Energy in Australia

Preliminary presentation by Prof Jim Falk

Australian Centre for Science, Innovation and Society for the Asian Energy Security Project

Australia is a major producer of coal and uranium:

Two thirds of the energy Australia produces is exported

World’s largest exporter coal since 1986

Australia is a large user of energy per capita but has a small population. Energy use is growing, and in 2005-2006, primary energy consumption totalled 5640 PJ

Energy consumption by industry

Australia’s major energy sources are coal and oil

Primary energy consumption, 2005-2006

Australia’s Energy Resource Reserves

For the last 15 years or so, energy consumption had been growing at around 2-4% per year, below the rate of growth of GDP, and declining.

Renewables:• Currently 5% of primary

energy consumption• Amount has not been

increasing significantly, despite good resources for renewables (e.g. sun)

• Wind power and biogas and liquids are growing but from a small base (government projects 30 PJ of wind power in 2020)

• Production of hydroelectricity fell between 1996 and 2006, due to drought

Renewables consumption, 2005-2006

Australia’s conservative government projects a future growth in energy consumption largely as in the past:

Primary energy consumption

Australia’s energy production is also projected to continue much as it has been, with continued dependence on coal exports:

Electricity production projection

The Australia Institute offers a different achievable energy growth pattern to meet GHG emission reductions:

Which projection becomes the future depends on choices still to be made

Australian Governments will increasingly finding themeselves caught between their economic dependence on coal and the political and physical impacts of climate change. Australian agriculture is currently struggling through the worst drought on record.

Energy policies:*Kyoto not ratified*Federal election November 24, which the conservative government may lose, after 11 years in power*opposition is promising to ratify Kyoto, but aims to reduce emissions through “clean coal”*Existing government is promising to source 108 PJ from low emission sources every year, by 2020 with a 15% MRET*The opposition is promising to “substantially increase” renewable energy targets, and has set a national 20% MRET.

Energy security: Depletable resources at current production levels

Australia and the nuclear industry (more detail afternoon presentation)

*The existing government has been considering introducing nuclear power to Australia, but convincing the population may be hard. ANSTO strongly lobbying for nuclear power*It may loose the November 24 election, after 11 years in power*The opposition is opposed to domestic nuclear power, but recently changed its position to support increased uranium mining*All State governments have legislated against nuclear power

Regional cooperation:

*Australia recently agreed to sell uranium to China, and has been considering selling uranium to India, but this is currently stalled

*Australia is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Working Group (APEC EWG), which aims to “facilitate energy trade and investment, and ensure that energy contributes to the economic, social and environmental enhancement of the APEC community”

*Current government and opposition argue for importance of alliance with the US, with the government seeking a “regional deputy” role, supporting US position on climate change, and taking part in Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

*Australia recently agreed to join GNEP (no waste storage, no restriction on enrichment).

Coal exporter and consumer

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Nuclear power Renewables

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