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The Australian
Greenhouse Office is seeking to meet Australia’s international
greenhouse commitments through effective domestic action in
a way that advances our national interests in terms of:
- ecologically
sustainable development;
- playing
our part globally;
- supporting
efficient and competitive industries; and
- promoting
employment and regional development.
Renewable
Energy
 With
A$380 million available over five years, the Australian Government,
through the Australian Greenhouse Office, has made a strong
commitment to increase the use of clean renewable energy in
Australia. Key initiatives include:
- World-first
legislation that guarantees enough new renewable electricity
is generated over the next 10 years to supply the residential
electricity needs of a city of four million people. By 2010
the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target will have increased
the contribution of renewable energy sources in Australia’s
electricity mix by 9,500GWh a year. This initiative is being
achieved by establishing an innovative market in renewable
energy certificates, and is expected to deliver in excess
of A$2 billion of new investment in renewable energy in
Australia.
- Development,
with industry, of an Action Agenda strategic plan to guide
the development of a sustainable and
internationally competitive renewable energy industry in
Australia which has annual sales of A$4 billion by 2010.
- Initiatives
to address financial and institutional barriers to the uptake
of renewable energy, assessment of renewable energy resources,
development of standards for equipment and training and
accreditation of system designers and installers.
- Increasing
the uptake of renewable energy technologies in remote areas,
saving more than 50 million litres of diesel fuel per annum
and substantially improving the quality of life of the people
who live there.
- Increasing
the use of photovoltaic technology to enable householders
and owners of community buildings, such as schools, to convert
sunlight into electricity; and
- Commercialisation
of new technologies and applications to generate and use
renewable energy including photovoltaics, biomass (conversion
of plant material to energy), solar thermal (such as solar
hot water systems) and the action of the wind, waves and
tides.
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