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)
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)
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)
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
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)