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Renewable energy describes any source of energy that can be used without depleting its reserves. There are zero or low carbon dioxide emissions associated with electricity generation from renewable energy.
Western Australia is generously endowed with renewable energy resources. Sunshine and wind are plentiful and there are a number of locations throughout the State where biomass, hydro, wave, tidal and geothermal energy resources are potentially available. However, costs and other challenges need to be considered in facilitating greater use of renewable energy for electricity generation.
The use of renewable energy within WA is growing in significance for a number of reasons, but mainly in response to programs addressing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions. In the state’s main electricity grid, the South West Interconnected System (SWIS), the proportion of total electricity consumption met from renewable energy has increased from less than one per cent in 2002/03 to slightly over five percent in 2007/08. For an overview of renewable energy uptake in Western Australia, see the renewable
energy fact sheet (PDF 652 KB). Operating renewable energy facilities are identified on the energy resources and infrastructure map.
There is a wide range of large and small renewable energy applications in WA, and more are being developed. Information on these applications and Western Australian renewable energy policy initiatives can be accessed by clicking on the tabs to the left.
To access Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDFs provided on this site: www.adobe.com.au |
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