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Published: 27 February 2012
Cleaner energy helps nation cut carbon emissions
Renewable energy has helped Australia to cut its total carbon emissions for the second year running, according to figures published by the Federal Government.
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Tarraleah Hydroelectric Power Station, Tasmania. An increase in renewable energy, particularly hydroelectric power thanks to heavy rains, was behind an overall drop in Australia’s greenhouse emissions in the year to September 2011.
Credit: CSIRO
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According to the analysis by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, overall greenhouse emissions dropped about 1 per cent in the year to September 2011, largely led by the electricity sector.
‘Electricity emissions dropped 3.2 per cent during this period. Hydroelectric power was up just over 10 per cent due to the excellent rainfall in key hydro areas, while coal and gas generation both dropped,’ says Kane Thornton, acting chief executive of the Clean Energy Council.
According to the department, some of the factors that have contributed to this result are better energy efficiency and the increased use of technologies such as solar power, wind power and solar hot water.
‘Australia’s bipartisan 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target is starting to work, even though it is still in its early stages,’ says Mr Thornton.
Although emissions fell in the previous year as well, this was largely attributed to reduced productivity as a result of the global economic downturn.
According to Mr Thornton, clean ‘renewable energy such as solar and wind power is falling rapidly in price and will help to provide an insurance policy against the rising fuel costs of coal and gas as ... [Australia] is increasingly exposed to international markets.’
Source: Clean Energy Council
