Climate Change Authority reviewing its Renewable Energy Target months after Warburton review
The Climate Change Authority is proceeding with its own Renewable Energy Target review, just months after the Government commissioned its own analysis of the RET.
The CCA is the independent body established to provide expert advice to government about climate change mitigation.
The Federal Government is in the process of trying to abolish the authority, but the Palmer United Party has vowed to protect it in the Senate.
The RET calls for 20 per cent of Australia's energy use to be sourced from renewable energy by 2020, and the legislation specifies that target as 41,000 gigawatt hours.
But changes in Australia's energy use means that figure is very likely to represent much more than 20 per cent by the end of the decade.
Earlier this year a review of the RET, headed up by businessman Dick Warburton, presented a range of options for both large and small-scale renewable energy projects, but the most radical recommendations would see the RET scaled back or wound up completely over time.
Second RET review in two years
The Climate Change Authority conducted its first RET review in 2012, finding no major changes were required.
The authority declined an interview but said in a statement that its 2014 review would look at the electricity sector's role in meeting Australia's emissions reductions goals to 2020 and beyond.
"Key considerations for reviewing the RET are the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the CCA said.
"In the absence of alternative policies to decarbonise Australia's electricity supply, severely curtailing the RET would risk stalling Australia's progress at a time when climate change science makes it clear that rapid reductions in emissions are required.
"[The review aims to make] a constructive contribution while not exacerbating policy uncertainty for the electricity sector."
It will draw on its previous work as well as the public submissions, analysis (including modelling) and the recent Warburton review.
The CCA's review is due by the end of the year.
A spokesman for the Environment Minister said the authority was funded for its current tasks and that affordability of power prices was a key focus of the Government.
Mr Warburton was unaware of the CCA's review when contacted by the ABC.
"I think we did a very detailed review. It took us four months and I'm not quite sure what they're going to do with it," he said.
In Senate estimates, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet said the Warburton review cost $587,329 excluding staff and IT overheads.
Staff were paid $186,500 including $73,000 for Mr Warburton. External modelling cost $287,468.
Farcical situation: clean energy industry
The Clean Energy Council said the facts about renewable energy were in.
"We're now facing the third review of the renewable energy target in two years and this is creating massive uncertainty," chief executive Kane Thornton said.
"It's contributing to the industry being frozen which is resulting in significant asset value writedowns, job losses and the closure of some businesses.
"A lot of the analysis within the Warburton review was consistent with the [CCA's] previous RET review."
Negotiations between the Government and Opposition are expected to continue this week to resolve the future of the RET.
Labor has indicated it would push for a precise energy use target represented by gigawatt hours.
