ENVIRONMENT:

Climate Change:

Human activity since the industrial age has seen a rapid rise in environmental pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Airborne pollution from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases has risen significantly globally and this has been linked to observed climate change. Renewable energy technologies are those which are sustainable for the planet in the long term because they do not deplete stocks of limited natural resources. Wind power is a mature renewable energy technology that is able to produce a significant contribution to the world’s energy needs without polluting the air or water.

Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET):

MRET was originally legislated by the Australian Government in 2000 and commenced operation in April 2001. This legislation mandates annual targets of renewable electricity production for Australia which is imposed upon electricity retailers and large users of electricity. These retailers and large energy users must then purchase certificates created by eligible sources of generation to acquit their annual liabilities. Eligible generation sources include wind, hydro, photovoltaics, solar thermal, biomass and other renewable technologies.

The MRET targets were subsequently increased in 2009 such that by 2020 the annual target is expected to be 20% of Australia’s annual electricity production. This level, which is approximately 45 TeraWatt hours per year will be maintained until 2030. This target’s integrity had been compromised by the inclusion of solar hot water heaters and small scale rooftop photovoltaics that had flooded the market with certificates because of the number of certificates that were created by additional multipliers or by deemed production of as much as 15 years into the future. This has been identified by the industry and government and changes are proposed for the 2010 winter sitting of parliament that will segregate large scale renewable projects that will provide the majority of genuine renewable electricity production to achieve the 2020 target.

For more information refer to the Office of the Renewable Energy regulator’s website (www.orer.gov.au)

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS):

The Australian government has proposed an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) known as the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) to put a price on the cost of pollution caused by CO2 and other greenhouse gases. This is an appropriate and efficient methodology of applying a market price on this pollution which will facilitate the growth of clean and renewable energy technologies such as wind.

For more information refer to the Department of Climate Change website (www.climatechange.gov.au)