ENA climate change statement
View the ENA climate change statement PDF [PDF 849KB]
Energy network businesses, and the Energy Networks Association, understand their environmental obligations and are committed to practical action on climate change.
Energy network businesses are some of the largest businesses in Australia. Together, they deliver electricity and gas to over 13.5 million customers, employ more than 40 000 people and contribute approximately 1.25 percent to Australia’s gross domestic product. Energy is delivered across Australia through approximately 48 000 kilometres of transmission lines, 800 000 kilometres of electricity distribution lines and some 80 000 kilometres of gas distribution pipelines. Energy network businesses are valued at around $50 billion and annually undertake investment of more than $6 billion in network operations, reinforcement, expansions and greenfields extensions.
As community leaders, network businesses recognise their environmental responsibilities and unique role in connecting to almost every home in Australia.
Energy network businesses, and the Energy Networks Association, understand their environmental obligations and are committed to practical action on climate change.
This commitment is shown through initiatives in the following areas:
Contributing to government policy in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
Governments have a key role in setting the policy and regulatory framework for network businesses.
Energy network businesses actively contribute to the development of climate change policies including approaches to emissions trading and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Network businesses are working to ensure that the regulatory framework applying to network businesses adequately supports their activities in demand management and the connection of embedded generators.
Network businesses are working to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
Network businesses transport gas and electricity along pipes and wires. While they do not have a primary role in the production, generation or retail of energy, emissions of greenhouse gases occur as a result of the construction, operation and maintenance of the extensive networks that serve their customers. Australia’s network businesses are committed to reducing their emissions and therefore their contribution to climate change.
Current greenhouse reduction activities are diverse. Network businesses are working to reduce pollution and emissions arising from materials used in their networks. The industry has developed a Guideline on the Management of Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas under the Kyoto Protocol.
SF6 is used widely in the electricity supply industry in electrical equipment such as switchgear and controlgear.
Improved accounting will give the networks sector more knowledge of SF6 emissions, and provide opportunities for better handling practces to reduce emissions.
ENA has participated in consultations on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the Renewable Energy Target.
Further information is available from the ENA website at www.ena.asn.au.
Network businesses are helping their customers manage their demand
Australia’s network businesses provide the physical link for energy delivery to almost every home in Australia. This places them in a unique position to provide advice, financial incentives and assistance to the community on greenhouse issues and energy efficiency through energy saving tips.
Network businesses are key participants in Solar Cities, an Australian Government program that focusses on demand management, connection of alternative low and no emission generation technologies and promotes energy efficiency in the community.
Many network businesses run programs to reduce growth in peak electricity demand, to delay or avoid the need to invest in new network capacity. Air conditioners place particular pressure on the electricity system, requiring investment in generation facilities and networks that are used for a relatively small part of the year. Avoiding this investment will save money and greenhouse gas emissions.
Changing energy sources can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Network businesses assist customers seeking to connect low emission technologies to the network, including wind energy, photovoltaic cells and small gas-fired generation. Networks enable customers to manage their own greenhouse emissions by providing data on electricity consumption.
Network businesses—working to understand climate change and its potential effects
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has declared that even our best efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions will not stop some degree of climate change over the next decades. CSIRO has identified a number of possible climate change outcomes with direct implications for Australia’s energy networks. These include more heat waves, longer and more severe droughts with an increased number of high bushfire propensity days, and an increase in storm activity and severe weather events.
ENA released a Report by Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia in March 2009 on March 2009 on Energy network infrastructure and the climate change challenge.
The Report illuminates the nature of potential and relevant impacts of climate change for htem. The report suggests appropriate mitigation, adaptation and orgnisational responses, as well as opportunities that can be identified and seized.
ENA’s involvement in critical infrastructure protection issues and wider processes, including the Trusted Information Sharing Network, are ensuring that network businesses are ready to respond to natural disaster events or security threats.
ENA—committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
ENA is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by investing in Greenchoice, a renewable generation investment program offered by ActewAGL, for the electricity needs of its small office. ENA contributes to Greenfleet, to offset some travel obligations. In addition, ENA is working to reduce its current levels of water usage.
Smart Networks
The key drivers to a smart network future are the need to respond to climate change and to maintain energy security. A smart network will facilitate a step change in the way energy is produced and consumed. The involvement of customers will be critical in responding to both drivers. Delivery of a smart network involves a merging of the existing electricity network infrastructure—upgraded with sensing, monitoring and advanced management devices—with a secure, robust and reliable communications infrastructure, supported by relevant information technologies, resulting in two-way exchanges of energy and communication.
Energy network businesses are working to achieve diversity, efficiency and flexibility in the transportation of energy that will underpin the secure, affordable and environmentally-friendly supply and use of energy in a carbon-constrained economy.
Member companies
View ENA’s member companies (updated 14 May 2010).