US slashes emissions with gas, Australia should follow: APPEA

Australia is “squandering a historic opportunity” to significantly reduce emissions from the generation sector by switching to natural gas, according to APPEA.

Chief executive Dr Malcolm Roberts said Australia should seek to emulate the United States in slashing its emissions through increased use of natural gas for generating electricity.

“Energy-related emissions in the US in the first half of 2016 were at their lowest level since 1991, having fallen about 13 per cent since their peak in 2007,” said Dr Roberts.

“The biggest reason for this dramatic fall is the increased use of natural gas.

“Australia should take this lesson to heart. We should use more of our gas in the generation sector where its reliability and flexibility makes it the perfect partner for renewables.

“On-call gas-fired generation ensures energy security.

“Instead, we have the crazy situation where gas-fired generation is being squeezed out of the market by low-cost coal and subsidised wind and solar power. Instead of more gas we have ‘disappearing gas’.”

Dr Roberts said Australia needed to reverse the decline in gas-fired generation to meet its climate goals and ensure reliable energy supply, but expanding gas-fired generation demanded a corresponding expansion of gas production at a time of subdued prices and record low exploration activity.

Dr Roberts said the Finkel Review was an opportunity for Australia to get its gas policies right.

“One of Dr Finkel’s key recommendations should be the immediate removal of bans and moratoriums on natural gas supply on the east coast,” Dr Roberts said.

“There are other initiatives which governments should consider to encourage more gas-fired generation, such as allowing gas projects access to funding from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Northern Australian Infrastructure Fund.

“Gas has a critical role to play in a low-emissions future as both a replacement for coal and a partner for renewables.”

The Lock the Gate Alliance has called on the government to reject APPEA’s submission to the Finkel Review.

“There is absolutely no place for such a polluting industry, which is ruining land and water that farmers rely on, to ever be considered for Clean Energy Finance funds,” spokesperson Phil Laird said.

“Put simply unconventional gas is anything but clean.

“Australia is at a turning point where the entrenched extractive fossil fuels are proving to be more expensive and less reliable than renewables.”

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