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The Australian Government is committed to the provision of adequate, reliable and affordable energy to meet future energy consumption needs and to underpin strong economic growth, consistent with the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
Energy White Paper 2012

What is the Energy White Paper?
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What is the Energy White Paper?

The Energy White Paper 2012, Australia's energy transformation, sets out a strategic policy framework to address the challenges in our energy sector and position Australia for a long term transformation in the way we produce and use energy.

The policy framework is based on a clear vision of building a secure, resilient and efficient energy system that:

  • provides accessible, reliable and competitively priced energy for all Australians
  • enhances Australia's domestic and export growth potential
  • delivers clean and sustainable energy.

The cornerstone of the Government's energy policy framework is a commitment to deliver Australia's energy needs through competitive and well-regulated markets that are operating in the long-term interests of consumers and the nation.

The Energy White Paper identifies four priority action areas to support our energy transformation:

  1. delivering better energy market outcomes for consumers
  2. accelerating our clean energy transformation
  3. developing Australia's critical energy resources, particularly gas resources
  4. strengthening the resilience of Australia's energy policy framework.

The Energy White Paper Features updated modelling of Australia's electricity sector by the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics and previous work by Treasury for the Clean Energy Future Plan (See online Appendix A). 

In addition, the CSIRO has released an on-line interactive tool e-Future, which allows users to explore different scenarios and gain an awareness of the potential range of the electricity generation profile out to 2050, and how the electricity mix can change as a result of carbon pricing, fuel costs, and technology developments.

Corrigendum

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Corrigendum to the printed version of the Energy White Paper 2012, Australia's energy transformation

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Complete document 

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Energy White Paper 2012, Australia's energy transformation

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Energy White Paper 2012, Australia's energy transformation—Fact sheet

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Chapter summary 

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Energy White Paper 2012, Australia's energy transformation—Chapter summary

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Individual chapters

Document TitlePDFData tables
Foreword
Abbreviations and acronyms

Executive Summary

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Part I: Australia's energy in context

Chapter 1—A framework for national energy policy

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Chapter 2—Energy in Australia

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Chapter 3—Future energy trends and challenges

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Part II: Core elements of Australia's energy policy

Chapter 4—Energy security

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Chapter 5—Energy resources

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Chapter 6—Clean energy

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Chapter 7—Energy markets: overview

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Chapter 8—Energy markets: liquid fuels

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Chapter 9—Energy markets: gas

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Chapter 10—Energy markets: electricity

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Chapter 11—Energy productivity

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Part III: Supporting energy policy outcomes

Chapter 12—Sustainability, workforce and Indigenous opportunities

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Chapter 13—International energy engagement

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Chapter 14—Energy information

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References

List of tables and figures

Tables

TableTitle

2.1

Energy-related industries in Australia, 2009–10

2.2

Australia's economic demonstrated energy resources, 2009 and 2010

2.3

Australia's energy exports 2010 and 2011

5.1

Total Australian gas resources

8.1

Alternative fuels excise and excise-equivalent customs duty rates

10.1

National Electricity Market supply-demand outlook

13.1

Australian international energy engagement

Figures

Figure

Title

Data tables

1.1

Key elements of national energy policy

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2.1

Australia's major energy resources, excluding hydro and bioenergy, 2012

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2.2

Australia's energy flows, 2009–10 (PJ)

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2.3

Australian energy production, 1973–74 to 2010–11

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2.4

Australian trade in refined petroleum products, 1986–87 to 201–11

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2.5

Electricity production, by fuel, 2010–11

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2.6

Electricity and gas retail price index (inflation adjusted), Australian capital cities, 1991 to 2012

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2.7

Australia's greenhouse gas emissions profile (excluding land-use change)

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3.1

World primary energy demand in the new policies scenario, by region, 1990 to 2035 (Mtoe)

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3.2

World primary energy demand in the new policies scenario (Mtoe)

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3.3

Shares of energy sources in world primary demand, by scenario, 2035

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3.4

Australian energy production, consumption and net exports, 2008–09 to 2034–35 (PJ)

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3.5

Australian energy trade projections, by fuel, 2008–09 to 2034–35 (PJ)

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3.6

Electricity demand in the National Electricity Market to 2021–22

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3.7

Australia's electricity generation mix to 2050—Australian Treasury projections

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3.8

Australia's electricity generation mix to 2050—AEMO medium demand scenario

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3.9

Fuel price index, 2006 to 2050

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5.1

Advanced mineral and energy projects in Australia, April 2012

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5.2

Australia's energy resource development framework

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6.1

Electricity generation technology shares to 2050

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6.2

AETA projected technology cost ranges (2030)

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7.1

National energy markets framework

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7.2

History of Australian energy market reform

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8.1

Australian petrol flows, 2010–11 (ML)

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8.2

Australian refineries, ports and terminals

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8.3

Share of retail volumes, by brand, 2002–03 and 2010–11

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8.4

Average Australian unleaded petrol prices, July 2007 to September 2011

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8.5

Crude oil and condensate balance, 2010–11 to 2034–35 (PJ)

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8.6

Australia's refined product balance, 2010–11 to 2034–35 (PJ)

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8.7

Modelled transport fuel mix to 2050, by fuel type (PJ)

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9.1

Australia's gas basins, pipelines and markets

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9.2

Demonstrated and potential Australian gas resources and cumulative production to 2034–35, plotted against gas resources in 2012 (PJ)

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10.1

Australia's electricity systems

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10.2

Investment in electricity capacity since 2000 (MW)

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11.1

Trends in energy intensity across the Australian economy, 1989–90 to 2009–10

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11.2

Total and maximum energy demand index, 2005–06 to 2010–11

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Appendix

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Appendix A: Electricity sector modelling 

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Electronic copies of the Energy White Paper 2012 can be downloaded  by chapter or as an entire document.

Only a limited number of hard copies of the Energy White Paper have been printed.

To request a copy, please email your name and postal address to: Secretariat.EWP@ret.gov.au.
Page Last Updated: 19/12/2012 11:23 AM