Download Fragment

Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Page: 7092

Carbon Pricing

(Question No. 974)

Senator Cormann asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 18 August 2011:

With reference to the Treasury carbon tax modelling, Strong growth, low pollution: Modelling a carbon price:

(1) What is the expected share of Australia's electricity generation that will come from wind power in 2020 and in 2050.

(2) How many wind turbines will have to be installed to achieve these generation shares (given available data on the actual average power output of wind turbines, relative to their rated output).

(3) How many new wind farms do these figures correspond to, given the current typical size of wind farms, and in what regions, in the modelling, will these wind farms be located.

Senator Wong: The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Section 5.4.3 of the Government's Strong growth, low pollution (SGLP) report contains detailed projections of the electricity generation sector, including the projected share of wind generation.

These projections are based on detailed analysis provided by SKM MMA and ROAM Consulting. Further details on the assumptions underpinning the projections of new wind investments — such as cost, capacity factors, land availability and network access — can be found in the consultants' reports on the SGLP website.

The modelling projects that the combined effect of the carbon price and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) will drive significant investment in new wind capacity. A large proportion of this investment is expected to be in southern Australia, when the best wind resources are located near networks.