For solar energy in Australia, the future is looking bright
Here comes the sun: funding for solar energy will fast-track Australia’s renewable future http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=ca54c642-afdb-4d23-9fd2-f63db9bd992c Corrs Chambers Westgarth A global surge in solar investment is driving new growth in Australia’s solar sector. Costs are falling and storage technology is improving, making solar energy an emerging force in Australia’s clean energy future.
At a global level, energy experts are predicting large-scale solar photovoltaics (PV) to be the least-cost option for power generation almost universally by 2030.[1]
Locally, investment in Australia’s renewable energy industry is forecast to exceed A$40 billion over coming years. This translates to an estimated 30-50 major projects comprising at least 6000MW of new generating capacity to be built by 2020.[2]
Australia’s solar industry is also backed by a number of key funding initiatives. The result is a bankable investment environment that will enable investors and project proponents to harness Australia’s abundant solar resource.
THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET (RET) Continue reading
Why don’t we make Australians Aboriginal? Teach them to connect to country
Already as a nation, we have and have had:
- Australians who embrace and who are proud of being part of the oldest living culture in the world.
- Australians who walked side by side for reconciliation.
- Australians who fought side by side on foreign soils.
- Australians who compete internationally as teammates, mentors and coaches.
- Australians who are family, friends, mates and work colleagues.
What would happen if we as Aboriginal people invited and welcomed non-Aboriginal Australians into our community?
What if Aboriginal people helped all Australians to connect to country?, Guardian, Charlie Jia , 1 Nov 15 Picture this: every time Malcolm Turnbull addresses the nation, he acknowledges the Aboriginal country he was born on. @IndigenousX host Charlie Jia imagines a new kind of united Australian identity that is the true Australian identity?
This is Aboriginal land. Our people were always here.
This is the situation. This will never change.
Despite this truth, most Australians believe that Aboriginal people are Australians, first. Whereas most Aboriginal people would say, “we are Aboriginal first”.
Our Aboriginal sporting heroes, our Aboriginal politicians, our Aboriginal actors would all say they are representing their people. Most of us would say exactly the same thing.
The walk for reconciliation changed my life. I still believe we can walk together
Stuart McMinn for IndigenousX
So, isn’t it about time the Commonwealth of Australia stopped trying to make Aboriginal people Australian? Instead, why don’t we make Australians Aboriginal?….. Continue reading
Too good to be true? Greg Hunt’s new found enthusiasm for renewable energy
Hunt Talks Up Australian Renewables In Shanghai http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-news/hunt-australian-renewables-em5168/ November 4, 2015 Energy Matters Australia’s Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt, provided a glowing report on the state of renewable energy in Australia at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Future of Energy Conference in Shanghai yesterday.
Minister Hunt didn’t want to discuss the not-so-glorious recent past for renewables under ex-Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s reign, stating he wished to focus on “the positive agenda that the Australia has in place to harness energy innovation, support renewables and reduce emissions.”
Mr. Hunt told those gathered Australia boasts 2.4 million solar power and solar hot water systems, and has the highest proportion of households with solar panels globally at 15 per cent. This growth has been supported by programs such as the Solar Credits subsidy, which is still available. Additional incentives such as a tax deduction for asset purchases valued up to $20,000 are available for small business.
The Minister said renewables currently make up approximately 13 per cent of Australia’s electricity generation, a figure that will rise to 23.5 per cent by 2020 under the Renewable Energy Target.
Mr. Hunt was also optimistic about the future of home battery storage, quoting Morgan Stanley research estimating up to a million Australian households could have solar + storage in place by 2020.
The Minister was also very positive about the efforts of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA); agencies the Abbott government attempted to axe.
” Australia also excels in the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies through the Renewable Energy Target and investments made by the Australian Government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and Clean Energy Finance Corporation,” he said; also detailing some of the projects both agencies have been involved with.
The Minister also mentioned the CEFC and ARENA working together to jointly support the deployment of large scale solar with a $350 million package.
Reading over his comments, it’s hard to believe that a short time ago Australia’s renewable industry was facing a major threat from a government-led attack that saw investment in large scale projects plummet. With a change of leadership, the attitude towards renewables seems to have changed for the better.
The transcript of Minister Hunt’s speech can be downloaded here (PDF).
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 