Solar Power & a useless government

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Useless flaming idiots in government are amazing.

Some of you may have heard of the Solar Generation projects being federally funded.
The gov will be dishing out about $2bn of our tax dollars to fund a “test” Solar Pwr Stn at Kogan Creek in Qld & 1 in NSW. The Solar Stn will produce about 200mw.
It started 1.5yrs ago with around 200 proposals.

The Gov engaged a vast panel of expert industry advisors (remember this point, it’s important) to whittle these down over a period of time to just 4. So there was Bid(A), Bid(B), Bid(C) & Bid(D). The Commonwealth Bank are well known for their diligence & they chose Bid(A) for them to back financially. CBA entered into an exclusive agreement with Bid(A) as they believed this to be the very best proposal. Bid(A) have proven technology with well-known Australian consortium partners.

After a bit more looking 2 more were dumped & Bids (A) & (B) were left on the table.

Bid(B) is backed by a Swiss power company that is currently having trouble finishing a nuclear pwr stn in France. (They can’t do it).
To date Bid(B) DOES NOT have a financial backer. No financial institution believes they are suitable. They are using 35yo technology that originated in Australia, but was seen to be inferior & so was sold overseas about 20yrs ago.

The Governments expert advisory panel recommended that the Gov choose Bid(A).

The Minister controlling it all, Martin Furguson (an ex union official) decided that he was smarter than all of the advisors, went against their recommendation & awarded the project to Bid(B)

http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/green-light-build-australias-largest-solar-projects
Obviously he is far better qualified to spend our money than the experts.

[Ric]

They are just making sure that it will never succeed.

Obviously there's the obligatory hidden agenda in there somewhere.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by Louwai

Useless flaming idiots in government are amazing.

Some of you may have heard of the Solar Generation projects being federally funded.
The gov will be dishing out about $2bn of our tax dollars to fund a “test” Solar Pwr Stn at Kogan Creek in Qld & 1 in NSW. The Solar Stn will produce about 200mw.
It started 1.5yrs ago with around 200 proposals.

The Gov engaged a vast panel of expert industry advisors (remember this point, it’s important) to whittle these down over a period of time to just 4. So there was Bid(A), Bid(B), Bid(C) & Bid(D). The Commonwealth Bank are well known for their diligence & they chose Bid(A) for them to back financially. CBA entered into an exclusive agreement with Bid(A) as they believed this to be the very best proposal. Bid(A) have proven technology with well-known Australian consortium partners.

After a bit more looking 2 more were dumped & Bids (A) & (B) were left on the table.

Bid(B) is backed by a Swiss power company that is currently having trouble finishing a nuclear pwr stn in France. (They can’t do it).
To date Bid(B) DOES NOT have a financial backer. No financial institution believes they are suitable. They are using 35yo technology that originated in Australia, but was seen to be inferior & so was sold overseas about 20yrs ago.

The Governments expert advisory panel recommended that the Gov choose Bid(A).

The Minister controlling it all, Martin Furguson (an ex union official) decided that he was smarter than all of the advisors, went against their recommendation & awarded the project to Bid(B)

http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/green-light-build-australias-largest-solar-projects
Obviously he is far better qualified to spend our money than the experts.

That is precisely why we need to do what I wrote here....

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=77248

[AstralTraveller (David)]

You are probably right that it is a crook decision, though I don't have the time at the moment to read the background. However I will note that the banks are looking at what is best for them, not the country. The two sets of interests are not necessarily the same, in fact they may not even be compatible. How often do we see that?

[xelasnave]

Golden rule to discover what is ever going on its so simple people forget it cause the world is better than that...follow the money...mmm Swiss power company I thought they only had clocks chocolate and. BANKS...now that is a great place to look for a money trail...
One could think that given the time taken since inception restarting the tender process is the only course reason could offer.
alex

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Originally Posted by AstralTraveller

However I will note that the banks are looking at what is best for them, not the country.

Fair comment David. But if that definately was the case, why wouldn't the bank offer to finance more than 1 proposal. Then they definately would not miss out.

[richardda1st (Richard)]

What a blatant disregard to Mike's T.O.S.

Louai can you show me where to find details showing how the panel's decision was achieved.

Originally Posted by Louwai

Useless flaming idiots in government are amazing.

Some of you may have heard of the Solar Generation projects being federally funded.
The gov will be dishing out about $2bn of our tax dollars to fund a “test” Solar Pwr Stn at Kogan Creek in Qld & 1 in NSW. The Solar Stn will produce about 200mw.
It started 1.5yrs ago with around 200 proposals.

The Gov engaged a vast panel of expert industry advisors (remember this point, it’s important) to whittle these down over a period of time to just 4. So there was Bid(A), Bid(B), Bid(C) & Bid(D). The Commonwealth Bank are well known for their diligence & they chose Bid(A) for them to back financially. CBA entered into an exclusive agreement with Bid(A) as they believed this to be the very best proposal. Bid(A) have proven technology with well-known Australian consortium partners.

After a bit more looking 2 more were dumped & Bids (A) & (B) were left on the table.

Bid(B) is backed by a Swiss power company that is currently having trouble finishing a nuclear pwr stn in France. (They can’t do it).
To date Bid(B) DOES NOT have a financial backer. No financial institution believes they are suitable. They are using 35yo technology that originated in Australia, but was seen to be inferior & so was sold overseas about 20yrs ago.

The Governments expert advisory panel recommended that the Gov choose Bid(A).

The Minister controlling it all, Martin Furguson (an ex union official) decided that he was smarter than all of the advisors, went against their recommendation & awarded the project to Bid(B)

http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/green-light-build-australias-largest-solar-projects
Obviously he is far better qualified to spend our money than the experts.

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Originally Posted by richardda1st

What a blatant disregard to Mike's T.O.S.

Why Richard?? The TOS says "Avoid" it does not say "Forbidden". The topic is not covering general politics. It's about an unexplained decision by 1 specific minister.

A quick search on google with the names & information noted in the link I posted will easily get you all the available info on the topic.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

I have tried googling and failed to come up with any remotely other than who were awarded. I even tried Bid A and Bid B. Who would be bid A?

This would be an appropriate topic not about the 1 man who made a decision.

Originally Posted by Louwai

Why Richard?? The TOS says "Avoid" it does not say "Forbidden". The topic is not covering general politics. It's about an unexplained decision by 1 specific minister.

A quick search on google with the names & information noted in the link I posted will easily get you all the available info on the topic.

[richardda1st (Richard)]

Originally Posted by Louwai

Why Richard?? The TOS says "Avoid" it does not say "Forbidden". The topic is not covering general politics. It's about an unexplained decision by 1 specific minister.

A quick search on google with the names & information noted in the link I posted will easily get you all the available info on the topic.

re. TOS - Very funny Bryan

re. google- Na, I'll just take your word for it


Malcolm, you obviously haven't tried hard enough!

[Allan_L (Allan)]

Hey Bryan,
Thanks for posting this article, I found it very interesting reading.
(Shame about some of the off topic replies.)
And certainly NOT out of place on this forum. (IMHO)

Working for a government power generator, I find it no surprise some of the pollies "expert" decisions and waste of money invested in decisions, inflicted upon us, and that effect the future of our country in the power arena.

Thats all I can say on that, but thought you may need some positive feedback.

[richardda1st (Richard)]

Originally Posted by Allan_L

Hey Bryan,
Thanks for posting this article, I found it very interesting reading.
(Shame about some of the off topic replies.)
And certainly NOT out of place on this forum. (IMHO)

Working for a government power generator, I find it no surprise some of the pollies "expert" decisions and waste of money invested in decisions, inflicted upon us, and that effect the future of our country in the power arena.

Thats all I can say on that, but thought you may need some positive feedback.

Yes Allen I agree, the article (http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/gr...solar-projects) is very interesting indeed.

As to Bryan's comments, well that's all they are, his comments at this stage.

[TrevorW]

As a Govt worker I'm amazed that we have to abide by a code of conduct/follow guidelines and best practice/be responsible for the public purse, ethical etc yet pollies can do what they like

it's about time someone curtailed their authority so they are subjected to the same rules and regulations as any other PS because out the end of the day thats what they are

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by Louwai

Fair comment David. But if that definately was the case, why wouldn't the bank offer to finance more than 1 proposal. Then they definately would not miss out.

Because they thought they could swing the decision their way??

[midnight (Darrin)]

I don't know if I have missed something but 2 consortiums were awarded based on the initial criteria of two separate technologies. Hence BP were award one (pv) and Areva the other (thermal).

BTW, Areva have a well established track record worldwide and their equipment and engineering have been successfully engaged in Australia for years in the power industry.

BP Solar have a long established research record with their PV technology & earlier links to Australian Universities research.

I think that both projects will provide a good chance to demonstrate which technology is the most economical, reliable and engineered to a high standard when deployed as an "EPC" type project because all aspects of epc need to work to ensure the project's long term viability.

Darrin...

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Useless flaming idiots in government .

The Minister controlling it all, Martin Furguson (an ex union official)

and, so why does one add this in brackets if not being political..?

Oh and, Martin has an Honours Degree in Economics from Sydney University

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Originally Posted by midnight

I don't know if I have missed something but 2 consortiums were awarded based on the initial criteria of two separate technologies. Hence BP were award one (pv) and Areva the other (thermal).

BTW, Areva have a well established track record worldwide and their equipment and engineering have been successfully engaged in Australia for years in the power industry.

BP Solar have a long established research record with their PV technology & earlier links to Australian Universities research.

I think that both projects will provide a good chance to demonstrate which technology is the most economical, reliable and engineered to a high standard when deployed as an "EPC" type project because all aspects of epc need to work to ensure the project's long term viability.

Darrin...

This is what I was thinking too. Both are getting the opportunity to use their technologies. For consistent power generation the Hybrid system seems to be the best though. I suppose the PV system will need some backup for those dark days.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

and, so why does one add this in brackets if not being political..?

Oh and, Martin has an Honours Degree in Economics from Sydney University

He should be in the treasury dpt then. We need one desperately.

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

He should be in the treasury dpt then. We need one desperately.

Yeh I know I'm with you, Australia is going down the tubes ..heck, we have low unemployment, low interest rates, low national dept, massive balance of trade surplus, the second highest standard of living, one of the best health and education systems..all of which, alarmingly, makes us one of the most prosperous economies in the World . Sheesh, as a nation we are doing it tough, so badly in fact that if I earn $60K in Australia and move to France (just for example) I would need to earn AU$80K to maintain my current standard of living......so oh yeh, I totally get what you are saying - deffinitely a change needed in the Treasury dept, this sad state of affairs needs rectifying straight away...and to rub salt into the wound our uneducated ex union officials are approving the wrong companies to build the first solar power plants in Australia, I never .

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

..heck, we have low unemployment, low interest rates, low national dept, massive balance of trade surplus,... all of which, alarmingly, makes us one of the most prosperous economies in the World .

Oops!... epic fail in bold You must be getting your sources from Greg Combet

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Sheesh, as a nation we are doing it tough, so badly in fact that if I earn $60K in Australia and move to France (just for example) I would need to earn AU$80K to maintain my current standard of living......

Probably not enough actually because AUD is worth much less against the euro, buy you're right. Standard of living in Oz is much better. We still pay 40c in a dollar in taxes though. It'd better be good

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

so oh yeh, I totally get what you are saying - deffinitely a change needed in the Treasury dept, this sad state of affairs needs rectifying straight away...and to rub salt into the wound our uneducated ex union officials are approving the wrong companies to build the first solar power plants in Australia, I never .

No the union guy seems more qualified. But then again re:solar I'm sure Wayne Swan will love all those mirrors to fix up his comb over. Lighten up dude