New Zealand Oil & Gas has secured a 50.01 per cent holding in its subsidiary, ASX-listed Cue Energy Resources.

“Our controlling interest in Cue provides diversified exposure to Cue's production and exploration interests in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia,” New Zealand Oil & Gas Chief Executive Andrew Jefferies said.

Cue has production from its interest in the Maari oil field off Taranaki, and from the Sampang PSC in East Java, Indonesia.

It has a portfolio of exploration including the substantial Ironbark prospect in the Carnarvon basin off West Australia, and in Indonesia. “Cue has cut costs significantly, and refined its strategy. All of its shareholders benefit from these changes, which provide a positive reason to increase our holding to over 50 per cent,” Andrew Jefferies said.

New Zealand Oil & Gas acquired 13,514,462 Cue shares in the current financial year at an average cost of 8.32 cents, increasing its interest from 48.11 to 50.01 per cent. The total cost was AU$1,124,338.44.

| An NZOG release  |  January 17, 2017  |

Though still in the prototype stage, EMPA is currently looking for commercial partners to assist in creating a compact version of the system for household domestic use(Credit: EMPA)

Making the move away from using fossil fuels for heating is a necessary part of creating a sustainable future, but it's often a difficult ask for many people when turning up a thermostat on a gas or electric heater provides instant, trouble-free warmth. If people are to be convinced to switch to more renewable sources, it makes sense that there need to be easy-to-use systems available to encourage them to do so. A group of Swiss researchers claim to have come up with a process that stores heat captured during summer for easy, flick-of-a-switch use in winter, with the added benefit that the captured energy can be physically transported anywhere it may be needed.

Created by researchers working at EMPA (Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs-und ForschungsAnstalt or, in English, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research), the new system uses concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the thermal storage medium, and a collection of largely off-the-shelf components to capture, convert, and release heat energy on demand.

To achieve this, the researchers rely on the fact that when water is poured onto dry sodium hydroxide an exothermic reaction ensues, where the chemical energy contained in the NaOH is released as heat. As NaOH is also extremely hygroscopic (that is, having a great attraction for dragging in and holding water molecules from the surrounding environment), more heat is produced from water condensing from vapor in the air and the sodium hydroxide solution is heated even further. In this way, large amounts of heat may be liberated from NaOH simply by the addition of water.

Conversely, if heat energy (collected from the sun, for example) is fed into a solution of sodium hydroxide diluted with water, the moisture readily evaporates and the NaOH solution becomes more concentrated and, therefore, effectively stores the supplied energy. This concentrated mixture may then be kept stored for many months (even years), until the heat is once again liberated when the NaOH is exposed to water again. The solution can also be easily transported in tanks to other areas where heat energy is needed.

In practice, the storage medium is a viscous liquid composed of a 50 percent NaOH solution that is made to trickle along in a spiral pipe (created from heat exchangers normally found in instantaneous water heaters), where it soaks up water vapor along the way and then conveys the generated heat into the pipe. The heat is then free to radiate, convect, and conduct into the area requiring warmth.

During this process, the sodium hydroxide solution cascades down the outside of the heat exchanger spiral, where it is diluted to around 30 percent in the steamy atmosphere of the inside of the system, and the water temperature within the pipe rises to around 50° C (122° F). Which, in a happy coincidence, makes it ideal for under floor heating.

The reverse of this process – passing heat through the medium to store energy – has also been demonstrated in the system. Specifically, the moisture from the NaOH solution evaporates when heat is applied, which is then siphoned off and condensed. The solution that exits the heat exchanger is now back up to 50 percent strength, and "charged" with heat energy. The researchers suggest that the heat for this step could be renewably produced using solar collectors (similar to those used in solar-powered air conditioning systems).

The heated water generated in the process of condensation is then transferred to a geothermal probe (generally loops of pipes embedded vertically in the ground) for storage and retrieval. After the stored condensation's temperature has dropped to somewhere between 5 and 10° C (41 to 50° F) it is returned to the apparatus to drain the store.

Though still in the prototype stage, EMPA is currently looking for commercial partners to assist in creating a compact version of the system for household domestic use.

The EMPA heat storage device is one of three competing systems in the COMTES project, which has the goal to develop and demonstrate compact seasonal storage of solar thermal energy.

| A Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) release  |  January 12, 2017  |

New Zealand’s geothermal sector joins various other countries looking at the opportunity to get involved in geothermal development in Iran.

Geothermal New Zealand Inc., a collaboration by New Zealand’s geothermal industry, has recently been to Iran to meet Iranian partners and explore venues for cooperation on geothermal power generation projects.

As part of the delegation, Geothermal New Zealand Executive Director Mike Allen has been part of a trade mission from the country to learn about geothermal opportunities and new energy in general. “New Zealand was involved in the early project developments of Sabalan geothermal area in Iran some 15 years ago,” Mike Allen noted. “Now we are looking into what more is available.”

During the summer of 1998, a survey of the Mt Sabalan geothermal area, in northwest Iran, was undertaken for SUNA (Renewable Energy Organization of the Ministry of Energy, Islamic Republic of Iran). The primary objective of this survey was to carry out geothermal exploration of the Sabalan area to delineate any resistivity anomalies that may be associated with high temperature geothermal resources.

The subsurface resistivity structure was modelled to assess the size of the geothermal resources, to facilitate the choice of initial exploration well sites, and to prepare conceptual models for the hydrology of the geothermal fluid reservoirs.

“Iran has good geothermal potential. The government is encouraging the private sector for activity. We are interested in the technical, rather than investment part of the activities,” Allen said.

Exploration for geothermal resources in the Sabalan mountains of northern Iran, undertaken in the summer of 1998, identified several low resistivity anomalies around the flanks of the volcanic complex that are worth investigating by deep drill-holes.

Southland community and business leaders are backing the local aluminium smelter in its battle to pay lower electricity transmission costs. It costs $918 million to run New Zealand's 12,000km national grid, and the smelter has to pay $60.8m a year of that cost.

It originally hoped to reduce that to about $10m, because it only uses one 160km power line, from Manapouri to Tiwai Point, and argued it should not have to pay for wires over 1000km away in Northland or Auckland.

But the Electricity Authority's series of reform proposals is progressively dashing those hopes.

Its latest, and probably penultimate, proposal lowers the smelter's bill only slightly, from $60.8m to $47.4m or $41.9m, depending on how it is assessed.Tim Shadbolt

Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt said that was not nearly good enough.

"We are going to fight it all the way, and we have been getting quite good at fighting these sorts of battles," Mr Shadbolt said.

"I believe it is a case of rallying the troops and getting the South Island mayors together and trying to explain to people what our case is and hoping they will take the side of justice."

|  Continue to full article  |  Dec 19, 2016  |

Karl Kolmsee explains how the small hydrokinetic turbines developed by his company Smart Hydro Power can provide a reliable source of electricity to remote rural communities.Smart Hydro Power's floating turbines

A hydrokinetic turbine works like a wind turbine underwater – the force of the current in a river or canal turns a rotor, which in turn spins a generator to create electricity.

Smart Hydro Power designs and manufactures these turbines to provide a renewable source of electricity to inaccessible rural locations.

|  Continue to full articvle with video and images on Dezeen |  Dec 16, 2016  |

Metal fabrication is essential to the green energy industry’s production of solar panels, natural gas lines, and wind turbines. How can we make the metalworking industry more environmentally friendly?

sheet metal fabrication, fabrication metal, metal fabricator, eco friendly, eco friendly products, sustainable, sustainability, sustainablity, sustainabilty, sustanability, sustainibility, welding, vacuum soldering, solder vacuum, soldering vacuum, friction welding, friction stir welding, linear friction welding, friction welder, diffusion welding, green technology, green technologies, green technolgy, metalworking, metal fabricationIf you’re familiar with the metal fabrication industry, you know that it’s a world steeped in tradition, forging fires, and the clanging of metal on metal. There are sparks and smoke, and sometimes risks from fumes or open flame.

No matter how you slice it, the creation of metal can be a messy business.

But now, it doesn’t have to be. With the invention of new technologies that help with the “greening” of the metal fabrication industry—along with a worldwide shift towards sustainable products and production—welding is moving more towards becoming what’s known as a “green collar job.”

It’s a pursuit that’s considered to be more ecologically friendly than ever before, plus it’s a trade with a bright future for those thinking about a career in welding.

Combine that with the fact that the green movement can actually save metal fabricators money in the long run, and there’s little reason not to embrace a sustainable initiative.

This is no small thing for an industry that’s been around for centuries.

Green-Collar Jobs

There are actually two ways for a job to be green: either it can produce eco-friendly products, or it can use manufacturing that’s environmentally sustainable, even if the final product itself can’t be considered green.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that the former is referred to as the output approach—which “identifies establishments that produce green goods and services and counts the associated jobs”— and the latter is the process approach—which “identifies establishments that use environmentally friendly production processes and practices and counts the associated jobs”.

The process approach can be used in any industry, which makes it much easier to implement. Yet when it comes to metal fabrication, companies can have the best of both worlds.

A welding business can use the process approach if it incorporates environmentally friendly welding techniques, which could include vacuum soldering, friction welding, and diffusive welding. These may be cutting-edge techniques now, but in the future they could become more commonplace.

Still, you’re more likely to find metal fabrication companies utilizing the output approach: as the world moves towards more eco-friendly initiatives, there’s going to be more demand for metal that can help support green technology. We’ll touch on that more in the next section.

It’s also beneficial for metal fabrication companies to consider switching to green initiatives (e.g. change the process approach). There are numerous government agencies looking to provide support through assistance programs to help move more fabrication and manufacturers towards eco-friendly production.

For example, Fabricating & Metalworking mentions the Green Suppliers Network, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency along with the U.S. Department of Commerce, which has a mission “to help small and medium-sized manufacturers stay competitive and profitable while reducing their impact on the environment.”

|  Continue to full article  |  Dec 14, 2016  |

Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges today opened public consultation on a new national renewable energy strategy.

The draft replacement of the New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy proposes actions that will help New Zealand make the most of its clean, renewable energy sources.

“Energy efficiency and increased use of our renewables are critical for our environment and our economy,” Mr Bridges says.

“This strategy will aim to steer businesses, individuals and the Government towards taking actions that enable our transition towards a smarter, lower-carbon and more productive economy.”

The strategy covers the period 2017-2022. Its actions and targets focus on three priority areas: transport; the heat used in industrial and manufacturing processes; and innovative and efficient use of electricity.

“These areas offer the greatest potential for emissions and efficiency savings, which can improve economic growth, energy security and affordability, and help New Zealand meet its climate change commitments,” Mr Bridges says.

”It also complements Government initiatives already underway such as the Electric Vehicles Programme, which will take advantage of New Zealand’s renewable electricity and reduce transport emissions by accelerating the uptake of electric vehicles.”

The strategy was developed in consultation with a range of targeted stakeholder groups with the public consultation process seeking views to inform the development of the final strategy, for release in 2017.

Submissions can be made at www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/sectors-industries/energy/energy-strategies. They close 5pm, 7 February 2017.

An inconvenient truth - How NZ can take off to Paris with energy from wasteDr. Marc R. Stammbach, Hitachi Zosen Inova Australia2pm, 6th December 2016

Extracting valuable products from waste in a circular economy* is critical for communities to be sustainable.Grate based energy from waste maximises energy as well as material recovery from solid waste. Recovered materials include detoxified inert materials for use, aggregate, ferrous and aluminium, and now also copper, silver, palladium, and even gold. The high net energy production to electricity, process steam, district heating and cooling classifies them as recycling plants according to the European R1 criteria.The focus of this webinar will be:• Residuals materials fit for energy from waste• Flue gas treatment options• Recovery steam, heat and electricity (50% renewable)• Detoxifies waste to mostly renewable carbon dioxide, aggregate and metals• Chemically recycles – recovery of metals from flue gas treatment• Thermally recycles – urban mining of metals and aggregate from bottom ash• New projects delivered into the UK using best available technology• Importance of recycling of metals with increasing use of multi-composite materials• Energy from waste is environmentally sound and empowers the circular economy• Turns NZ’s CO2 emission from waste below zero and will achieve near “zero waste to landfill”Case studies from operational facilities with these features will be portrayed and their relevance in the New Zealand context discussed.

The Bioenergy Association invites anyone interested in utilizing waste to produce energy to attend this webinar.

Booking a Place at the Webinar

· Bookings: - Bookings are essential in order to connect to the GoToMeeting system. Please book your place at this event using This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Attendance at this webinar is FREE courtesy of EECA Business.

 Widely used technology routinely ignored in New Zealand claims process engineer.

European technology that converts milk and meat processing plant effluent into self- contained waste consuming and energy generating plants is now available in New Zealand.Napier industrialist Ken Evans said the technology allowed milk and meat processing plants to become their own standalone waste treatment units with the added advantage of these plants using the waste so consumed as their own source of energy.

As an example he cited large scale milking centres in Europe that were self sufficient in power simply because all the waste they generated was converted into electricity.He said that the era in which factories could discharge their waste in any volume or in any proportion into the public domain should have ended many years ago. It was now time to apply a readily available solution, and one widely used internationally, he said.

The problem he said was that there had not been the concerted nationwide will to do something about process waste finding its way into the water system.This he said was itself a by-product of uncertainty about the ability of technology to cope with the problem.

“You look at the situation today in which vehicles that drive themselves are now on the roads. Yet we still have copious amounts of concentrated waste matter allowed to penetrate the nation’s water system.”

He said that waste-to-energy plant technology in primary processing had been allowed to be placed in the “too hard” basket.

He said that the conservation lobby had allowed itself to become over-focused on international issues at the expense of seeking solutions to problems in what he described as the nation’s “back yard.”

He said that he would now ensure that milk and meat processors in New Zealand were acquainted with this waste-to-energy solution that was so widely used in Europe. His objective he said was to make New Zealand’s processing plants their own waste consumers, and thus their own energy suppliers.

It was he said a relatively low cost solution, and one with its own pay-back. This proven technology was now readily available in New Zealand backed by his specialists with the experience to install it.

From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk - Monday 5 September 2016Ken Evans can be contacted on phone 64 6 843 0632 , mobile 64 027 293 2678 and by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.