Siemens Ltd last month announced a technology blueprint for energy and water sustainability in Australia by 2030. The research, titled “Picture the Future: Australia – Energy and Water (PTF)”, was performed by numerous Siemens researchers and validation processes involved the assistance of 22 of Australia’s leading industry bodies; including the CSIRO, ABARE, the Bureau of Meteorology and The Clean Energy Council.
Australia has the highest CO2 emissions per capita in OECD. The PTF report states Australia’s 2020 target of a reduction of 5% below the 2000 green house gas emission level equates to a 47% reduction below the level of emissions that will occur by 2020 if no action is taken, presenting a major technical and financial challenge.
Siemens says in order to achieve the 2020 target of 5% below 2000 greenhouse gas emissions, Australia needs to invest AUD$60 billion over the next decade in renewable energy and low carbon dioxide generation technologies while undertaking aggressive energy efficiency measures at the same time.
Many of the technologies required are already available. The PTF report says a 30 x 30 km solar farm in central Australia would meet the national electricity demand during daylight hours and allow Australia to become an exporter of clean electricity.
While covering a huge area, a solar farm of that size is certainly not impossible. Another concept under development overseas called DESERTEC will utilise solar energy and wind power sourced from the deserts in North Africa and Middle East to power those regions and the European Union. A local chapter of the DESERTEC initiative, DESERTEC-Australia is also now being formed.
Siemens also believes around 20 percent of vehicles will be electric or hydrogen-based by 2030, fuelled by electricity generated from renewable sources.
According to Siemens Australia Chairman and MD, Albert Goller, “Australia has always had the choice to pursue an economically and environmentally sustainable future – and, even in the midst of global and local challenges caused by the megatrends of climate change, demographic change, urbanisation and globalisation, the findings of our PTF research demonstrates that these choices are still available for us to fulfil immediately.”
