Finkel Report welcome but more thinking outside the electricity box needed
9 June 2017
Gas Energy Australia welcomed today's release of the Finkel Report into energy security as a step forward to Australia reducing its emissions and improving energy security. But its failure to address the need for greater use of non-electricity generating distributed energy resources represents a missed opportunity.
Gas Energy Australia Chief Executive John Griffiths said GEA's submission to the Finkel Review highlighted the benefits of a diversified range of energy sources to securing our energy future in a cost-effective way. The Final Report's recommendation to adopt a Clean Energy Target (CET) including all lower emitting technologies was a welcome development.
"We welcome the first step to making 'green schemes' technology neutral to encourage greater uptake of cleaner gaseous fuels."
But increased use of distributed energy resources outside the National Electricity Market (NEM) could also increase the security of the NEM and reduce emissions at a lower cost than many of the options canvassed in the Report.
"Not only does gas have an essential role to play in emissions reduction, but it also has a role to play in reliably delivering power and goods to regional and remote areas. It makes no sense for Australia to be fully dependent on imported, dirtier and more expensive oil-based fuels for off-grid power generation and transport energy."
"We now call on Australian Governments to look beyond the immediate opportunities of cleaner energy generators running on gaseous fuels and consider the other opportunities available for cleaner fuel technologies in distributed energy, off-grid, mining applications and as a transport fuel"
"The Government should also extend other 'green schemes' to be technology neutral and make real reductions in carbon emissions."
"All forms of energy, including gaseous fuels, must be examined on an equal footing. Gaseous fuels have an important role to play in the transition from the more traditional sources of electricity to the new environment of lower emissions."
"In conjunction with renewables, gaseous fuels used as a distributed energy resource can make a significant contribution to increasing our energy security."
Media contact: John Griffiths 0439 344 622
File downloads
- Preview Media Release - Finkel Review Release 090717 (002) (PDF 248.7 kb)
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