Australia Can Have 100% Renewable Power by 2020 – Report

Australia can transition to 100% renewable energy sources by 2020, according to a report published by the non-profit group Zero Carbon Australia.

The report provides a detailed blueprint for transitioning Australia’s stationary energy sector to 100% clean energy over the next decade. The report shows that Australia can replace fossil fuel baseload electricity using renewable energy technology that is available today, with the additional investment required equal to about one cup of coffee per person per day.

The Zero Carbon Australia report is the culmination of 12 months of pro bono work by engineers and postgraduate university students, and testament to the quality of the plan, it will be published by the University of Melbourne ‘s Energy Institute next month.

“In the lead up to the Federal budget last month, a broad coalition of Australians called for the Rudd government to take an ambitious nation-building approach to climate policy. The Zero Carbon Australia 2020 plan is what that approach looks like,” says Matthew Wright, Beyond Zero Emissions Executive Director.

“There is a critical need for policies to ensure the construction of large-scale renewable energy projects and climate-friendly infrastructure. These projects are the best way to secure Australia’s energy future and protect the nation from dangerous climate change,” says Wright.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, said: “We can and must aim to power Australia with 100% renewable energy as soon as possible if we are to truly tackle the climate crisis. This Zero Carbon Australia plan is an extremely valuable contribution which all in the parliament should be looking at very seriously, particularly as we are currently debating renewable energy legislation in the Senate.”

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Australia could accelerate action on climate change, possibly resurrecting an emissions trading scheme, after independent and Greens MPs won the balance of power in elections this month that left a hung parliament.

Read Reuters coverage at the link below.