Under the scenario developed in the new report, wind power would supply 50 per cent of Australia’s electricity needs, and would require 11,000 turbines or 500 to 600 wind farms. The critical question is whether so many sites – on the coast, inland and offshore – are available. Australia would also need to devote 6-7 million hectares of arable land to biomass crops, a development that would transform the rural landscape and pose its own environmental challenges.

The Australian study involved detailed technical analysis of the industrial, transport, residential, commercial and services, agricultural, waste and energy sectors. It concluded that Australia might need to cut emissions by 85 per cent in the longer term.

The report says that achieving emission cuts of this order will require major policy intervention, but there had been too much short term thinking on the greenhouse issue; governments had to start planning for the long term.

To read the Summary of the report please go to “What’s New” at: http://www.tai.org.au
To inquire about obtaining the full report send an email to Leigh Thomas at: mail@tai.org.au.