Australia seems blind to the economic benefits of renewable energy
Australia, in contrast, is far behind. Just 25 per cent of new energy-generation capacity is renewable. Why?..The traditional economic modelling in Australia flies in the face of global predictions…
Australia last on green energy, RAY WILLS, The West Australian January 27, 2011, Around the world, growth in renewable energy is now greater than any other energy investment – but not in Australia.
In 2009, 48 per cent of new energy generation capacity worldwide was renewable. The emerging data for last year shows as much as two-thirds of global energy installation was renewable.
Even in some places where action on energy is not primarily about climate change, but rather about ensuring a secure energy supply, countries are overwhelmingly choosing energy that is also free of greenhouse-gas emissions.
Australia, in contrast, is far behind. Just 25 per cent of new energy-generation capacity is renewable. Why?
The traditional economic modelling in Australia flies in the face of global predictions and assumes only negative impacts on the economy for energy pricing based on our reliance on carbon-based fuels, and makes little reference to the nation-building, economic values of the development of renewable energy.
Generally, Australian projections are silent on the positive economic impact of the mandated renewable energy target.
Renewable energy – a mix of established, new and emerging technology – is for the most part at the top of a product cost curve. This means electricity from renewable sources will only get cheaper…
…As the nation with the world’s best renewable energy resources, all Australian governments need to be more ambitious in support of renewable energy generation and provide the added certainty of a carbon price.
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