Australia to invest in green power generation

13 May 2009

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Australia is all set to change the way the country produces electricity with new solar power plants and cleaner coal facilities to fight climate change. The federal government will spend billions in ''greening up'' electricity and says it will take a lead role in the field.

With emissions trading delayed the government is looking and at other ways to meet the climate change challenge. For starters, the climate change budget has been beefed up despite the tough times to $15 billion over nine years which demonstrates the government's commitment to environmental goals.

Of this, $1.5 billion has been earmarked for setting four massive solar plants on an unprecedented scale.

These plants will together generate as much electricity as a large coal-fired power station which will obviate the need for solar panels atop household rooftops.

The money, to be spent over a period of six years will be used to harness the solar potential using solar thermal or solar photovoltaic technologies.

At the same time the government will also spend $2 billion dollars on building between two and four clean industrial-sized coal-fired power plants.

The plants will incorporate advanced Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology for capturing carbon emissions and storing them underground. The government had previously funded small-scale CCS plants for demonstration, but it is now rolling out the big guns.

The money, to be spent over nine years, will help Australia deliver on a global deal for having 20 CCS plants operational by 2020.

The government appears to be well on-track on its environmental commitments through measures like free ceiling insulation to help households cut emissions even as it plans to start emissions trading in 2011.

The budget also has provisions for one regional city, that has yet to be selected though, to serve as a green energy showcase.

Funds have also been allocated toward the provision of 'smart meters' that can regulate electricity use and for the integration of these meters with solar and wind power.

The budget also provides for setting up a body, Renwables Australia, to spearhead green technologies with existing funding.

Climate change minister Penny Wong says the funding would go a long way in stimulating local economies.

According to Wong the Australian government's climate change strategy provides the long-term framework and confidence required to create new jobs and business of a low-pollution future.

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