Energy policy of Australia

The Energy policy of Australia is subject to regulation by all three levels of Government, but particularly the State and Federal Governments. The coal industry is the main driver in the formulation of energy policy at both State and Federal government levels.

Australia is the highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the developed world. It is one of the major exporters of coal, the burning of which creates CO₂. It is also one of the countries most at risk from climate change according to the Stern report, partially because of the size of its agriculture sector and long coastline.

Renewable energy commercialisation in Australia is an area of significant activity, and many projects are funded through the Australian Greenhouse Office. Australia's renewable energy industries are diverse, covering numerous energy sources and scales of operation, and they currently contribute about 5.9% of Australia's total energy supply.

The major area where renewable energy is set to grow is in electricity generation following the introduction of the Australian Government's Mandatory Renewable Energy Target.[2] Already wind power in Australia, particularly South Australia, is a significant area of activity.

Federal Government

In the 2004 White Paper Securing Australia's Energy Future, a number of initiatives were announced to achieve the Australian Government’s energy objectives. These include:

• a complete overhaul of the fuel excise system to remove $1.5 billion in excise liability from businesses and households in the period to 2012–13
• the establishment of a $500 million fund to leverage more than $1 billion in private investment to develop and demonstrate low-emission technologies
• a strong emphasis on the urgency and importance of continued energy market reform
• the provision of $75 million for Solar Cities trials in urban areas to demonstrate a new energy scenario, bringing together the benefits of solar energy, energy efficiency and vibrant energy markets
• the provision of $134 million to remove impediments to the commercial development of renewable technologies
• incentives for petroleum exploration in frontier offshore areas as announced in the 2004-05 budget
• new requirements for business to manage their emissions wisely
• a requirement that larger energy users undertake, and report publicly on, regular assessments to identify energy efficiency opportunities.

State policies

Queensland

Queensland's energy policy is based on the year 2000 document called Energy Policy: A Cleaner Energy Strategy. The Queensland Government assists energy development through the Queensland Department of Energy and is most noted for its contribution to coal mining in Australia.

Initial development in the middle of the 20th century facilitated the extraction of fossil fuels and distribution of natural gas and oil in pipelines from the south west of the state, under the leadership of Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

About 80% of Queensland's electricity is produced from the burning of coal in major fossil fuel power stations including, Tarong Power Station and Stanwell Power Station.

Renewable energy development in Queensland lags behind other Australian states at a paltry 5% of total consumption, despite having an ample source of sunlight. Widespread access to numerous coal mines, the major coal producing region of the Bowen Basin for example, has provided an ample fuel source which is much cheaper to produce compared to renewable sources, despite state initiatives like the 13% Gas Scheme. These efforts and the 2006 halt to land clearing in Queensland, forms part of the state's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme in the states south east, has been built to ensure water supply to power stations is maintained during drought in Australia.

See also: Renewable_energy_development § Queensland_Government, Australia_2006

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South Australia

The South Australian Government has developed a Energy policy based on sustainability objective as well as on South Australia's Strategic Plan.

A major priority of South Australia’s Strategic Plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in South Australia to achieve the Kyoto target as a first step towards reducing emissions by 60% (to 40% of 1990 levels) by 2050.

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Western Australia

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Tasmania

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Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is energy rich but has no economic coal reserves like New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia. It has natural gas, some oil and significant potential for renewable energy resources.

Australian Capital Territory

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Fuels

Coal

Main article: Coal Mining in Australia

Coal is mined in every state of Australia. It is used to generate electricity and is exported. 75% of the coal mined in Australia is exported, mostly to eastern Asia. In 2000/01, 258.5 million tonnes of coal was mined, and 193.6 million tonnes exported. Coal also provides about 85% of Australia's electricity production.

Coal mining in Australia has become more controversial because of the strong link between burning coal, including exported coal, and climate change, global warming and sea level rise. Coal mining in Australia will as a result have direct impacts on Australian agriculture, health and the natural environment including the Great Barrier Reef.

Oil - Petrol

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Oil - Diesel

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Natural Gas

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Town Gas

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Hydro Electric Power

See Snowy Mountains Scheme

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Wind Power

See Wind power in Australia, Wind power in South Australia

Wind power in Australia is clean and renewable and a typical wind turbine can meet the energy needs of up to 1000 homes. The technology is proven, fast to build and economical compared with other renewable energy technologies.

Australia is the highest emitter of greenhouse gases per capita in the developed world and Wind power is well placed to grow and deliver greenhouse gas emission cuts on a cost competitive basis. A typical 50 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Australia can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 65,000 and 115,000 tonnes a year.

Solar Power

See Solar power in Australia, Photovoltaic and renewable energy engineering in Australia

Solar power is not yet a significant source of large scale electricity generation in Australia, despite the country having a reputation for a hot dry and sunny climate that might make it ideal for utilisation. This is mainly due to the higher cost per kW than other power sources because of the cost of solar panels. However, costs are coming down, mainly due to promising research by Professor Martin Green, the engineering breakthroughs of Professor Andrew Blakers, and production initiatives of companies such as Origin Energy and Solar Systems, and BP Solar.

A major 154MW photovoltaic (PV) Solar power station in Victoria is planned and will cost $420 million. It will be the biggest and most efficient solar photovoltaic power station in the world. The power station will have the capability to concentrate the sun by 500 times onto the solar cells for ultra high power output. The Victorian power station will generate clean electricity directly from the sun to meet the annual needs of over 45,000 homes with zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Nuclear Power

Jervis Bay Nuclear Power Plant was a proposed nuclear power reactor in the Jervis Bay Territory on the south coast of New South Wales. It would have been Australia's first nuclear power plant, and was the only proposal to have received serious consideration as of 2005. Some environmental studies and site works were completed, and two rounds of tenders were called and evaluated, but the Australian government decided not to proceed with the project.

Queensland introduced legislation to ban nuclear power development on 20 February 2007. Tasmania has also banned nuclear power development. Both laws were enacted in response to a sudden pro-nuclear position, by John Howard in 2006 , and the release of the Dr Ziggy Switkowski report into nuclear power.

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Energy Exports

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Energy Imports

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Energy Security

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See also

• Effects of global warming on Australia
• Energy policy
• List of active power stations in New South Wales
• List of active power stations in Queensland
• List of active power stations in South Australia
• List of active power stations in Tasmania
• List of active power stations in Victoria, Australia
• List of active power stations in Western Australia