Transcript Document

Energy in Australia
Preliminary presentation by
Prof Jim Falk
Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society
for the Asian Energy Security Project
Australia is a major producer of coal and
uranium:
Two thirds of the energy Australia produces is exported
World’s largest exporter coal since 1986
Australia is a large user of energy per capita but has a
small population. Energy use is growing, and in 20052006, primary energy consumption totalled 5640 PJ
Energy
consumption
by industry
Australia’s major energy sources are coal and oil
Primary energy consumption, 2005-2006
Australia’s Energy Resource
Reserves
For the last 15 years or so, energy consumption
had been growing at around 2-4% per year,
below the rate of growth of GDP, and declining.
Renewables:
• Currently 5% of
primary energy
consumption
• Amount has not been
increasing significantly,
despite good
resources for
renewables (e.g. sun)
• Wind power and
biogas and liquids are
growing but from a
small base
(government projects
30 PJ of wind power in
2020)
• Production of
hydroelectricity fell
Renewables consumption, 2005-2006
Australia’s
conservative
government
projects a
future growth in
energy
consumption
largely as in
the past:
Primary energy consumption
Australia’s energy production is also projected to continue
much as it has been, with continued dependence on coal
exports:
Electricity production
projection
The Australia Institute offers a different achievable
energy growth pattern to meet GHG emission
reductions:
Which projection becomes the future
depends on choices still to be made
Australian Governments will increasingly
finding themeselves caught between their
economic dependence on coal and the
political and physical impacts of climate
change. Australian agriculture is currently
struggling through the worst drought on
record.
Energy policies:
*Kyoto not ratified
*Federal election November 24, which the conservative
government may lose, after 11 years in power
*opposition is promising to ratify Kyoto, but aims to
reduce emissions through “clean coal”
*Existing government is promising to source 108 PJ from
low emission sources every year, by 2020 with a 15%
MRET
*The opposition is promising to “substantially increase”
renewable energy targets, and has set a national 20%
MRET.
Energy security: Depletable resources at current
production levels
Australia and the nuclear industry (more detail
afternoon presentation)
*The existing government has been considering
introducing nuclear power to Australia, but
convincing the population may be hard. ANSTO
strongly lobbying for nuclear power
*It may loose the November 24 election, after 11
years in power
*The opposition is opposed to domestic nuclear
power, but recently changed its position to support
increased uranium mining
*All State governments have legislated against
nuclear power
Regional cooperation:
*Australia recently agreed to sell uranium to China, and
has been considering selling uranium to India, but this
is currently stalled
*Australia is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation Energy Working Group (APEC EWG),
which aims to “facilitate energy trade and investment,
and ensure that energy contributes to the economic,
social and environmental enhancement of the APEC
community”
*Current government and opposition argue for
importance of alliance with the US, with the
government seeking a “regional deputy” role,
supporting US position on climate change, and taking
part in Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development
and Climate.
*Australia recently agreed to join GNEP (no waste
?
?
?
?
Coal exporter and
consumer
Nuclear power
Renewables