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Solar panels provide clean energy for remote Coniston Station, 200 kilometres north west of Alice Springs, Northern Territory. The system provides at least 60 per cent of the station's electricity needs in summer and 75 per cent in winter. It saves 27 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions and 10,000 litres of fuel every year.
Enlarge imageWith current renewables technology, we can generate almost six times
today's global energy demand (source: International Solar Energy
Society). Many countries, like the UK, China, and Egypt, have enough wind power
to meet their energy needs many times over. As tidal, wave, solar and
bio-mass technologies develop, a diverse renewable energy industry will
emerge.
Renewable energy is reliable, clean and limitless power generated by natural forces and processes such as sunshine, wind, flowing water (hydro) and organic materials (bioenergy). We can each do our part by saving energy.
With vast open space and abundant sunshine, Australia has the potential to harness more renewable energy than almost any other country in the world. Enough sunlight falls on Australia each hour to supply all our power needs for a whole year, if we could capture it all!
Nuclear energy is not a solution to climate change.
Australia has world renowned energy researchers and institutions. Yet countries like Germany and Japan have left Australia behind in the race to develop and use renewable energy technologies. Despite having far less resources to work with, these countries have enjoyed plenty of government support for their fledgling industries. During the Howard era, the Australian renewable energy industry lacked this support.
Germany and Spain’s supportive policies are helping establish renewable energy industries. They now lead the world in the field. In Israel, development controls mean that 85 per cent of homes now have solar hot water.
The Rudd Government has promised to set a national renewable energy target of 20% by 2020. We need to see the Government legislate this target this year.
Technological improvements and increased production have reduced the cost of renewables. In many regions, the cost of electricity produced from renewable sources matches or beats the cost of generating power from fossil fuels. And remember, the cost of electricity generated from polluting coal does not count the health, economic and social costs of air pollution and climate change.
With government leadership and support, Australians could easily use at least 30 per cent less energy if basic, cost effective efficiency measures were introduced. You would also save money on your electricity bill.
Increasing our use of renewable energy will create thousands of jobs in regional Australia and could establish Australia as a renewable energy exporter. This would bring the cost of renewable energy down even further.
Even though the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, an integrated renewables system around Australia will provide ample reliable and safe energy. Denmark already gets 20 per cent of its energy from wind power without any disruptions to supply.
ABC television program Four Corners: Earth, Wind and Fire
Investigates Australia’s cleaner energy solutions and asks are we neglecting renewable energy at our peril?
What is renewable energy?
Renewable energy is reliable, clean and limitless power generated by natural forces and processes such as sunshine, wind, flowing water (hydro) and organic materials (bioenergy). We can each do our part by saving energy.
With vast open space and abundant sunshine, Australia has the potential to harness more renewable energy than almost any other country in the world. Enough sunlight falls on Australia each hour to supply all our power needs for a whole year, if we could capture it all!
Nuclear energy is not a solution to climate change.
Renewable energy benefits
- Less air pollution and less global warming
- It's stable, secure and won't run out. Unlike fossil fuels, renewable energy is not dependent on big power plants that are vulnerable to increasing fuel prices and security concerns.
- Trade benefits from exporting clean energy technologies to the region.
- Local investment and thousands of new jobs in manufacturing, construction and maintenance, primarily in rural and regional Australia.
The technology in Australia
Australia has world renowned energy researchers and institutions. Yet countries like Germany and Japan have left Australia behind in the race to develop and use renewable energy technologies. Despite having far less resources to work with, these countries have enjoyed plenty of government support for their fledgling industries. During the Howard era, the Australian renewable energy industry lacked this support.
Germany and Spain’s supportive policies are helping establish renewable energy industries. They now lead the world in the field. In Israel, development controls mean that 85 per cent of homes now have solar hot water.
The Rudd Government has promised to set a national renewable energy target of 20% by 2020. We need to see the Government legislate this target this year.
FAQs on renewables in Australia
What does it cost?
Technological improvements and increased production have reduced the cost of renewables. In many regions, the cost of electricity produced from renewable sources matches or beats the cost of generating power from fossil fuels. And remember, the cost of electricity generated from polluting coal does not count the health, economic and social costs of air pollution and climate change.
With government leadership and support, Australians could easily use at least 30 per cent less energy if basic, cost effective efficiency measures were introduced. You would also save money on your electricity bill.
Increasing our use of renewable energy will create thousands of jobs in regional Australia and could establish Australia as a renewable energy exporter. This would bring the cost of renewable energy down even further.
Is it reliable?
Even though the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow, an integrated renewables system around Australia will provide ample reliable and safe energy. Denmark already gets 20 per cent of its energy from wind power without any disruptions to supply.
ABC television program Four Corners: Earth, Wind and Fire
Investigates Australia’s cleaner energy solutions and asks are we neglecting renewable energy at our peril?
Reports
Paths to a low carbon future
October 10, 2007
Greenpeace: Energy Vision Report
July 17, 2007
A Bright Future
April 23, 2007
Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook
January 25, 2007
Solar Generation report - third edition
September 15, 2006
Global Wind Energy Outlook 2006
September 20, 2006
Power Shift: Cool Solutions to Global Warming
March 28, 2006