National Energy Emissions Audit

The Australia Institute, in partnership with engineering consultants pitt&sherry, has released the latest Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX).

The CEDEX is the benchmark indicator for Australia’s carbon emissions and an up to date snapshot of vital data from the energy sector.

The report released today reviews the impact of the ACT’s 100% target on development of renewable energy resources in Victoria and South Australia.

Report author, energy consultant Hugh Saddler, also remarks on the stability of supply in South Australia in the wake of remarkable and claims made in the wake of the state’s storm-induced blackout.

The year to June 2016 saw a continuation of the slowdown in demand growth first seen last month.

Total emissions from electricity generation in the NEM fell slightly in the year to June 2016. Annual emissions were 5.7% higher than in the year to June 2014.

Total coal generation fell slightly to 75.8%, compared with a minimum of 72.3% in the year to July 2014. Gas generation fell again, for the eighteenth month in succession. Both hydro and wind generation increased and, as a result, total renewable generation reached 13.6%, its highest level since September 2014.

After total electricity demand declined for four years between 2010 and 2014, this month saw demand increased for the fourteenth successive month.

The major factor pushing the resurgence of electricity demand is Queensland’s coal seam gas exports. CSG production uses a lot of electricity to power the pumps and compressors needed to extract the gas from hundreds of wells and pipe it hundreds of kilometres to Gladstone. This has been the main driver in both increased electricity demand and increased carbon emissions.

The April 2016 Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX®) Report by pitt&sherry and The Australia Institute (TAI) indicates that electricity generation, demand and consumption continues to be on the increase nationally following a seventeen month trend. The total annual demand in the NEM is now 2.5% higher than the low point recorded for the year ending February 2015. This rate of demand growth was considered normal for the electricity industry up until 2004, but has not been seen since that time.

The March 2016 Carbon Emissions Index (CEDEX®) report by pitt&sherry and The Australia Institute indicates that while electricity generation continues to be the greatest contributor to emissions, principally through black and brown coal generation, petroleum and in particular diesel is a significant contributor to the increased growth in emissions with road transport and mining applications producing the weight of the CO₂-e emissions.