information for our energy future
information for our energy future
The following energy reports, research and discussion papers can be downloaded from the publisher's website, usually in pdf format. If you require alternative formats please contact the publisher directly.
September 2008
Garnaut Climate Change Review
The report concludes that international agreement on a global goal of 450 ppm CO2e is not possible at this time, so Australia's efforts should be directed towards stabilisation of global greenhouse gas concentrations at 550 ppm. The trajectory for Australia is to reduce emissions net of international trading by 10 per cent from 2000 levels by 2020 (30 per cent per capita), and 80 per cent by 2050 (90 per cent per capita). Over the transition period, permits should be sold by the independent regulatory authority at $20 per tonne in 2010, rising each year by 4 per cent plus the percentage increase of the consumer price index.
Download from: Targets And Trajectories (pdf 514 kb)
July 2008
Energy Supply Association of Australia
This report, by ACIL Tasman for the Energy Supply Association of Australia, has modelled the effects of an emissions trading scheme on Australia's electricity markets. The modelling looked at the effects under 2 scenarios - a 10% or 20% reduction in emissions by 2020, from 2000 levels. The study found that to achieve a 10% reduction in emissions required the closure of 6,700 MW of existing plant and investment in approximately 15,000 MW of new plant. Meeting the 10% reduction will force the closure of the majority of the existing coal plant in Victoria and South Australia by 2020.The 20% renewable electricity target by 2020 could be achieved, adding approximately 5% in real terms to retail tariffs by 2020.
Download from: The impact of an ETS on the energy supply industry (pdf 1.8 MB)
July 2008
Australian Department of Climate Change
The green paper on emissions trading outlines the likely make up of the federal government's emissions trading scheme, to be implemented in 2010. It includes transport fuel, but mitigates the cost for 3 years, while excluding agriculture for at least 5 years. Coal-fired generators will be provided compensation and trade exposed emission intense industries will be given free permits up to 30% of the total. Businesses that emit more than 25,000 tonnes CO2e will be obligated under the scheme.
Download from: Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (pdf 3.15 MB)
July 2008
Australian Department of Climate Change
The Renewable Energy Sub Group of the COAG Working Group on Climate Change and Water has identified key design issues that need to be addressed in determining the most appropriate RET design approach. They have identified 2 approaches for consideration. Approach 1 is based closely on the existing MRET scheme. Its primary focus is on achieving the 2020 RECs target at least cost. It creates a strong investment incentive early in the scheme and encourages the early creation of RECs that can be used in future years to help minimise RECs prices over the duration of the scheme. Approach 2 seeks to balance the least-cost considerations outlined under Approach 1 with managing the risk that in addition to all RECs targets being met, 45 000 GWhs of renewable electricity is not generated in 2020. This approach seeks to encourage a smoother investment profile to help bring forward new technologies in the latter part of the scheme.
Download from: Design Options for the Expanded National Renewable Energy Target Scheme (pdf 202 kb)
June 2008
UK Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
This consultation looks at ways the UK can meet its proposed share of the EU 2020 target for renewable energy in the most cost-effective way. This target is to achieve 15% of the UK's energy from renewables by 2020, which is equivalent to almost a ten-fold increase in renewable energy consumption from current levels. The measures aim to stimulate the market to deliver the necessary investment in the most cost effective way by providing a clear long term framework and removing the obstacles to increasing renewable generation. It contains a very useful summary of the technologies, including distributed energy and transport, as well as policy options for their uptake.
Download from: UK Renewable Energy Strategy (pdf 2.1 MB)
April 2008
The Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre Ltd
This report is a response to the Ministerial Council on Energy's (MCE) commissioned report to recommend improvements to the National Electricity Rules for network planning and connection arrangements relating to distributed generation. The Consumer Utilities Advocacy Centre conclude that the recommendations, if implemented, would fall short of establishing network planning and connection arrangements appropriate for facilitating DG. The CUAC offer 19 recommendations to provide better facilitation and remove unintended consequences of the draft rules.
Download from: Beyond Free Market Assumptions (pdf 265 kb)
March 2008
Australian Energy Markets Commission
This report looks at demand side participation as a substitute for network and generation investments, presents some international case studies and considers the impediments to demand side participation in current network planning and investment frameworks. It also examines the relevance of demand side participation for the provision of network support and control services and outlines the integration of demand management into the current reserve trader arrangements within the rules.
Download from: Review of the role of demand side participation in the National Electricity Market (pdf 343 kb)
February 2008
Garnaut Climate Change Review
This is the interim report of the Garnaut Review on the likely effect of human induced climate change on Australia’s economy, environment, and water resources in the absence of effective national and international efforts to substantially cut greenhouse gas emissions. In this report, Professor Garnaut indicates that interim targets are important, that allocating a global emissions budget on a per capita basis makes sense and that it is in Australia’s interest to seek the strongest feasible global mitigation outcomes – 450 ppm, as Australia would suffer exceptionally from unmitigated climate change. The report confirms that only urgent, large, and effective global policy change leaves any hope of holding atmospheric concentrations at the 450 ppm or even the 550 ppm levels.
Download from: Garnaut Climate Change Review (pdf 634 kb)
December 2007
California Energy Commission
A comprehensive look at the energy policies of California that contains an integated assessment of major energy trends and issues facing California's electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuel sectors and provides policy recommendations to conserve resources, protect the environment, ensure reliable, secure and diverse energy supplies.
Download from: 2007 Integrated Energy Policy Report (pdf 3.8 MB)
November 2007
Center for American Progress
This CAP report looks at how America can grow its economy by taking the lead in developing a low carbon economy. It proposes 10 steps to be taken covering policy action, such as emissions trading, technology development, transport, and electricity production and use.
Download from: Capturing the Energy Opportunity (pdf 4.3 MB)
October 2007
UK Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
The Energy Markets Outlook looks at security of supply and its drivers in the UK over a time horizon of up to fifteen years. It covers electricity, gas and other fuels including coal, oil, nuclear fuel and renewables. It also looks at supply chain issues such as the availability of skilled staff, materials and labour for the construction and operation of new infrastructure.
Download from: UK Energy Markets Outlook (pdf 4.7 MB)
October 2007
U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research
This report summarises what is currently known about effects of climate change on energy production and use in the United States. It looks at how climate change might affect energy consumption, production and use in the United States through issues such as the likely increase in electricity demand for air conditioning and the possible reduction in hydropower. The report also looks at the possible effects of climate change policies on energy technology choices and energy security.
Download from: Effects of climate change on energy production and use in the United States (pdf 1.1 MB)
October 2007
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra
This preliminary report, commissioned by the Agricultural Alliance on Climate Change, aims to help identify the potential, problems and priorities for rural businesses and communities in contributing to Australian action on climate change. It focuses on the prospects for rural Australians becoming valued service providers in three important areas of Australia's low carbon future: providing clean energy and electricity; mobilising agricultural mitigation and greenhouse gas offsets; and supporting environmental stewardship on private land.
Download from: Rural Australia Providing Climate Solutions (pdf 3.7 MB)
October 2007
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute
This report looks at the global demand for energy, its growth and the potential effects this has on Australia's security. The report examines Australia's need to factor energy security into its foreign and defence policies, and develop a greater awareness of its dependence on fossil fuels. It was authored by Professor Michael Wesley, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute at Griffith University.
Download from: Power plays - Energy and Australia's security (pdf 2.7 MB)
October 2007
NZ Government Ministry of Economic Development
The New Zealand Energy Strategy sets out the government's vision for a sustainable, low emissions energy system and the actions that will be taken to make this vision a reality. The document covers generation, transport and energy efficiency, and is a comprehensive look at how NZ can become a sustainable, low-emission economy.
Download from: New Zealand Energy Strategy to 2050 (html)
September 2007
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
ABARE compared a business as usual scenario (the reference case) with a scenario in which there is significant uptake of currently available and plausible future enhanced energy efficient and low emission technologies. This enhanced technology scenario represents a much greater uptake of technologies than under current policy settings. Despite this, fossil fuels remain the dominant source of primary energy consumption throughout the projection period to 2050. In Australia, emissions are projected to peak before 2020 and decline to 23 per cent below 2004 levels by 2050 — a 50 per cent reduction in emissions relative to the reference case at 2050. Energy efficiency is estimated to directly account for about 58 per cent of projected global emissions abatement in 2050 and about 55 per cent of projected Australian emissions abatement at 2050.
Download from: Technology - toward a low emissions future (pdf 740 kb)
September 2007
NSW Government
The Owen Inquiry was set up to review the need and timing for new baseload generation in NSW, examine the baseload options, review the timing and feasibility of technologies, and determine the conditions needed to ensure investment in any emerging generation.
Download from: Owen inquiry into electricity supply in NSW (html)
August 2007
US Department of State
The fourth CAR provides an update on key activities conducted by the U.S. since the third CAR, an inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks, an estimate of the effects of mitigation measures and policies on future emissions levels. The report also discusses U.S. national circumstances that affect U.S. vulnerability and responses to climate change. The report takes into account activities up to and including 2006.
Download from: U.S. Climate Action Report 2006 (html)
August 2007
Australian Government
A report on the federal government's inquiry into geosequestration technology tabled by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation.
Download from: Between a rock and a hard place (pdf 25 MB)