Latest news with #glassmaking
ABC News
5 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Rooftop solar and home batteries could reduce the need for wind farms, research finds
At first blush, Suzanne Bradshaw and Greg Ash could be your typical household power consumers. They live in a house they built six years ago on a battleaxe block in the inner Perth suburb of Mount Lawley. Like so many households, theirs is one that increasingly relies on electricity — from the gadgets under their roof to the solar panels on top of it. But look a little closer and a different picture emerges. In a workshop attached to the house are a number of kilns — electric furnaces used by Ash to make glass. "I've been working on glass, this type of glass, for 23 years now," the 72-year-old says. "So they [the kilns] can consume a fair bit of power." Given their power needs, the couple have had to take steps to mitigate their exposure to the grid — and its associated costs. They were early adopters of solar power, forking out more than $20,000 for panels when the technology was still relatively expensive. In 2019, when they moved into their new house, they installed an even bigger system and followed it up with a battery a couple of years later. And to round it out, they have signed up for a type of dynamic pricing known as a time-of-use tariff, enabling them to draw dirt cheap power off the grid between 9am and 3pm every day. It costs them about nine cents for every kilowatt hour they buy from their retailer during those hours — but up to 45 cents per kilowatt hour at other times. "The good thing about that is if it's an overcast day and you're not getting as much solar coming in, you can top up your battery during the middle of the day," Bradshaw says. "That also means we're not using electricity during the peak… that other consumers need." The couple's circumstances are increasingly common among Australian consumers. Australia has long led the world in its adoption of rooftop solar and Western Australia is no exception. There are more than four million small-scale solar installations across the country's homes and businesses — equivalent to about one in three customers. It's a similar figure in WA, where about 400,000 small-scale customers have solar. And now, courtesy of generous subsidies led by the Commonwealth, uptake of batteries is booming, too. For the first time, registrations for batteries under the Federal Government's small-scale green energy scheme exceeded those for solar panels in July. A new report commissioned by the office of Brad Pettitt, the leader of the WA Greens, is urging the Cook Government to go much further. The report, written by green power advocates Sustainable Energy Now, suggests WA has barely scratched the surface of its rooftop solar capacity. It says "only 13 per cent of the potential capacity" for rooftop solar has been realised in WA's main grid, which spans the country's south-western corner. And it notes that of those customers who have solar, fewer than one in 20 have a battery as well. The lobby argues that better capitalising on WA's capacity for small-scale solar power and batteries could dramatically cut the need for large-scale projects required as part of the transition away from fossil fuels. "Fully utilising suitable rooftops" could slash the need for wind and solar farms while halving the requirement for new high-voltage power lines and saving billions, it argues. Crucially, it says small-scale solutions will also be much quicker than large-scale ones, a key advantage given the government's plan to get out of coal power by 2029. Pettitt says the state's current plan, which relies on large-scale projects, is off track. "The fastest and fairest way to decarbonise is actually utilising our rooftops," Pettitt says. "There are savings in the billions around needing less transmission. "We're saying 'let's get smart about this, using existing rooftops, we don't need to clear vegetation, we don't need to put in new transmission, we can do it now and we can do it quickly'." Not everyone supports the proposal. Greg Watkinson, the former chief executive of WA's economic watchdog and a director of Electricity Market Advisory Services, says there are risks for consumers in the plan. He says there are significant costs incurred by households and small businesses when they invest in solar panels and batteries and many can over-capitalise. By contrast, he says there are economies of scale when big businesses invest in large-scale projects such as major batteries and wind farms. What's more, he says those big businesses are sophisticated investors "who know what they're doing and it's their money to burn — if they waste it, it's on them". "The risk is that households end up spending too much," Watkinson says. "If we ended up having solar panels on everyone's roofs, maybe we'd be spending too much. "I expect we would be, so I don't think that's the way to go." WA Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson declined a request for an interview. Instead, she issued a statement in which she said the government "recognises the importance of harnessing our vast rooftop solar resource". The Minister noted the government is helping up to 100,000 households to get batteries through its — albeit watered down — subsidy scheme. Glass artist Greg Ash thinks he's ahead of the game now he's got a battery along with his solar panels. "All you have to do is look at what's happening in the eastern states as opposed to here," Ash says. "We're better off with our power and gas than they are, but it will come back and bite us here, so people should be looking at solar and battery. "And hopefully that will get cheaper for the average person."
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Sunderland University pressed on National Glass Centre cost claims
A council is to press a university for more details about its decision to close the National Glass University of Sunderland said it would close the centre next year because damage to the building would cost between £14m and £45m to Sunderland City Council has now said it has concerns about the accuracy of the estimated repair local authority is expected to write to the university and demand more information about the National Glass Centre's repair costs and finances. A motion put forward by councillor Michael Hartnack ahead of a council meeting later said: "Preserving Sunderland's glassmaking heritage is vital to the city's cultural offer as well as the council's economic growth ambitions."The university has taken this decision due to what it claims are unaffordable repair costs and sustained operating losses. The council expresses concern regarding the accuracy of the cost estimates so far presented." The council is set to ask the university how much of a loss the Glass Centre was operating at and whether the losses reflected changes made to the centre's facade in also want to know how the university accounts for the Glass Centre's income and expenditure and will request all documents relating to the university's ownership of the site. Earlier this year, the government announced £5m in funding was being provided to build Glassworks Sunderland, a new glass-making hub designed to replace the National Glass Sunderland will be based in the former Peter Smith antiques warehouse in Sunniside and will be run by arts organisation Sunderland the motion has criticised Glassworks Sunderland and said the new scheme "fails to address the loss of expertise" caused by the closure of the national added the plan "ignores the economic implications for the surrounding area, and is itself only partially costed".The council has also requested the publication of a report detailing the ownership and costs of operating the proposed centre. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Real estate speculators accused of preying on struggling towns like Jeannette
At one time, Jeannette was known as the glassmaking capital of the world. But after the last plant closed in the early 80s, hard times followed. Today, the city would like to breathe life back into its downtown but says out-of-state real estate speculators are standing in the way. "The hope and goal is to get every storefront on the avenue back up and running and booming with businesses and it's frustrating that we have out-of-state LLCs that play these games with these properties," city manager Ethan Keedy said. It's a game played by speculators who buy and sell the mostly derelict properties sight unseen with hopes of making a quick buck. If that doesn't happen, the buildings just sit for years, with no plans to renovate or restore them. "Every single one of these types of properties has an impact on its neighbors and the greater community," said Brian Lawrence of the Westmoreland County Redevelopment Authority. "There are probably hundreds of these types of properties that are being owned out-of-state LLCs that continually perpetuate this problem of blighted, vacant, abandoned buildings," Lawrence said. One example: a vacant storefront that may look OK on the outside but it's caved in and has no floor or roof. "I don't know why anyone would buy completely sight unseen," Lawrence said. And yet a California limited liability corporation bought the building in February 2022 for $3,100 and then turned around in November of that year, selling it to an LLC in Wyoming for $20,000. Today, the building and buildings like it continue to rot. Another house is barely visible from the street with all the overgrown weeds and bushes that obscure it. Inside, it's a shambles of broken glass. And yet two partners from San Diego, California, bought it in 2020 for $1,000 and haven't done a thing with it. Likewise, a vacant church has fallen into disrepair, but a Maryland investor bought it last year for $9,576. The city says it knows of no plans for any of these buildings and has been unable to get in touch with the owners about unpaid taxes and code violations. But just why speculators are buying up Jeannette and other struggling towns remains a bit of a mystery. If they can't quickly sell, many of the buyers would seem to be stuck with properties considered liabilities. The city and county think there may be certain tax advantages but believe investors are putting up little money for potentially big returns. "I think it's predatory. The places that this kind of stuff is happening — not just in Westmoreland County but across the state — it's tending to happen in communities that are already at a disadvantage in many ways. So it's doubly hurtful that this game gets played in places that deserve it the least," Lawrence said.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fears of a glass-making gap after centre shuts
Campaigners fighting to save the National Glass Centre from closure fear a skills gap will develop while a new hub is built. The centre in Sunderland is due to close to the public in July 2026 and a new site, called Glassworks, is planned to open in Sunniside in 2028 with the aim of preserving the city's glass-making history. Sunderland Culture, which will be running Glassworks, said there would be an alternative glass-making provision in the interim period, subject to funding being secured. But campaign group Save the National Glass Centre warned artists might not stick around until the new venue opened. The £7.5m Glassworks facility has secured £5m from the government's Cultural Development Fund, with efforts under way to raise the remaining £2.5m. However, campaigners said the Sunniside venue was not designed for glass-making processes, which require the use of heat, and warned the project could run out of money. "There's certainly going to be a gap between glass-making finishing at the National Glass Centre and starting at Glassworks," said Nigel Taylor from the campaign group. "We don't think that the budgets have been thought out well enough for Glassworks. "The danger is that it runs out of money and glass-making closes at the National Glass Centre and never starts anywhere else." A spokesperson for Sunderland Culture said its fundraising target reflected the costs "for making the building fit for purpose as a glass-making space". "Further detailed design and development work will take place in the coming months in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including the glass-making community," they added. The University of Sunderland, which has been glass centre's custodian since 2010, announced last year that the venue would close in 2026 due to unaffordable repair costs. A spokesperson said the university had supported Sunderland Culture with the Glassworks project, which "represents a new opportunity to create an exciting model for the future of glass-making in the city". The city council said it was continuing to work with "city and national partners on the future of glass-making in Sunderland". But campaigners said they were "deeply concerned" for staff. A spokesperson for the campaign group said: "People with mortgages to pay and children in school cannot be expected to sit around and wait for Glassworks to open its doors in three years' time. "Sunderland will lose all of their talents and expertise as they will have no choice but to move on." There are currently no details on any interim glass-making provision, but Sunderland Culture said: "We recognise how critical it is to retain specialist glass-making expertise and experience in the city." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. National Glass Centre closure date set Proposed new Glassworks site announced Why is the National Glass Centre closing? Sunderland Culture University of Sunderland
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Fears of Sunderland glass-making gap after centre shuts
Campaigners fighting to save the National Glass Centre from closure fear a skills gap will develop while a new hub is centre in Sunderland is due to close to the public in July 2026 and a new site, called Glassworks, is planned to open in Sunniside in 2028 with the aim of preserving the city's glass-making Culture, which will be running Glassworks, said there would be an alternative glass-making provision in the interim period, subject to funding being campaign group Save the National Glass Centre warned artists might not stick around until the new venue opened. The £7.5m Glassworks facility has secured £5m from the government's Cultural Development Fund, with efforts under way to raise the remaining £ campaigners said the Sunniside venue was not designed for glass-making processes, which require the use of heat, and warned the project could run out of money. "There's certainly going to be a gap between glass-making finishing at the National Glass Centre and starting at Glassworks," said Nigel Taylor from the campaign group. "We don't think that the budgets have been thought out well enough for Glassworks. "The danger is that it runs out of money and glass-making closes at the National Glass Centre and never starts anywhere else."A spokesperson for Sunderland Culture said its fundraising target reflected the costs "for making the building fit for purpose as a glass-making space"."Further detailed design and development work will take place in the coming months in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including the glass-making community," they added. 'Lose talent' The University of Sunderland, which has been glass centre's custodian since 2010, announced last year that the venue would close in 2026 due to unaffordable repair costs.A spokesperson said the university had supported Sunderland Culture with the Glassworks project, which "represents a new opportunity to create an exciting model for the future of glass-making in the city".The city council said it was continuing to work with "city and national partners on the future of glass-making in Sunderland". But campaigners said they were "deeply concerned" for staff.A spokesperson for the campaign group said: "People with mortgages to pay and children in school cannot be expected to sit around and wait for Glassworks to open its doors in three years' time."Sunderland will lose all of their talents and expertise as they will have no choice but to move on."There are currently no details on any interim glass-making provision, but Sunderland Culture said: "We recognise how critical it is to retain specialist glass-making expertise and experience in the city." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
