Part 1 - Renewable energy generation
As at November 2009, there were 305 renewable power generation projects (of greater than 100kW in size) operating in Australia representing 10,629 MW of installed capacity. The total installed capacity of all power stations including renewable and fossil fuel is 65,085MW.
Installed capacity is a measure of the total capacity or “nameplate” capacity of a power plant and is measured in megawatts (MW). The installed capacity of a power plant is different to the actual electricity that is produced by the power plant. For example hydro power plants have been generating significantly less electricity than they are capable of according to their installed or nameplate capacity due to low rainfall in dam areas.
The Australian energy industry generated 229 terawatt hours of electricity in 2007–08. Renewable energy comprised around 6.5 per cent of electricity generated for public consumption in 2006–7, but fell to 5.8 per cent of electricity in 2007–08: the result of lower rainfalls in key hydro catchments.
Part 2 - Renewable energy installed capacity by fuel type
Currently most of Australia’s clean energy at present is derived from hydro electricity. It accounts for 77 per cent of total renewable generation capacity in Australia.
After hydro, wind makes the second largest contribution to clean energy capacity (16 per cent) followed by bagasse cogeneration (4.5 per cent) and landfill gas (1.5 per cent).
As at November 2009 seven new wind energy projects were under construction which will add another 559 MW of installed capacity to the total. New hydro projects under construction will add a further 171 MW and bioenergy projects a further 23 MW.
Part 3 - Estimated renewable energy capacity
Based on the current installed capacity of renewable power plants and taking into account the capacity factor of power stations, an estimation can be made of the annual electricity generation expected from renewable power stations in Australia.
