A comprehensive review of renewable energy resources for electricity generation in Australia

Abstract

Recently, renewable energy resources and their impacts have sparked a heated debate to resolve the Australian energy crisis. There are many projects launched throughout the country to improve network security and reliability. This paper aims to review the current status of different renewable energy resources along with their impacts on society and the environment. Besides, it provides for the first time the statistics of the documents published in the field of renewable energy in Australia. The statistics include information such as the rate of papers published, possible journals for finding relative paper, types of documents published, top authors, and the most prevalent keywords in the field of renewable energy in Australia. It will focus on solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and hydropower technologies and will investigate the social and environmental impacts of these technologies.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

renewable energy / hydro energy / wind power / photovoltaic / geothermal / bioenergy

References

[1] Clean Energy Council. Clean energy Australia. 2019

[2] Clean Energy Regulator. Renewable energy target (RET). 2019

[3] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian standard geographical classification (ASGC), Cat No. 1216.0. 2011

[4] Department of the Environment and Energy. Australian Energy Statistics. Table O Electricity generation by fuel type 2017–18 and 2018. 2019

[5] Chediak M, Eckhouse B. Solar and wind power so cheap they’re outgrowing subsidies. 2019

[6] Hill J. New coal built most expensive energy option for Australia, BNEF, February 2017. 2017

[7] Vorrath S. “Clean coal” most expensive new power supply, says BNEF (and not all that clean). 2017

[8] Mouraviev N, Koulouri A. Energy Security: Policy Challenges and Solutions for Resource Efficiency. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2019

[9] Geoscience Australia and BREE. Australian Energy Resource Assessment. 2nd ed. Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 2014

[10] Roberts M, Nagrath K, Briggs C, Copper J, Bruce A, Mckibben J. How much rooftop solar can be installed in Australia? Report for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Property Council of Australia, Sydney, 2019

[11] Perianes-Rodriguez A, Waltman L, van Eck N J. Constructing bibliometric networks: a comparison between full and fractional counting. Journal of Informetrics, 2016, 10(4): 1178–1195

[12] Leydesdorff L, Park H W. Full and fractional counting in bibliometric networks. arXiv preprint:1611.06943, 2016

[13] Chynoweth D P, Owens J M, Legrand R. Renewable methane from anaerobic digestion of biomass. Renewable Energy, 2001, 22(1–3): 1–8

[14] Schlaich J¨, Bergermann R, Schiel W, Weinrebe G. Design of commercial solar updraft tower systems—utilization of solar induced convective flows for power generation. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 2005, 127(1): 117–124

[15] Sorda G, Banse M, Kemfert C. An overview of biofuel policies across the world. Energy Policy, 2010, 38(11): 6977–6988

[16] Garcia-Perez M, Wang X S, Shen J, Rhodes M J, Tian F, Lee W J, Wu H, Li C Z. Fast pyrolysis of oil mallee woody biomass: effect of temperature on the yield and quality of pyrolysis products. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2008, 47(6): 1846–1854

[17] Skyllas-Kazacos M, Kazacos G, Poon G, Verseema H. Recent advances with UNSW vanadium-based redox flow batteries. International Journal of Energy Research, 2010, 34(2): 182–189

[18] Dalton G J, Lockington D A, Baldock T E. Feasibility analysis of stand-alone renewable energy supply options for a large hotel. Renewable Energy, 2008, 33(7): 1475–1490

[19] Beer T, Grant T, Williams D, Watson H. Fuel-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels in Australian heavy vehicles. Atmospheric Environment, 2002, 36(4): 753–763

[20] Andersen P H, Mathews J A, Rask M. Integrating private transport into renewable energy policy: the strategy of creating intelligent recharging grids for electric vehicles. Energy Policy, 2009, 37(7): 2481–2486

[21] Dalton G J, Lockington D A, Baldock T E. Feasibility analysis of renewable energy supply options for a grid-connected large hotel. Renewable Energy, 2009, 34(4): 955–964

[22] Lefroy E, Rydberg T. Emergy evaluation of three cropping systems in southwestern Australia. Ecological Modelling, 2003, 161(3): 195–211

[23] Bose B K. Power Electronics in Renewable Energy Systems and Smart Grid: Technology and Applications. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2019

[24] Regulator C E. Postcode data for small-scale installations. 2018

[25] Buckman G, Sibley J, Ward M. The large-scale feed-in tariff reverse auction scheme in the Australian Capital Territory 2012, to 2016. Renewable Energy, 2019, 132: 176–185

[26] Solar Choice Staff. Adelaide City’s solar & energy storage incentives. 2017

[27] Climate Council . State of Solar 2016: Globally and in Australia. Climate Council of Australia Limited, 2017

[28] Archer C, Simao H, Kempton W, Powell W, Dvorak M. The challenge of integrating offshore wind power in the US electric grid. Part I: wind forecast error. Renewable Energy, 2017, 103: 346–360

[29] Harvey N, Dew R E, Hender S. Rapid land use change by coastal wind farm development: Australian policies, politics and planning. Land Use Policy, 2017, 61: 368–378

[30] Hindmarsh R. Wind farms and community engagement in Australia: a critical analysis for policy learning. East Asian Science, Technology and Society, 2010, 4(4): 541–563

[31] Hallgren W, Gunturu U B, Schlosser A. The potential wind power resource in Australia: a new perspective. PLoS One, 2014, 9(7): e99608

[32] Gippsland Climate Change Network. Clean Energy Australia Report 2016. 2017

[33] Gippsland Climate Change Network. Clean Energy Australia Report 2015. 2016

[34] Clean Energy Council. Wind. 2018

[35] Clean Energy Council. Clean energy Australia. 2019

[36] Hallgren W, Gunturu U B, Schlosser A. The potential wind power resource in Australia: a new perspective. PLoS One, 2014, 9(7): e99608

[37] Gunturu U B, Hallgren W. Asynchrony of wind and hydropower resources in Australia. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1): 8818

[38] Mohammed Y S, Mustafa M W, Bashir N, Ibrahem I S. Existing and recommended renewable and sustainable energy development in Nigeria based on autonomous energy and microgrid technologies. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, 75: 820–838

[39] Pérez-Denicia E, Fernández-Luqueño F, Vilariño-Ayala D, Manuel Montaño-Zetina L, Alfonso Maldonado-López L. Renewable energy sources for electricity generation in Mexico: a review. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, 78: 597–613

[40] Ozturk M, Saba N, Altay V, Iqbal R, Hakeem K R, Jawaid M, Ibrahim F H. Biomass and bioenergy: an overview of the development potential in Turkey and Malaysia. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, 79: 1285–1302

[41] Nunes L J R, Matias J C O, Catalão J P S. Biomass in the generation of electricity in Portugal: a review. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, 71: 373–378

[42] Farrell R. Australia: Biofuels annual. United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultral Service, 2018

[43] Azad A K, Rasul M G, Khan M M K, Sharma S C, Hazrat M A. Prospect of biofuels as an alternative transport fuel in Australia. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 43: 331–351

[44] Kummamuru B. WBA global bioenergy statistics 2017. World Bioenergy Association, 2017

[45] Offermann R, Seidenberger T, Thrãn D, Kaltschmitt M, Zinoviev S, Miertus S. Assessment of global bioenergy potentials. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 2011, 16(1): 103–115

[46] Jennejohn D, Hines B, Gawell K, Blodgett L. Geothermal: International market overview report. Washington DC: Geothermal Energy Association, 2012

[47] Lund J W, Freeston D H, Boyd T L. Direct utilization of geothermal energy 2010 worldwide review. Geothermics, 2011, 40(3): 159–180

[48] Ayling B, Budd A, Holgate F, Gerner E. Direct-use of geothermal energy: opportunities for Australia. Geoscience Australia, Educational Factsheet, 2007

[49] Habermehl M A. The great artesian basin, Australia. Into the well from which you drink do not throw stones. 2006, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

[50] Beare S, Chapman L, Bell R. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian energy resource assessment. 2005

[51] Gerner E, Holgate F. OZTemp-interpreted temperature at 5 km depth image. Geoscience Australia, Canberra, 2010

[52] Bahadori A, Zendehboudi S, Zahedi G. RETRACTED: a review of geothermal energy resources in Australia: current status and prospects. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, 21: 29–34

[53] Willcock T, Che N, McCluskey C. Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics, Energy in Australia. 2013

[54] Romanach L, Carr-Cornish S, Muriuki G. Societal acceptance of an emerging energy technology: how is geothermal energy portrayed in Australian media. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 42: 1143–1150

[55] Dowd A M, Boughen N, Ashworth P, Carr-Cornish S. Geothermal technology in Australia: investigating social acceptance. Energy Policy, 2011, 39(10): 6301–6307

[56] Bahadori A, Zahedi G, Zendehboudi S. An overview of Australia’s hydropower energy: status and future prospects. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, 20: 565–569

[57] Kichonge B, Mikilaha I S N,. John G R, Hameer S. The eonomics of renewable energy sources into electricity generation in Tanzania. Journal of Energy, 2016: 5837154

[58] Wagner B, Hauer C, Schoder A, Habersack H. A review of hydro power in Austria: past, present and future development. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 50: 304–314

[59] Gunturu U B, Hallgren W. Asynchrony of wind and hydropower resources in Australia. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1): 8818

[60] Enel. The future of water. 2019

[61] Australian Energy Regulator. State of energy market report 2014. 2014

[62] Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). The greenhouse effect and climate change. 2009

[63] Bartle A, Taylor R M. Hydropower & dams world atlas and industry guide. Aqua-Media International Ltd, 2008

[64] Snowy Hydro. Snowy mountains scheme. 2007

[65] Normyle A, Pittock J. A review of the impacts of pumped hydro energy storage construction on subalpine and alpine biodiversity: lessons for the Snowy Mountains pumped hydro expansion project. Australian Geographer, 2020, 51(1): 53–68

[66] The Climate Group. Australian Electricity Generation report, 2011

[67] Arent J D, Wise A, Gelman R. The status and prospects of renewable energy for combating global warming. Energy Economics, 2011, 33(4): 584–593

[68] Bahaj S A. Generating electricity from the oceans. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2011, 15(7): 3399–3416

[69] Hemer M A, Zieger S, Durrant T, O’Grady J, Hoeke R K, McInnes K L, Rosebrock U. A revised assessment of Australia’s national wave energy resource. Renewable Energy, 2017, 114: 85–107

[70] Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Marine investment focus. 2016

[71] Neill S P, Angeloudis A, Robins P E, Walkington I, Ward S L, Masters I, Lewis M J, Piano M, Avdis A, Piggott M D, Aggidis G, Evans P, Adcock T A A, Židonis A, Ahmadian R, Falconer R. Tidal range energy resource and optimization–past perspectives and future challenges. Renewable Energy, 2018, 127: 763–778

[72] Jaques L. Australian energy resource assessment. Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, Australian Renewable Energy Agency. 2014

[73] Lemm A J, Hegge B J, Masselink G. Offshore wave climate, Perth (Western Australia), 1994–96. Marine and Freshwater Research, 1999, 50(2) 95–102

[74] Behrens S, Hayward J, Woodman S, Hemer M, Ayre M. AEMO 100% renewable energy study: wave energy. CSIRO, Newcastle, Australia, 2012

[75] Folley M, Whittaker T J T, Henry A. The effect of water depth on the performance of a small surging wave energy converter. Ocean Engineering, 2007, 34(8–9): 1265–1274

[76] Hughes M G, Heap A D. National-scale wave energy resource assessment for Australia. Renewable Energy, 2010, 35(8): 1783e91

[77] Evans G R. Transformation from “Carbon Valley” to a “Post-Carbon Society” in a climate change hot spot: the coalfields of the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia. Ecology and Society, 2008, 13(1): 39

[78] Hobman E V, Ashworth P. Public support for energy sources and related technologies: the impact of simple information provision. Energy Policy, 2013, 63: 862–869

[79] O’Mara K L, Jennings P J. Greenhouse education: just hot air? In: Selected Proceedings of World Renewable Energy Conference, 2001, 22(1): 127–133

[80] Jennings P, Lund C. Renewable energy education for sustainable development. In: Selected Proceedings of World Renewable Energy Conference, 2000, 22(1–3): 113–118

[81] Meng S. How may a carbon tax transform Australian electricity industry? A CGE analysis. Applied Economics, 2014, 46(8): 796–812

[82] Diesendorf M. Why Australia needs wind power? Dissent, 2003, 13: 43–48

[83] Gippsland Climate Change Network. Clean Energy Australia Report 2019. 2019

[84] Farine D R, O’Connell D A, John Raison R, May B M, O’Connor M H, Crawford D F, Herr A, Taylor J A, Jovanovic T, Campbell P K, Dunlop M I A, Rodriguez L C, Poole M L, Braid A L, Kriticos D. An assessment of biomass for bioelectricity and biofuel, and for greenhouse gas emission reduction in Australia. Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, 2012, 4(2): 148–175

[85] Malik A, Lenzen M, Geschke A. Triple bottom line study of a lignocellulosic biofuel industry. Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, 2016, 8(1): 96–110

[86] Macintosh A, Downie C. Wind farms, the facts and the fallacies. The Australia Insititute, 2006

[87] Taylor S. Thousands of birds paying a high price for green energy. 2013

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press