Australian Energy Policy Research Articles

Optimal technological choices in meeting Australian energy policy goals

Australia's energy system faces a number of environmental challenges and chief among them is reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In the electricity sector, the Australian government has began implementing policies, which require greater use of gas and renewables based technologies. In this study, we simulate the optimal shares of several electricity generation technologies for Australia under a policy of greenhouse gas mitigation. In doing so, we seek to determine the likely technological investment paths over the next two decades and consider the sensitivity of those projections to assumptions regarding technological change, resource scarcity and economies or diseconomies of scale.

Australian and international renewable energy policy initiatives

Despite efforts in Australia and other developed countries, greenhouse gas emissions from most countries continue to rise and the targets set in 1997 for emission reductions in the Kyoto Protocol are becoming more difficult to achieve. Without coordinated policy development and successful policy implementation, there is a chance that the major players will not ratify the Protocol and efforts at a global response to emissions control will be abandoned. Renewable energy technologies offer the only long term strategy for emissions reduction. This paper summarises policy initiatives used around the world to support their development and use and suggests some strategies for Australia.

The role of renewable energy in the energy system: An issue in the philosophy of renewal of natural resources

This paper argues that a pragmatic approach to natural resources may address the issue of renewal well, although a definite philosophy of renewal is essential. To establish this argument, an energy model termed the Australian Energy Policy System Optimization Model (AEPSOM) is adopted as a case study. Results of the model support the argument.

Australian Energy Policy and Conservation

The publication in April 1988 of the document, Energy 2000: A National Energy Policy, was a landmark, since this was the first clear statement of the Australian Government’s energy policy. Previously, Federal Governments had been content to tax domestic crude oil production to the level of the world oil price—so-called import parity pricing—at some benefit to the Revenue, with few other initiatives. Implementation of energy policy in Australia is complicated by the constitutional powers of the States over energy-related production and pricing. After outlining the importance to Australia of the energy sector—in particular the export of coal and the proposed export of liquid natural gas—this paper examines critically the elements of energy policy as stated in the Federal Government document, with particular emphasis on policies for energy conservation, in some aspects of which Australia lags behind other industrialised countries. The paper includes a survey of theoretical analysis of the issue of encouraging energy conservation and of other countries’ attempts to resolve this. The paper concludes with some suggestions for changes to the stated policies.

Australian Energy Policy and Conservation

The Publication in April 1988 of the document, Energy 2000: A National Energy Policy, was a landmark, since this was the first clear statement of the Australian Government's energy policy. Previously, Federal Governments had been content to tax domestic crude oil production to the level of the world oil price – so-called import parity pricing – at some benefit to the Revenue, with few other initiatives. After outlining the importance to Australia of the energy sector, this paper examines critically the elements of energy policy as stated in the document, with particular emphasis on policies for energy conservation, in some aspects of which Australia lags behind other industrialised countries. The paper concludes with some suggestions for changes to the stated policies.

Book Review - Australian Energy Policies in the '80s

Book Review - Australian Energy Policies in the '80s

Optimizing SANTOS's Gas Production and Processing Operations in Central Australia Using the Decomposition Method

Much of the natural gas consumed in Australia comes from reservoirs near the middle of the country. To take advantage of higher-priced liquid components, from 1980 to 1984 producers spent $A1.4 billion on plant to separate gas and liquids and a 500-mile liquids pipeline. The sequence of investments in producing facilities and the gas production schedule that maximize net present value over a 25-year horizon are determined with a nonlinear, decomposition-based, mathematical programming system, called SIPS, which uses a tailored reservoir simulation model to accurately predict reservoir decline. In annual planning we estimate that SIPS saves about 10 percent of the investment it considers, or $A3-6 million per year. SIPS's answers to what-if questions may yield equivalent benefits, and its impact may be much greater in such areas as gas price negotiations, responses to legislated changes in South Australian energy policy, the payment schedule for the project's loan, the optimal response to the recent collapse in oil prices, and participation factors for each of the 11 companies sharing costs and revenues in the Cooper Basin.

The Economics of Australian Mineral and Energy Resources Trade, Policies and Policy Formulation

Only relatively recently in its history has Australia realised its riches in minerals and energy resources. Exploitation is now controlled by State and Federal Government, and the many facets of control are discussed in this review. The Japanese importance is highlighted, the political background is explained, the national interest is contrasted with the interests of the individual states, and it is concluded that the economic background is sound and that Australia's trade in minerals and energy resources with the rest of the world will grow.

The Economics of Australian Mineral and Energy Resources Trade, Policies and Policy Formulation

Only relatively recently in its history has Australia realised its riches in minerals and energy resources. Exploitation is now controlled by State and Federal Government, and the many facets of control are discussed in this review. The Japanese importance is highlighted, the political background is explained, the national interest is contrasted with the interests of the individual states, and it is concluded that the economic background is sound and that Australia's trade in minerals and energy resources with the rest of the world will grow.

Australian Energy Development and Policies for the 80s: ABSTRACT

Australia has substantial reserves of energy resources and energy-related minerals, and therefore has the potential for major increases in the production of such resources and the processing of minerals for export. Realization of this potential in the 80s will depend largely on the state of world markets. Australia's resource base and its energy position have been described, and evaluated in the context of the development of Australia's energy resources as a contribution to the national and global transition away from oil. The economic growth that will flow from energy resources development and related activity is noted and possible constraints on development are considered. The role of the Commonwealth government is addressed, proceeding from the key energy policy goal of ensuring adequate supplies of liquid fuels for Australian industry, especially the transport sector, and private consumers. Specific objectives and achievements in energy conservation, fuel substitution, oil exploration and production, and the development of synthetic fuels are discussed. The preparations made by the Commonwealth and State governments and the private sector to deal with severe disruptions to imported oil supplies are outlined. Energy research and development policies and programs are described briefly. The Commonwealth government's policies are also examined in the context of setting the scene for resource development in the 80s. The importance of appropriate macro-economic and other supporting policies is emphasized. Major individual resource projects are described, and Australia's potential contribution to the Pacific region, both in direct energy trade and in technological cooperation, is considered. It is concluded that Australia has developed a flexible policy framework which will facilitate the development of its natural resources in the 80s. End_of_Article - Last_Page 987------------

New Aluminium Proposals and Australian Energy Policy

New Aluminium Proposals and Australian Energy Policy

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ENERGY POLICY

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ENERGY POLICY