Renewable energy 'more affordable' than report suggests

21st Oct 2011

The Clean Energy Council believes that the cost of renewable energy is one of the more affordable options when it comes to addressing climate change.

Commenting on a new report by the Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA), Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said the cost of solar power was now half what it was in the report.

Mr Warren believes that the report indicates Australia’s investment in renewable energy has been "prudent".

"The report finds that renewable energy has been affordable, adding two per cent to electricity bills in 2010 and costing households a few cents a week all up," Mr Warren said.

"The cost of dealing with climate change is going to be more than business as usual, but so far renewable energy has been a pretty good deal for a clean and safe future."

According to Mr Warren, nine out of every ten Australians support the implementation of renewable energy and the approach to the issue adopted by the Australian government is not unusual when compared to other countries.

Recent findings by Sustainable Energy Australia (SEA) support this, stating that an increasing number of Australians are now focused on changing their patterns of behaviour when it comes to energy consumption.

With the federal government’s move towards clean energy, more Australian households than ever are seeking affordable alternatives to fossil fuel-based energy.

While our interest in renewable energy is increasing, Mr Warren believes that Australia is "still in the early years" of development in clean energy technologies and that investment needed to be accelerated to overcome "a head start of more than half a century" that other energy markets have.

"What is remarkable is how quickly the cost of clean energy is falling and new technologies are arriving to market, and we’ve only just started," Mr Warren stated.

At present, rooftop solar power systems are one of the most accessible options for Australian households, and according to SEA's October industry survey, now is the best time to invest in solar power.

Residents in certain states may find themselves eligible to participate in a government incentive that takes the excess energy a household generates and feeds it back into the local electricity grid.

The impeding carbon tax is also another reason for Australians to consider making the investment in renewable energy now.

Posted by Mike Peacock – Solar Correspondent 

All solar power news categories

Government Rebate & Regulations
Solar Power & Technology


More Solar Power & Technology

Australia to be a part of huge Asian renewable energy growth
SunPower steps up to make solar more affordable
Canberra makes strides toward carbon neutrality
GTM puts solar's massive growth in perspective
Examining Australia's falling solar PV rooftop prices
Australia's shift toward renewable energy picks up the pace
Australia shines at solar decathlon
University of Queensland tapped as lead researcher on massive solar project
100 per cent renewable energy is possible in 10 years, environmental group says
Climate Commission releases report on solar progress
Aussie government actually shows spine for solar power
Be gone, skeptics: One million solar installations and counting
Australia embarks on its greatest solar journey ever
Australia looks to solar thermal for commercial success
Solar power helps King Island reach 100% sustainability
Australians 'heavy supporters of solar power'
Mildura solar plant officially unveiled
Solar power trumps other renewables in Australian minds
Sunshine Coast solar farm "fantastic initiative"
Sunshine Coast cashes in on namesake with solar plans
Energy storage 'could maximise solar power utility'
Solar powered family car - a world first?
Code of conduct for solar installers in the works
'Stop punishing households' for solar PV
Australian solar companies 'adjusting well'
Australian mining 'next solar frontier'
"Rooftop revolution" underway across Australia
Global PV market emerging from sluggish period
Royalla solar farm receives final approval
Leadership challenge a "debacle" for Australian solar power
Solar power giving global renewables a helping hand
Australia's largest CPV solar power plant up and running
Renewable energy misinformation "staggering"
CEC: Don't underestimate consumer desire for solar
Setting energy efficient examples on TV
Solar PV brightening up household bills
World's largest solar powered boat on the move
Climate change is heating up
The global solar power shift
New solar tech win for NSW
Industry orgs praise City of Sydney solar efforts
Clean Energy Council supports Regional Renewables scheme
Asian nations emerging as PV leaders
Solar PV demand continues to grow
Regional areas of Australia to receive more renewables
Australia's significant renewable energy growth
Solar panel reprieve for Queensland
New funding for solar research
Find love with sustainable speed dating
New Victorian solar power deal
 To get your quotes, please enter your postcode: