A quick guide to Australia’s renewable energy target

It is becoming abundantly clear that the review of the Renewable Energy Target to be undertaken by the Climate Change Authority is the most important policy consideration for the clean energy industry in Australia at the moment. Our interview with the global head of energy at Acciona, and David Green, the newly appointed head of the Clean Energy Council, make that clear enough.

So if a picture or a table are worth a thousand words, then a collection of excellent graphics and tables must be worth many thousands, which is why we have published this graphic illustration of the renewable energy target, as prepared by Melbourne-based firm Exigency.

Because of its format, the best way to view it is to click on the image, and then the bits hidden by stuff in the right hand column will become visible. The key points are illustrated – the contribution of electricity to Australia’s emissions, the falling contribution of renewables to Australia’s grid in the last 50 years, a history of the RET, the tiny contribution of the RET’s impact on retail electricity prices, and the changing mix of generation sources. We reckon it’s a pretty good ready reference.