Energy

About clean energy

Clean energy—also known as green energy—is energy which can be obtained from renewable or natural resources and does not create environmental debt.

Clean energy can also be energy which creates less pollution, no pollution at all, or that uses resources that can be easily renewed.

There are many techniques that can be used to obtain clean energy from natural resources, including carbon capture and storage (CCS), low emissions technologies, and renewable energy—such as geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy and solar energy.

The secure supply of affordable, reliable, environmentally sustainable energy is essential to Australia's future economic growth and prosperity.

Australia's future energy supply will need to have lower greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet the challenges posed by climate change driven by rising levels of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere.

Through the introduction of the announced Clean Energy Future Package, a carbon price and complementary measures, the Australian Government is supporting Australia's clean energy future and the development and deployment of clean energy technologies.

How is RET involved?

On behalf of the Australian Government, the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) is delivering a number of programs and initiatives that support a Clean Energy Future for Australia:

• Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
  The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is a new independent statutory authority established on 1 July 2012 that consolidated the administration of $3.2 billion in government support for renewable energy technology innovation, and incorporated measures previously managed by the Australian Solar Institute (ASI), the Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE), and the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
  
  
• Coal Sector Assistance Package
  The Coal Sector Assistance Package and was developed by the Australian Government to support the small number of existing coal mines that are facing significant costs with the implementation of the carbon price. The package is comprised of the Coal Sector Jobs Package (CSJP) and the Coal Mining Abatement Technology Support Package (CMATSP).
  
  
• Contract for Closure
  The Contract for Closure Program seeks to support the closure of around 2000 megawatts of highly emissions intensive generation capacity in Australia by 2020, subject to negotiation with eligible generators.
  
  
• Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
  Carbon capture and storage (CCS), also known as carbon dioxide geosequestration, is a way of reducing the contribution of fossil fuel emissions to global warming. The Australian Government supports a range of initiatives and policies to accelerate the development and deployment of CCS in Australia, including the National Low Emissions Coal Initiative, the CCS Flagships program and the National CO2 Infrastructure Plan.
  
  
• Low emissions Technology Demonstration Fund
  The Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (LETDF) was a past Australian Government funding program that provided funding to help Australian firms commercialise world-leading low emissions technologies.

Other Australian Government clean energy initiatives

In August 2009, the Australian Government implemented the Renewable Energy Target scheme, designed to deliver on the government's commitment to ensure that 20 per cent of Australia's electricity supply will come from renewable sources by 2020.

The government will establish a $10 billion commercially oriented Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in businesses seeking funds to get innovating clean energy proposals and technologies off the ground. A variety of funding tools will be used to support projects, including loans on commercial or concessional terms and equity investments.

More information

For more information about Australia's Clean Energy Future, follow the links above or visit the Australian Government's Clean Energy Future website.