Scottish lawmakers last week backed a binding goal to cut greenhouse gases by 42 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, edging Germany into second place in a ranking of the most ambitious developed world targets, notes the Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA).

Scottish lawmakers last week backed a binding goal to cut greenhouse gases by 42 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, edging Germany into second place in a ranking of the most ambitious developed world targets, notes the Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA).

The European Union has agreed a target to cut greenhouse gases by at least 20 percent by 2020, and Germany plans to cut carbon emissions by 40 percent compared with 1990 levels.

'Australia doesn't need the courage of Robert the Bruce or William Wallace to take advantage of our world class renewable energy resources,' says Prof. Ray Wills, WA SEA Chief Executive.

'While we have seen undoubtedly strongly improving support from the Federal Government for renewable energy uptake in Australia, the industry is continuously plagued by inconsistent policy changes and reversals. Further, growth has been off of a very low base, and we are still below the level of uptake of renewable energy in the rest of the developed world.'

For example, all of Scotland has a population of 5.2 million and total electricity capacity of around 11 GW, with 19% from renewable sources at the end of 2008, including 70 MW of installed solar. Compare Australia, with the best renewable energy resources in the world and a population of 22 million has a total electricity capacity around 50 GW with 4% use from renewable sources, and a total of 34 MW solar actually installed (23,000 systems as at April 2009). For Australia to match sunny Scotland's per capita investment in solar, we would need to quadruple our investment in solar, with 140 MW of solar capacity needed to be on a par.

'Other nations are moving aggressively to develop their lesser renewable energy resources. As the nation with the world's best renewable energy resources, all Australian Governments need to become even more ambitious in the support for renewable energy generation,' says Prof. Wills.

'Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett in particular shouldn't need to be Braveheart to start the renewable program 'get go', with Perth having the best case for energy return on installation of all OECD cities.'



WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA)

Media Release - 3 July 2009

Hoots mon - sunny Scotland once again
outshines Australia.

Editors notes:
1. Based on the report ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF PV SYSTEMS IN OECD CITIES for rooftop-mounted PV systems, the range of all OECD cities examined, the best case for energy return on installation of all OECD cities is in Perth, and the worst case in Edinburgh, UK. http://www.iea-pvps.org/products/pap10_061.htm
2. From the end of 2004 to the end of 2008, around the world solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity increased 600 per cent to more than 16 gigawatts (GW), wind power capacity increased 250 per cent to 121 GW, and total power capacity from new renewables increased 75 per cent to 280 GW. During the same period, solar heating capacity doubled to 145 gigawatts-thermal (GWth), while biodiesel production increased 600 per cent to 12 billion litres per year and ethanol production doubled to 67 billion litres per year - REN21. 2009. (Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update (Paris: REN21 Secretariat). http://www.ren21.net/pdf/RE_GSR_2009_update.pdf)
3. The Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) is a chamber of businesses boasting a growing membership of 250 industry members from a diversity of businesses, and now the largest state-based industry body of its kind in Australia. www.wasea.com.au.