❓ Question regarding renewable energy commitment for desalination plant expansions. Minister acknowledges existing renewable energy offsets but avoids committing to 100% renewable energy for the expansion, stating arrangements are under review.
AnsweredQoN 610Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
southern seawater desalination plant — RENEWABLE ENERGY
I draw the minister’s attention to his recent announcement that the Water Corporation has purchased 10 megawatts of solar energy and 55 megawatts of wind energy for the southern seawater desalination plant in line with the renewable energy commitment given by the Carpenter Labor government. (1) Will the minister now give a commitment to the house that the $450 million expansion of the southern seawater desalination plant will also be powered 100 per cent by renewable energy; and, if not, why not? (2) How much energy will the expanded Binningup desalination plant be expected to use? (3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION
I draw the minister’s attention to his recent announcement that the Water Corporation has purchased 10 megawatts of solar energy and 55 megawatts of wind energy for the southern seawater desalination plant in line with the renewable energy commitment given by the Carpenter Labor government. (1) Will the minister now give a commitment to the house that the $450 million expansion of the southern seawater desalination plant will also be powered 100 per cent by renewable energy; and, if not, why not? (2) How much energy will the expanded Binningup desalination plant be expected to use? (3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(1) Will the minister now give a commitment to the house that the $450 million expansion of the southern seawater desalination plant will also be powered 100 per cent by renewable energy; and, if not, why not? (2) How much energy will the expanded Binningup desalination plant be expected to use? (3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(2) How much energy will the expanded Binningup desalination plant be expected to use? (3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(1) Will the minister now give a commitment to the house that the $450 million expansion of the southern seawater desalination plant will also be powered 100 per cent by renewable energy; and, if not, why not? (2) How much energy will the expanded Binningup desalination plant be expected to use? (3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(2) How much energy will the expanded Binningup desalination plant be expected to use? (3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(3) If the Binningup desalination expansion energy contract purchase is for non-renewable power, what are the expected tonnages of CO 2 attributable to the proposed plant? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
I thank the member for Cockburn for the question. (1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
(1)–(3) Under the environmental conditions of stage 1 of the southern seawater desalination plant, the member for Cockburn is correct: there has been a wind farm put up in Geraldton and also a solar farm. They will be producing renewable energy, but obviously are not connected to the south west interconnected system grid because Geraldton is not connected. However, the energy requirements of desalination stage 1 will be linked to those renewable energy offsets. In terms of stage 2, we are looking at those arrangements now.
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