ABSTRACT
Concern about climate change and concerted international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are powerful new drivers for renewable energy. The production and use of non-transport energy is the source of 62% of Australia's net greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from non-transport energy increased by 13% between 1990 and 1997 [1]. Australia has progressively adopted a series of policies relating to the climate change issue with the initial National Greenhouse Response Strategy of 1992 being added to in 1997 by a suite of policies under the banner Safeguarding the Future and developing into the National Greenhouse Strategy in 1998. A further policy package was announced in 1999 under the heading Measures for a Better Environment. Renewable energy has featured strongly in these policies and in total Australia has committed nearly A$1 billion towards the climate change issue - possibly one of the highest per capita commitments by any OECD country. Photovoltaic power systems are well known in Australia and substantial installations have been made in what may be one of the best near term market opportunities in a developed country. The high levels of insolation in the country together with the remote nature of many power supplies and the requirement of low maintenance facilities draw solar power closest to a market solution for power systems. Australia has a lead agency devoted to coordination of climate change issues called the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO). The AGO is a world's first in that the office is dedicated to greenhouse policy matters. The AGO reports to a Ministerial Council which includes the Ministers from the main Departments affected by greenhouse issues. This arrangement, which is unique in the OECD, facilitates Dolicv develoDment and enables coordinated greenhouse responses to he made mnre readily.
