Greenhouse Challenge and ETIS

In December 2004 the Victorian Government released its Greenhouse Challenge discussion paper (external link) on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the stationary energy sector. The paper details the Government's policy package for facilitating Victoria's transition to a carbon-constrained future in a way that also provides investment certainty and maintains the state's economic growth. Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF via the Greenhouse Challenge discussion paper link. A free copy can be downloaded from Adobe Acrobat (external link).

Reference is also made to a "whole of government" Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS). Low emission energy technologies are critical to reducing the potential cost of meeting a future greenhouse constraint and a large-scale demonstration plant of world's best practice brown coal generation technology is a key component of ETIS.

Please see the Greenhouse Challenge section for more information.

Australian Government Energy Policy

The Australian Government's objective is to ensure that Australians have reliable access to competitively priced energy, the value of energy resources is optimised, and environmental issues are well-managed. The Energy White Paper released in June 2004, Securing Australia’s Energy Future (external link), sets out a comprehensive and integrated approach to meeting these energy objectives of prosperity, security and sustainability.

Australian Government Greenhouse Policy

The Australian Greenhouse Office (external link) delivers the majority of programs under the Australian Government’s $1.8 billion climate change strategy. The Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (external link) is the flagship initiative of the Australian Government’s White Paper. The Fund supports the commercial demonstration of technologies that have the potential to deliver large-scale greenhouse gas emission reductions in the energy sector. It is designed to leverage $1 billion in additional private sector investment.

Use of low emissions technologies is a substantial element of the Australian Government’s climate change strategy, enabling Australia to reduce the cost of meeting future greenhouse gas emissions constraints without harming the competitiveness of its energy and energy-dependent industries. The Fund is designed to address the technical risk and capital costs of demonstrating low emissions technologies to ensure they are commercially viable in the longer term.