Wednesday 7 November 2007
LABOR'S pledge for a 20 per cent contribution in renewable
energy by 2020 is realistic says one of Australia's leading solar
experts Mr Garry Baverstock AM.
Mr Baverstock, who was a key speaker at the recent Solar World
Congress in China, says, if anything, Labor's vow is considered
'conservative' by world standards.
"I was one of 20 Australian solar scientists and technologists
at the congress in Beijing and we were amazed at how quickly
countries were moving toward implementing renewable energy
technologies.
"China has already installed more than 100 million square metres
of solar water heaters and this is enough to provide hot water to
over 100 million people.
"Interestingly, the original designs for these hot water systems
came from Australians and, while the inventors have been
acknowledged, Australia will not benefit from this excellent work,"
says Mr Baverstock.
Mr Baverstock says another congress surprise was when Spain
recognised that its 80 per cent dependence on imported energy could
be economically catastrophic, yet it could meet its 2050
electricity needs if it switched to using a combination of current
solar and wind technology and conservation methods.
Mr Baverstock says the results presented at the congress were so
startling that he is distributing key findings to all election
candidates as his own initiative. Media professionals may contact
Mr Baverstock directly for a copy of the findings and
recommendations for Australia.
He says many countries are on track to meeting their renewable
energy targets of 20 per cent by 2020; 30 per cent by 2030; and 50
to 100 per cent by 2050.
"It is clear that up-to-date information needs to be presented
to the Australian public. The message is that sustainable
energy systems are already a reality - not a distant dream."
Mr Baverstock says the sad news is that while Australians are
significant contributors to the science and technology underpinning
much solar equipment manufactured in the world - Australia, as a
country, was clearly lagging far behind in applying these
technologies.
There were no Australian government or other political party
representatives at the congress.
... /Ends
Further Information
Mr Garry Baverstock: Tel: 0419 965 227
(Journalist) Ms Jacinta Goerke: Tel: 0412
338813