20 Feb 2012
Renewable energy has helped Australia to cut its total carbon emissions for the second year running, according to figures published by the Federal Government. Clean Energy Council acting Chief Executive Kane Thornton said analysis from the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts showed that overall greenhouse emissions had dropped about 1% in the year to September 2011, largely led by the electricity sector."Electricity emissions dropped 3.2% during this period. Hydroelectric power was up just over 10% due to the excellent rainfall in key hydroelectric areas, while coal and gas generation both dropped", Mr Thornton said. "Better energy efficiency and the increased use of technologies such as solar power, wind power and solar hot water were some of the factors that the government said contributed to the strong result.
"Australia's bipartisan 20% Renewable Energy Target is starting to work, even though it is still in its early stages. The industry looks forward to working with all sides of politics to accelerate the roll out of clean energy across the country", he said. The drop in emissions is a significant one, as it came at a time of economic growth as Australia emerged from the global economic crisis. Although emissions fell in the previous year as well, this was largely attributed to reduced productivity as a result of the economic downturn.
Mr Thornton said developing clean energy also made economic sense for Australia. "It has the potential to generate thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in investment, much of which will be in regional areas of the country", he said. "Renewable energy such as solar and wind power is falling rapidly in price and will help to provide an insurance policy against the rising fuel costs of coal and gas as we are increasingly exposed to international markets".
Click here to access the latest update of the Australian National Greenhouse Accounts.
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