- Target:
- PV experts
- Region:
- Australia
NOTE ADDED 14 September 2016
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Thank you, all who have supported the Australian renewable energy community by signing the petition. On 13 September the two main political parties agreed to a compromise that will see ARENA retain $500m that will be able to be granted (and $300m that is earmarked) so it will have sufficient funds to continue to support R&D at least as enthusiastically as in recent years. On the other hand, it has failed to retain another $500m that the Government intended to reassign in May 2014 (but had that intention blocked by the Senate).
Thank you all for stepping up to support us and please call on us for help in case you need to,
Richard Corkish (UNSW)
Andrew Blakers (ANU)
Ziv Hameiri (UNSW)
Alison Wenham (UNSW)
Press release from Government: http://sjm.ministers.treasury.gov.au/media-release/095-2016/
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The Australian Government proposes to strip the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) of most of its funding, as well as its ability to make R&D grants. ARENA provides most of the funds granted to Australian R&D groups, as well as supporting early stage commercialisation, remote renewable energy deployment and the transition to large scale renewable energy generation.
This is an existential threat to renewable energy research, innovation and education in Australia. The bill is currently before the Australian parliament, and may be considered within the next week or two.
For 30 years there has been an Australian renewable energy funding agency in one form or another. This has led to great success in generation of technology and provision of education.
If ARENA is debilitated then hundreds of people in universities and small companies would lose their jobs within a year or two as existing research contracts roll off. In the longer term, Australia's engagement in solar energy would greatly diminish. This would be completely at odds with the government’s innovation agenda and its commitment at the Paris climate change conference to double clean energy R&D by 2020 under the international Mission Innovation program.
We seek your support for retention of ARENA by signing the attached petition. We are looking for support from non-Australian renewable energy researchers and entrepreneurs, defined as people with a PhD or who are senior in a renewable energy company. We would welcome circulation of the petition to others within your organization for their signature.
Prof Martin Green
(on behalf of the Australian renewable energy community)
Further information:
1. Josh Frydenberg, Minister for Energy and Environment: http://reneweconomy.com.au/2016/frydenberg-to-push-ahead-with-repeal-of-arena-grant-funding-39600
2. 200 Australian solar energy researchers defend ARENA: http://theconversation.com/dear-politicians-please-dont-endanger-world-leading-solar-research-by-cutting-arena-64611
3. Current Chair of the Board of ARENA defends ARENA: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/'valley-of-death'-for-renewables-research/7803980
4. Former Chair of the Board of ARENA defends ARENA: http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2016/s4528300.htm
We are renewable energy scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs, working to enhance the development and use of clean renewable energy, and thereby to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We understand that the Australian Parliament is considering a bill to reduce funding to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and to remove its ability to make R&D grants. In our opinion, grants are a highly effective way to nurture young technologies. Grants combine well with other support mechanisms, such as concessional loans, to span the innovation spectrum from early stage R&D and education through to full commercial deployment.
Removal of ARENA’s ability to provide grants will substantially curtail renewable energy research, innovation and education in Australia. Australia has a proud international track record in this field, and we are concerned that Australia’s contributions could be substantially curtailed. The effect of this will be to diminish the flow of trained engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs and new renewable energy technology into full commercialisation. This proposal also appears to be at odds with commitments made by Australia at the Paris climate change conference to double clean energy R&D by 2020 under the international Mission Innovation program.
We respectfully call upon the Australian Parliament to find a mechanism to continue to provide grant support for renewable energy research, innovation and education in Australia.
The Save ARENA petition to PV experts was written by Save ARENA and is in the category Environment at GoPetition.