The Australian renewable energy targets (RET) for 2013 have been
prescribed, totalling (across the large-scale and small-scale
schemes) 30.35% of 2013 electric energy acquisitions.
The Federal Government has accepted the recommendation of the
Climate Change Authority to retain the current large-scale
renewable energy target, and the Federal Opposition has reconfirmed
its commitment to the "20% RET".
The Government's announcement may lead to the legislated RET
of 41,000 GWh of large-scale generation exceeding the 20% target,
given recent reductions in electricity demand forecasts, and this
could provide a higher burden on energy suppliers and major users
than previously intended. However, the RET could be reviewed again
next year, and one of the outcomes might be a reduction in the
target to align it with forecast reductions in electricity
demand.
