CARBON POLLUTION REDUCTION SCHEME

GREEN PAPER SUBMISSION DESERTEC Australia 2008 (extracts)

2011

CARBON POLLUTION REDUCTION SCHEME GREEN PAPER SUBMISSION DESERTEC Australia 2008
The following is a submission by DESERTEC-Australia to finance the construction of the renewable energy grid, use a feed-in tariff on coal power and ban altogether the construction of coal-fired power stations to enable the meeting of Carbon Emissions pursuant to the Kyoto Protocols. A comprehensive system of public funds is recommended to be allocated to fund the construction of the DESERTECs power grid in the middle of the Australian desert and a feed-in tariff. *****************************************************

CARBON POLLUTION REDUCTION SCHEME GREEN PAPER SUBMISSION

September 10, 2008 Author : Vernon Crock Member, DESERTEC http://www.desertec.org Affiliate, DESERTEC-Australia http://www.trec.net.au and http://www.desertecaustralia.org/ The views expressed in this submission are my own personal views and do not attempt to represent the views of others, although they are in strong alignment with the DESERTEC concepts. [...]
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Introduction
Global Context Global warming resulting from human activity is now widely recognised as one of the greatest threats facing our planet. Addressing this problem will require brave, decisive and coordinated action on the part of the worlds nations. There is increasing evidence that a dangerous global warming tipping point is being reached, with a number of positive feedbacks now coming into play. This is despite carbon dioxide levels still being well short of levels previously considered dangerous. These positive feedbacks include :

Reduced capacity of the oceans to absorb CO2

Reduction or loss of polar ice caps resulting in reduced albedo (reflectivity)

Greenhouse gas effect of increased atmospheric water vapour due to global warming

Ocean current changes resulting in accelerated loss of the Antarctic ice sheets

Loss of carbon sinks in the form of forests, due to increased forest fire rates

Potential for huge methane greenhouse gas releases from permafrost melts [...]

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Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in this context The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, along with the setting of Australias carbon emissions targets, represents Australias opportunity to demonstrate its status as a global leader in its response to the climate challenge. For this reason, Australia needs to set, and reach, targets which demonstrate genuine commitment to the responses required to solve, in Ross Garnauts words, the diabolical problem of climate change. Ross Garnaut himself conceded in his National Press Club Address of September 5, 2008 that recent polling has suggested that the Australia community is supportive of taking action on climate change even if it will cost them and even if Australia has to act unilaterally. The Bali Climate Change Conference recommended emission cuts of 25-40% below 1990 emissions levels by 2020. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme should enshrine the minimum 25% medium term target and aim even higher, towards the 40% reduction level. [...]

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Response Identifying obvious solutions factors supporting this response The following key facts combine to indicate a best path towards significant reductions in Australias carbon emissions : The (coal-based) energy sector is Australias largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing 69.6% (400.9Mt CO2-e) of emissions in 2006. Within this sector, the stationaryenergy (i.e. electricity generation) sector is the largest single contributor, accounting for 50% of Australias emissions. This indicates that changes in the electricity generation sector stand to provide the biggest potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Electricity generation is the elephant in the room. Australia possesses huge desert regions with the worlds highest levels of solar radiation. According to DESERTEC, the worlds deserts receive as much solar energy in 6 hours as the annual global fossil energy consumption. Also, a reasonable average value for the energy of direct normal solar radiation is 2.2 TeraWatt-hour (TWh)/km/year. This implies that Australia is, in effect, a Saudi Arabia of solar energy. This is supported by the NASA solar radiation map included below as Figure 1. [...] Australias Opportunities The factors just presented indicate that Australia is uniquely placed to take advantage of its huge natural reserves of renewable, zero-emissions energy in the form of solar (particularly concentrating solar), wind and geothermal energy. These reserves promise not only to power the nation, but also to establish Australia as an exporter of clean energy and related technology to Asia. The establishment of High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission lines allows such energy to be distributed across long distances with losses as low as 3% per 1000km. Australia already possesses world-leading knowledge in the construction of long interconnect cables, with the Basslink (undersea) and Murraylink (land-based) cables being among the longest HVDC cabling projects in the world.

[...]

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Developing an Australian Solar Plan Clean Energy Infrastructure Projects need to be actively pursued, including grid and interconnect development. Broad, general measures such as the Emissions Trading Scheme should be balanced with development of specific energy-related emissions projects, such as :

a national plan to develop grid interconnects into Australias heartlands, and

specific multi-megawatt large-scale solar concentrating projects, including site identification and project planning to meet emissions targets.

The Government has allocated at least $500 million to its Clean Coal Fund which could be seen as a crutch for an obsolete technology. This sum should be dwarfed by spending on renewable energy research and development, which should more than match WorleyParsons $1 billion investment.

Spending on renewable energy stands to be a far more effective use of budget resources since these technologies do not emit carbon in the first place, and therefore require no magic or wasteful spending to put the genie back in the bottle. Planning for the large-scale deployment of concentrating solar power plants in Australias interior should be a high priority. [...] Recommendations I recommend the following : Setting of Medium-term emissions reduction targets

Set a medium term carbon emissions reductions target of at least 25% below 1990 GHG (Green House Gas) emissions levels. The Government should not concede to the lower 10% reduction proposed in the Garnaut Climate Change Reviews Supplementary Draft Report Targets and Trajectories.

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I join the ranks of those who reject as inadequate Professor Ross Garnauts weak target of reducing emissions by 10% below the 1990 levels prior to 2020, and instead call for a national Renewable Energy Infrastructure Project to ensure that a target of at least 25% emission reduction is met by 2020. Generously fund renewable energy infrastructure development

Vigorously and aggressively pursue the large-scale infrastructure investments required to power Australia from the nations huge natural reserves of renewable energy, in particular by way of concentrating solar energy. It is suggested here that this be carried out by way of a National Renewable Energy Infrastructure Program seeking to identify and ensure successful implementation of specific large-scale renewables projects in the national interest. Establishment of National Renewable Energy Infrastructure Program In addition to the Climate Change Action Fund, the government should establish a NationalRenewable Energy Infrastructure Program, with the aims of ensuring emissions reductions targets are met by sufficiently scaled renewable energy generation projects. This would include :

Development of an Australian Solar Plan akin to the Mediterranean Solar Plan Plan and initiate specific large-scale solar concentrating and geothermal projects for electricity generation from Australias deserts, and wind projects where appropriate. Also plan the infrastructure required for the delivery of the generated electricity to energy markets.

initiation of a national, federally-supported program for the extension and development of Australias grid and electricity interconnect system, allowing central Australian renewable energy riches to be tapped and integrated into the national electricity grid.

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Ban construction of new coal-fired power stations

Phase out support for coal-fired electricity generation

redirecting funding towards specific large-scale renewable energy projects

Set generous renewable energy feed-in tariffs

Set feed-in tariffs of 4 times the market rate, guaranteed for 20 years - as in Germany for generated renewable energy.

This will provide necessary stimulus to the renewable energy industry to bring this technology, as is needed, into the fabric of our society. [...] We should not be seeking to settle for half-way measures such as reliance on a cap-and-trade system, but should apply our collective intelligence to find a complete solution to the issue of carbon pollution. The Rudd Government has acted with decisiveness and on issues such as :

ratifying the Kyoto Protocol and apologising to Australias stolen generations It needs to act with similar decisiveness, speed and commitment on the issue of carbon emissions reduction by aiming for, and reaching, emissions targets of at least 25% below 1990 levels for 2020, in line with the recommendations of the Bali Climate Change Conference.

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[...] http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/submissions/cprs-greenpaper/~/media/submissions/greenpaper/0705-desertec-victoria.ashx Access date 19 September 2011

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