Which would you prefer for Australia?
It’s been mentioned more than a few times that Australia could be the next renewable energy superpower. With our wide open spaces, almost unlimited sun and centres of research excellence we could show the world the way in solar power and other forms of renewable energy.
Jeremy Rifkin, author of the Third Industrial Revolution, told the ABC in an interview for Four Corners: “Australia’s the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy. There’s so much sun; there’s so much wind off the coast, and so it makes absolutely no sense when you have an abundance of renewable energy, why would you rely on a depleting supply of fossil fuels with all of the attendant consequences to society and the planet?”
Notwithstanding the immense benefits to the environment, to sustainable jobs and a clean, renewable energy future, action by Australia to encourage renewables would propel us to a leadership role in the world, instead of the somewhat lesser, wait-and-see-what-others-do-first role we tend to play.
But what of the rest of the world? How are they doing in relation to Australia on solar energy and other renewables? Unfortunately the news (from an Australian perspective) is not good. We’re falling way behind, to the point of being the laughing stock of the rest of the world for our implied rejection of climate science and dismantling of renewable energy gains.
In comparison our competitors are at least making some moves towards a clean energy future:
- The United Kingdom is turning former coal-fired power stations into solar farms.
- The United States is embracing a renewable energy future under an Obama administration.
- Germany continues to lead the way in innovation in solar policy development
- The recently-elected Indian government has introduced big changes in renewable energy designed to move the country away from reliance on fossil fuels.
It is true though that not all countries are heading down the path of renewable energy. Indeed our PM’s mate in Canada Stephen Harper appears to have single-handedly turned the country from one admired for its environmental stances to a haven for fossil fuel polluters. Check the debate that continues to rage over oil tar sands.
However what is undoubtedly true is that we are in the minority amongst industrialised nations on support for fossil fuel energy over our renewable energy industry. Indeed our government’s perceived anti-renewables stance is making us a pariah of sorts in the international community and is stalling overseas investment in this sector.
Witness two news items this week that highlighted our lack of support for the future backbone of the nation’s energy industry: the renewables sector.
1. Government announces approval for massive Carmichael Coal and Rail Project.
2. Foreign investment at risk of pulling out over uncertainty on the Renewable Energy Target
Australia as the next renewable energy superpower? The likelihood seems more remote than ever as gain after gain is rolled back by the Abbott government.
However while we have a great deal of ground to make up, the key factor in support of the Australian renewable energy sector is that Australians love it. Really love it to bits.
Indeed much of the advances made by the industry have been driven by households; from the ground (or rooftop) up. Surveys, such as that conducted by clean energy advocate 100% Renewable Energy showing as high as 90 percent surveyed support for a government policy to create jobs and encourage investment in the sector. Despite the relentless Murdoch media attacks, public support remains high for the RET at 71 percent, according to research conducted by The Climate Institute. That support, despite the best efforts of sections of our press, will not dissipate.
The future then of a vibrant, sustainable renewable energy superpower (as Australia should view itself) will be based on this wellspring of support from the Australian public. Any leadership role taken by Australia as a middle-sized nation would be (no doubt) welcomed by the Australian public.
The knock on effects for jobs, emissions reduction, the environment, our international prestige and a clean energy future for Australian kids would be incalculable. Australia as a regional energy superpower in the way Germany is for Europe? Dare we dream?
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Rich: “…the key factor in support of the Australian renewable energy sector is that Australians love it. Really love it to bits… .” And, if the polls and blogs are any guide, Aussies hate, loathe and despise their new feral government.
It’s likely that, once they’re ‘dissolved’, the pendulum will swing back to clean, renewable energy.
While we have to face the fact that Australian people need about $2,000 per week gross income to meet their life style expectations, it is going to be very difficult to establish such a necessary and vital industry in Australia. China is host to vast numbers of German engineers and has been for many years, and I suspect that the reason Germany was so quick to jump into development of technology and manufacturing on a wide scale of products, including solar, was because they knew early on in their EU experience that China would be the manufacturing base of the future. Australian firms need to continue to expand their presence in that country if we are to have access to solar and products that we cannot make at viable prices in Australia.