Submission to Victoria’s Renewable
Energy Roadmap
Action Plan for renewable energy
generation
Maria Ilona Elizabeth Riedl - 30 September 2015
Set a Renewable Energy Target (RET) that at least matches South Australia’s! Let’s just do it!
Victoria’s Renewable Energy Target: 33% by 2020 and 50% by 2025.
Introduction
My name is Maria Riedl and I would like to take the opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for
coming up to Mildura to inform us and consult with us. It is not often we get included in decisions
that will affect Victoria because we are so isolated and far away from Melbourne.
I would like to set the scene:
What I next write may not seem to be relevant to this RET Roadmap but in actual fact most certainly
is because it is all about working towards a real balance.
Public transport is a vital part of reducing Victoria’s GHG emissions because we not only have to
‘accelerate the development of Renewable Energy Generation targets’ but hand in hand, reduce GHG
emissions. We in Sunraysia have major problems with our connection to our capital because we lack
all options to travel to Melbourne. We either fly, which not everyone can manage due to cost, due to
fear, due to illness, age, disability; or we take a nightmare of a bus to Swan Hill, then a train to
Bendigo, then another to Melbourne and back; or a bus to Melbourne and back; or drive the 6 1/2
hours battling b- doubles and kangaroos on a road.
RACV ranks our main roads 4.6 out of 10, far below the state average of 6.2.
The Labor government which was in power for 10 years and is now back in again, promised to bring
us back our passenger train which has been missing for over 23 years now. There is money
committed to upgrade the line, justify over 79 crossings, standardise the track thus connecting to the
rest of Australia via the construction of the Transcontinental Rail Link. This is admirable, but like with
anything. they are trying to force on us the cheap option, with a 21 ton axel rate instead of the
required 23 ton axel rate which would mean anything on the line could travel at a reasonable speed.
We need decision-makers to understand that we are aiming for a fast reliable passenger train,
running at least at 110-120km/hr not the old Vinelander which took a whopping 10-12 hours. We
deserve to have our rail line, which is an AUSLINK line upgraded properly with long-term capabilities
catered for. We in Mildura are predicted to be a population of over 64,288 (2014 RACV) and this does
not include all the population from all the towns from Ballarat to Mildura which will also benefit.
The reason for me starting by highlighting our plight (our present council is limp wristed, pathetic, on
this, unlike previous councils, elections are soon so we can make a change for the better) is that I
believe that having RET is all very well, but at the same time, your document must incorporate how
you have reduced the GHG footprint of Victoria. One major way is to take cars and buses and bdoubles off the road wherever possible, especially on longer journeys and encourage it onto rail. It is
a fact that doing this will reduces the amount of GHG emissions by huge amounts and this should be
factored in.
Because of man-accelerated climate change and pure logic, Government at all levels, has a duty and
responsibility, to put in place infrastructure, which by its very nature, reduces GHG emissions, delivers
jobs, a clean future and gives all of us the ability to play our vital part in reducing our impacts on the
global climate. e.g. island nations for example! So you see, this investment in rail, especially to our
vast area with its mining of mineral sands, growing of grains, export of fruit such as oranges, wine
grapes, fresh fruit grapes, carrots, asparagus, nearly all having to be transported by truck because
the rail track is shocking makes sense.
By setting an example of logical infrastructure which everyone can use the Victorian government not
only delivers jobs but ensure that Victoria meets stringent GHG emissions targets both in the short
term and long-term. Population growth plays a major reason why this is necessary. With population
growth you have more cars, buses, planes, b-doubles etc. So much better to aim for a clean future
which plans ahead for rail infrastructure which will be lauded well into the future as visionary.
Accelerating and increasing supply of renewable
energy in Victoria:
Now:

84% of electricity in Victoria is generated by brown coal 12% of electricity is generated by
renewables;

4% of electricity is generated by gas.
Victoria is heavily over-supplied by brown coal and reliant on fossil
fuels.
The Victorian government must make it a priority to immediately start transitioning from brown coal.
Consider the fact, that just recently, there was a call (which was rudely joked and laughed about by
the Foreign Minister Dutton and previous Prime Minister Abbott when they thought no one was
listening!) by the Pacific Island leaders for a ‘global moratorium on new coal mines’. (’80 % of coal
reserves must remain unused’)
Sixteen Pacific leaders published ‘The Suva Declaration’ (7th September 2015) which called for
international discussions on a moratorium on the development and expansion of fossil fuels
industries, articulately new coal mines’. They ‘criticised Australia for its vastly inadequate pledges
ahead of the Paris climate talks because these lead to 3 or more degrees of warming, which is
unacceptable’. “As the wealthiest nation in the region, Australia shovel be showing leadership at
climate change negotiations in Paris, not turning its back”, said a Mr Ritter. ‘The Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change’s 5th assessment stressed that sea level rise projected this century will
present ‘severe flood and erosion risks’ for low-lying islands, with the potential also for degradation of
freshwater resources.’
Attract renewable energy investment

Victoria must set up a Renewable Energy Advocate like NSW to facilitate the development of
large scale renewable energy projects.

Victoria must leverage Commonwealth funding for renewable energy projects.

Start construction as soon as possible.

No to biomass energy projects please, as that is just encouraging the failed Vic Forest to burn
our forests for fuel calling it renewable energy which disregards the fact that a “forest” is a
living entity and plays a part in water retention, in species habitat and GHG reduction!! Leave
our native and regrowth forests out of any configuration of RET as this must not be
considered an option.
Build community support

Improve and expand support with early and effective engagement and promote the
development of community renewable energy projects right across Victoria and as stated at
the Mildura meeting make Mildura the capital of renewable energy innovation and a centre of
excellence for solar energy. We have a silent solar farm here. Put it to use rather than leave it
idle. Sell it to the MRCC or buy it and incorporate it into the grid, don’t just leave it rust!

Introduce measures to identify solar leasing opportunities and require Government agencies
to purchase Green power.

Produce a map of all the renewable energy that is in Victoria. Waubra wind farm, Carwarp
Solar farm, Bridgewater trial etc
Attract and grow renewable energy expertise

Established a hub in Mildura to foster research and innovation in renewable energy.

Institute a prize for Renewable Energy Innovation.

I repeat here just so you don’t miss my point: that burning forest refuse from state
native forests by VicForest is NOT to be considered part of the renewable energy
mix and is NOT to be considered clean energy!The impacts logging of native old
growth and regrowth by VicForests has already been taken to task by courts ruling
that impacts on species which rely on habitat these forests provide is
unacceptable. The continuous logging threats by VicForest to the endangered and
EPBC listed species and State Emblem species the Leadbetter possum is a case in
point!
My Conclusion:
It is clear that we have to at least match South Australia’s renewable energy targets. They are 33%
by 2020 and progressing swiftly by 2025 to 50%. We can do it if government has the will. We need to
maintain our native forests for carbon sinks as we need to remember the “balance” I was trying to
point out which can also be enhanced by forward planning public transport infrastructure etc etc etc.
lots of jobs lots of business. Let’s get with the program NOW! (will be easier with Abbott gone)
Books to read:
1. Laudato Si’ On Care for Our Common Home by Pope Francis
2. Dirty Money, The True Cost of Australia’s Mineral Boom by Matthew Benns
3. Rich Land, Wasteland, How Coal is Killing Australia by Sharyn Munro
4. Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change by Mark Diesendorf
5. What Will Work: Fighting Climate Change with Renewable Energy not Nuclear Power by Kristin
Shrader-Frechette
Thank you.
Maria I E Riedl
Articles of Interest:
I have attached a few articles for you to read and absorb. The information is out there just need to
act on it people!
Victorian Government sets renewable energy 'road
map' target of 20 per cent by 2020
By Jean Edwards
Posted 21 Aug 2015, 7:11pm
Fri 21 Aug 2015, 7:11pm
Victoria will aim to generate at least 20 per cent of the state's electricity from renewable energy by
2020, the Andrews Government has said.
The target has been set out in a government "road map" for the industry to encourage more
investment in cleaner technologies like wind and solar energy.
It establishes a minimum renewable energy target of 20 per cent by the end of the decade, which is
slightly lower than the national goal of about 23 per cent.
At present, about 12 per cent of Victorian power comes from renewable energy.
The Government has asked for community feedback on what the 2020 and 2025 targets should be,
as part of public consultation for its broader renewable energy plan.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the Government would also bring forward the building of about 100
megawatts of wind energy, by sourcing renewable energy certificates from new projects in Victoria.
"We think that's about $200 million worth of investment, or 50 new wind turbine towers across
regional parts of our state," Mr Andrews said.
"If we can do better, believe me, we will."
The Government said the projects would create about 1,000 jobs in regional Victoria.
Victorians 'betrayed' by Federal Government policy
Uncertainty around the national renewable energy target has deterred investment in the sector, with
Prime Minister Tony Abbott describing wind farms as "visually awful" and noisy.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has also told the Victorian Premier he "cannot stand the things". Mr Andrews
said the industry had been abandoned.
"The renewable energy sector and the thousands of Victorians and Australians whose livelihoods
depend upon it were betrayed with very bad policy, forgotten and left behind," he said.
"That's not good enough, we've got a very different set of priorities."
But Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber said Mr Andrews was effectively endorsing the Federal
Government's cut to the renewable energy target.
"We haven't got time to waste and we can't look at small, incremental targets," he said.
"One hundred megawatts isn't much when you consider the 2,800 megawatts that are sitting there
ready to go, waiting for the proper incentives from a government, whether it be state or federal."
Mr Barber said a 100 per cent target was desirable, along with a mechanism to shut Victoria's coalfired power stations.
Renewable plan 'to put a stride in people's step'
The state's wind energy sector has been struggling since the former Napthine government gave
landowners the power in 2010 to veto wind farms within two kilometres of their properties.
The Andrews Government reduced the buffer to one kilometre in March.
"I'm very sorry if someone is upset about the view from their beach house, but leadership's about a
bit more than that," Mr Andrews said.
But crossbench Senator John Madigan said the remark was condescending. "There aren't that many
wind farms that come with a beach view," he said. "Predominantly they are in rural Victoria, and
people in rural Victoria, as people in Brunswick or Fitzroy are, entitled to get a decent night's sleep,
they're entitled to live in peace in their home."
Mr Andrews made the announcement at wind turbine manufacturer Keppel Prince Engineering in
Portland, which was forced to lay off 100 staff last year.
General manager Steve Garner said the company expected to re-hire 40 people by the end of the
year.
"Everyone's had long chins and things have been looking gloomy for quite some time," he said.
"Something like today is certainly going to put a stride in everyone's step."
More on this story:
Emission reduction targets not enough: Climate Change Authority
Labor vows to scrap Emissions Reduction Fund to save billions
Solar power for rent: Electricity companies offer battery technology for lease
'I can't stand those things': Treasurer bemoans wind farm aesthetics
'I can't stand those things': Treasurer bemoans wind
farm aesthetics in candid conversation with
Victorian Premier
774 ABC Melbourne Clare Rawlinson, Dan Ziffer, staff Updated 15 Jul 2015, 2:56pm
Wed 15 Jul 2015, 2:56pm
Treasurer Joe Hockey has told Victoria's Premier he can't stand the sight of wind farms, in a candid
conversation ahead of Daniel Andrews' trip to a new wind project in the state's south-west.
Mr Hockey and Mr Andrews passed each other in the ABC Southbank foyer in Melbourne and spoke
briefly about the issue on Wednesday morning.
Mr Andrews said he was on his way to a wind farm in Ararat and Mr Hockey responded by saying, "I
can't stand those things".
"It's not that I — I don't prefer coal-fired power stations — I just can't, they're killing me," Mr Hockey
said.
"They're all around Lake George," he said, referring to a wind farm north-east of Canberra.
Mr Andrews responded by saying "some people have some aesthetic issues with them", and Mr
Hockey confirmed that was his issue.
Earlier this week, the Federal Government was accused of trying to shut down the Clean Energy
Finance Corporation by ordering it not to invest in wind and small-scale solar projects.
The move was part of a deal with crossbench senators to reduce Australia's Renewable Energy
Target.
Shortly after his conversation with Mr Hockey, the Premier told 774 ABC Melbourne Mornings' Jon
Faine the war on wind farms had become "personal" for some politicians. "Some people think the
best way to set policy is to be extremely personal about these things," Mr Andrews said.
"I'm sure somebody in the previous government had the view from their beach house ruined ... then
they decided to destroy the wind industry.
"There's been a terrible bias against renewable energy in the past four or five years that's sadly been
repeated in the Federal Government."
Abbott Government 'running a war against wind energy'
The Premier later used his visit to Ararat to fire a salvo at the Prime Minister over a directive to the
nation's green bank to stop investing in wind power.
Tony Abbott has told the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to stop investing in wind farms and
household rooftop solar projects, and instead focus on large-scale solar projects and new and
emerging technologies.
Mr Andrews today accused the Federal Government of trying to kill off the wind industry.
"We've got the Commonwealth Government from the Prime Minister down running a war against
wind energy," he said.
"If you're opposed to wind energy, clean energy, renewable energy, then you're opposed to all the
thousands of jobs that come with it.
"Why any prime minister would be opposed to working people, to jobs, to pay packets, to
opportunity, is beyond me."
Mr Andrews said he wanted Victoria to become the renewable energy capital of Australia. "That won't
be easy. But I don't think you could find two more different approaches than the one that Tony
Abbott is taking, wrecking as he always does, and the very positive and optimistic and practical
approach that our government has taken to make sure that this industry grows and prospers for the
future," he said.
Mr Andrews said the new wind farm would provide 200 jobs during the construction phase.
Topics: wind-energy, alternative-energy, environment, federal-government, federal--- state-issues,
work, melbourne-3000, vic, australia, canberra-2600
First posted 15 Jul 2015, 11:41am
Government's 'substantially weaker' emission
reduction targets not enough, Climate Change
Authority says
By national environment reporter Jake Sturmer Updated 14 Aug 2015, 11:44pm
The CCA's Bernie Fraser said in a statement the Authority had recommended reductions of 45-63 per
cent by 2030. (Sally Btryabt)
The Climate Change Authority (CCA) has described the Government's emission reduction targets as
"substantially weaker" than its recommendations and believes Australia will "slip further behind the
efforts being made by comparable countries". On Tuesday, the Federal Government announced plans
to cut emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2030 based on emissions from the year 2005.
The independent statutory advisory body's Bernie Fraser said in a statement the Authority has
recommended reductions of 45-63 per cent by 2030.
"Along with other countries, Australia has agreed to work towards reducing emissions to levels
consistent with limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre- industrial levels —
this remains a challenging task," he said in a statement.
"Measured against the reductions in emissions required to deliver a reasonable chance of limiting
global warming to 2 degrees, all countries have a lot more work to do over the decades ahead."
The Opposition and the Greens have argued Australia's targets left the nation at the "back of the
pack" when it comes to international action on climate change.
But Mr Abbott dismissed the attacks from Labor and the Greens over the new post-2020 emissions
reduction target, saying it was "fairly in the middle of comparable economies". "We are not leading,
but we are certainly not lagging," he said on Tuesday.
"It's environmentally responsible because it's more than comparable with what other countries are
doing."
But Mr Fraser said on the basis of current targets, Australia "would slip behind the efforts being made
by comparable countries and likely face large catch up adjustments down the track".
Top 15 emitters
The countries mapped here are the top 15 emitters of carbon dioxide, according to 2011 data from
the World Resources Institute.
China is the world's top emitter in total and of the top 15 emitters, Australia is the largest emitter per
capita.
See how emissions levels compare, and step through the cards to find out what emissions reductions
targets each country has set.
Sources: Climate Institute Climate, Action Tracker, Climate Change Authority, Global Carbon Atlas
China
China is the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has promised that its emissions will peak by
2030 at the latest.
It was vowed to reduce the carbon intensity of its economy 60-65 per cent by 2030 based on 2005
levels.
The Climate Action Tracker group says while China's target is insufficient, current policies would
actually result in an improvement in carbon intensity of 70 per cent and an earlier peaking of China's
emissions, which while still not enough to limit warming to below 2 degrees shows the possibility for
stricter targets to be implemented.
United States
The US is the world's second biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has committed to a 26-28 per cent
reduction by 2025 based on 2005 levels.
US president Barack Obama has ordered power plant owners to cut carbon dioxide emissions 32 per
cent by 2030 based on 2005 levels. In the longer term, it has committed to an 83 per cent reduction
by 2050 based on 2005 levels.
The Climate Action Tracker group says while it is currently on track to meet its 2020 target, greater
cuts will be needed to reach its 2025 pledge. It says the US's decision to cut emissions by tightening
regulations is a reasonable one and could put it on track to reach the 2025 pledge.
India
India is the world's third biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it is yet to submit a post-2020 target.
It has pledged to reduce its GDP emissions intensity 20-25 per cent by 2020 based on 2005 levels.
The Climate Action Tracker group says while India's 2020 pledge is in line with its currently
implemented policies, that will not be enough to limit warming to less than 2 degrees unless other
countries make deeper reductions.
Russia
Russia is the world's fourth biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has committed to a 25-30 per cent
reduction by 2030 based on 1990 levels.
The Climate Action Tracker group says Russia's pledge is "inadequate" as it is heavily based on
forestry emissions and does not provide information on the accounting rules it used to come to its
target.
Indonesia
Indonesia is the world's fifth biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has not submitted a post-2020
emissions target.
It has pledged to reduce emissions such that in 2020 they are 26 per cent below 2020 forecasts; if
sufficient international support is in place, it has pledged to cut by 41 per cent. The Climate Action
Tracker group says while current policies will not meet this pledge, they will decrease emissions
about 13 per cent by 2020.
Brazil
Brazil is the world's sixth biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has not submitted a post-2020 target
Brazil has pledged that by 2020 its emissions will be 36.1 per cent to 38.9 per cent lower than 2020
emissions forecasts.
The Climate Action Tracker group rates Brazil's efforts as "medium", saying it was one of the first
major developing countries to set an emissions target and is on track to meet the target with current
policies.
Japan
Japan is the world's seventh biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has committed to a 26 per cent
reduction by 2030 based on 2013 levels.
This converts to a reduction of 25 per cent by 2030 based on 2005 levels.
The Climate Action Tracker group says Japan's 2030 target is currently inadequate to keep global
warming below 3 to 4 degrees in the 21st century, and can be achieved almost without Japan taking
any further action. It says the target is a weakening of Japan's Kyoto Protocol target and its
Copenhagen pledge.
Canada
Canada is the world's eighth biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has committed to cut emissions 30
per cent by 2030 based on 2005 levels.
The Canadian Government says it will achieve this by tightening regulations around electricity
generations and transport, land use change, as well as purchasing carbon credits internationally.
The Climate Action Tracker group says Canada will miss this reduction target by "a wide margin" and
criticises its reliance on land use change, which it says is hard to measure. Germany
Germany is the world's ninth biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has committed to a 55 per cent
reduction by 2030 based on 1990 levels.
Germany forms part of the EU's pledge to put forward a binding target of at least 40 per cent of
domestic emissions below 1990 levels by 2030, which the Climate Action Tracker group says the EU
is not currently on track to meet.
It says the EU is currently on track to reduce emissions by 25-35 per cent of 1990 levels and more
needs to be done to ensure the 2030 goals are met.
Mexico
Mexico is the world's 10th biggest emitter of carbon dioxide.
It has committed to reduce greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants emissions 25 per
cent by 2030, based on forecasts for the nation's 2030 emissions.
Emissions intensity per unit of GDP will reduce by around 40 per cent from 2013 to 2030. The
Climate Action Tracker group says Mexico's efforts are not yet consistent with keeping warming
below 2 degrees, but notes that the country has proposed making deeper cuts if other countries
follow suit.
Iran
Iran is the world's 11th biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; details of its emissions reductions plans are
light.
According to a Reuters report last year, Iran plans to set up a carbon trading market to reduce
industrial emissions of climate-warming gas.
Iran has some of the world's largest gas reserves and is a major crude oil exporter. But rapidly rising
domestic demand has created a gas supply and vehicle pollution crisis in some cities.
Although Iran has some large hydro-power plants, heavy subsidisation of fossil fuels means there is
little incentive for private investments in wind or solar power projects, Reuters reported.
South Korea
South Korea is the world's 12th biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has committed to a 37 per cent
reduction by 2030, compared to 2030 forecasts.
The Climate Action Tracker group has criticised South Korea's target, saying it is the equivalent of
limiting emissions at 536Mt but that emissions need to be at least below 500MtCO2 per year to even
place it within the medium risk category.
Australia
Australia is the world's 13th biggest emitter of carbon dioxide and the highest emitter per capita
among the top 15.
It has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent of 2005 levels by 2030.
In July, the Climate Change Authority said if the Australian Government was to do its fair share to
keep the 2C commitment, it would need to reduce emissions by 40 to 60 per cent by 2030, based on
the level of emissions from the year 2000. That translates to an emissions reduction of 45 to 65 per
cent from the levels of the year 2005.
The Climate Action Tracker group says current policies "will result in emissions increasing by 12 to 18
per cent above 2000 emissions levels".
United Kingdom
The UK is the world's 14th biggest emitter of carbon dioxide; it has committed to a 50 per cent
reduction by 2025 based on 1990 levels.
In the longer term, it has committed to cut emissions at least 80 per cent by 2050 based on 1990
levels.
The UK forms part of the EU's pledge to put forward a binding target of at least 40 per cent of
domestic emissions below 1990 levels by 2030, which the Climate Action Tracker says the EU is not
currently on track to meet.
It says the EU is currently on track to reduce emissions by 25-35 per cent of 1990 levels and more
needs to be done to ensure the 2030 goals are met.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude oil producer, is the 15th biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. It
has not set emissions reduction targets for either 2020 or 2030.
Climate Action Tracker analysis predicts greenhouse gas emissions will increase 30 per cent by 2020
compared with 2010 levels and 60 per cent by 2030 if current policies are not changed.
CCA says more ambitious targets can be achieved
Business groups and the Government said the policy was ambitious and gets the balance right
between protecting the environment and the economy.
"It's economically responsible because it doesn't depend upon a great big new tax on everything, or
a massive overbuild of renewable capacity in the next few years," Mr Abbott said earlier this week.
In response, the Climate Change Authority said with the "right" policies the Authority believes more
ambitious targets than those adopted by the Government can be achieved at modest costs.
The Government has tried to abolish the CCA, but in a deal to abolish the carbon tax with the Palmer
United Party, it was spared.
In its statement, the Authority said it was now following Government directions to conduct a special
review comprising three reports on Australia's post 2020 targets, the case for an emissions trading
scheme (ETS) and how the Government could reach its post-2020 targets cost effectively.
We have said by 2030, 50 per cent of Australia's electricity should come from renewable energy.
This is not about leading the world — it's about catching up.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten
"The Authority's current work on the case for a market-based ETS for Australia is obviously occurring
in a difficult environment," Mr Fraser said.
"While part of the Minister's terms of reference to the Authority, the very idea of an ETS (and those
raising the idea) are criticised by government members every time it surfaces, asserting it is a 'tax'
(which it is not in substantial respects), which will have major economic and social consequences.
"[This is] not the experience of those countries where ETSs are prominent components of their
climate policy tool kits.
"Major decisions are looming as to how the inevitable costs of achieving large reductions in emissions
are best funded-through, for example, expansion of the government's Emissions Reduction Fund
activities, which are financed directly from the budget, and/or through market-based mechanisms
like an ETS."
The statement doubts some of the reported costs of a 40-60 per cent cut in emissions.
"[Some] commentators have wrongly claimed the Authority's own modelling shows that [cut]... would
impose very high costs — in the order of $600 billion — on the Australian economy," it said.
"This is not correct: the treasury modelling conducted for the Authority in 2013 did not project the
costs of Australia pursuing a 40-60 per cent emissions reduction target (or any other 2030 target for
that matter)."
Shorten vows to abolish Emissions Reduction Fund
The Federal Opposition has vowed to scrap the centrepiece of the Coalition's Direct Action climate
change policy to save billions of dollars.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten used a speech on Friday to vow to abolish the Emissions Reduction
Fund (ERF), which pays companies to reduce their pollution.
Labor said ditching the policy would save up to $4 billion over the next 10 years, which Mr Shorten
said could be spent on renewable energy or to reduce the budget deficit.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt said the Government had already provided hundreds of millions of
dollars in contracts for the ERF and reversing that would cost Labor.
"So there's every chance that he's already blown a billion-dollar hole in his own costings because he
hasn't thought about the fact there are additional rounds of the emissions reduction fund between
now and the election," he said.
"Labor is now trying to deny their own commitment after learning that the modelling they
commissioned showed how devastating it would be for Australian families and the economy.
"The modelling clearly shows the cumulative hit to GDP from Labor's carbon tax would be more than
$600 billion by 2030 in nominal terms."
Funding contracts that have already been made would still be honoured by Labor. In a speech in
Sydney, Mr Shorten said the centrepiece of Labor's alternative was renewable energy.
"We have said by 2030, 50 per cent of Australia's electricity should come from renewable energy," he
said.
"This is not about leading the world — it's about catching up."
Victorian company signs deal to build solar
equipment for China, as Premier eyes more trade
By Loretta Florance
Updated 22 Sep 2015, 2:46pm
Tue 22 Sep 2015, 2:46pm
Around 200 jobs will be created in a deal between a local technology company and a Chinese partner
to build solar power equipment, the Victorian Government says.
Victorian technology firm RayGen Resources has signed a deal with JuYe Solar to expand a
manufacturing facility in Blackburn over five years.
The new factory will produce receivers for concentrated solar photovoltaic systems to be sold to the
state- run China Three Gorges New Energy Company (TGNEC).
RayGen's chief executive Robert Cart said while the initial $2.5 million investment was modest, it
would allow the small tech start-up to commercialise its research and development.
"From a manufacturing perspective [our Chinese partners] will manufacture a large percentage of the
total product," he said.
"The part that we make is just the key high-tech component - the actual device that turns the
sunlight to electricity, and we provide the software.
"By legal contract, they have certain rights, but they're limited and they must buy from us these key
components ... and because they are our licensee, they are very interested and motivated to protect
our IP in China."
Premier Daniel Andrews, who is in China this week, said he was hopeful it would be a long-term deal.
"This is the best technology in terms of solar panels that we've seen for a long time. It's innovative
and this is a small deal today but it has a wonderful potential to grow over time," he told 774 ABC
Melbourne.
Mr Andrews has insisted all Victorian Government ministers should visit China once a year as part of
the state's strategy to grow trade relations.
"We have basically $20 billion worth of two-way trade between Victoria and China," he said.
"We've got the best part of 50,000 international students in Melbourne from a Chinese background
and about 450,000 Chinese visitors each and every year.
"We want to see all of those numbers go up, because if they do, that means new jobs."
Capitalising on changing Chinese economy
Economist Saul Eslake said Victoria should be able to capitalise with the changing Chinese economy.
"China's economy is clearly slowing ... but possibly of more importance to Australia, and particularly
Victoria, is the way in which the mix of growth within China is changing away from construction and
exports that use lots of coal and iron ore, towards services and household construction," he said.
"[That] will potentially create more demands for things that Victoria is capable of producing at the
same time as it's creating less demand for the sort of things that have created such wealth for
Western Australia."
Mr Cart, originally from Silicon Valley, co-founded RayGen with Australian Dr John Lasich, who
invented the solar technology, after receiving a grant from the Victorian Government in 2012.
"This is where the technology was, this is where we were developing, and that's why I moved and
we made the company an Australian company and we haven't looked back since," Mr Cart said.
But he said Australia did not have a "great track record" in commercialising technology.
"To get this funding from China is unusual and a very key moment for our region ... these are hightech jobs, manufacturing jobs, that really show that Australia has the innovations and can find
markets for export," Mr Cart said.
"This is an example of a Chinese company making an investment for the building of a manufacturing
facility by an Australian company that will then manufacture and supply the products to China, and
that's unusual. "Usually China does the manufacturing and sells it to Australia, we tend to deliver
resources primarily to China."
South Australia sets 50% renewable energy target
for 2025
By Giles Parkinson & Sophie Vorrath on 23 September 2014
The Labor government in South Australia has announced it will increase its renewable energy target
to 50 per cent by 2025 – up from the 33 per cent target that it has already met, six years ahead of
scheduled date of 2020.
The announcement was made by Premier Jay Weatherill on Tuesday, saying that it was essential to
help reach its target of $10 billion investment in “low carbon” generation by 2025.
According to government modelling, around $4.5 billion has already been committed in the state.
South Australia already has nearly 1.5GW of wind energy – more than 40 per cent of the nation’s
total, and more than 550MW of rooftop solar, or nearly one if four houses.
Together, those installations are likely to account for up to 40 per cent of demand in 2014/15, and
wind farms such as the $1.5 billion Ceres projects, and others such as the 270MW Horndale project
could take that investment to 50 per cent.
“This new target of half of the States power to be generated by renewable sources will create jobs
and drive capital investment and advanced manufacturing industries,” Weatherill said in a statement.
But he said South Australia will only meet its target if the Federal Government maintains the current
Renewable Energy Target Scheme arrangements.
“The sovereign risk created by the Federal Government’s unnecessary and unexplained review into
the national RET has caused a number of projects to be placed on hold, putting many construction
projects and ongoing jobs at risk,” Weatherill said.
“There are hundreds, if not thousands of SA jobs in the renewable energy sector – these are the
growth areas we should be supporting, not undermining.”
(RenewEconomy asked the Premier’s press people if SA was considering an independent target of 50
per cent, regardless of federal policy – like the 90 per cent target of the ACT – but has not gotten a
response as yet).
The Premier’s statement noted that updated numbers from the Australian Energy Market Operator
expected this month are likely to show SA has exceeded the target of 33 per cent. The latest project,
the 275MW Snowtown wind farm, has only just been commissioned, so will add to that figure in the
current year.
“We took action at the local level, passing the nation’s first dedicated climate change legislation and
were the first State with a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Weatherill said.
“We have demonstrated in South Australia is that, with the right policies and incentives, and with
strong leadership and clear goals, even highly ambitious targets can be achieved and surpassed.
Solar Citizens Campaigns Director, Claire O’Rourke, said the SA achievement demonstrated the
benefits of increasing opportunities for rooftop solar which helps households reduce their power bills.
“The SA Government has shown strong leadership in creating a solar revolution where nearly a
quarter (23%) of South Australian homes are now powered by the sun,” O’Rourke said in a
statement.
“The Abbott Government should look closely at what’s been achieved in South Australia and follow its
lead by maintaining and growing the Target.
Meanwhile, the heads of Australia’s major large-scale solar projects converged on Canberra today, to
continue their fight to save the Renewable Energy Target.
Business leaders from international companies including First Solar, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures
(FRV) and SunPower will meet with key ministers and parliamentarians to remind them how crucial
the RET has been, and continues to be, to get large-scale solar projects up and running in Australia.
“We’ll be telling them that if the RET is slashed, the future looks grim for large-scale solar in
Australia,” Clean Energy Council acting chief Kane Thornton said.
“Already, investment in renewable energy projects has drastically reduced, thanks to the uncertainty
surrounding the RET generated by the Federal Government’s Warburton review”, Thornton said.
“Investors in utility-scale solar projects need to feel the funds they are committing are secure before
they will come on board,” said SunPower Australia’s Wilf Johnston.
“Since its introduction in 2001, the RET has provided that security for developers. Without it, it will be
much harder for them to decide to support Australian projects,” he said.
Key federal government cabinet ministers are expected to decide in coming days whether they will
keep the RET as it is, or not.
More than 1,000 renewable energy companies, workers and supporters have also signed up to attend
major events in Australia’s capital cities this Friday to protest the axing of the RET.
The event marks the first time Solar Citizens, the Clean Energy Council, Australian Solar Council, the
Solar Energy Industries Association and the Australian Wind Alliance have united to protest the
unprecedented attacks on renewable jobs, growth and investment.
Australia leads world on household solar … and on
coal
By Sophie Vorrath on 29 September 2015
With 1.4 million households with solar PV installed, rooftop solar has been one of Australia’s
renewable energy success stories – a fact that is celebrated in a new report by the Energy Supply
Association of Australia.
The report, titled Renewable Energy in Australia – How do we really compare?, notes that while
Australia is ranked sixth in the world for total solar per capita, it is number one when it comes to solar
on rooftops.
And the ESSA fact sheet has plenty of nice graphics to illustrate this achievement.
“More than one in seven households now have solar PV systems mounted on their roofs, which is a
15 per cent penetration rate,” the report says.
And it shows that South Australia and Queensland are leading the charge, with an average of 25 per
cent and 24 per cent of households with solar on their roofs, and some suburbs in Adelaide and
Brisbane – like Virginia and Chandler – boasting more than 50 per cent household PV penetration.
“We have double the penetration rates of the next best country, Belgium, and more than three times
the level in Germany, which is considered a leader in solar generation,” says ESAA chief Matthew
Warren.
The report also shows that South Australia and Tasmania have some of the highest per capita wind
generation in the world, alongside leading US states like Iowa and Texas.
The message from this analysis, argues Warren, is that Australia “has not been a laggard” on
renewable generation.
“This analysis clearly (shows) that we are have made progress in terms of sourcing energy from wind
and solar and this can be expected to continue,” he says.
It’s an interesting message, coming from ESAA, which has in the past lobbied to have Australia’s
Renewable Energy Target reduced and, more specifically, for the removal of upfront payments under
the small-scale technology component of the RET – a measure aimed squarely at slowing rooftop
solar uptake.
It seems to suggest that Australia is tracking just fine in its shift to renewable energy, as it tackles the
dual task of emissions reduction and the modernisation of its grid. But surely the ESAA is not arguing
that Australia has done enough.
The chart below, which is included on ESAA’s fact sheet, tells another story: That Australia is also
among the world’s leading consumers of coal power generation. Anyone else confused?
Rio Tinto switches on largest solar plant at
Australian mine
By Giles Parkinson on 29 September 2015
Mining giant Rio Tinto has switched on a 1.7MW solar PV plant at its Weipa bauxite mine and
processing facilities in north Queensland, the largest solar array to date to support an Australian
mining operation.
The first stage of the project – which could be extended to 6.7MW and include battery storage in
coming years – began full operations this week. It will provide around 20 per cent of the energy
needs for the facilities and township at Weipa, cutting Rio Tinto’s diesel use by around 600,000 litres
a year.
The Weipa solar PV facility is the first of what is expected to be many mining facilities to turn to solar
PV and other technologies for reduce the costs of electricity, which even with a falling oil price is still
expensive.
In Western Australia, the Degrussa copper mine is also building Australia’s largest solar and battery
storage proposal to date, with a proposed 10.6MW solar PV plant plus 6MWh of battery storage
installed at its off-grid site, 900km north-east of Perth.
For the moment, however, Australian miners are still unwilling to divert their own funds to such
programs, with both the Weipa and the Degrussa projects being largely funded by the Australian
Renewable Energy Agency, and in the case of Degrussa, by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation as
well.
ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht said the funding is justified because the Weipa project could bolster the
mining industry’s confidence in renewable energy as a reliable off-grid power source.
“This is the first time a remote Australian mining operation has been supplied with power from solar
PV on such a scale,” Frischknecht said in a statement.
“The success of phase one is set to create a precedent for industry by demonstrating that solar PV is
a viable option for powering off-grid locations, like mine sites, in Australia.”
ARENA provided $3.5 million for the first part of the project and will provide up to $7.8 million for the
second phase, which could reduce the consumption of diesel by around 2.3 million litres of diesel a
year, and provide the majority of its power requirements.
The facility was built by US solar manufacturer First Solar.
Why renewable 'biomass' is not as good for the
climate as we'd hoped
WILLIAM H. SCHLESINGER
ABC Environment
23 JUL 2015
Burning biomass to generate electricity is officially listed as being 'carbon neutral'. But claims that it
helps prevent climate change are not as straight-forward as they seem.
WHILST I HAVE BEEN living in New England for the past seven years, a new industry has popped up
in Maine and the southeastern US — the wood pellet industry.
It has revitalised the sluggish demand for forest products in these regions. Biomass- powered utility
plants in Europe are asking for the delivery of more than 5 million tonnes of wood pellets annually,
which are burned to generate electricity. In the urge to fulfill its commitment to reducing carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions to the atmosphere, the European Union counts all biomass-energy as
carbon-neutral. Australia would like to do the same.
If wood pellets are derived from construction debris, discarded shipping pallets and the debris left
from forestry operations, they are probably helpful to reducing CO2 emissions. All these materials are
likely to decompose or get burned within a short period of time. We might as well burn them instead
of coal.
Burning some forms of live biomass also helps to reduce CO2 emissions, if it is derived from shortlived plants, such as weedy grasses and short-rotation forest trees.
Unfortunately, the heat content of woody biomass, about 3,500 kWh/tonne, is less than in coal
(7,500 kWh/tonne), so about twice as much wood must be burned to generate the same amount of
electricity, resulting in higher CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, short-lived plants are often fast-growing
and reabsorb CO2 from the atmosphere within a year or so. When pellets are derived from large and
older trees, it's a different story, which is difficult to unfold. And once they are in the form of pellets,
no one knows whether the pellets were derived from waste materials or whole trees. When whole
trees are pelletised, the carbon in their biomass is released to the atmosphere when they are burned.
For decades, the carbon contained in the small trees that replace them is much less — so there is an
overall release of CO2 to the atmosphere — a carbon debt that is repaid over decades.
Anticipating a climate 'tipping-point', all nations are trying to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during
the next several decades.
So, how much forest we have and the time it takes for forests to recover is the essence of any
argument about whether pellets are good or bad for the environment. The carbon content of
Australian forests must show little change before burning woody biomass could be considered
carbon-neutral and not reported as yielding net CO2 emissions in national accounting to the
international conventions that monitor greenhouse-gas emissions of all nations.
If all woody biomass is considered carbon-neutral, we are likely to see increased logging of the
remaining old-growth forests — important wildlife and biodiversity habitat worldwide. Pellet
production is increasing from the northern, boreal forests in Canada and the US. And, international
demand for such biomass will undoubtedly lead to deforestation elsewhere. A worldwide reduction in
standing forest biomass translates to greater CO2 in our atmosphere for decades.
All this casts a shadow on another good intention to wean society from its diet of fossil fuels and
reduce carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. Coal is bad for CO2 emissions and a variety of
other air pollutants that affect human health. Wind, tidal, and solar power emit almost nothing and
should dominate our renewable portfolio. Compared to coal, wood has less energy per unit of its
weight, so more of it must be burned to displace coal from the utility industry. But wood derived from
whole trees, it may actually increase CO2 emissions to the atmosphere.
Pellets provide a rich profit for the industry, but it is too simple to think that all pellets hit the target
we are aiming for — a carbon-neutral economy.
William H. Schlesinger is dean emeritus of the Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University,
North Carolina, USA.
http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2015/07/23/4276529.htm
Energy Revolution 2015
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/Campaign-reports/ ClimateReports/Energy-Revolution-2015/
Greenpeace
Publication - 21 September, 2015 leader
This is the year when the fight against climate change could take a dramatic turn. The conference in
Paris in December presents political and business leaders with the opportunity to take the critical
decisions needed if we are to keep average temperature rises to no more than
1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius. According to the IPCC, humankind cannot emit more than 1,000 gigatonnes of CO2 from now, if we are to stay within this limit. At the current and projected rate of
consumption, this entire carbon budget will be used by 2040.
Dynamic change is happening in energy supply, but the change needs to happen faster. This Energy
[R]evolution scenario proposes a pathway to a 100% sustainable energy supply, ending CO2
emissions and phasing out nuclear energy, and making redundant new oil exploration in the arctic and
deep sea waters such as off the coast of Brazil. It also demonstrates that this transformation
increases employment in the energy sector.
What is required is for the political will to be there.
Greenpeace has been publishing its Energy [R]evolution scenarios since 2005, more recently in
collaboration with the scientific community, in particular the German Aerospace Centre (DLr). While
our predictions on the potential and market growth of renewable energy may once have seemed
fanciful or unrealistic, they have proved to be accurate. the US-based Meister Consultants Group
concluded earlier this year that "the world's biggest energy agencies, financial institutions and fossil
fuel companies for the most part seriously under-estimated just how fast the clean power sector could
and would grow". It wasn't the IEA, Goldman Sachs or the US Department of Energy who got it right.
It was Greenpeace's market scenario which was the most accurate.