Lessons from Australia's energy transition
Australia is going through a massive energy transition as a system dominated by coal-powered stations is replaced by renewable energy alternatives. And this week the country's centre right opposition parties split from 80 years of operating as a single party, with its nuclear plan to put reactors in seven cities cited as one of the key reasons for the split. Elected Labour is proposing to double renewable energy to be 82 per cent of the country's electricity generation by 2030 - which is about where New Zealand is at today. A renewable energy underwrite scheme that started in New South Wales and has since been adopted for the wider Commonwealth Government - is having success with renewables hitting a record 46 percent of electricity generation in December. So, what does New Zealand have to learn from the lucky country? Luke Menzel is chief executive of the Australian Energy Efficiency Council and has just returned from a trip to New Zealand where he was a speaker at the Green Building Council's annual Housing Summit.
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