EDITORIAL - SEPTEMBER 2003

In this edition of Issues we look at energy with a particular emphasis on renewable energy, which is derived from sources that cannot be depleted or that can be replaced. Examples include solar, wind, biomass, wave or hydro electricity. Renewable sources will always be available and are essentially non-polluting.

There are many reasons why we need to move towards different types of energy. In particular, Australia's obligations under the Kyoto Protocol means that greenhouse gas emissions can only increase by 8 per cent between 1990 and 2012. Already we are 18 per cent above our Kyoto target and by 2010 we may be more than 28 per cent above. In response, the Australian government has made a commitment to increase the country's production of electricity from renewable sources by 2 per cent by 2010. What this means is that electricity retailers are legally required to source 2 per cent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010. This Mandatory Renewable Energy Target commenced on 1 April 2001 and is currently being reviewed.

A number of environmental groups have argued, however, that the 2 per cent target does not go far enough. They are lobbying for a 10 per cent target by 2010, in line with international standards. An article by Greenpeace and the Wind Energy Association outlines the status of wind energy internationally and argues the case for Australia to follow the same path.

However, can renewable energy be relied on to supply electricity in the future? As Ian Hore Lacey points out, harnessing renewable energy such as wind and solar is an appropriate first consideration in sustainable development, but harnessing these 'free' sources cannot be the only option. Renewable sources, such as wind and solar, are diffuse, intermittent and unreliable by nature. He argues that we need to consider a mix of energy sources, including nuclear energy in order to secure our energy future. Nuclear energy, like renewable energy, gives us access to virtually limitless resources of energy.

An article by the Wind Energy Association titled 'Can We Rely on the Wind?' disputes Hore Lacey's claim that energy derived from the wind is unreliable. It argues that wind energy can be relied on, even though the wind is not available 100 per cent of the time. In fact, no energy technology can be relied on 100 per cent of the time.

We can now choose where our energy comes from. Green Power is a national accreditation program that sets standards for renewable energy products offered by electricity suppliers to households and businesses across Australia.

You can ask your electricity supplier to source the energy you use from renewable sources such as wind, solar and hydro-power. Choosing a renewable energy alternative makes it easy for everyone to reduce his or her greenhouse gas emissions in the home, at work and at school.

We hope this edition of Issues encourages you to think about where your energy comes from and how we can all support the move towards renewable energy in the future.