The current level of greenhouse gases in atmosphere presents an alarming situation globally and for Australia in particular. Australia has the highest per capita carbon emissions in the world. High measure of emissions per person reflects the nation’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels. Burning coal for the generation of electricity is the dominant source of emissions for Australia (Diesendorf 2014). It has been ranked third among OECD countries and seventh in the world with respect to per capita greenhouse gas emissions due to energy (Garnaut 2011). Under the Paris agreement world has agreed to pursue a 1.5 degree centigrade limit to global warming and Australia has committed to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 level by 2030 (The
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The total cost of installation and operation over a lifetime of a small -scale residential PV system in Australia has fallen from US$0.35 to US$0.17 per kilowatt-hour between 2010 and 2014 (IRENA report 2014). As a result, Australian new residential solar installation has soared to fifth highest in the world after China, Japan, US, and Germany. Apart from building costs, other operational costs for a renewable energy power station are fuel, variable and fixed costs. The fuel costs are zero because nature itself provides the fuel for free. The variable costs, such as casual labour or generator repairs, for most of the renewables are lower than coal. Fixed costs, for example, annual preventive maintenance or insurance for all renewable technologies are lower than coal (Lenzel et al 2016). In addition to providing a carbon free environment, renewable energy has a potential of driving up employment. According to IRENA’s report, ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs-Annual Review 2017’, global renewable energy employment in 2016, excluding large hydropower, hit a mark of 8.3 million. If direct employment in large hydropower is included, the figure climbs up to 9.8 million. Within Australia, 50% renewable energy by 2030 would create almost over 28,000 new jobs, nearly 50% more employment than a business as usual BAU scenario …show more content…
Further by using an interconnected network of generators, for instance, it may be very sunny or windy in one region, excess electricity produced in this region could fill a gap in electricity demand in less sunny or windy places elsewhere. Accomplishment of renewable energy is not a fantasy as created by the fossil fuel lobby. It is the cheapest and the most reliable form of novel generation in Australia and many other places in the world. As said by Prof. Tim Flannary, Australian of the year 2007, ‘This is ambitious and technically feasible plan that should be looked at
The total cost of installation and operation over a lifetime of a small -scale residential PV system in Australia has fallen from US$0.35 to US$0.17 per kilowatt-hour between 2010 and 2014 (IRENA report 2014). As a result, Australian new residential solar installation has soared to fifth highest in the world after China, Japan, US, and Germany. Apart from building costs, other operational costs for a renewable energy power station are fuel, variable and fixed costs. The fuel costs are zero because nature itself provides the fuel for free. The variable costs, such as casual labour or generator repairs, for most of the renewables are lower than coal. Fixed costs, for example, annual preventive maintenance or insurance for all renewable technologies are lower than coal (Lenzel et al 2016). In addition to providing a carbon free environment, renewable energy has a potential of driving up employment. According to IRENA’s report, ‘Renewable Energy and Jobs-Annual Review 2017’, global renewable energy employment in 2016, excluding large hydropower, hit a mark of 8.3 million. If direct employment in large hydropower is included, the figure climbs up to 9.8 million. Within Australia, 50% renewable energy by 2030 would create almost over 28,000 new jobs, nearly 50% more employment than a business as usual BAU scenario …show more content…
Further by using an interconnected network of generators, for instance, it may be very sunny or windy in one region, excess electricity produced in this region could fill a gap in electricity demand in less sunny or windy places elsewhere. Accomplishment of renewable energy is not a fantasy as created by the fossil fuel lobby. It is the cheapest and the most reliable form of novel generation in Australia and many other places in the world. As said by Prof. Tim Flannary, Australian of the year 2007, ‘This is ambitious and technically feasible plan that should be looked at