Australia's REC system
Presentation
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator, May 2006
PDF file
About the document
Concern about climate change and concerted international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are powerful new drivers for renewable energy.
Australia has progressively adopted a series of policies relating to the climate change issue with the initial National Greenhouse Response Strategy of 1992 being added to in 1997 by a suite of policies under the banner Safeguarding the Future and developing into the National Greenhouse Strategy in 1998. A further policy package was announced in 1999 under the heading Measures for a Better Environment. In June 2004 the Government’s white paper on energy Securing Australia’s Energy Future recognised the link between energy generation and greenhouse gas emissions by introducing a further package of measures aimed at low emission technologies and renewables. Together with State and Territory policies Australia now has over 100 policies aimed at the issue of climate change and backed by over A$1.8 billion of committed funds.
Australia has developed a national tradeable renewable energy certificate system to encourage additional renewable energy in electricity supplies. This paper outlines the objectives of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act, its legal framework, describes the tradeable certificate mechanism and summarises the experience of the first five years of operation of the Act.
Before you download
Most publications are downloadable as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.
If you are unable to access a publication, please go to our PDF help page, or contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Key
Links to an another web site
Opens a pop-up window