Solutions: Energy [R]evolution
The Energy [R]evolution is our roadmap for changing how we power the world. It’s the solution to climate change.
Everything evolves. Black and white became colour, ploughs became tractors, locomotives became high-speed trains. Everything gets better and smarter. We constantly improve what we have and the old becomes gradually obsolete.
It’s the same with electricity. Emissions from burning coal are the biggest source of climate pollution. It’s time to stop digging and burning and move to renewable, clean power sources. It’s our choice.
Renewable energy: Our opportunity
Renewable energy is the result of converting reliable, clean and limitless natural resources such as sunshine, wind, water (hydro and ocean waves), sustainable organic materials (bioenergy) and geothermal to energy.
Renewable energy can provide more power than we need – six times more than the world's current energy needs, to be precise. Australia has plenty of wind and sun just bursting with potential. We have the capacity to replace coal with renewable energy and be a world leader in developing clean, renewable technology.
We just need the political will – and you have the power to make it happen.
The technology in Australia
Australia has world-renowned energy researchers and institutions. However, years of poor policy support from government has seen this expertise leave our shores. That’s one of the reasons why countries like Germany and Japan have outstripped Australia in the race to develop and use renewable energy technologies.
Despite having far less wind and sun, Germany has 15 times more wind power and 50 times more solar power than Australia.
In Germany and Spain, progressive policies are turning their renewable energy industries into world leaders. Already in Spain, wind energy provides 11% of the total electricity consumed and Germany’s renewable energy industry employs 280,000 people. We could see the same social and environmental benefits by choosing the renewable energy industry over its polluting alternatives.
Further reading
- Clean Energy Australia Report 2009 [PDF; 1.8MB]
Contains lots of great facts and figures on renewable energy in Australia. - Renewables: Global Status Report (Update 2009) [PDF; 1MB]
A good picture of the global renewable situation in 2009. - Global Wind Report 2008 [PDF; 1.4MB]
A snapshot of wind energy globally.
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© Greenpeace/ Paul Langrock/ZENIT
Benefits of renewable energy
- Zero or near-zero greenhouse or other pollution.
- It never runs out. We have the technology to harness six times the world’s energy needs with renewables – and we can do it forever.
- It’s free from the limitations of volatile fossil fuel prices.
- More renewable energy options means less reliance on a few fuel sources and greater energy security.
- Renewable energy is often small-scale and diversified. This makes for a more flexible, resilient power network less prone to disruptions or supply issues.
- Renewable energy is a growth industry, providing technology transfer and trade opportunities
- The industry would create tens of thousands of new jobs in manufacturing, construction, operation and maintenance, mostly in rural and regional Australia.
- In Spain, renewable energy is regularly reaching over half the country's total electricity demand. Spain has built some of the world's first solar power plants, which are able to store energy and supply power through the night.