In the line of low hills, standing sentinel near the capital of Australia, a huge wind turbines, in a slowly rotating cold winter dry lake bed next to no trace of breeze storms around the multi-billion dollar renewable energy construction.
Infigen Energy's Capital wind farm, built in five years, wind power is a pioneer of the Australian trying to gradually get rid of cheap fossil fuels, in the face of climate change attributed to the transformation of part of Lake George broad plains.
But big plans to expand Infigen near Canberra and other renewable energy projects, as it has been on hold, waiting for the results of the election in September.
Australia's decade-long push for clean energy ballot polls show the opposition Conservative Party wins, as the economic slowdown and rising household energy bills have put the brakes.
Vote on September 14 stake, is a controversial carbon emissions trading scheme, initiated by the ruling Labour Party, in order to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with the $ 2 billion U.S. dollars of investment in renewable energy pipelines, in large part to maintain tension company stand idly by.
Infigen one not decided whether to continue a $ 179 million expansion of the capital of wind farms, despite local planning approval, or with a $ 150 million joint venture solar plant with headquarters in the United States Suntech Power.
"We expect the changes, we do not know what they will be, but the impact of uncertainty on the market, there is a heavy Nathan, said:" Fabian, head of a group of institutional investors for $ $ 90 billion funds under management and worried about the looming climate fight.
Conservative coalition has promised "blood" killing carbon tax and cut energy costs an adequate supply of cheap coal country, while reviewing policies on renewable energy.
But how could they do this is unclear.
"We did not see any clear long-term policy direction on climate or energy sector opposition, said:" Fabian, Australian climate change, including pension funds and large international banks investor group. "Until it is clear capital on the sidelines."
World first
Reversing the momentum of renewable energy will be the Opposition Leader Tony Abbott (Tony Abbott) political risks, not only because the elections are concerned about climate change and the billions of dollars of equity, but also because born in conservative political promote clean energy.
With scientific warnings, global warming and a decade-long drought, the growing public pressure for action, in 2001, the former Conservative government proposed a world's first mandatory renewable energy targets.
This growth and labor elections in 2007, passed a law requiring 20 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, under a fixed renewable energy target (RET) 41,000 gigawatt hours of solar, geothermal and wind energy .
Circulation Certificate With more competitive, to make renewable energy generation on coal-fired generators, RET is to promote cleaned investments, while 41 million tons per year of greenhouse gas emissions in the country.
The share of the total wind power generating capacity is expected to be taken in 2029, from 12 percent in 2007 to 1.5% in an increase of nearly 70 percent per year greater than the width of the corridor along the breeze blows through southern Australia Western latitude.
But the power and utilities, such as ground and EnergyAustralia energy, and gas producer Santos is now pushed back wound RET or scrapped, with a carbon price.
Origin CEO Grant King said, renewable energy generation than natural gas and coal-fired electricity is more expensive and intermittent.
Large energy companies also believe that renewable energy targets, the aim will be crossed, power sector emissions are the lowest in 10 years, the carbon price, the decline in demand and manufacturing slowed as China-led resources boom retirement.
This argument has sympathy, and even senior government legislators like labor Energy Minister Martin Ferguson, until March when he resigned.
"RET is not 20%, not 25%, some governments will admit, I think, because the actual reduction in energy demand, reflected in the energy market operator's work, it is more like 30-33%," Ferguson said.
Large-scale industry to promote the Opposition climate change spokesman Greg Hunt that about 27,000 gigawatt-hour target, rather than 41,000, which will completely change the number in the pipeline feasibility of renewable energy projects.
Changes conservatives VOW
Although Hunt said he was "very clear the importance of the renewable energy sector" provides certainty and changes will "establish sovereign risk," he has promised to review the plan next year.
The two sides of the political divide lawmakers say a Conservative government would have no choice but to bring about change.
"Why saddle industry is struggling? Industry say pressure," says a senior Canberra MPs asked not to be named because of political sensitivity.
Last week, Hunter warned Conservative government plans to subsidize renewable energy projects and changes, it will look back out of the contract was signed before the election à1000 billions of dollars in clean energy financing companies, with wind and solar companies established to commercialize government.
Add to political paralysis, and banks are reluctant to lend to new renewable energy projects with the support of signing energy retailers - often the same electric utilities, relative to the current renewable energy targets industry standard power purchase agreement.
Pacific Hydro Australia general manager Lane Crockett said that political uncertainty has stalled plans to expand the RET. "I'm not sure the mood and I've never seen a more hazy crystal ball," he said.
After a decade of building, only two wind power projects along the moment: Meridian Energy wind farm mountain Mercer Victoria and TrustPower's Snowtown wind farm in South Australia 2.
Meridian is a few projects to continue without backing one sales agreement. The company does not comment on its reasons, but opponents say the decision to go ahead point "very optimistic board."
Infigen Energy managing director Miles George said, the greater the energy companies against 41,000 GWh goal is for their own interests and the protection of origin billions of dollars of natural gas investments.
Infigen, which has six wind farms in three states in Australia and other 13 remained largely said that in South Australia's experience shows that wind power has begun to depress the price of wholesale electricity market.
Wind energy currently accounts for 21% of the installed capacity of 13% of the country on coal and natural gas 47%, over 25% of the electricity supply.
"There is no fuel costs, so they actually can be cheaper than coal, but now they are becoming large enough, they actually become a threat, said:" Brett Harper, carbon and energy research firm Zonta .
 
 
 



Other News:
Chill breeze of politics stills Australian renewables
Money laundering distorts Colombia's economic comeback
Germany: Merkel vows to avoid trade war with China
Suu Kyi slams 2-child limit for Muslims in Myanmar
Syria opposition unity talks face specter of collapse
Stable Nikkei spurs yen selling; U.S., UK markets eyed
I-5 bridge collapses into Wash. river, injuring 3
Toronto mayor loses two more top aides after crack scandal