29-09-2022
News
On 8 September 2022 the Climate Change Bill 2022 passed both houses in federal parliament.
The Bill has legislated a carbon emissions reduction by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, and net zero by 2050. It also gives power to the climate change authority to track progress against climate change targets and advise future targets, including for 2035 in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
The Bill also requires government agencies such as Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and Infrastructure Australia to consider set climate change targets in their operations when approving projects.
Further it would be required for the federal minister for climate change to report to Parliament annually regarding the progress with the set climate change targets.
What does this mean for our industry?
By legislating greenhouse gas reduction targets, the federal government is sending a clear message to the gas and related industries. Alternative energy sources such as renewable hydrogen and biogas are important transition fuels in the future for our industry.
Many industry stakeholders have already initiated key projects in anticipation of these targets. Some of the projects include, the establishment of AGA’s hydrogen and renewable energy laboratory in 2018 and the development of the hydrogen appliance specification from Standards Australia, to be published next year. In addition, several gas pipeline and distribution network businesses have adopted net zero emission targets and are already running hydrogen injection trials across Australia.
Working together will fast track the transition to renewable fuel sources for our industry to meet our national greenhouse gas targets collectively.
Please go to Click Here for more information about the Bill.
The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) published its report on 8 September 2022 – “Review into extending the regulatory frameworks to hydrogen and renewable gases”.
The report recommended to Energy Ministers “that changes be made to the national gas and retail regulatory frameworks to enable the natural gas sector to evolve to using hydrogen and renewable gas to support Australia’s emissions reduction plans”.
Some of the key recommendations include, enabling access to pipelines and support investment by extending the economic regulatory framework, to allow new services and commodities in the retail gas markets, and enabling consumers to be informed about a change in the type of gas supplied.
It has also considered how its recommendations support emissions reduction and enable the decarbonisation of the energy market as well as provide a framework for stakeholders in the market to innovate that will result in new gas services that customers seek.
Further, it has sought to recommend amendments to the gas regulatory framework that prepare it for the future development of the gas sector as it moves towards including lower emissions fuels.
To read the full report please Click Here:
As mentioned in our previous NewsFlash, AS/NZS 1869:2012 has been revised and divided into three parts (currently subject to public comment via Standards Australia):
• AS 1869.0 covers general requirements for hose and hose assemblies,
• AS 1869.1 covers requirements specific to non-metallic liners and
• AS 1869.2 covers requirements specific to metallic liners
The major changes from the 2012 edition include:
• Existing allowable levels of extractable matter have been confirmed for each class of hose.
• Appendix A covering purchasing guidelines has been removed as it is unlikely that purchasers would read this document.
• Appendix X covering hoses designed to operate in excess of 2.6 MPa has been removed as it is outside the scope of this document.
• Resistance to corrosion requirements have been added
• Resistance to ultraviolet degradation requirements have been added
Public Comment is open until 13th October 2022.
AS 4629-2005 (AM1/2) has also been revised and divided into two parts (currently subject to public comment via Standards Australia):
• AS 4629.1, Automatically operated valves for gas – Part 1 Shut off valves
• AS 4629.2, Automatically operated valves for gas – Part 2 Vent valves.
Other major changes from the 2005 edition are as follows:
• Partial alignment to international Standards and a first step towards recognition of International Standards;
• Changes of Classification system from Class 1,2,3 to Class A,B,C,D,J (to align with ISO 23551-1);
• Introduction of Semi-automatic valve requirements;
• Limit the maximum rated working pressure to 2.6 MPa.
Public Comment is open until 4th October 2022.
The following gas hose Standards are out for public comment until 13 October 2022 to replace AS/NZS 1869:
AS 1869.0 – Hose and hose assemblies for liquefied petroleum gases (LP Gas), natural gas and town gas, Part 0: General requirements
AS 1869.1 – Hose and hose assemblies for liquefied petroleum gases (LP Gas), natural gas and town gas, Part 1: Non-metallic liners is out for public comment until the 13 October 2022.
AS 1869.2 – Hose and hose assemblies for liquefied petroleum gases (LP Gas), natural gas and town gas, Part 2: Metallic liners
The following automatic gas valve standards are out for public comment until 4 October 2022 to replace AS 4629:
AS 4629.1 – Automatically operated valves for use with gas, Part 1: Shut-off valves
AS 4629.2 – Automatically operated valves for use with gas, Part 2: Vent valves
If you would like to submit any comments, you may forward them directly through to Standards Australia – See following guide: Click Here