The research is based on the implementation of proposed national climate change policies, and estimates that $31 billion worth of clean renewable energy investments are underway or are planned in Australia. This sum is expected to create over 26,000 jobs, the vast majority in regional Australia.
Key project locations include south west New South Wales; south east South Australia; south west Victoria; south west Western Australia; south east and north Queensland and northern Tasmania.
“The good news is that taking action on climate change will create tens of thousands of jobs, many of them in regional Australia, as we shift gears to a less polluting and more efficient economy,” said John Connor, Climate Institute CEO.
The report was compiled by consultants McLennan Magasanik Associates (MMA) to assess the potential contribution of renewable energy, such as wind, wave, geothermal, solar and bio-energy power stations, to regional employment in Australia. MMA’s analysis covers all existing commercial renewable energy installations, as well as those which are committed or planned.
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Other key findings of the MMA report include:
- Committed and planned clean energy projects in Australia are expected to deliver over 12 GW of new renewable energy capacity in coming years.
- Western Australia is expected to see the largest growth in renewable energy output, with generation expected to grow by approximately 350 per cent by 2020.
- Wind power leads the way in estimated clean energy investment from committed and planned projects (approximately $27 billion), followed by geothermal (approximately $2 billion) and biomass (approximately $1.7 billion).
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