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.
July 2008
CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship
The Future Fuels Forum found that the increasing cost of oil and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will drive change. Australia's fuel mix will be more diverse and the price of oil-based fuel products will increase. The transport sector will make a modest contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions but technology alone will not be sufficient to meet the potential fuel supply gap. Any increase in transport costs will adversely impact low income earners and that Australia is very vulnerable to changing market conditions.
Download from: Fuel for thought – The future of transport fuels (pdf 1.47 MB)
December 2007
World Resources Institute
This report looks at the feasibility of achieving significant emissions reductions from the proliferation of biofuels and concludes that biofuels are not a complete, nor even the primary, solution to our transport fuel needs.
Download from: Plants at the Pump (pdf 2.3 MB)
November 2007
Union of Concerned Scientists
This report looked at the life cycle emissions from a number of bio- and fossil fuels, and what impact their uptake would have on emissions from the transport sector in the USA under different uptake scenarios. Cellulosic ethanol was the best biofuel while coal derived fuels were the worst. Corn derived ethanol could be better or worse than gasoline depending on how it is produced.
Download from: Biofuels: An Important Part of a Low-Carbon Diet (pdf 1 MB)
October 2007
The Energy Watch Group
This report, prepared by the Energy Watch Group, claims global oil production peaked last year, much earlier than other studies had predicted. The major result from this analysis is that world oil production has already peaked, in 2006, and that global oil production will start to decline at a rate of several percent per year. The report states that by 2020, and even more so by 2030, global oil supply will be dramatically lower. This will create an energy supply gap which will be very difficult to meet even with growing contributions from other fossil, nuclear or alternative energy sources in this time frame.
Download from: Crude Oil (pdf 1.7 MB)
October 2007
ICLEI Oceania
In 2006/07, ICLEI Oceania received funding from the Victorian Government, Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) to undertake a 1 year research project investigating current activities of the biodiesel fuel industry. The final research report identifies benefits and issues associated with biodiesel uptake and aims to help local government make sustainable fuel choices. More information on the project and access to the report is available from the Biodiesel Research Project web page.
Download from: Biodiesel in Australia (html)