In response to a statutory review, The Australian Government’s Climate Change Authority has committed to maintaining its renewable energy target (RET) of 20 per cent of the nation’s electricity (roughly 41,000 GWh) coming from renewable sources by 2020.
The Government also emphasizes that 20 percent is only a minimum target, and leaves “the way open for improvements in energy efficiency to deliver a higher share of renewable energy.”
“Arguments to reduce or cap renewable energy at 20 per cent of generation in 2020 ignore the need to reduce the emissions-intensity of Australia’s electricity sector so that we remain competitive as the world moves to clean energy,” said the Gillard Government in a statement.
Last December, the Climate Change Authority offered 34 recommendations in a review of the RET; 28 of those have now been accepted, three rejected, and three were flagged for further review. One target will not be changed despite the CCA’s recommendation: a 100-kW ceiling for solar PV systems to qualify as small-scale renewable energy projects. The CCA had recommended a 10-kW limit.
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