The Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy the Clean Energy Future “A plan to cut Queensland's CO2 emissions Cooperation, TREC have released their study into form electricity by 2010” solar thermal energy produced in the worlds' study has found that Australia can readily meet its energy www.wwf.org.au/ourwork/climatechange/Cleanenergyfuture/ deserts in July 2006 www.trecers.net needs from a range of commercially proven fuels and technologies. In the study 2040 time horizon was chosen was released in April 2005. It shows that an alternative 1.The solar energy available in deserts is more than 700 deliberately. It is long enough for almost all existing coal energy mix together with the firm implementation of energy times the present global primary energy consumption. fired energy supply infrastructure and other less energy efficiency measures and policies could economically This is far more than needed to replace fossil fuels. efficient equipment to be fully written off. substitute for the present coal fired power as well as the A scenario that cuts emissions by 50% includes: newly proposed coal fired backup Kogan Creek power 2.Solar thermal power plants can store solar heat and station. ?The energy generated from the combustion of generate solar power according to demand, also at night. natural gas can provide 30% (including The mix would consist of bio-energy, combined cycle and cogeneration) of our electricity by 2040. cogeneration fuelled with coal seam methane and wind 3.Technologies for power production and long-distance power. ?The energy released from biomass from transmission to over 90% of world population are at hand. agriculture and plantation forestry residues can Energy efficiency measures would be provide 26% (excluding cogeneration) of our electricity by 2040.In the best cases crops can help ? 4.In a solar energy co-operation technology-belt and Energy performance standards for all buildings. sun-belt we can achieve energy, water and climate landscape repair by increasing biodiversity and ?Substantial expansion of the use of solar hot water. reducing salinity, as well as being ‘carbon neutral’. ? security and stable power production at costs of 4-8 'Smart' meters and peak-load pricing to make users pay the c$/kWh. ?The energy of wind captured by turbines can full cost of air conditioning. provide 20% of our electricity by 2040. ?Low-cost packages of energy efficiency measures for households. ? The energy of flowing water harnessed through Australian Solar Heat and Power Pty Ltd, who are working on hydroelectric facilities can provide 7% of our This way CO2 emissions could be reduced by 78% from solar thermal energy production are moving to America, electricity by 2040. stationary energy and create many more local jobs. where one US investor has just put $42 million into the ?The energy of the sun captured with photovoltaic company. and solar thermal systems can provide 5% of our "Australian business does not offer the risk equity we need, electricity by 2040. Another report, by the Cooperative Research Centre(CRC) for Coal in Sustainable Development, claims especially under the current climate in which the ?Energy generated by 15% co-generation plants Government clearly solar thermal technology "is poised to play a favours existing coal was largely driven by about 13% gas and 2% significant role in base-load generation for Australia" and will and nuclear options biomass. be cost-competitive with coal within seven years.” based around mineral Energy efficiency measures implemented resources. Canberra Times, 26 May 2006 The Federal through cost-effective technologies in the residential, http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/ Government refuses to commercial and industrial sectors and government put in place strict legislation can decrease power demand and emissions The draft report, written by five CSIRO Energy Technology emissions targets, of up to 70% immediately. Many of them would pay for division scientists, was submitted to the CRC in August strict legislation to themselves in just 4 years. The economic savings from l2006 but has not been published. It claims a 50 sqkm area enforce those targets, and reliable long-term energy efficiency will be so large that they could pay for with high levels of sunlight and low cloud cover "could the additional costs of renewable energy. market valuations for produce Australia's entire current power demand" using carbon emissions solar thermal technology. avoided. We can find To further develop the renewable industries, an Greens leader Senator Bob Brown said the report clearly all of those things immediate extension and expansion of the Mandatory indicated Australia should be investing in developing and overseas." David Mills, the Sydney (MRET)- a carbon tax Renewable Energy Target commercialising new solar technologies to meet growing Morning Herald, or emissions trading scheme with cap and an expansion global demand and has accused the Federal Government January 29, 2007 of the electricity network, are needed. of undermining solar research by cutting back funding. Instead Federal and State Governments are Global transition putting their money on unproven technologies, Renewable energy like carbon catching, geo-sequestration and Renewable energy could meet most of the world's energy nuclear power. The government could instead demand by 2100 according to the UN Intergovernmental can replace oil, coal of coal be exporting renewable technologies. Panel on Climate Change. Pressure on our government is needed to and nuclear power implement the genuine sustainable energy In fact, China's renewable energy target is 3 times greater solutions, which are ready now. than its nuclear target (5%). In China is now planning to supply 15% of electricity from new renewables (excluding hydro) by 2020, compared with only 4-6% from nuclear. “The present world energy supply system is facing 3 basic problems: Debunking myths Wind power and solar power are growing by 20-30% each year, compared to minimal growth in nuclear. By 2010, àlimitation of fossil fuel resources, “There are real low-carbon options to renewable energy is expected to add more than 100 times àclimate change by carbon dioxide emissions, generating electricity, including base-load nuclear's capacity per year. (Rocky Mountain Institute àinsecurity by nuclear weapon competence and capacity, rather than nuclear power.” 2005). radioactive materials.” Dr. Mark Diesendorf www.energyscience.org.au Dr. Gerhard Knies, Trans-Mediterranean Renewable GERMANY LAUNCHES ITS TRANSITION TO ALL Energy Cooperation, TREC. RENEWABLES in 03/05 The amount of energy consumed most of the time is www.energybulletin.net/5000.html called ‘base-load’. This is punctuated by bursts of higher It is possible to cover the total energy demand for demand known as ‘peak-load’. Germany by means of solar/ renewable sources. Subsequent German policy is governed by this premise. A mix of renewable sources ensures a mutually For these reasons supportive and stable energy supply. It include bio- SWEDEN PLANS ON BEING THE FIRST COUNTRY IN energy - 30%, wind power - 20%, hot dry rock clean and THE WORLD TO BE FREE FROM OIL IN 2020 sustainable geothermal power, solar thermal electricity with heat www.postcarbon.org/node/1985 storage in hot water or hot rocks. energy Sweden will stop using oil by 2020 and eventually the production is energy supply of the country will be based on renewable on the rise energy only More jobs in the renewable industry than coal all over the world. and uranium mining can offer, excerpt from “the AUSTRALIA “We already have the technologies to real solutions to climate change: energy efficiency and commence rapid transition to an energy future based on renewables” renewable energy and energy efficiency, with gas playing an important transitional fuel. The barriers are Dr. Jim Green www.melbourne.foe.org.au, not primarily technological or economic, but rather are www.acfonline.org.au the immense political power of vested interests.” Reports for the transition to renewable and Dr. Mark Diesendorf, energy expert, University of NSW clean energy production were available to ?An increase of 10% of wind power would create about the Australian Government in 2005 37,000 job years in construction and up to 1,000 “Be in no doubt: renewable energy works. Renewables fulltime jobs in operation and maintenance. now account for a quarter of the installed capacity of The Clean Energy Future Group has released the report ?The 30% increase in bio-energy 46000 permanent rural California, half of Norway’s and three-quarters of “A Clean Energy Future for Australia” in 2005 which jobs in operation and 140,000 short term construction Iceland’s. It’s time we joined the clean energy revolution outlines that it is absolutely possible to replace our energy jobs. sweeping the progressive parts of the world.” production from mainly coal fired power station with a mix ?According to the Photovoltaics Industry Roadmap solar Prof. Ian Lowe, AO, ACF President of clean and renewable energy by 2040. This report is a electricity could provide 6,700 MW capacity by 2020, very detailed study into the technologies, economics, the equivalent to two 600MW nuclear power stations emission reductions, transition scenarios. and would create 31,000 jobs. produced by Qld Nuclear Free Alliance, Atherton Tablelands, www.wwf.org.au/ourwork/climatechange/Cleanenergyfuture/ email [email protected].