MEDIA RELEASE,
Monday 18 December 2006:
Following the announcement of the Emissions Trading Task Group and its Terms of Reference by the Prime Minister, Australia’s clean energy sector has come together to outline a pathway to tackle Australia’s rising greenhouse gas emissions.
For the first time the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), the Australian Wind Energy Association (Auswind) and Renewable Energy Generators Australia (REGA) have combined to outline a strategy which enables Australia’s growing power needs to be met without increasing greenhouse levels.
In a joint statement they said: “This initiative concentrates on the twin aims of cleaning up existing power generation and use and meeting the growth in energy demand with clean energy technologies.”
“Using a market-based mechanism, electricity suppliers would be required to source power from low and zero emission providers. This system would enable the most cost-effective clean energy technologies to compete, ensuring that the growth in demand is met by clean energy sources.
At the same time an incentive framework needs to be established that provides long-term funding to develop new clean energy technologies, supporting existing electricity producers to reduce emission levels, and reducing electricity demand wherever possible.
Australia’s demand for electricity is expected to rise by 40% over the next 15 years. To meet this demand more than 1100 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity will need to be built each year.
Existing clean energy technologies can provide this power. The Australian Government’s now exhausted Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), which delivered 2000MW of renewable energy output, demonstrated the ability of the clean energy sector to respond when the right policies are in place.
To prepare Australia’s economy for a global carbon trading system, carbon emissions from the energy sector must be reduced. The most cost effective way to achieve this is to establish a regulatory framework that enables clean energy technologies to compete.
Australia’s trading partners have a head start in developing their clean energy sectors and working with emissions trading. Australia must expand its clean energy sector to develop the necessary skills and industry capacity to catch up with the rest of the world.
An effective global emissions trading scheme that includes the world’s major greenhouse emitters is a crucial goal to aspire to in the long term – however it will be some time in the future before this comes into effect.
Action is required now for Australia’s energy sector to make the transition.
To ensure that this demand growth is provided by clean energy sources and that energy efficiencies are implemented where possible, Australia must change its business as usual approach to energy policy.
“The way Australia responds to the challenges of climate change will have an enormous bearing on the nation’s economic and environmental health in the years to come.”
With the Prime Ministerial Task Group on emissions trading set to meet before Christmas and provide its recommendations within six months, it is crucial that options which promote clean energy production are also on the table.
Media contacts:
Mr Ric Brazzale, Managing Director, BCSE, 03 9349 3077 or 0419 522 659
Ms Dominique La Fontaine, CEO, Auswind, 03 9670 2033 or 0428 455 005
Ms Susan Jeanes, CEO, REGA, 08 8270 7227 or 0419 833 556
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