Antinuclear

Renewables generation grew to nearly 15% in 2013  THE AUSTRALIAN, STAFF REPORTER  JUNE 25, Some of the strongest hydro generation in recent years and the opening of the largest wind farm in the country lifted renewable energy’s share of Australia’s power generation to 14.76 per cent in the 2013 calendar year, according to analysis from areport released today by the Clean Energy Council.

The result is up from 13.14 per cent in 2012.

Clean Energy Council chief executive David Green said both energy efficiency and renewable energy had an important role to play in building a stronger, cleaner economy, and 2013 represented another exciting year for the uptake of these technologies.

“Last year saw another year of steady growth for solar power and wind energy in Australia, despite sustained uncertainty about the key policy settings for the sector. Australia’s renewable energy potential is massive, but we have so much more to do to fully unlock it,” Mr Green said………

Key results from the Clean Energy Australia 2013 report include:

·       $5.2 billion was invested in clean energy during the calendar year, the third successive year that domestic investment has been more than $5 billion.

·       Almost 1.25 million solar power systems were installed at the end of 2013, meaning more than 3.1 million Australians now live or work beneath a set of solar panels.

·       Renewable energy produced 14.76 per cent of Australia’s electricity in 2013 – enough to power the equivalent of almost 5 million homes. While hydro had an extremely strong year, wind and solar power use also grew to record levels.

·       Approximately 21,000 people were employed by the renewable energy industry at the end of 2013. This is several thousand fewer than the year before, mainly due to a contraction in the market for household solar power.

·       The largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere, the Macarthur Wind Farm, opened in 2013. In total, Australia’s 1639 wind turbines across the country provided enough electricity to power the equivalent of 1.3 million homes. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/latest/renewables-generation-grew-to-nearly-15-in-2013/story-e6frg90f-1226965788613