ClimateWorks Australia executive director Anna Skarbek said the report, Australia’s Energy Productivity Potential, found Australia’s energy productivity could dramatically increase without major structural changes to the economy and using technologies that were already available or in development.
“The report found Australia could increase its economic output from 24.3c of GDP in 2010 to 47.9c of GDP in 2030 – a 97% improvement,” she said.
“The report shows about half of the potential increase in energy productivity can be achieved through energy efficiency activities in our homes, offices, buildings, vehicles and industries.
“This includes simple measures like using LED lighting and more efficient heating and cooling systems to the automation of some industrial processes and improving energy data systems.
“A further 36% of the potential can be realised by switching from old fossil fuel generation to more efficient technologies such as gas co-generation and renewables and reducing energy losses that occur through the energy distribution process.
“The remaining potential can be achieved through electrification in the transport and industry sectors. For example, switching to electric cars or using electric conveyors instead of mining trucks to move materials.”
Skarbek said an ambitious national energy productivity target similar to the one introduced in the US would help accelerate improvements across the economy.
“Australia has made some progress in energy productivity but currently lags behind many other countries,” she said.
“The US recently announced it would double its energy productivity by 2030 while China and the European Union have also taken strong energy efficiency action to increase productivity and reduce emissions.
“The Australian government’s Energy White Paper provides an opportunity to develop an energy productivity plan that includes a national target and can help Australia keep pace with improvements expected in other G20 countries.”
ClimateWorks Australia head of research Amandine Denis said increasing energy productivity could increase Australia’s competitiveness and deliver substantial benefits to households and businesses.
“In 2011-12, Australians spent $120 billion on energy across the economy, which is equivalent to 8.2% of Australia’s GDP in that year,” she said.
“Energy productivity improvements, particularly through the implementation of many profitable energy efficiency opportunities, can help reduce expenditure on energy, or ensure that there is a greater economic return for every dollar spent on energy.
“Improving energy productivity would also help reduce Australia’s increasing reliance on oil imports which constitute over 90% of our oil use today.”
