support future industry growth across country and coastal New South Wales as well as enhancing employment opportunities and energy utility services in regional communities. Earthpower Technologies – Camellia food to waste energy plant This western Sydney-based plant accepts segregated waste from the industrial and commercial sectors, turning it into green energy and a high quality fertiliser product. The plant processes 210 tonnes of waste each day, producing sufficient green energy to power almost 4,000 homes and eliminating 106,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Country Energy purchases all of the output of the plant under a commercial agreement. Renewable Australia Pty Limited Our exclusivity agreement with Renewable Australia extends to 2009 and reflects our commitment to developing and commercialising technology to recover methane gas, primarily from small regional landfill sites. Along with private sector business partners, we have been working with Renewable Australia in developing a benchmarking and implementation program in conjunction with key stakeholders such as local government. The landfill gas extraction technology will be combined with a number of proposed landfill gas energy generation projects over the next one to three years. As well as reducing greenhouse gases, the technology will encourage better landfill management, regional job creation and improved regional infrastructure. The first electricity from the $34 million power station and gas field development is expected to be sold into the National Electricity Market grid by August 2006. The agreement will assist Country Energy in meeting future gas electricity certificate (GEC) requirements under the Queensland Government’s 13 per cent gas scheme, as well as covering other green products such as New South Wales Gas Abatement Certificates if required. In addition, the electricity generated from this project will provide Country Energy with a competitive position in the Queensland retail electricity market. In conjunction with private sector proponents, we are also assessing the feasibility of a number of gas fired power stations in regional New South Wales. Current locations include, but are not limited to, the north west, northern, far north coast, central west, south east, south west and Riverina regions. Generation capacities vary depending on the region and infrastructure requirements. We are also looking at sites in Queensland’s south west and coastal regions. Currently, around 1,000 megawatt hours of generation capacity from natural gas, biogas or coal seam methane-related fuel sources is under assessment. Future goals – over the next three years, we expect that up to five new generation projects can be supported to meet our commercial and regulatory requirements. 31 Arrow Energy – Daandine power station Country Energy has negotiated a 10-year power purchase agreement with Arrow Energy NL, the developer of a 27 megawatt gas fired power station near Dalby, in south east Queensland. The power station will be fuelled by 2.2 petajoules per annum of coal seam gas from Arrow’s Daandine field. COUNTRY ENERGY ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005
Page 1 and 2: Becoming Australia’s leading util
Page 3 and 4: Priorities in 2004-2005 Country Ene
Page 5 and 6: A leader in safety 5 COUNTRY ENERGY
Page 7 and 8: Detailed audit schedules have been
Page 9 and 10: Workers compensation In addition to
Page 11 and 12: A successful national retailer 11 C
Page 13 and 14: Looking inside We recognise that ou
Page 15 and 16: This resulted in the campuses reduc
Page 17 and 18: The best network manager 17 COUNTRY
Page 19 and 20: The table below highlights some exa
Page 21 and 22: • Large snowfalls in the Snowy Mo
Page 23 and 24: Vegetation management The managemen
Page 25 and 26: Information services In addition to
Page 27 and 28: A responsible environmental manager
Page 29: One of the most rewarding aspects o
Page 33 and 34: Waste management A code of practice
Page 35 and 36: A valued part of the community 35 C
Page 37 and 38: Increased presence Our program of r
Page 39 and 40: Nu 1000 0 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-
Page 41 and 42: Sponsorship spend $82,424 $125,000
Page 43 and 44: An employer of choice 43 COUNTRY EN
Page 45 and 46: Apprentices by region / operational
Page 47 and 48: Employees also initiated a fundrais
Page 49 and 50: Employee assistance program Country
Page 51 and 52: Our Executive Craig Murray - Managi
Page 53 and 54: Director Current appointment Board
Page 55 and 56: Risk management Country Energy appr
Page 57 and 58: Executive remuneration At the end o
Page 59 and 60: Consultants A total of $1.3 million
Page 61 and 62: • Electricity Industry Act 2000 N
Page 63 and 64: Financial statements contents Indep
Page 65 and 66: Statement by Members of the Board 6
Page 67 and 68: Statement of Financial Position as
Page 69 and 70: Notes to the Financial Statements f
Page 81 and 82:
Notes to the Financial Statements f
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Customer information The following
Page 99 and 100:
Index A Achievements inside cover A
show all

Full Version - Essential Energy

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?