Smart Energy Council Chief Executive David McElrea joined Craig Reucassel on ABC Radio Sydney to discuss how Australia should meet the rapidly growing electricity demand expected from artificial intelligence and data centres.
David said data centres could bring economic benefits to Australia, but warned that they should not rely on the existing electricity supply and drive up household power bills, or be powered by fossil fuels and increase carbon pollution. Instead, new data centres should bring new renewable energy generation with them.
The conversation also examined the progress of Australia’s renewable energy transition. David highlighted the strong uptake of rooftop solar and household batteries, with Australian households continuing to play a central role in expanding the country’s clean energy capacity.
The interview then turned to the Smart Energy Council’s new research report, Waste-to-Energy in Australia: Energy Solution or Problem? David explained that the report tested two central claims made by the waste-to-energy industry: that burning waste is renewable energy and that it is a low-emissions form of electricity generation.
The report finds that neither claim is supported by the available evidence. Waste-to-energy does not meet Australia’s legislative definition of renewable energy and has a high emissions profile, including emissions significantly greater than gas-fired electricity generation.
David also raised concerns about public funding being directed towards waste-to-energy projects on the basis that they are renewable. He argued that taxpayer-backed clean energy finance should instead support genuine renewable energy technologies that can deliver cleaner and lower-cost electricity.
Read the research report here
Read the Smart Energy Council media release here
Listen to the ABC Radio Sydney interview with Craig Reucassel here
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Media Contact: Tim Lamacraft, General Manager, Media & Communications
