Zero Carbon Australia 2020 Stationary Energy Plan wins a hearing

Inside and outside the climate action movement, people concerned about climate change want a transition to an economy that reduces our greenhouse gas emissions.

The science is alarming and indicates that to avert substantial climate impacts and return to a safe climate, humans must not only move towards emitting no carbon dioxide at all, but find ways to remove existing carbon dioxide from that atmosphere.

To be equitable, the industrialised countries that have contributed most to current greenhouse gas levels, and that are most able to pay, must make the deepest cuts to emissions, first. Several lines of modelling indicate that means Australia should aim for zero carbon emissions by 2020.

But can it be done?

On June 22, the collaborative project Zero Carbon Australia 2020 (ZCA) released a synopsis of their blueprint, the full version of which is due for release on July 14, for Australia to make the transition to 100% of stationary energy needs to be met by renewables by 2020.

According to the synopsis,

The ZCA2020 Plan shows that with a combination of energy efficiency, fuel-switching from gas and oil to electrified energy services, then using a combination of commercially available renewable energy technologies, Australia’s energy needs can be met with 100% renewables. Wind and Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST) with Molten Salt Storage are the two primary technologies used, with some backup from biomass and existing hydro. Modelling on a half-hourly timescale shows that this combination can ensure 100% reliable supply. Implementing the proposed renewable infrastructure over a ten-year timescale would require a small percentage of Australia’s industral capacity, in terms of resources and labour force. The required investment of $37 Billion/year is the equivalent of 3% of GDP. The extra money spent versus Business-As-Usual to 2020 is the equivalent of $3.40 per person per day, the cost of a cup of coffee. Avoided future costs of fossil fuels make the Plan an economically attractive proposal.

ZCA is an initiative of Victorian-based Beyond Zero Emissions and the Climate Emergency Network and support from Climate Positive. It has drawn together researchers from a range of disciplines from around the country, who have volunteered their knowledge and time. The Stationary Energy Plan is to be the first installment of the project to develop a blueprint for the transition to a completely decarbonised economy by 2020.

The media launch of the synopsis in Canberra on June 22 yielded coverage in major dailies and newswires, and has begun to stimulate the debate we have to have - not can we do it, but how?

read the synopsis