Renewable Energy Certificates and GreenPower

The Renewable Energy Target (RET) is a national policy that requires liable entities, typically electricity retailers, to meet annual targets by sourcing a proportionate contribution of energy from renewable energy through the purchase and surrender of Renewable Energy Cetificates (RECs). 

The RET aims to meet the 2020 target by encouraging the additional generation of electricity from eligible renewable energy projects, namely small generation units and power stations, by allowing these projects to create and trade RECs. A REC is a tradable commodity - each REC generally represents 1 MWh of renewable energy generated. RECs are currently trading around $40 per hour, but are subject to price volatility as per any financial market.  

The GreenPowerTM program is an Australian and State Government green electricity accreditation scheme. GreenPowerTM RECs sit outside the RET and therefore arguable demonstrate additional renewable energy installation. GreenPowerTM RECs attract a small premium over standard RECs and are limited to renewable energy sources with a higher environmental value i.e. large scale hydro are not eligible. GreenPowerTM is a recignised standard in Australia and may also offer a powerful marketing enhancement to your brand / organisation. 

Your BioBowser® may be eligible to generate RECs and be accredited as a 'GreenPowerTM Generator'. 

 

Waste Levies in Australia

QLD

On 1 July 2011, the Queensland Government will introduce a industry levy on waste. The levy is an additional charge to the normal waste disposal gate fee. The levy will be charged as follows:

Waste Type	$
Commercial and industrial waste	35
Construction and demolition waste	35
Contaminated and acid sulphate soils	35
Lower hazard regulated waste	50
Higher hazard regulated waste	150
Municipal solid waste	0

More information on Queensland's proposed waste levy may be found here.

 

NSW

Information on NSW's Waste and Environmental Levy may be found here.

 

Biogas and the Australian Government's Proposed CPRS

The Australian Government’s proposed emissions trading scheme, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), intends to mandate liable parties to acquire and surrender eligible permits (Australian Emissions Units or International Kyoto Units) equal to the party’s annual GHG emissions from 2013 (subject to parliamentary approval). It is proposed that anaerobic-digestion biogas projects will be eligible to create carbon permits under the scheme - click here to learn more.  

 

The Solution

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.