Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I move amendment (8) on sheet 6116, standing in my name:

(8)    Schedule 1, page 67 (after line 6), after item 124, insert:

124B  After Division 2 of Part 4

Insert:

                 The Minister may, by legislative instrument, determine that an emerging renewable energy technology that has demonstrated its energy efficiency is to be included as a renewable energy technology for the purpose of the scheme constituted by this Act.

This amendment relates to giving the minister a discretion to include proven emerging renewable technologies in the scheme. More and more emerging renewable technologies are being discovered, and I think we have a great opportunity to support these technologies so that they can be established and taken up by the market. For example, I recently read about ceramic fuel cells, which are not yet available, but based on testing conducted so far they will enable enough power to be produced in a year to run a standard home more than twice over. That goes to the issue of energy efficiency, which Senator Milne referred to, but I think the principle is still the same. For instance, the solid oxide fuel cell technology called BlueGen creates electricity and heat by passing natural gas over ceramic fuel cells. While that in itself is not renewable, it is indicative of the sorts of breakthroughs that are being made in new technologies. I think that is important in the context of the policy objectives of this bill, which are to support renewable technologies and to reduce the overall level of greenhouse gas emissions. It is important that the minister has a discretion to include proven emerging renewable technologies. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. It gives the minister the flexibility and the latitude to embrace and adopt these new technologies as part of the scheme.