Renewable Energy

Renewable energy comes from natural sources such as the wind or sun, and either lasts forever or can be replenished over time. ‘Renewables’ can provide us with clean electricity, heating and transport fuels.

There are many forms of renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydro, biomass (from plants and trees), wave, tidal and geothermal (which harnesses the heat of the earth’s core). Australia is lucky to have excellent reserves of all forms of renewable energy.

Why should Australia “go renewable”?

Renewable energy is a smart solution to climate change. Renewables are the positive alternative to burning dirty fossil fuels (like coal and oil) for energy.
Renewable energy is:
• clean and safe for our communities and environment
• plentiful and won’t run out
• available now – and won’t cost us the Earth.

By investing more in renewable energy, Australia can become a world leader in the fight against climate change. We could create thousands of jobs, new investment in rural and regional Australia and establish Australia as a clean energy exporter.

Australia is missing out on the renewable energy boom
Globally, renewable energy is the fastest growing of all the energy industries. It has created jobs and wealth in places like Germany, Spain and California. South Korea and China are leading the way in Asia. The renewables industry employs 1.7 million people worldwide and is worth US$42 billion each year.

Australia has world renowned energy researchers and institutions. But we’re being left behind in the race to develop and use renewable energy technologies. Competitors overseas receive much better government support for their new renewable energy industries.

How can our government support renewable energy?
In 2005, the Australian Government chose not to increase or extend its “Mandatory Renewable Energy Target”. As a result our proportion of renewable energy (only 8%) will actually fall by 2020. Companies, technology and investment are leaving Australia.

To compete and grow, our small but thriving industry needs a kick-start. The Australian Government can do this by legislating a renewable energy target of 25% by 2020.

What can you do?
To reduce your contribution to climate change and increase the demand for new, clean renewable energy, switch to 100% accredited GreenPower electricity for your home.

To make it easier for you, we’ve rated green energy products on their environmental credentials - visit www.greenelectricitywatch.org.au .