Strong growth in renewable energy consumption

22 August 2012

"Energy statistics and their analysis are critical to industry, government and the community to make better decisions about our energy future", the Executive Director and Chief Economist of the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, Professor Quentin Grafton said today when releasing BREE's latest report, 2012 Australian Energy Update.

This annual publication contains detailed historical energy consumption, production and trade statistics spanning 1973–74 to 2010–11. The report is accompanied by statistical tables available on the BREE website.

Total final energy consumption in Australia grew by 2 per cent to 3839 petajoules in 2010–11. "The strongest final energy consumption growth was observed in the mining and transport sectors" Professor Grafton said.

He observed that "Total energy consumption, including transformation activity, increased by 3 per cent in 2010–11 to 6100 petajoules, supported by stronger economic growth. Renewable energy (excluding biomass) recorded the strongest consumption growth in 2010–11 at 21 per cent, followed by natural gas and oil consumption which both increased by 7 per cent."

"A 3 per cent fall in energy production in 2010–11 to 16 640 petajoules, reflected lower production of coal, crude oil and uranium oxide primarily due to weather-related events" according to Professor Grafton.

Total electricity generation remained, more or less unchanged at about 253 000 gigawatt hours in 2010–11 with declines in coal-fired generation offset by increased generation from natural gas and renewable energy sources (including solar, wind and hydro).

For free downloads of the 2012 Australian Energy Update and 2012 Australian Energy Statistics, please visit the BREE website www.bree.gov.au.

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