Australia as a renewable energy superpower – the business case for zero emissions transit

Highlights from an article in RE new economy by Stephen Bygrave, April 4, 2016.

"Australia has an estimated economically demonstrated wind and solar resource of 5054 exajoules – this is only 4 percent of Australia’s total renewable energy resource yet is 75 per cent greater than all of Australia’s coal, gas, oil and uranium resources combined. We’ve already demonstrated how Australia can make the shift to 100% renewable energy. Britain has already done the same as has the US and so have 10 European countries and France.  This list grows each day. Cities and regions around the world have announced transitions to 100% renewable energy – Vancouver, Copenhagen and our own Adelaide, Melbourne Byron and Sydney are amongst dozens in the race to 100% renewables or zero emissions."

The growing demand for clean energy and energy efficiency will mean that businesses will flourish who firstly; supply the components and services that make up the ‘platform’ for the new energy systems, and secondly; supply and service the ‘new energy solutions’ that ‘use’ the new energy system – electric vehicles, rooftop power generation, heat pumps for water and space heating, utility-scale renewables, thermal and chemical energy storage, microgrids and smart infrastructure.  These are the businesses that will thrive in Australia’s Renewable Energy Superpower.