information for our energy future
information for our energy future
The Energy Today library is a catalogue of links to useful publications and reports from across the energy sector. Most can be downloaded from the publisher's website, usually in pdf format. If you require alternative formats please contact the publisher directly.
July 2008
Commonwealth of Australia
This report details the methodology that the Review is applying to evaluation of the costs and benefits of climate change mitigation; to the application of the science of climate change to Australia; to the international context of Australian mitigation, and to Australian mitigation policy.
Download from: Garnaut Climate Change Review (pdf 13.5 MB)
July 2008
United Nations Environment Programme and New Energy Finance Ltd
The UNEP report reveals that new investment in sustainable energy reached record levels of $148.4 billion in 2007, 60% higher than in 2006. Wind continued to attract the most investment, mainly for new capacity, but solar investment took off in 2007 – $28.6 billion of new investment flowed into solar, which has grown at an average annual rate of 254% since 2004. Sustainable energy accounted for 31 gigawatts (23%) of new power generation capacity added worldwide in 2007, and 5.4% of installed generation capacity. Wind power continues to dominate renewable energy capacity. In 2007, wind attracted more investment than nuclear or hydro, and accounted for more new generation capacity in Europe than any other power source. Interest in clean energy investment surged forward, with assets under management in clean energy funds rising to $35 billion in 2007. Early-stage venture capital investment surged 112% to $2 billion in 2007, boosted by interest in emerging renewable technologies. Research & Development spending on clean energy and energy efficiency was $16.9 billion in 2007, including corporate R&D of $9.8 billion, and government R&D of $7.1 billion. Solar is the single most incubated technology, with a bias towards service companies, disruptive technologies and large-scale generation such as solar thermal electricity generation. Clean energy companies more than doubled the amount of money they raised on the world’s public markets in 2007, raising $27 billion.
Download from: Global Trends In Sustainable Energy Investment 2008 (pdf 2.3 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)
June 2008
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
The report, prepared by the CSIRO for Dusseldorp Skills Forum found that achieving a rapid transition to sustainability would have little or no impact on national employment, with projected increases in employment of 2.5 to 3.3 million jobs over the next two decades. Well designed policies can substantially decouple economic growth from environmental pressure, so that living standards continue to increase at current rates while our national environmental footprint reduces over time. Employment in sectors with high potential environmental impacts will also grow strongly, such as the transport, construction, and agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors. Employment in construction and transport sectors is projected to grow significantly faster than the national average.
Download from: Growing the Green Collar Economy (pdf 1.1 MB)
June 2008
Commonwealth Department of Climate Change
This report provides the latest estimates of Australia’s 2006 greenhouse gas emissions based on the accounting rules that apply to Australia’s 108% Kyoto Protocol emissions target. Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors in 2006 totalled 576.0 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e). The energy sector was the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions comprising 69.6% (400.9 Mt CO2-e) of emissions. Offsetting growth in these sectors has been a strong decline in net emissions from the land use, land use change and forestry sector and, in particular, reductions in clearing of forest cover.
Download from: National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2006 (pdf 381 kb)
June 2008
CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
This report provides a detailed quantitative analysis of the potential impact of emissions trading on energy prices, energy affordability, and general inflation in Australia. Overall, the analysis strongly implies that the introduction of a carbon price does not need to involve a social cost. Australia can make deep cuts in our greenhouse emissions without reducing its living standards, and – with good policy design – can avoid net adverse impacts on low income or vulnerable households, even if emissions trading involves high carbon prices.
Download from: Energy Affordability, Living Standards and Emissions Trading (pdf 2.8 MB)
June 2008
Greenpeace
This report is an Australian version of the global energy scenario report by Greenpeace published in 2007. It contains an analysis of how future energy supply and use in Australia can be planned and implemented to provide large reductions in emissions. By using renewable energy sources to provide approximately 40% of electricity by 2020, energy related CO2 emissions could be reduced by 37% from 2005 levels with up to 60% reductions possible by 2050. The report also looks at the policy changes that would be required, and the employment benefits that will arise under this scenario.
Download from: energy [r]evolution (pdf 1.4 MB)
June 2008
Clean Edge, Inc. Co-op America Foundation
The Utility Solar Assessment (USA) Study, provides a comprehensive roadmap for utilities, solar companies, and regulators to reach 10% of total USA electricity generation by solar power in 2025. The report outlines how solar power is beginning to reach cost parity with conventional energy sources and as solar prices decline and the capital and fuel costs for coal, natural gas, and nuclear plants rise, the USA will reach a crossover point by around 2015. The report provides a good forward view of how solar PV and solar thermal power generation can make a big contribution to zero emission electricity generation.
Download from: Utility Solar Assessment (USA) Study (pdf 1.7 MB)
June 2008
BP
BP has released the 57th edition of the Statistical Review of World Energy. Although growth in energy consumption slowed in 2007 compared with 2006, it was still above the 10-year average for the fifth consecutive year, with primary energy consumption up by 2.4%. Coal was again the fastest growing fossil fuel, now for the fifth year in a row, with global consumption up 4.5%. The oil price has been on an upward path for more than six years, however oil production actually fell in 2007 despite an increase in consumption of 1.1%. The report shows 2007 was another year of rapid growth for alternative sources of energy, including biofuels, solar and wind power.
Download from: BP Statistical Review of World Energy (pdf 6.5 MB)
June 2008
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Energy use in the Australian Residential Sector: 1986-2020 is the second national baseline study on residential energy use in Australia. This landmark study looked at how energy consumption has changed since 1990 and how these changes are likely to evolve to 2020. The trend in per person residential energy consumption shows a steady increase from 17 gigajoules (GJ) per person in 1990 to 20 GJ per person in 2020, or approximately a 20% increase over the study period. This increase in energy consumption per person is partly being driven by a decline in the number of persons per household. Growth in electrical appliance energy consumption was the largest among major end-uses and was estimated to increase from 70.5 PJ in 1990 to 169.4 PJ in 2020, which represents an increase of 4.7% per annum. By 2020 energy use by electrical appliances is forecast to almost match space heating as the largest single energy end use in the average Australian household.
Download from: Energy use in the Australian residential sector (multiple pdf)
May 2008
PricewaterhouseCoopers
This global annual survey of energy utilities provides an interesting and enlightening view of utilities across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and Middle East, and Africa. Among many of the survey's outcomes was that the proportion of respondents anticipating that distributed generation will have the greatest impact has doubled – from 24% just two years ago to 49% in this year’s survey. Even more striking, the proportion expecting solar power plants to have the greatest impact has risen from 20% to 54% in the same period.
Download from: Utilities global survey 2008 (pdf 1.59 MB)
May 2008
World Resources Institute
The objective of this report is to examine the challenges of deploying carbon capture and storage under the four broad categories of technology, policy, legal and regulatory framework, and investment, and their implications for CCS as part of the solution to mitigate adverse climate change impacts. WRI concludes that a shift to a low-carbon energy future in the U.S. underpinned by an economically viable national CCS system is possible, but that such a fundamental shift will likely only occur once definitive policies and incentives are put in place that reward investment in and capital formation around improved carbon performance.
Download from: Capturing King Coal (pdf 1.2 MB)
May 2008
World Bank
This report provides an update on the global carbon markets for 2007, which reached a value of $US64 billion, doubling the value in 2006. The report however also identifies a number of emerging problems such as growing delays in getting project accreditation and increasing uncertainty on what mechanisms will continue to be important in the post 2012 period.
Download from: State and Trends of the Carbon Market (pdf 621 kb)
May 2008
US Department of Energy
Wind power could provide 20% of U.S. electricity needs by 2030, according to a new DOE report. According to the report, reaching the 20% goal will require boosting wind power from its current generating capacity of 16.8 gigawatts (GW) to 304 GW in 2030. Achieving this level by 2030 will require that the annual installations of wind power increase threefold, from today's 2,000 annual turbine installations to almost 7,000 per year by 2017. This 250 page report also has a wealth of information on the US wind industry.
Download from: 20% Wind Energy by 2030 (pdf 3.9 MB)
May 2008
United Nations Environment Programme
This report presents the dollar view of the current status of sustainable energy development, including both the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. Investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency industries set a new record of more than $US100 billion worth of transactions in 2006. The analysis is based on the different types of capital flows and their movement over time, combined with regional and sectoral trends. Investment in sustainable energy is rapidly increasing, with $70.9 billion of new investment in 2006, which was 43% more than in 2005, and a similar continued growth trajectory so far in 2007.
Download from: Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment (pdf 2.7 MB)
May 2008
Greenpeace
Carbon capture and storage aims to reduce the climate impact of burning fossil fuels by capturing carbon dioxide from power stations and disposing of it underground. Its future development has been widely promoted by the coal industry as a justification for the construction of new coal-fired power plants. This report from Greenpeace claims that the technology is largely unproven and will not be ready in time to have any significant effect on climate change.
Download from: False Hope (pdf 1.87 NB)
May 2008
Australian National University
This is a background working paper prepared for the Oxford Review of Economic Policy by Ross Garnaut, Stephen Howes, Frank Jotzo and Peter Sheehan. The authors claim there is a compelling case that existing emissions projections are unduly conservative, and that in the absence of effective mitigation over the coming decades emissions will be significantly higher in terms of both growth and level than previously thought. Without all major emitters binding themselves to economy wide targets or policies, given rapid emissions growth, the prospects for the global climate change mitigation effort are bleak.
Download from: Emissions In The Platinum Age (pdf 400 kb)
April 2008
European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)
In its latest report entitled "Pure Power - Wind Energy Scenarios up to 2030", the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) outlines the road towards large-scale wind energy. Presenting three development scenarios for 2010, 2020 and 2030, the report examines in detail the probable impact on electricity, greenhouse gas emissions and the EU economy. It confirms the positive prospects of a technology that last year became the leader in terms of net power capacity additions in the EU. Wind power's share of new generating capacity is forecasted to be 34% in the period 2005-2020 and 46% in the decade leading up to 2030. Wind power's share of new capacity in Europe in the 25-year period 2005-2030 is 39%.
Download from: Pure Power (pdf 471 kb)
April 2008
Pew Center on Global Climate Change
This report outlines a sensible business approach to analyzing and adapting to the physical risks of climate change. It focuses on a critical first step in assessing these climate impacts: understanding the potential risks to business and the importance of taking action to mitigate those risks. Not all businesses need to take action now; this paper develops a qualitative screening process to assess whether a business is likely to be vulnerable to the physical risks associated with climate change, and whether a more detailed risk assessment is warranted.
Download from: Adapting to climate Change (pdf 397 kb)
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)
April 2008
Shell
Shell has released a new energy scenario called TANIA - There are no ideal answers - looking at how the world's energy supply and use might evolve to 2050. They outline two paths, Blueprint and Scramble in which the world either reacts to problems or cooperates to develop solutions. Both scenarios display a turbulent period between 2015 and 2030 when energy supply struggles to keep up with demand.
Download from: Shell energy scenarios to 2050 (pdf 1.5 MB)
March 2008
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
This report describes an analysis of how fuel-cell vehicles may enter the US market, looking at three scenarios, and the associated infrastructure requirements. It focuses more on policy and economics than technical issues, but provides a good background to the significant hurdles facing the widespread adoption of hydrogen fueled vehicles.
Download from: Analysis of the Transition to Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles (pdf 1.4 MB)
March 2008
Garnaut Climate Change Review
The discussion paper argues for the need to design the scheme on the basis that it will ultimately be part of a global agreement on greenhouse gas mitigation. It suggests fixed limits on emissions through the establishment of defined emissions ‘trajectories’, which would transparently map the pathway to emissions reduction targets. Permits would be regularly released in line with the trajectory. The ETS discussion paper supports the auctioning of all permits, arguing that any increase in the price of goods or services, such as energy, will not be prevented through the free allocation of permits.
Download from: Emissions Trading Scheme (pdf 476 kb)
March 2008
REN21 Secretariat and Worldwatch Institute
This report provides an overview of the status of renewable energy worldwide in 2007. It covers trends in markets, investments, industries, policies, and off-grid renewable energy, from data collected by over 140 researchers and reviewers from dozens of countries. Wind power capacity increased more than any other renewable power technology in 2007 including hydro power, with an estimated 21 GW added. This represented a 28 percent increase over 2006.
Download from: Renewables 2007 (pdf 480 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
Abare
This updated report contains a wealth of information in one place on energy production and use in Australia. It covers both fossil and renewable sources, transport, electricity and now also includes a breakdown of energy R&D.
Download from: Energy in Australia 2008 (pdf 1.4 MB)
February 2008
IEA Coal Industry Advisory Board
This short report from the IEA Coal Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) presents industry’s considered recommendations on how to accelerate the development and deployment of clean coal technologies and to grasp their potential to reduce emissions from coal use.
Download from: Clean Coal Technologies (pdf 944 kb)
February 2008
Australian Department of Climate Change
The Australian Department of Climate Change has released the 2007 projections for stationary energy sector greenhouse gas emissions. The figures show continued strong growth in emissions during 2005 (the latest figures), with the 283 Mt CO2-e being 45% higher than the 1990 level.
Download from: Stationary Energy Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions (pdf 385 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)
February 2008
McKinsey & Company Australia
According to the report, which modelled the costs of over 100 abatement measures over six industry sectors, a 30 percent reduction below 1990 levels in Australian GHG emissions is achievable by 2020 and 60 percent by 2030, without major technological breakthroughs or lifestyle changes. The report says that reducing emissions is affordable, with an average annual gross cost of approximately A$290 per household to reduce emissions in 2020 to 30 percent below 1990 levels.
Download from: An Australian Cost Curve for Greenhouse Gas Reduction (pdf 586 kb)
February 2008
US Department of Energy
This report outlines the actions taken by 13 energy-intensive industry sectors in the USA to improve greenhouse gas emissions intensity of their operations from 2002 to 2006. The report indicates that the power and energy-intensive industrial sectors improved their combined emissions intensity by 9.4 percent over this four year period, and in 2006, actual greenhouse gas emissions for these sectors fell a combined 1.4 percent.
Download from: Climate VISION Progress Report 2007 (pdf 1.8 MB)
January 2008
Observ’ER
A review and update of the growth in renewable energy production for the countries of the EU. In both French and English, the report contains a breakdown by country and technology for eight renewable sectors. Solar and wind technologies grew strongly in Germany and Spain, but overall the growth is well below what is required to meet the EU 2010 targets.
Download from: State of Renewable Energies in Europe (pdf 870 kb)
January 2008
UK Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
This report provides a background to the Call for Evidence regarding the opportunities and prospects for renewable heat and some of the barriers that prevent the greater use of renewable heat in the UK. It provides a useful analysis and discussion on the heat and carbon markets in the UK as well as district heating. While focused on the UK, the content would also be useful for renewable heat and combined heat and power in Australia.
Download from: Heat (pdf 1.3 MB)
January 2008
American Wind Energy Association
The U.S. wind energy industry installed 5,244 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity in 2007, according to the latest market figures from the American Wind Energy Association. The rapid growth shatters all previous records and boosts the total U.S. wind power capacity by 45% in only one year. The total U.S. wind power capacity is now at 16,818 MW, with wind projects located in 34 states.
Download from: American Wind Energy Association (pdf 238 kb)
December 2007
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
In this report, ABARE presents its latest medium to long term projections of Australian energy consumption, production and trade assuming no change in established policy settings. The analysis covers the period from 2005-06 to 2029-30, with a focus on the medium term to 2011-12. Australia’s primary energy consumption in the medium term is projected to grow at an average rate of 2.2 per cent a year, from 5688 PJ in 2005-06 to 6479 PJ in 2011-12. By 2029-30, the shares of coal and oil are projected to be 35 per cent each of total primary energy consumption. The shares of gas and renewables are projected to rise to 24 per cent and 6 per cent respectively of total primary energy consumption by 2029-30.
Download from: Australian Energy (pdf 323 kb)
December 2007
Vencorp
The objective of this study was to identify the technical issues associated with the increased connection of wind power generation to the Victorian transmission network, and to determine the maximum amount of wind power generation that can be accommodated. Detailed system studies assessed the technical impact of wind power generation integration for demand levels of 4,000 MW, 7,000 MW and 12,000 MW.
Download from: Capacity of the Victorian electricity transmission network to integrate wind power (pdf 480 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)
December 2007
The Climate Institute
This report looks at the economics of three emissions reduction scenarios for Australia, characterised as Free rider, Follower and Leader. The modelling suggests that achieving a 40-100% reduction in net emissions by 2050 is consistent with strong economic growth. The report argues that Australia can afford to take a leadership position in committing to substantial reductions in our net greenhouse emissions, in order to help manage the economic risks to Australia, and to contribute to the global momentum and concrete actions required to avoid dangerous global climate change.
Download from: Leader, Follower or Free Rider (pdf 851 kb)
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
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)
November 2007
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This report outlines the vision for the US National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency of achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025. It presents ten implementation goals for states, utilities, and other stakeholders to consider to achieve this goal and describes what 2025 might look like if the goal is achieved. If that goal is achieved, it is suggested that the USA will spend $100 billion less for energy in 2025 than it would otherwise, will avoid emitting 500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year and achieve $500 billion in net savings from its energy efficiency investments.
Download from: National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency (pdf 1.3 MB)
November 2007
Renewables Advisory Board
A report from the UK Renewables Advisory Board taking a detailed look at the role of on site energy generation in preparation for zero emission new homes in the UK by 2016.
Download from: The role of on site energy generation in delivering zero carbon homes (pdf 4.2 MB)
November 2007
Next 10
This report looks at California's economic and environmental performance and how green innovation has contributed to reducing emissions and growing the economy. It covers a broad area including the history of green energy innovation, the decoupling of emissions from GDP, the next wave of energy innovation and the growth in jobs and investment flowing from green technology in California.
Download from: California Green Innovation Index (pdf 1.5 MB)
November 2007
UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance (CEMEP) was established by Gordon Brown as Chancellor of the Exchequer in November 2006 in the light of the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. Its remit was to advise Government on how the UK could make the most of the potential economic benefits of the transition to a low carbon, sustainable economy. The report sets out the analysis that underpins the Commission’s consideration of environmental markets, the approach it recommends to developing policy, and how business should respond to its recommended framework. The report then goes on to describe the actions that the Commissioners believe should be taken by Government, business and others to drive investment and innovation in environmental markets in the UK.
Download from: Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance (pdf 500 kb)
November 2007
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
The UNFCCC prepares an annual report on the level of greenhouse gas emissions from data provided by each country (national inventory reports). The 2007 report provides emission data up to 2005.
Download from: National greenhouse gas inventory data for the period 1990-2005 (pdf 235 kb)
November 2007
UN IPCC
The Synthesis Report forms the final part of "Climate Change 2007", the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report. Earlier this year, the IPCC released the other three reports: "The physical science basis" "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" and "Mitigation of Climate Change". The Synthesis Report is the decisive effort to integrate and compact this wealth of information into a readable and concise document explicitly targeted to the policymakers. The summary for policy makers is downloadable, but the full report needs to be ordered from Cambridge University Press.
Download from: UN IPCC Fourth Synthesis Report (pdf 6.4 MB)
November 2007
Climate Institute
This report, prepared by Dr Graeme Pearman and the Climate Adaptation Science and Policy Initiative at the University of Melbourne provides more up to date information on climate change than available from the latest IPCC report. It suggests that the IPCC assessment is underestimating the risks of adverse impacts due to increased warming during this century and that impacts previously considered to be at the upper end of likelihood are now more probable.
Download from: Evidence of Accelerated Climate Change (pdf 288 kb)
November 2007
American Solar Energy Society
A new report from the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society shows that as many as 1 out of 4 workers in the U.S. will be working in the renewable energy or energy efficiency industries by 2030.
Download from: Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (pdf 1.1 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)
November 2007
Ernst & Young Renewable Energy Group
The Ernst & Young Country Attractiveness Indices provide scores for national renewable energy markets, renewable energy infrastructures and their suitability for individual technologies. The indices cover long and short term periods, specific technologies and assessment by country.
Download from: Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Indices (pdf 1.1 MB)
November 2007
The World Bank
This working paper analyzes CO2 emissions reduction targets for various countries and geopolitical regions by the year 2030 in order to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of CO2 at the level of 450 ppm (550 ppm including non CO2 greenhouse gases). It also determines CO2 intensity cuts that would be needed in those countries and regions if the emission reductions were achieved through intensity-based targets while assuming no effect on forecasted economic growth. Considering that the stabilization of CO2 concentrations at 450 ppm requires the global trend of CO2 emissions to reverse before 2030, this study develops two scenarios: reversing the global CO2 trend in (i) 2020 and (ii) 2025. The study shows that global CO2 emissions would be 42 percent above the 1990 level in 2030 if the increasing trend of global CO2 emissions is reversed by 2020.
Download from: Atmospheric Stabilization of CO2 Emissions (pdf 760 kb)
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
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
Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Asset Management
The report by Deutsche Bank has identified seven mega trends which they believe will shape the Asset Management industry in the coming years, in particular a shift away from a carbon-based economy will be most influential. The Bank sees strong growth in investment in industries and companies that are involved in both the mitigation of, and the adaptation to, climate change. They highlight industries in the energy efficiency and clean technology fields as well as those involved in work in the field of adaptation to climate change. They see the power sector falling into the mitigation sector, which they divide into climate change strategies and new resources strategies. The former contains the renewable energy technologies, and the latter the "Clean Technologies" including natural resources, emission efficient power generation, energy efficiency, building management, heating and cooling systems, lighting systems, insulation, impact management / damage limitation, infrastructure / rebuilding, consumer electronics and new materials.
Download from: Investing In Climate Change (pdf 2.1 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
California Energy Commission
The objective of this project was to determine the potential size of the rooftop photovoltaic (PV) market in California, by county, for both residential and commercial applications for three cases: (1) current market without the California Solar Initiative incentives, (2) using the California Solar Initiative incentives, and (3) using new or improved business models. The results were further broken out by retrofit versus new construction installations. The analysis revealed that the 3,000 MW goal of the California Solar Initiative is achievable by 2016 with aggressive PV system cost reductions and new business models. Report prepared by Navigant Consulting for the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program of the California Energy Commission.
Download from: California Rooftop Photovoltaic (PV) (pdf 880 kb)
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)
October 2007
Renewable Energy Generators of Australia
Renewable Energy Generators of Australia (REGA) have just released a report produced for them by McLennan Magasanik Associates on renewable energy. The MMA report, completed in 2006 but just released publically, provides a very useful analysis of the costs and benefits of the widespread adoption of renewable energy in the Australian economy. It discusses the current state of the industry, the domestic and global potential for renewable energy industries and compares cost curves for renewable, fossil and nuclear technologies
Download from: Renewable Energy (pdf 1.8 MB)
October 2007
Ministerial Council on Energy
The Ministerial Council on Energy Standing Committee of Officials has commissioned a number of reports on the cost-benefit of introducing smart meters. The focus of phase one is to define smart meter minimum functionality and performance levels. Phase two will explore the costs and benefits of a mandated national roll-out of smart meters and an alternative demand management strategy. The seven Phase I reports are now available for download in PDF format from the MCE website.
Download from: Cost-Benefit Analysis of Options for a National Smart Meter Roll-Out (html)
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)
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
Centre for International Economics
This study has examined the potential for additional GHG abatement from the buildings sector, in particular by examining the potential to invest in improved energy efficiency. It also reveals the difference that this would make to the economy-wide cost of achieving deep GHG emission cuts.
Download from: Capitalising on the building sector's potential to lessen the costs of a broad based GHG emissions cut (pdf 353 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)
September 2007
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
ABARE has undertaken an assessment of the impacts of a concerted effort within APEC economies to develop and widely deploy current and advanced energy effiecient and low emission technologies and energy sources across all sectors of the economy. However even with the widespread uptake of these technologies, APEC emissions in 2050 will still likely be well above those of 2004.
Download from: Energy security, clean technology development and climate change (pdf 993 kb)
August 2007
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
A new report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) finds that far more investment is needed to hold greenhouse gas emissions in check, especially in developing countries.
Download from: UN analysis of investment needed to address climate change (pdf 26 kb)
August 2007
Electric Power Research Institute
According to the summary, this is a full portfolio discussion paper to provide stakeholders with a framework to develop a research, development, and demonstration Action Plan that will enable sustainable and substantial electricity sector CO2 emissions reductions over the coming decades.
Download from: Power to Reduce CO2 Emissions (pdf 2.8 MB)
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
International Energy Agency
Released annually, this 80 page publication contains timely, clearly-presented data on the supply, transformation and consumption of all major energy sources, and other useful energy facts.
Download from: Key world energy statistics 2007 (pdf 2.6 MB)
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)