The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has recently released a multitude of data to form the basis for a 100% renewable energy scenario in Australia. The recently released documents outline the modelling to achieve a 100% renewable energy rate in Australia by 2050.
The move to fund and publish this data has not only gathered local interest, it has also been in the international spotlight as similar studies and modelling is undertaken in the coming years. With the strong push worldwide for renewable energy, this appears a step in the right direction for achieving renewable energy goals.
The research is based upon separate scenarios for achieving goals in 2030 and 2050. With a range of excel spreadsheet, and PDF documents, the research has been developed by AEMO with input from ROAM Consulting and the CSIRO. The information details onshore/offshore wind power, solar, geothermal and wave energy modelling. This data when complete will find the least-cost combination for achieving the 100% renewable energy scenario. That is, the viability of different sources of energy together – and how the implementations may be complementary to minimise full scale renewable sources.
With further research expected to be completed by early 2013, the final models will be released to the public in the near future. Whilst detailing an Australian scenario, it is likely that this research could be used as leverage for further expansion of renewable energy research and adoption worldwide. This research however, has not come without scrutiny and analysis by industry spectators; many have suggested the impossibility and impracticality of a 100% renewable scenario makes the research flawed. However many have suggested, more importantly, whilst a scenario of 100% renewable energy may be unrealistic, modelling this goal is a step in the right direction for achieving renewable energy goals.
The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency released the data which is available here.
