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Carbon Emissions
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Turnbull government could be the reason renewable energy sector crashes
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The renewable sector in Australia is on an upward spiral, with renewables powering 70 per cent of all Australian households in the last financial year. This is according to recent data released.
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Renewables Push Down Greenhouse Gas Emissions Across EU
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According to the latest report from the European Environment Agency (EEA), the uptake of renewables within the EU region since 2005 has significantly contributed to a remarkable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption by about 10 per cent in 2015.
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Wind and Solar Tax Credits to Accelerate the U.S. Economic Growth
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The findings of a new report indicate that 220,000 jobs will be created this year by the United States’ federal wind and solar investment tax, adding nearly $23 billion to the already vibrant economy.
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Hazelwood Power Station’s Toxic Era Comes to an End
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Situated in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, Hazelwood Power Station has been one of the worst carbon-polluting electricity generators in the world for almost 50 years—but now it’s history.
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Melbourne’s Tram Network to be Solar-powered
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Setting up large scale solar farms in the northern part of Victoria is one of the strategies meant to significantly reduce the net carbon emissions of the state to zero by 2050.
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Canberra Gets More Renewable Energy Grants
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The Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Shane Rattenbury has announced two more clean energy grant programs for both businesses and organisations based in Canberra.
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Coal-fired power stations face closure to meet emissions target, says government agency
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Australian Energy Market Operator also finds this would push wholesale energy prices up, but reduce consumption. Australia’s coal-fired power stations will face early closure to meet 2030 emissions reduction commitments, according to assumptions made by a government agency that runs the national electricity grid.
<p> But in modelling future energy use, Aemo found the Coalition’s <a class="u-underline" href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/may/18/greg-hunt-commits-to-direct-inaction-to-preserve-carbon-tax-scare-campaign" data-link-name="in body link">current Direct Action</a> policies would not achieve those reductions, and so made further assumptions about carbon abatement policy required in the electricity sector. </p>
<p> The report said “detailed policy measures are yet to be announced”, and so it “assumed the achievement of this target will be supported by energy efficiency trends, electricity pricing trends, and coal-fired generator retirements”. </p>
<p> Many <a class="u-underline" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/19/australia-urged-shut-coal-fired-power-plants-urgently-huge-emissions" data-link-name="in body link">environmentalists</a>, thinktanks, <a class="u-underline" draggable="true" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/19/radical-plan-proposes-power-generators-pay-to-close-dirty-coal-competitors" data-link-name="in body link">academics</a> and <a class="u-underline" draggable="true" href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/24/agl-boss-regardless-of-climate-science-its-time-to-drop-the-emissions-business" data-link-name="in body link">even energy giant AGL</a> – which operates some of the country’s biggest coal-fired power plants – have been urging the government to design policy that would force the early closure of coal power stations. </p>
<p> Neither the Coalition nor Labor has a policy of early closure, although Labor <a class="u-underline" draggable="true" href="http://www.laborsclimatechangeactionplan.org.au/cleaner_power_generation?_ga=1.52699496.1565187158.1465191938" data-link-name="in body link">said it would initiate</a> an “electricity modernisation review” after the election to ensure an orderly transition to renewable energy. The <a class="u-underline" draggable="true" href="http://greens.org.au/renew" data-link-name="in body link">Greens policy</a> is to incrementally close coal power plants, starting with the most polluting ones. </p>
<p> According to AGL and other groups, the constant cheap supply of coal power, in addition to being Australia’s biggest producer of carbon emissions, had created an oversupply of electricity, making it hard for renewable energy to enter the market. </p>
<p> A Climate Institute <a class="u-underline" draggable="true" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/15/carbon-price-needed-to-avoid-economic-disruption-from-paris-climate-goals-analysis" data-link-name="in body link">report from April found</a> the regulated and orderly closure of coal power plants was needed to avoid major economic disruption in 2030, when the country would need to rush to meet its international commitments. </p>
<p> Olivia Kember from the Climate Institute said the assumption was revealing. “It’s a recognition that if you’re going to reduce electricity emissions by that amount, there are only so many ways you can do it,” she said. </p>
<p> Kember said it was interesting the market operator had to make such significant assumptions about future policy. “What this points to is a need for more clarity for what kind of changes in the policies and the regulatory framework are going to be necessary to manage the emissions reduction and growth of clean energy in a way that works for everybody,” she said. </p>
<p> The report also found that partly as a result of carbon abatement commitments, energy use would remain roughly stable for the next 20 years, despite a growing population, a growing economy and increasing use of electrical appliances. </p>
<p> There would be a slight increase to 2020 due to the liquified natural gas boom in Queensland, where vast amounts of electricity would be used to compress and chill gas, but as rooftop solar and energy efficiency improvements accelerate, electricity use would flatten after that. </p>
<p> The Aemo chief executive, Matt Zema, said new and improved appliances were replacing energy-intensive appliances such as halogen lights, plasma televisions, desktop computers and stereos. </p>
<p> “Maximum demand is forecast to remain flat across the outlook period, despite increased use and capacity of heating and air conditioning as growth is offset by energy efficiency and rooftop PV. </p>
<p> “Projected energy efficiency savings by the year 2035–36 are expected to total around 27,000 GWh. This translates to an equivalent of close to 15% of current grid-supplied electricity use.” </p>
<p> Originally posted on <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jun/17/coal-fired-power-stations-face-closure-to-meet-emissions-target-says-government-agency?CMP=soc_568">The Guardian</a> </p> </div>
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Why Big Business is Backing Renewable Energy
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In January this year Facebook announced plans for another 100 percent renewable energy powered data centre to be built in Clonee, County Meath, Ireland. It will be the company’s sixth data centre worldwide.