Factors Affecting the Rise of Renewable Energy in the U.S. .docx
The Role of Renewables in the Australian Power Industry Past, Present and Future
1. The Role of Renewables in
the Australian Power
Industry: Past, Present and
Future
Joanne Patroni
2. Australia: Key Country data
Population 22 million
GDP (PPP) per capita $US 40,234 (2011), ranked 14th
Predicted to be the best performing economy in the world
over the next two years (IMF, April 2012)
Climate: generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and
east; tropical in north
Terrain: mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in
southeast
Environmental issues:
soil salinity and poor farming practices
soil erosion from overgrazing, desertification
limited natural freshwater resources
urbanization
Source: CIA World Fact Book
11. Percentage of electricity generation from
renewables by energy source (2010)
Source: Clean Energy Council: Clean Energy Australia 2010
12. Distribution of current Australian Renewable
generation plants
Source: Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and
Tourism 2008 report
13. Government Policies in place to
stimulate demand for renewable
energy
Adoption of Kyoto Protocol
Commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% of 2000 levels by 2050
National Greenhouse Accounts
System for tracking emissions reductions
Self-imposed target of 108% of 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012
Mandatory Renewable Energy Target
Target of 20% of all consumption by 2020 (9500GwH by 2010, 45000 GwH by 2020)
Establishment of Office Renewable Energy Regulator to ensure compliance
Photovoltaic Rebate Program
Grants of $4 per watt installed
5.7MW installed since 2000
Solar Cities
$75M public-private pilot project to demonstrate effectiveness of solar-based energy
solutions in urban areas
Carbon Pricing
legislation to price carbon of Dec 2011
tax at $23/tonne/year carbon dioxide emission due in July 2012.
Source: Australian Government. Department of Climate Change. International
Energy Agency – Global Renewable Energy Policy and Measures Database.
16. Local Opinion on the future of
renewables
“Australia must substantially and relatively quickly change the nature of its electricity supply. The
Commonwealth’s goal is to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2000 levels
by 2050. Much of this reduction will need to come from changes in electricity production, while
keeping energy secure and affordable for Australians.”
GRATTAN Institute, 2012
“As a nation better endowed with renewable energy resources than most, and at the same time the
OECD’s biggest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases, it behoves Australia to act promptly, and perhaps
lead the world to a zero emissions economy based on renewable energy.”
General Peter Gration, AC, OB E, FT SE
Former Australian Chief of Defence
19. Which way to Australia’s Energy
future?
Wind Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
Solar PV Nuclear
Concentrating Solar Power Bioenergy
Geothermal
…All face obstacles to achieving their full potential.
Source: OECD Working Paper
20. Cost as a barrier
Total Capital Cost ($/kW) for a range of alternative energy technologies in the US in the
period 1995-2020(estimated)
Solar PV
*not considering Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) $85/tCO2e
Concentrated Solar
Geothermal Hot Rock
Biomass
Geothermal other
Wind
Source: U.S. EIA (2010)
21. Contribution of renewables in Australia’s
future electricity mix
Source: CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship, 2009
22. Conclusion
Country with high renewable potential and positive economic
outlook
No significant increase in renewables (as proportion) in last
10 years
Current investment mostly in Solar PV
Recommendations
Increase Federal funding for R&D to establish commercial
viability and reliability
Focus future investment in geothermal, biomass and wind
carbon sequestration cheapest energy source coal would
become "cleaner"
Notas do Editor
In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include ageing of the population, pressure on infrastructure, and environmental issues such as frequent droughts. – CIA factbook
90% of population lives in cities
Primary Products=STM= Simply transformed manufacturesETM= Elaborately transformed manufacturesExports: mostly China, Japan and Rep of KoreaAustralia's abundant and diverse natural resources attract high levels of foreign investment and include extensive reserves of coal, iron ore, copper, gold, natural gas, uranium, and renewable energy sources. A series of major investments, such as the US$40 billion Gorgon Liquid Natural Gas project, will significantly expand the resources sector. Australia also has a large services sector and is a significant exporter of natural resources, energy, and food.The GILLARD government is focused on raising Australia's economic productivity to ensure the sustainability of growth, and continues to manage the symbiotic, but sometimes tense, economic relationship with China. Australia is engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks and ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with China, Japan, and Korea.
Institutions for collaboration
Just another form of power generation?
Current investment mostly in solar...
the levelised cost of energy for most RE technologies has declined over the past 30 years and additional expected technical advances would result in further cost reductions.Th graph suggests Concentrated solar, biomass, steam geothermal and wind have reached panicle of cost efficiency… investment now