Category Archives: Australian Response

PLEA Network

7 July 2015, Renew Economy, Network charges may penalise uptake of battery storage, as well as PV: The trend among some electricity networks to penalise or discourage the uptake of rooftop solar by imposing fixed tariffs or additional fees is now extending to battery storage, with one network accused of trying to lift charges to households with storage even though they are reducing peak demand. In an analysis of recent tariff proposals by South Australia Power Networks, which included a since-rejected attempt to apply a surcharge to solar households, the Australian PV Institute says SAPN now seems intent on penalising households that install battery storage, despite their obvious network benefits. “SAPN admit that batteries will reduce network peaks but still wish to charge PV households that install batteries as if they are increasing the peak,” the APVI, an independent institute, says in a newly released discussion paper. Read More here

PLEA Network

1 July 2015, The Guardian, Climate change a security risk second only to terrorism, says defence report. Defence white paper consultation report flags consequences of environmental pressures as a significant security risk for Australia. The Abbott government’s energy white paper made headlines for its curiousreluctance to mention climate change – but the looming defence white paper may prove to be a different story. A report on community consultations associated with the defence white paper flags the consequences of climate change, extreme weather events and environmental pressures as a significant security risk for Australia – second only to the risks posed by terrorism. “Many people suggested [climate change] would lead to an increased need for humanitarian and disaster relief activities, including by armed forces,” the report released on Wednesday said. “Some people also noted that climate change and resource stresses, such as food and water shortages, could drive unregulated cross-border movements of people.” The consultations also unearthed “considerable interest in evolving the ADF [Australian defence force] to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and manage its environmental impact.” Read More here

PLEA Network

29 June 2015, The Guardian,Australian climate policy paralysis has to end, business roundtable says: Business and industry alliance sets out climate ‘principles’, including that climate policy should be ‘capable of achieving deep reductions’ in emissions. Groups included in the ‘climate roundtable’ include the Business Council of Australia and Australian Industry Group, along with environmental groups and unions. An unprecedented alliance of business, welfare and environmental groups and trade unions is demanding an end to Australia’s decade of political paralysis and division on climate policy, insisting the Abbott government make credible emission reduction commitments and the major parties agree on how the pledges should be implemented.In an attempt to reset the bitter political debate on climate policy, the powerful lineup of interest groups has reached a historic agreement on “principles” that should guide Australia’s climate policy.  Read More here. Read principles here

PLEA Network

24 June 2015, Renew Economy, RET settled, so what next for renewable energy advocates? Now that at long last the RET debate is settled, what next for advocates of renewable energy? Since the first worrying signs that the Coalition may not support the Renewable Energy Target’s 41,000 GWh target before the 2013 federal election, the defence of the RET has, quite understandably, consumed much of the time and resources of the renewable energy sector.

One of the costs of this political fight has been that much important analysis and public debate have been deferred, especially around the question of renewable energy targets for 2030 and beyond. With the near-term crisis now settled it is time to reanalyse the cost and technical feasibility of achieving very high renewable energy penetration levels. Analytical work needs to be done now because the national conversation about increasing the RET for the years 2030 and beyond will inevitably start soon. The next election is never far off. Perhaps the best way to achieve this would be to update and extend the 100% renewable energy studycompleted by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). This study was commissioned by the Gillard Government under pressure from the Greens as part of the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee (MPCCC) agreement.  It was published in 2013, with most of the analysis completed in 2012. Read More here