Renewable energy commercialisation in Australia facts for kids
Imagine power that never runs out! That's what renewable energy is all about. It comes from natural sources that can be refilled or won't disappear, like sunshine, wind, and water. Australia uses a lot of these clean energy sources.
Right now, about 6 out of every 100 parts of Australia's total energy comes from renewable sources. For the electricity we use in our homes and schools, about 8 out of every 100 parts comes from renewable energy. The biggest helper in this is hydro-electricity, which uses the power of moving water.
Contents
Why is Renewable Energy Important?
Using renewable energy is super important because it helps us protect our planet. When we burn things like coal or gas for energy, it releases gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. These are called greenhouse gases. They can cause the Earth to get warmer, which affects our climate. Renewable energy sources don't create these harmful gases, making our air cleaner and our planet healthier.
Government Support for Clean Energy
Governments in Australia have been working to help more people and businesses use renewable energy. They create rules and offer support to encourage new ways of making power. This has opened up lots of chances for exciting new technologies.
New Kinds of Renewable Energy
While hydro-electricity has been around for a while, newer types of renewable energy are growing fast. These include:
- Wind power: Giant windmills, called wind turbines, catch the wind's energy to make electricity.
- Photovoltaics (PV): These are also known as solar panels. They turn sunlight directly into electricity.
- Solar thermal: This technology uses the sun's heat to warm water or create steam, which can then make electricity.
At the end of 2006, Australia had many wind farms, especially in South Australia. These farms could produce 817 megawatts (MW) of power. That's enough to power many thousands of homes!
Other Growing Renewable Sources
Besides wind and solar, Australia is also exploring other cool renewable energy sources:
- Ethanol fuel: This is a type of fuel made from plants, like corn or sugarcane. It can be used in some cars.
- Geothermal energy: This uses heat from deep inside the Earth. Think of it like tapping into the Earth's natural warmth to create power.
Public Support for Renewable Energy
People in Australia really care about renewable energy. Surveys show that most Australians want to see more clean energy used. They also support ways to use energy more wisely, which is called energy efficiency. This means using less energy to do the same job, like turning off lights when you leave a room.
Images for kids
-
Albany Wind Farm, Western Australia
-
Tumut 3, the largest hydropower station in Australia with 1,800 MW. Part of the Snowy Mountains Scheme.
-
White Cliffs Solar Power Station, Australia's first solar power station operated between 1981 and 2004
