Australia showcases clean energy credentials

27 February 2009

Australia’s Minister for Trade Simon Crean announced the first joint Australia-New Zealand business mission to the United States and Chile to showcase the clean energy industries of both nations in February.

With the United States poised to invest US$150 billion in clean energy over the next 10 years, Mr Crean said ‘the Australian Government is helping to provide cleaner energy options for Australians and as well as positioning Australia as a supplier of world-class clean energy solutions to other nations’.

The Australian renewable energy sector is highly diverse and. It includes electricity generation from wind, biomass and hydro power, as well as technologies and expertise in photo-voltaics, geothermal and solar hot water.

Government measures announced in its White Paper - Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme: Australia’s Low Pollution Future - in December, will stimulate investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and low emission technologies in Australia. Industry estimates suggest new investment of $20 billion will be required to meet the renewable energy target alone.

Austrade’s USA and Chile Clean Energy and Environment Mission 2009 – a joint business mission by Australia and New Zealand – began at the Cleantech Forum in San Francisco; is participating at the ReTech Trade Show in Las Vegas from 25-27 February; and moves to Santiago, Chile from 1-3 March.