Antinuclear

Clean Energy Australia Report – record use of renewable energy in Australia 2012

Renewable Energy Use Hits Record Heights in Australia The latest data from Australia’s peak clean energy body indicates that the country’s use of renewable energy hit record heights last year. Design Build,  By Marc Howe, 7 June 13, 

According to figures from the Clean Energy Council’s 2012 Clean Energy Australia Report, a record-breaking 13.14 per cent of Australia’s electricity was derived from renewable energy in 2012.

Both solar power and wind power have reached major milestones since the start of 2012, Australia’s 62 wind farms produced enough electricity to  supply power to one million households for the first time last year, while the country installed its millionth solar power system earlier this year.

While solar power and wind power saw an increase in their share of renewable energy generated, rising to 26 per cent and eight per cent respectively, hydro power nonetheless remains the dominant form of clean power, accounting for 57 per cent in 2012…….. However, the report found that Australian investment in renewables actually fell significantly last year, dropping $1.3 billion dollars from $5.5 billion in 2011.

The decline in investment has been largely attributed to the solar sector due to the scuppering of government incentives for the installation of rooftop panels and declines in systems cost.

Further declines in investment are also expected this year as a result of political uncertainty in the lead up to the federal election this year, and the potential impact on the renewable energy sector of a Coalition victory.

June 7, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News