Sustainable energy - In Search of Sustainability

Environmental Engineering Reference

In-Depth Information

policy of the Australian Government. If the current focus on fossil fuels is

maintained then Australia will be a bit-player. On the other hand, the

natural advantages of Australia for solar energy utilisation, coupled with our

strong technical base, would allow the Australian renewable energy industry

to respond vigorously to favourable policy settings.

In order to rapidly grow the Australian renewable energy industry, the

Government needs to provide internationally competitive support for both

R&D and markets. In addition, a clear commitment by Government to 50-

80 per cent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with interim mile-

stones, would galvanise industry.

If we Australians choose to follow the European example by adopting a

low-greenhouse-emission energy policy then it will be neither particularly

difficult nor particularly expensive to implement over five decades. This

requires leadership and clear and consistent policy. Science and industry will

deliver the required technology.

Conclusion

Wind energy, solar thermal and photovoltaics are the only truly large-scale

sustainable electricity generation technologies available. They are each likely

to be $100 billion/year industries by 2015. These technologies are relatively

free of adverse environmental impacts, and will come to dominate the

traded energy market over the next 50 years.

It is likely that international concern over the enhanced greenhouse

effect will continue to increase. The consequence of this concern will be

ever-increasing support for solar energy around the world. It is to be hoped

that Australian Government policies will be such as to place Australian com-

panies in the forefront of this rapidly growing industry.

At present Australian energy policy is being driven by short-term consid-

erations in favour of the fossil fuel industry, to the detriment of the renewa-

ble energy industry. Dedicated and strategically directed funding of solar

energy R&D and research and professional training, together with reliable

long-term commercialisation support for Australian-based manufacturing,

is required if Australia is to become a major player in this vast new industry.