Australia is on track to reach its 2020 Renewable Energy Target; with renewables supplying a record 13.14 per cent of Australia’s electricity in 2012.
According to the Clean Energy Council’s 2012 Clean Energy Australia Report, enough electricity from renewable sources was generated last year to supply the needs of more than 4 million Australian homes.
Just in terms of wind power alone, the nation’s 62 wind farms supplied electricity equivalent to the consumption of more than one million homes.
“The cost of fossil fuels such as gas has been going up, while clean energy has been getting cheaper – fast. Recently the level of power generation from coal has been declining,” said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green.
So if the cost of renewables is plummeting, why are electricity prices skyrocketing? Primarily it’s the “poles and wires” element of electricity pricing – the report points out electricity network charges in 2012 made up 40% of electricity prices. Government support for large scale renewables and solar made up just 8%.
Renewables’ share of the nation’s energy mix was bolstered by Australian citizens’ efforts to rein in electricity consumption; motivated in part by a desire to reduce carbon emissions; but primarily to address rapidly escalating power bills.
Mr. Green said businesses and households are increasingly turning to energy smart appliances. Around 90 per cent of Australians took some kind of action to reduce their power bills in 2012; including going solar.
Home solar is making a significant contribution to Australia’s Renewable Energy Target; reaching 8% in 2012. Large scale solar is yet to make a major impact; with just 0.147% of renewables’ share.
The number of employees in the renewable energy industry has greatly increased in the past decade, with more than 24,300 people now employed by the sector. By far, the biggest employer is solar PV; accounting for over half of all renewable energy related employment.
While the nation can take a moment to pat itself on its back for its progress on renewables; it needs to be remembered there is still a danger that influence from powerful nay-sayers could trigger unfavourable changes in government policy; which would rapidly turn the nation from a leader into a renewable energy backwater.
The 2012 Clean Energy Australia Report can be downloaded here (PDF).
