Australians should enjoy the benefits of cleaner cheaper gas
9 March 2016
Gas Energy Australia welcomes the Australian Government's recently released Gas Market Report 2015 which highlights that natural gas developments in Australia will deliver significant economic benefits to the country, especially export income. However, it shares Energy Networks Association concerns that Australians are at risk of being denied the benefits of cleaner cheaper Australian gas by government policies favouring domestic consumption of other forms of energy.
"Current policies are discouraging the use of domestic gaseous fuels even when they represent a cleaner and cheaper alternative. This is a bad outcome for households and businesses" Gas Energy Australia's Chief Executive Officer, John Griffiths said.
"The Government has stated that it would take an objective, technology neutral approach to meeting energy and environmental objectives yet it continues to run expensive renewable energy policies such as Australian Renewable Energy Agency grants and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme that exclude gas projects and appliances. Independent research has demonstrated that the use of renewable energy is a far costlier way of reducing emissions than fuel switching to gaseous fuels."
The Productivity Commission's Emission Reduction Policies in Key Economies report concluded that fuel switching from coal to gaseous fuels for electricity generation had the lowest cost of carbon abatement. In addition, estimates from the 2012 Australian Energy Technology Assessment released the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics indicates that gas fired generators have significantly lower costs of production per unit of energy compared with renewable energy.
"While Australia is doing much to help other countries meet their energy and environmental goals, the Government should improve domestic policies to ensure we can also benefit from our natural resources."
Gas Energy Australia's 2030 Vision for Cleaner, Cheaper Australian Fuels details steps that Australian Governments and industry can take to increase the role of gaseous fuels in Australia's energy mix and can be found at www.cleanercheaperfuels.com.au.
Media contact: John Griffiths 0439 344 622
File downloads
- Preview Media Release - Gas Market 2015 Report (PDF 223.4 kb)
- Preview Media Release - Gas Market 2015 Report (PDF 223.4 kb)
- Preview Media Release - Gas Market 2015 Report (PDF 223.4 kb)
Next News Archive:
1/4/2016 GEA Lays Path for a Cleaner, More Versatile and Efficient Energy Solution for Today - LPG
Previous News Archive:
9/3/2016 EVOL LNG secures Doray Minerals' Deflector LNG contract
