Renewable energy Mitigation of global warming in Australia

1 renewable energy

1.1 wind power
1.2 bioenergy
1.3 solar heat , electricity

renewable energy


the information centre near base of 1 of towers @ wattle point wind farm

renewable energy technologies contribute 6% of australia s total energy supply , 8% of australia s electricity supply, hydro-electricity far largest single contributor.

the australian government has announced mandatory renewable energy target (mret) ensure renewable energy obtains 20% share of electricity supply in australia 2020. ensure this, government has committed mret increase 9,500 gigawatt-hours 45,000 gigawatt-hours 2020. after 2020 proposed ets , improved efficiencies innovation , in manufacture expected allow mret phased out 2030.

following introduction of government mandatory renewable energy targets, more opportunities have opened renewable energies such wind power, photovoltaics, , solar thermal technologies. deployment of these technologies provides opportunities mitigating greenhouse gases.

at end of 2006, australia had 817 megawatts (mw) of installed wind power capacity, in south australia. 154 mw, a$420 million, solar photovoltaic power station planned victoria. initiatives being taken ethanol fuel , geothermal energy exploration.

wind power

wind farms highly compatible agricultural , pastoral land use. while span approximately 25 ha per mw of installed capacity, 1-3% of land taken towers, access roads , other equipment. wind turbines extremely efficient. large wind turbines convert 45% of wind passing through area swept out blades electricity; comparison, modern coal-fired power stations convert electricity 35% of energy stored in coal. according experts, wind energy, @ appropriate sites, economical of renewable energy sources other large-scale hydro-electricity.

bioenergy

bioenergy energy produced biomass. biomass material produced photosynthesis, or organic by-product waste stream. can seen stored solar energy. in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, biomass offers 4 different types of contribution:

solid, liquid , gaseous biofuels can substitute fossil fuels in generation of electricity , useful heat;
liquid , gaseous biofuels can substitute oil in transportation;
biomass can used in place of many greenhouse intensive materials;
biomass can converted biochar, organic char coal enhances ability of soil sequester carbon.

sustainable energy expert mark diesendorf suggests bioenergy produce 39% of australia’s electricity generation.

solar heat , electricity

solar heat , electricity have potential supplying of australia’s stationary energy. suitable government policies, particularly @ state , local levels, solar hot water cost-effectively provide vast majority of hot water systems in australia, , make considerable reductions in residential electricity consumption. although solar electricity still expensive, potential scale of application huge , prospects further substantial cost reductions excellent.