Australian Senate delays renewable energy laws

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The Australian parliament’s upper house Senate on Thursday postponed a debate on renewable energy laws until August at the earliest, delaying the government’s plans passing the laws by the end of June.

The laws would have set a 20% target for renewable energy use by 2020 as compared to Australia’s current 6.5% levels. This breaks down to a statutory target capacity of 9,500GWh from renewable electricity sources in 2010, and increasing it to 45,000GWh in 2020. Currently, most of energy comes from coal, oil and gas, and this practice has earned Australia the infamy as one the world’s worst per capita polluters.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Independent Senator Steve Fielding, with the support of Nick Xenophon and the conservative opposition parties, moved that the laws be sent to a Senate inquiry to report back by August 12, to examine the impact on big business.

Needless to say, the government and Greens party opposed the delay, stating the move would undermine investment in Australia’s renewable energy sector and would lead to job losses while passing the laws could open up to $22 billion in investments for solar power. This trend against emissions reduction is likely to continue while the government faces a Senate roadblock with its other plans to introduce an emissions trading scheme by July 2011.

“The people who are pushing for this delay are the big emitters. I want to see this legislation through, I want to give certainty to the renewable energy industry that they have got their target,” Greens Senator Christine Milne told parliament.

This move is a definte shift from the March 2009 feed-in tariffs for Canberra.

Read Next

February 19, 2025
Singapore-headquartered renewable energy developer Gurīn Energy has completed a 75MW solar PV power plant situated in the municipality of Palauig, the Philippines.
February 18, 2025
Individual market dynamics and appetite for risk play an important role in the effectiveness of co-location as a hedge for renewable assets.
February 18, 2025
Spanish renewables developer Ecoener has secured a US$43.1 million loan to finance a 60MW solar PV plant in the Dominican Republic.
February 18, 2025
Chinese solar manufacturer Tongwei has ended its plan to acquire a controlling stake in fellow Chinese manufacturer Runergy.
February 18, 2025
Sunnova said the job cuts are part of “an optimisation of its business" and the cuts will save around US$35 million.
February 18, 2025
Chinese solar manufacturer LONGi has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Jinko Solar.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 19, 2025
Tokyo, Japan
Solar Media Events
March 11, 2025
Frankfurt, Germany
Solar Media Events
March 18, 2025
Sydney, Australia