Question addresses limitations of the Western Power grid hindering cogeneration at the Syntroleum plant, seeking solutions for greenhouse gas emissions. The Minister acknowledges grid limitations, denies instructing Western Power to expedite solutions, and claims the plant is already energy efficient.

AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Council
Asked
19 October 2000
Portfolio
Resources Development

QuestionView source ↗

Some notice of this question has been given. I refer to the synthetic hydrocarbons plant, Syntroleum sweetwater. (1) Can the minister explain the limitation of the Western Power grid that has prevented the development of a large cogeneration facility for the 100MW of available power at the plant? (2) Has the minister instructed Western Power to expedite a solution to this problem? (3) How does the minister intend to overcome this waste of greenhouse emissions? Hon N.F. MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The connection of any major electricity load to the Pilbara grid must take into account the nature of existing and prospective electricity loads as well as the capacity of the existing infrastructure to accommodate such loads. Western Power is presently working with the major generators in the region to provide for the orderly development of the grid and appropriate cost-sharing arrangements, taking into account a number of potential energy and resource development projects in the Pilbara. (2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
(1) Can the minister explain the limitation of the Western Power grid that has prevented the development of a large cogeneration facility for the 100MW of available power at the plant? (2) Has the minister instructed Western Power to expedite a solution to this problem? (3) How does the minister intend to overcome this waste of greenhouse emissions? Hon N.F. MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The connection of any major electricity load to the Pilbara grid must take into account the nature of existing and prospective electricity loads as well as the capacity of the existing infrastructure to accommodate such loads. Western Power is presently working with the major generators in the region to provide for the orderly development of the grid and appropriate cost-sharing arrangements, taking into account a number of potential energy and resource development projects in the Pilbara. (2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
(2) Has the minister instructed Western Power to expedite a solution to this problem? (3) How does the minister intend to overcome this waste of greenhouse emissions? Hon N.F. MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The connection of any major electricity load to the Pilbara grid must take into account the nature of existing and prospective electricity loads as well as the capacity of the existing infrastructure to accommodate such loads. Western Power is presently working with the major generators in the region to provide for the orderly development of the grid and appropriate cost-sharing arrangements, taking into account a number of potential energy and resource development projects in the Pilbara. (2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
(3) How does the minister intend to overcome this waste of greenhouse emissions? Hon N.F. MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The connection of any major electricity load to the Pilbara grid must take into account the nature of existing and prospective electricity loads as well as the capacity of the existing infrastructure to accommodate such loads. Western Power is presently working with the major generators in the region to provide for the orderly development of the grid and appropriate cost-sharing arrangements, taking into account a number of potential energy and resource development projects in the Pilbara. (2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
Hon N.F. MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The connection of any major electricity load to the Pilbara grid must take into account the nature of existing and prospective electricity loads as well as the capacity of the existing infrastructure to accommodate such loads. Western Power is presently working with the major generators in the region to provide for the orderly development of the grid and appropriate cost-sharing arrangements, taking into account a number of potential energy and resource development projects in the Pilbara. (2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The connection of any major electricity load to the Pilbara grid must take into account the nature of existing and prospective electricity loads as well as the capacity of the existing infrastructure to accommodate such loads. Western Power is presently working with the major generators in the region to provide for the orderly development of the grid and appropriate cost-sharing arrangements, taking into account a number of potential energy and resource development projects in the Pilbara. (2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
(1) The connection of any major electricity load to the Pilbara grid must take into account the nature of existing and prospective electricity loads as well as the capacity of the existing infrastructure to accommodate such loads. Western Power is presently working with the major generators in the region to provide for the orderly development of the grid and appropriate cost-sharing arrangements, taking into account a number of potential energy and resource development projects in the Pilbara. (2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
(2) No. (3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.
(3) Syntroleum’s plant is very energy efficient. A high proportion of the waste heat is converted to power within the plant.

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