Tsoukanas, K. (2009). Analysis of the Australian wind energy potential : historical development and future prospects [Master Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://resolver.obvsg.at/urn:nbn:at:at-ubtuw:1-49438
"After so many years of neglect under the previous Government we are sending a clear signal to the world that Australia is taking responsibility on climate change."1) Australian electricity sector is responsible for more than one third of Australian Greenhouse Gas emissions. Yearly continuous rise in electricity consumption and thereby caused Greenhouse Gase emissions are not compatible with Australian Policies to target climate change and to reach its CO2 reduction targets up to the year 2020. Policies for combatting climate change have been implemented to supply electricity generation from renewable energy sources and targets have been set to built a legal framework in setting renewable energy goals. As Australian wind energy industry is in strong competition with traditional energy sources as from coal, it is investigated how current and future wind potentials develop under these circumstances. An insight into current development of wind projects and future wind farms is given where an evaluation of new wind traces visualizes future wind bubbles over Australia. Additionally, to show not only development of wind farms on the map, a screening of five wind farm sites under different preconditions is done to show if requirements for future wind farms are given. Despite challenging economic and technical premises for wind energy, it is shown that Australian wind energy seems to increase rapidly its commitment to green energy by implementing a large number of new wind farms into the national electricity market. Main conclusions are that Australian wind industry will face an upturn within the next years based on a number of positive signals given not only by the Australian Government who supports renewable energy by implementing the Renewable Energy Target Scheme (RET) and the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET), but also by international investors who are sweeping into the Australian wind energy market. 1) Senator for South Australia,Member of the Labour Party: Mr.Hon Penny Wong