Australian And New Zealand Solar Energy Society (SA Branch)

SOLAR NEWS SA
Formerly the ANZSES CHATTER

www.anzses.org sa @ anzses.org September

2008
WELCOME
… to this month’s edition of Solar News SA

Australian & New Zealand

Solar Energy Society

REAL HOUSES FOR REAL PEOPLE

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY 13TH & 14TH SEPTEMBER 2008
10.00AM-4.00PM
Sustainable House Day is organised by dedicated members of the Australian and New Zealand Solar Energy Society (ANZSES)
and, in SA, the Alternative Technology Association (ATA), in conjunction with the Australian Department of the Environment,
Water, Heritage and the Arts
More details of the featured houses in South Australia will be available online at the Sustainable House Day website-
www.sustainablehouseday.com OR call Monica Oliphant 0404 898 277 or call - 1300 302 962
NEED A MAP?
Maps of the country properties are available at www.35s.com.au/anzses
At each house, visitors will receive a fact sheet and directions for a self guided tour around the outside of the property and will
then join an expert guide for an informative tour through the inside.
LOST? NEED MORE INFORMATION ON THE DAY?
Ring Monica Oliphant on 0404 898277 or Stewart Martin (0403 196061)

Sustainable House Day is a mainstay event on the national sustainable calendar. The annual event is held on the second
weekend of September and is entering its seventh year of operation. The aim of Sustainable House Day is to showcase
sustainable design and to encourage the adoption of sustainable design features in existing homes and new homes in Australia.
The focus is to show how simple, easy and cost effective sustainable living can be. Be energy independent! Save money and the
environment! Be inspired by some of Australia's most beautiful and energy efficient homes. All houses feature passive solar
design and some also have active solar features. They also feature water tanks and other sustainable techniques that will help
you save money and our environment!
Tickets
Ticket price: $5 per house per person, $10 per family (no concessions). , Free for ANZSES and ATA members who
show their membership card. No need to book, join on the day! The list and descriptions of the houses is on
www.sustainablehouseday.com . You can visit houses in any order between 11am and 4pm.
ANZSES and ATA wishes to thank their supporters, volunteers and sponsors:
ADELAIDE & SURROUNDS
ADELAIDE AREA – SATURDAY ONLY
SA01 Adelaide 244 Gilbert Street, Adelaide
Swanbury Penglase Architect Studios, 5 star building with strong commitment to environmentally sustainable design. Rain
collection and reticulation. Adjustable shading. Natural cooling by underfloor air circulation.
SA02 Adelaide 21 Ada Street, Adelaide
Architect's own Inner city heritage listed sustainable house. Energy/water efficient transformation of an 1877 cottage with
additions. Sun and rainwater harvested and used in combination with thermal mass for heating and more.
SA03 Bowden 11 Gething Crs, Bowden
Upgrade of a previously ‘architecturally renovated’ bungalow to improve environmental performance and comfort and foster
community. Demonstrates what can be achieved to enhance sustainability. Extensive owner design and building.
SA04 Broadview 18 Olive Ave, Broadview
Classical 1940s cottage, conventional street frontage. Large rear extension not visible from street designed and built for
energy/water efficiency with considerable use of rendered straw bale. Original cottage renovated to improve energy efficiency.
ADELAIDE AREA – SUNDAY ONLY
SA05 Belair Rapid No 870-241, Sheoak Rd, Belair. UBD 144 B14
Park on Sheoak Road and walk down driveway
Good passive solar design with large solarium. Built into hillside for thermal stability. Technological innovations as well as tried
and tested methods for sustainable living. Comfortable family home that supports environmental conservation.
SA06 Darlington 2/32 Brookside Rd, Darlington
Modern and affordable home - compact, functional, comfortable and spacious. 350 sq m site – new average urban block.
Passive solar design, low embodied energy, low toxicity, water/ energy efficiency, grid-connect solar power, productive garden.
SA07 Hawthorndene 1B, East Tce, Hawthorndene
Park at Blackwood Station and walk down the lane to East Tce
Contemporary solar passive design, wheel chair accessible on sloping 1500m3 block. Rammed earth, corrugated iron, glass and
recycled timbers for pleasant, comfortable atmosphere. Demonstrates sustainability with modern conveniences.
SA08 Stirling 6, Bracken Rd, Stirling
Comfortable, average sized energy and water efficient home. Looks like a ‘normal’ home and uses ‘normal’ building materials.
Good use of thermal mass and adjustable shade. Provides light filled spaces throughout days and seasons.
COUNTRY: SATURDAY ONLY
SA09 Mount Pleasant RSD 578, Burns Rd, Mt Pleasant, 5235
Brand new home with extensive views over the valley. Good example of orientation and passive solar design. Well insulated, low
thermal mass exterior walls and roof. Three longitudinal concrete 'spine'walls and floor slab provide internal thermal mass.
SA10 Springton RD 500, Hamiltons Rd, Springton, 5235
Owner built stone home on 80 acres. Aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient home, using skills and materials available to the
owners on a limited budget. Rainwater catchment and greywater treatment.
SA11 Eden Valley ‘Ledbury’, Wynns Road, Eden Valley -
Poured earth house, energy efficient and built predominantly of natural, non-toxic materials. The feel of a medieval barn with a
contemporary interpretation. Extensive productive feature garden. No mains - full rainwater plus greywater treatment.

COUNTRY: SUNDAY ONLY

SA12 Aldinga 6 Tetragonia Walk, The Terraces, Aldinga Arts Eco Village, Aldinga
Three bedroom residence representative of all in The Terraces demonstrating a reduced foot print for modern living. Passive
solar design, solar power, communal rainwater capture, storage and reticulation. Good thermal and sound insulation.
SA13 Aldinga 15 Yacca Way, Aldinga Arts Eco Village, Aldinga
Weatherboard, timber frame cottage, well insulated with internal thermal mass. natural light. Grid connected solar power. Shaded
all round. Extensive use of recycled timber. Espaliered fruit trees, raised veggie gardens, rainwater catchment.
SA14 Aldinga 12 Yacca Way, Aldinga Arts Eco Village
A spacious two bedroom home of Timbercrete and galvanised iron with a mezzanine floor, a deck and courtyard. Passive solar
design, solar power and hot water plus large rainwater storage for home and vegetable gardens.
SA15 Aldinga 5 Clematis Walk, Aldinga Arts Eco Village
An owner built post and beam straw bale infill loft house with mezzanine. The house is passive solar designed with photo-voltaic
cells, solar hot water, large rainwater catchment. Black and grey water recycling.
SA16 Kangarilla Glory Road, Kangarilla SA
Inspired by Sustainable House Day! A contemporary, energy efficient home in harmony with the natural environment enhancing
the owners lifestyle. Self sufficient for power and water. Productive, water efficient garden with straw bale chook house.
SA17 Berri Gordon Road, Bookpurnong, Berri, SA 5343
Incorporating strikingly modern style with energy efficiency, this owner-designed, grid-independent solar-powered home provides
comfortable, sustainable living. Water self sufficiency. Energy efficient appliances including air conditioning..
SA18 Kuitpo Forest House Peters Creek Rd Davelea, Kuitpo Forest
Highly efficient home on 11 Ha block built to sustainable principles. Best practice material and construction. Passive and low
energy systems, renewable energy with Green Power export to mains. Rainwater catchment, waste water recycling.
Associated Event: Sustainable Display Village PORT ELLIOT - off Ocean Road, HAYBOROUGH
On Sunday 14th September in conjunction with Sustainable House Day, South Australia’s largest sustainable display village is
opening for a special sneak-peek at ‘Beyond Today’ on the coast between Victor Harbor & Port Elliot. Five homes are well into
construction with a couple almost completed and more due to start soon.

ANZSES SA: FORUM ON CARBON OFFSETS: 7TH OCTOBER

ANZSES SA Branch will be holding a forum on Carbon Offsets on 7th October, 7.30 to 9.00 pm, chaired by Professor Barry
Brook, Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change, University of Adelaide.
Speakers will include Mark Parnell MLC, Karen Grogen of SA Council of Social Service and a representative of Carbon Planet.
Venue to be advised later.
ANZSES RESPONSE TO SUBMISSION TO CARBON POLLUTION REDUCTION SCHEME - GREEN PAPER
Members of the ANZSES SA Committee have drafted the ANZSES response to the Government’s Green Paper:

“Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society makes the following points regarding the proposed emissions trading scheme
• There is a need for the free allocation to major emitters to be quite limited, especially time limited.
• The structure of any scheme to grant free allocations should not include sharp steps (eg based on enterprise total
emissions) above or below which different allocation policies apply. This will result in distributional inequity, and
attempts by corporations with emissions close to the step(s) to misrepresent their emissions. Rather benefits should be
allocated in proportion to scale of emissions above the base below which no free allocation is made.
• Companies that have planned ahead, and done the right thing by improving their emissions performance should not be
penalized.
• The initial level of carbon price proposed must be sufficient to favour renewables. The price discussed in the media –
of the order of $10 to $20 per tonne - will not achieve this and needs to be raised. A number of complementary
measures such as the Renewable Energy Target and Feed-in tariffs for renewably generated electricity are essential
and can be justified in that they will help build capacity to replace high emissions technologies. A suite of carefully
designed complementary capacity building measures is required.
• Everyone has to suffer some cost in order that the scheme achieves its stated objectives.
• The government funding for research to develop alternative, lower carbon technologies needs to be redistributed to
give more to renewables.
• The alternative of a consumption based carbon tax should be objectively evaluated.”

ISES ASIA PACIFIC 2008

Renewable Energy the Future is Now! Incorporating the 46th Australian New Zealand Solar Energy Society Conference -
Solar 08
25-28 NOVEMBER 2008 – SYDNEY CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE
The Asia Pacific Regional International Solar Energy Society Conference 2008 (ISES-AP-08) is the premier Conference in the
Asia-Pacific region in 2008 on the topic of Renewable Energy. This region is pivotal to the further growth of the industry both in
terms of manufacture and markets. The ISES-AP-08 Conference will aim to inform and allow integration of many of the key
people and concepts in solar energy in the region.
The combined problems of energy supply and security and the increasing levels of CO2 created by burning fossil fuels which are
creating global warming are two of the most important problems facing the world society and economy. There is increasing
evidence that the impact of each is or will be entering a critical phase over the next few years. Large scale implementation of
renewable energy technologies and other sustainability options are a real effective way to address these problems.
The Asian-Pacific region is likely to be significantly affected by mismanagement of these problems but is also in a position to
have a significant impact on measures to mitigate these effects. The rapidly developing economies in the region both provide
growing markets for energy and renewable energy products and also provide the fastest growing manufacturing capacity able to
meet these markets as well as the markets in other regions.
The ISES-AP-08 Conference will bring together a wide range of the best international solar and renewable energy researchers,
industry personnel and funding bodies. This will create an excellent forum for formal discussion of new research and
developments at oral and poster sessions and also an informal networking environment for exchange of ideas and fostering of
collaborations.
NEWS FROM ATA
For our forthcoming meeting on September 9th., The presenter will be Dr Brian Kirke of UniSA having a provocative look at
SA's water woes. Adelaide's consumption, where it comes from, where it goes to, stormwater and effluent recycling, weirs, the
lower lakes and high water consumers.
Forthcoming meetings and presenters are:
Oct 14 Home insulation - the materials, the techniques, the performance
Nov 11 Solar air heating and buried pipe cooling - how it works, how it performs
Dec 9 Light emitting diode (LED) lighting for home and commercial - what's available now and future trends
ORIGIN ENERGY SOLAR, SLIVER PLANT VISIT
A group of 14 ANZSES and ATA members visited the Origin Energy SLIVER plant on 12th March. This was a privilege as the
Company needs to retain the confidentiality of the details of the technology. In view of this each member on the tour was
required to sign a confidentiality agreement.
An overview of the technology was presented by Neil Tothill and Mark Kerr of Origin Energy.
The general principle involves slicing a single crystal silicon wafer approximately 1mm thick into slivers which are approximately
60 to 70 microns wide. Contacts are deposited onto the SLIVERs which are then rotated through 90° before being laid down
onto a substrate approximately ½ mm apart to form a subassembly. The subassemblies are then connected together to form a
module.
The advantages of the technology are that:
• It uses significantly less silicon than a conventional silicon crystalline cell.
• The SLIVER cells are connected in series to produce the required voltage and banks of cells may be connected in
parallel. This minimises losses due to partial shading of the module.
• The cells tend to run at slightly lower temperatures and hence the output on hot days is affected less than that of
conventional cells.
• The slivers are bifacial.
• The modules can be made to be very flexible.
• The modules can be made with varying degrees of transparency.
Production and R & D is currently underway of prototype modules and we were given a tour of the module assembly area, a look
into the clean rooms, and an inspection of the outdoor test rig.
The Company is committed to commercial production of the cells at a cost which is at the leading edge of current technologies.
The timeline for setting up a production plant and going into large scale manufacturing is currently confidential.
ANZSES would like to thank Neil Tothill and Mark Kerr for taking the time to show us around the plant and answer questions and
Phil Mackey and Pierre Verlinden for arranging the visit.
Stewart Martin
SOLAR SYSTEM FOR SHOWGROUNDS
A one megawatt solar system will be installed on the roof of the new Goyder Pavilion, the centerpiece of the Adelaide
Showgrounds upgrade in Adelaide, Australia, South Australian Premier Mike Rann has announced. According to Rann the AU
$8 million [US $6.83 million] project would be the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic installation in Australia, five times the size of
the next largest installation at Melbourne's Victoria Markets.
This investment will allow around 10,000 square meters of solar panels to be installed, generating 1,400 mega-watt-hours (MWh)
of solar electricity per year.
The project will include the installation of approximately 10,000 square meters of solar panels that could generate 1,400
megawatt-hours (MWh) of solar electricity per year. The South Australian Government said that its decision to contribute to this
project represents the next step forward in its leadership program.
A solar installation of this size is likely to generate enough power to meet all of the power requirements of the new Goyder
Pavilion and well over one-third of the annual electricity needs of the Showgrounds as a whole. With less than 8 percent of
Australia's population, South Australia has about 40 percent of the nation's grid-connected solar photovoltaic capacity. This
installation comes on top of the roll-out of solar panels on major public buildings, such as the South Australian Museum, State
Library, Art Gallery and Parliament House, as well as the Adelaide Airport and on 250 public schools across the State as part of
the Solar Schools Program.
Source: renewableenergyworld.com
AUST FIRM UNVEILS PLANS TO BUILD 'WORLD'S BIGGEST SOLAR PLANT'
An Australian engineering firm has announced plans to build what it says would be the world's biggest solar plant in Australia
within three years.
Worley Parsons has launched a study into finding possible sites to host the $1 billion plant.
The study is backed by nine Australian companies including miners BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto.
The Managing Director of the Worley Parson's sustainability arm, Peter Meurs, says the project is ambitious.
"It could provide power for 300,000 homes - each power station - and our vision is that Australia's a suitable place for this and we
could build up to 34 of these power stations by 2020," he said.
The Managing Director of Worley Parson's sustainability arm, Peter Meurs, says the search will focus on desert locations.
"The ideal location for a thermal solar power station is a desert type location, you want maximum solar with the least cloud cover
or interference and our dry desert locations are ideal," he said.
Source: ABC News
THE GREAT ENERGY DEBATE SA 2008
The Great Energy Debate will provide South Australians with the latest updates on how South Australian business can respond
and prepare for a carbon and resource-constrained world. Soaring fuel and power prices, Emissions Trading Schemes, far
reaching international agendas and an increasing awareness of the need to adapt for a low-carbon future has brought energy
and sustainability to the forefront of every business and organisation agenda. An unparalleled number of sustainability and
business experts and leading identities from South Australian companies, academia, industry and political office, will provide the
best insight into how South Australia could meet the climate change challenge.
Contact: Andrew Blue Email: andrew@sutherlandevents.com.au Phone: (08) 8218 0314
Location Adelaide Convention Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide CDB View map
Date 8 Oct 2008 Time 8:30am - 5pm
Speaker(s) Tino Guglielmo, CEO Stuart Petroleum; Lew Owens, CEO ETSA Utilities; Barry Ford, MD Hybrid Energy;
Chris Schrape, MD Altona Resources; Peter Vaughan, CEO Business SA; Gerry Grove-White, ANZSES Chair Artur Zawadski,
Adrian Ferraretto.
CLIMATE CHANGE DEBATE AT SKEPTICS CONFERENCE
Professors Barry Brooks and Ian Plimer
This issue will be debated as part of the Australian Skeptics Conference in Adelaide on Sunday 12th October at the Norwood
Town Hall. The cost for ½ day attendance is $35. Registration can be made via the web site. See below for more details.
The 2008 Australian Skeptics National Conference is being held on Saturday 11th October and Sunday 12th October 2008 at the
following times
Saturday: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Sunday: 10.00 a.m. to 4.15 p.m.
Lunch 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. on both days.
COST OF ADMISSION:
The cost of attendance at the Conference is as follows: -
• Attendance on both Saturday and Sunday - $110.00.
• Attendance on one day, either Saturday or Sunday $70.00
• Attendance to any half-day $35.00
• Children under 12 free when accompanied by paying adult.
Lunch and Morning and Afternoon teas are included in admission cost.
PAYMENT:
Pre-payment by bank cheque or money order made out to Skeptics (SA). Credit card payments can be made to Australian
Skeptics.
Cash payments will only be accepted during both days of the conference.
LOCATION:
The Norwood Town Hall is at 175 The Parade, NORWOOD, 5067, on the north-west corner of George Street. Entry to the
Concert Hall is off George Street; the Concert Hall is located on the 1st floor, with access by stairs or lift, (take lift to 1st level).
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Should you require any additional information contact Mr. Eddie on (08) 8272 5881 or check the Conference Web Site at
www.skepticssa.org.au Phone/FAX [08] 8272 5881
E-mail <<laurieeddie@adam.net.com.au
Web-page Skeptics SA - www.skepticssa.org.au or
Australian Skeptics - www.skeptics.com.au
SUNDAY 12TH OCTOBER
# Time Speaker Topic
9. 1000-1130 Ian Plimer and Barry Brook Climate Change Debate
10. 1130-11 50 Break (Note 20 min) Committee prepares Questions submitted by audience
1150-1230 Questions
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
Professor Barry Brook:
Professor Barry Brook holds the Foundation Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change and is Director of the Research Institute
for Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Adelaide. He has published two books and over 120 peer-reviewed
scientific papers, and regularly writes opinion pieces and popular articles for the media. He has received a number of
distinguished awards in recognition of his research excellence, which addresses the topics of climate change, computational and
statistical modeling and the synergies between human impacts on Earth systems.
In 2006, he was awarded the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Medal for distinguished research in biology and the
Edgeworth David Medal by the Royal Society of New South Wales, and in 2007, the H.G. Andrewartha Medal by the Royal
Society of South Australia and was listed by Cosmos as one of Australia's top 10 young scientists. His area of expertise is
climate change, global change biology, and the synergies between different human impacts on Earth systems. Specific topics
include analytical and computer simulation modeling for risk assessment of climate change impacts, understanding the relevance
of past extinctions to the present biodiversity crisis, tropical ecology and wildlife management.
Ian Plimer - Human-Induced Climate Change: A Load Of Hot Air:
Professor of Mining Geology, The University of Adelaide and Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne
Prof Plimer will look at some issues of Global Warming, arguing that climate change is a constant process on a dynamic planet.
Climate changes in geological, archaeological and historical time frames have been far more rapid and greater than slight
changes measured in modern times. Furthermore, over time the atmospheric CO2 content has been up to 25 times higher than
now. During recent interglacials, temperature and sea level were far higher than at present. The rates of previous climate
changes were far greater than anything observed today. Previous climate change took place over decades to centuries,
extinctions took place with coolings, life flourished with warming and humans, plants and animals adapted. Previous great
changes were buffered by natural systems and tipping points and runaway greenhouse are unsubstantiated myths.

ARCHICENTRE 2008 FREE SEMINARS

Wednesday 1st October 2008 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Alternative & Sustainable Architecture
Venue: City of Tea Tree Gully Civic Centre, 571 Montague Road, Modbury
Speaker: Bohdan Dorniak: The different sustainable materials and how they are used in the construction of homes for more
energy efficient and sustainable environment. Alternative materials to traditional will also be explored to give the end user
options.
Bookings are essential as seats are extremely limited. Please call Archicentre on (08) 8228 0300, email sa@archicentre.com.au
or use the booking form below.
BRANCH COMMITTEE 2008:
President: Stewart Martin
School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of SA, Mawson Lakes 5095
Ph 8302 3048 (w) 8261 4630 (h) fax 8302 3389 email: stewart.martin@unisa.edu.au
Secretary: Albert Thompson
aat@internode.on.net
Treasurer: John Rolls
103 Lansdowne Terrace Vale Park 5081 Ph 8463 6907 (w) 8269 3879 (h) 04 1029 4638 (m) 8463 6900 (f)
emailjrolls@picknowl.com.au
Solar News SA Editor: John Held
Ph 8271 4555 (w) 8272 6608(h) Email jfheld@rusyel.com.au
Publicity Officer:
Margaret Dingle ph 8362 7007 email mdingle@chariot.net.au
Sustainable House Day Coordinator:
Monica Oliphant 8277 3357 (h) 0404 898277(Mob) email: oliphant@adam.com.au
Committee Members:
Mark Needham
Chris Von Der Borch
FUTURE MATERIAL FOR SOLAR NEWS SA
We are keen to distribute as much information and news as possible in this format. Obviously it’s quickest, easiest and fastest by
email – so if you are getting this by post, and have an email address, please contact John Held at jfheld@rusyel.com.au . Please
send me any news, meetings of interest to members, and other bits of information!