Gas the solution for cheaper energy and lower emissions in NSW says national peak body
Australia’s peak body for downstream gaseous fuels, Gas Energy Australia, has called on all Parties and Independents to commit to gaseous fuels
GEA’s State Election Statement urges the adoption of three basic measures to help increase the reliability of energy supply, improve environmental outcomes cost effectively and increase freight transport productivity. These measures will reduce emissions and energy costs for the business, community and residential sectors. They will also protect and create more local jobs.
Chief Executive John Griffiths said the Statement wasn’t about asking the incoming New South Wales Government to choose between gas or renewables - it was about making sure that the right energy and right technology co-existed to provide secure, affordable and low emission energy to all New South Wales consumers.
“Families in New South Wales can save up to $600 per year on their electricity bills just by converting their existing electric hot water systems to gas - provided the incoming New South Wales Government includes gaseous fuels and products in the same rebates and energy concessions that currently apply to renewables,” said Mr Griffiths.
“The benefits of adopting this simple measure would not only reduce carbon emissions by up to 25 per cent compared to traditional fuels, but every day New South Wales consumers could also save hundreds of dollars each and every year on their cost of living”.
The GEA state that gaseous fuels can also deliver reliable, cleaner Australian power to New South Wales’ regional, off-grid and edge-of-network areas.
"There is a strong economic and energy security case to explore the value and risk mitigation of distributed energy options, including LPG LNG and CNG in a large state like New South Wales."
Mr Griffiths said that GEA’s approach doesn’t just offer the prospect of more reliable, cleaner and cheaper power for regional, off-grid and edge-of-network areas - but by taking some load off far flung electricity networks and reducing overall grid costs, it benefits other communities as well.
“Off-grid distributed energy systems provide a cost-effective alternative to often more expensive, yet less reliable - especially in bushfire prone regions - single wire earth return (SWER) options”.
