Renewables target drives new wind power capacity

 

Woolnorth wind farm in Tasmania is part of an increasing number of wind farms in Australia, which boosts an excellent wind resource. In 2008, the country passed the milestone of 1,000 MW of installed wind power, and there are now about 40 wind farms spread across seven states with a total capacity of almost 1,600 MW.

Wind power is supported by an obligation placed on all electricity retail companies to source an increasing proportion of their supply from renewable generators. Known as the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), this currently places a legal liability on wholesale purchasers of electricity to contribute towards the generation of an additional 9,500 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable energy annually by 2010.

The MRET has been key to investment and technology development in the Australian renewable energy industry. It has been responsible for expanding employment and investment opportunities, especially in regional areas.
The Australian government’s Department of Climate Change is now committed to increasing the renewables target to 20% of the national electricity supply by 2020. This would require an estimated 10,000 MW of renewable generating capacity to be installed, most of which is expected to be wind power.

 

In 2008, a record 615 MW of new wind capacity was installed around Australia, and the outlook for 2009 is even better.