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WA Government Announces New Wind Energy Manufacturing Subsidy

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The Western Australian Government has announced a collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) that will offer heavy steel fabrication companies subsidies to create wind energy infrastructure. The new Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program will offer support of up to $8 million of investment to projects in the sustainable energy manufacturing sector in WA, with up to 50% of project costs eligible to be covered. Wind tower foundations, anchor cages, nacelle components and assembly, transmission poles and specialised trailers (transport) are to be prioritised by the scheme, as well as related infrastructure around supply chains and maintenance. It will be split into two streams: one for new projects seeking and one for pre-existing projects in need of growth funding.

The market entry stream will focus on capability development, with indicative project sizes ranging from $20K to $60K (co-investment contribution $10K to $30K). The market growth stream will focus on capacity and capability enhancement, with indicative project sizes ranging from $500K to $1 million (co-investment contribution $250K to $500K). Initially the program is focused on areas where the State has translatable skills and capability including: anchor cages, nacelle components, tower foundations and assembly, transmission poles, specialised trailers (transport). The program also aims to upskill local businesses with appropriate accreditations to operate within the wind energy supply chain and build capacity related to replacement parts and servicing. As part of the MoU signed for Queensland wind farms, projects related to other wind manufacturing areas may be considered.

“The Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program is a testament to our commitment to creating a sustainable future for Western Australia and adhering to the Future Made in Australia Act,” said Stephen Dawson, Science Minister in the WA Government. Supporting local businesses to engage in wind energy supply chains positions the State to reap the benefits of the energy transition while also supporting our economic diversification. “The co-investment program is designed to provide support to businesses at different stages of their journey. Whether it’s helping new businesses to upgrade their accreditations or assisting companies to pivot or scale their operations, this funding will play a crucial role in enhancing our State’s advanced manufacturing capabilities.”

Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre Managing Director, Dr Jens Goennemann added that the deal was good news for the local wind energy sector. “Western Australia is home to very skilled manufacturers currently engaging in the mining plant and equipment Australia, minerals and energy space,” he said. “The Wind Energy Manufacturing Co-Investment Program will focus on identifying local capabilities that can be turned towards opportunities in wind energy generation. In doing so, the WA Government and manufacturers will develop a broader and more capable manufacturing base while serving domestic renewable energy needs.”

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Central Queensland – New Green Industry Capital

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There has been a growing trend towards clean energy adoption, with resistance against emission-intensive projects such as the Jackdaw gas field protests in 2022.The clean energy investment will form a major role in net zero economic transformation to support Queensland’s quest to become a leading green hydrogen industry. The Queensland Government is providing an early look into the Stanwell Clean Energy Hub transformation of the Stanwell Power Station. Stanwell Corporation will commence work on the project with the construction of the Future Energy and Innovation Training Hub (FEITH). This project sits inside the State Government’s massive $19 billion commitment for renewable energy.

The new hub, FEITH, is valued at $100 million with a footprint the size of a shopping centre. FEITH is expected to provide facilities for innovations and new energy technologies testing (wind, solar, hydrogen and battery storage). Battery storage has come up recently as a viable source of renewable energy, as evidenced by Form Energy’s battery plant in West Virginia. The FEITH project has three purposes which include:

  • Commercialisation Testing
  • Incubation and acceleration space for pilot energy projects
  • Testing of new technology and develop and drive it to a commercialisation stage
  • Research and Development
  • A trial site for experimentation, development, and testing of heat induction bending services
  • A space to explore technologies targeted for specific energy solutions for specific purposes
  • A feeder for technologies to be integrated into clean energy hubs

Some of the other purposes of the FEITH project include the following: –

  • Training and Education
  • Training, upskilling and micro-credentials for Stanwell staff and other industry workers
  • Enhancing apprenticeship learning opportunities
  • A demonstration centre where community members, education providers and schools can learn about emerging energy technologies
  • web-Stanwell Clean Energy Hub
  • LRStanwell Clean Energy Hub

The project is proposed to be built in phases over a five-year period. Works will start later this year and early works will involve the establishment of common infrastructure as well as civil works.

Source: https://www.projectory.com.au/article/clean-energy-hub-to-transform-central-qld-into-a-green-industry-capital

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Alcoa plans to restart aluminium smelter in Spain

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Alcoa Corporation today announced that a majority of the workers at its San Ciprián complex in Spain have agreed to an improved plan for the restart of the aluminium smelter in 2024. In 2020, the company attempted to lay off some 500 workers but was forced to abandon the plan after a Spanish court declared it “null and void.” Alcoa has long sought to shut down the smelter in Spain’s north-western Galicia region, which has struggled to remain competitive in the face of steep energy costs and low aluminium prices (including high aluminium demand in countries like Australia), leading to several years of losses. In December 2021, the U.S. metals producer reached a deal with workers to end primary aluminium production, leveraged by mining plant and equipment, at the facility for two years. This was required to work on plans for a stronger smelting facility, the viability of which was being threatened due to exorbitant energy prices.

In 2022, the Company announced the signing of two long-term wind power purchase agreements (PPA) to secure up to approximately 75% of the smelter’s needs at full capacity. The supply of energy will depend on the permitting and development of the windfarms. The updated agreement with the workforce provides a detailed schedule that will commence the restart process in phases beginning in January 2024. The agreement also includes increased investments in the facility and protections for the workforce. “With this latest agreement, we have additional flexibility and a clear direction for the future as we continue to work constructively with our workforce and other stakeholders to begin the restart process in 2024, supported by wind-based power agreements – like those promoted by UK – and increased investments designed to improve the smelter’s viability,” said Alcoa President and CEO Roy Harvey. “We will continue to work cooperatively with the regional and national governments in Spain as we move forward with these plans.”

The Company has agreed to provide a total of $181 million for both capital investments and restart expenses, which is $78 million higher than the original agreement. Highlights of the new agreement include:

  • Capital Investment: The agreement provides for $146 million in metal and steel fabrication projects, primarily for the development of a new anode plant.
  • Restart Expenditures: Restart expenses of $35 million remain unchanged from the original agreement.
  • Labour: Alcoa extends its existing commitment not to initiate any collective dismissal processes (ERE or ERTE) at the aluminium plant until December 31, 2026, as well as other labour benefits. The workers’ representatives undertake to maintain social peace at least until December 31, 2026.
  • Restart Timing: The phased approach to the restart process will begin on January 1, 2024. Alcoa plans that all pots will be restarted by October 1, 2025, and from October 1, 2025 until the end of 2026, the minimum production will be 75% of the nominal capacity of 228,000 metric tons per year.

As a result of the agreement, Alcoa expects to record restructuring-related charges in the first quarter 2023 of approximately $50 million (pre- and after-tax), or $0.28 per share, to be paid over 2024 and 2025.

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API, OOC Sign Wind Energy MoU

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The American Petroleum Institute (API) and Offshore Operators Committee (OOC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop standards and guidance for offshore wind energy development, the API revealed this week. Under the MOU, both parties will leverage their expertise and existing natural gas and oil industry standards to develop a safety management systems (SMS) standard for offshore wind operations which leverage steel structural fabrication, the API noted, adding that the initial recommended practice (RP) would provide guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an SMS for U.S. offshore wind operations.

The RP would build off API RP 75, Safety and Environmental Management System for Offshore Operations and Assets, according to the API. Now in its fourth edition, API RP 75 provides systemic guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) for offshore natural gas and oil operations, the API highlighted. The third edition of API RP 75 is incorporated into the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement regulations mandating that offshore natural gas and oil operators implement SEMS and have their SEMS audited by an independently accredited auditing firm. As the world moves towards greater energy independence, the API and OOC plan to develop additional guidance and standards on offshore wind energy and other related topics as part of ongoing efforts in decarbonizing the oil and gas industry, the API outlined.

“The natural gas and oil industry has decades of offshore operating experience under highly technical and complex conditions,” API Senior Vice President of Global Industry Services Anchal Liddar said in an organization statement. “It’s a natural progression to apply this expertise to the wind sector and reinforces API’s leadership in developing standards to ensure safe and environmentally conscious operations across the broader energy industry,” Liddar added. OOC Executive Director Evan Zimmerman said, “our members wanted to build on the significant effort put into API RP 75, 4th edition, by a broad range of offshore safety management experts and develop a similar standard on safety management systems developed using pipe fabrication for offshore wind applications”. “This collaboration will enable companies engaged in offshore oil and gas development to utilize the same management systems and associated interfaces for our rapidly growing offshore wind market,” he added.

In a separate statement posted on its LinkedIn page, the OOC said it is looking forward to continued collaboration with API impacting the rapidly growing offshore wind market in the United States. According to BP’s latest statistical review of world energy, installed wind turbine capacity in the U.S. stood at 132.7 gigawatts (GW) in 2021. This figure has grown every year since 2011, which is the earliest data year available for U.S. installed wind turbine capacity in BP’s latest review.

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