Solar Australia: Australia at the crossroads: a report on a project for the Foundation for Australian Resources evaluating Australia's solar energy policy alternatives

Solar Australia: Australia at the crossroads: a report on a project for the Foundation for Australian Resources evaluating Australia's solar energy policy alternatives

In the early 1950s, energy supplies, particularly oil, seemed inexhaustible. In fact, the consumers entered a period where energy sellers were cutting prices to sell their products and this price war led to the industrialised
nations becoming dependent on oil and natural gas. In 1973 members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
surprised the world by cutting off supplies and subsequently increasing prices. The oil crisis of 1973 rapidly focused the world-wide attention of politicians and scientists on to the need for obtaining energy from alternative sources so that dependence on non-renewable fuel supplies could eventually be overcome.
In Australia, apart from the increase in the cost of goods imported from Japan, America and Western Europe, we were reasonably insulated from the oil crisis. At that time Australia produced about 65% of its oil needs. However, if Australia's self-sufficiency in oil were to fall significantly by 1985 as some estimates indicate, then the nation could face an oil import bill of between $2-3.2 million' per day (even at 1976 prices) based on figures
given by Mr. K. Richards, Exploration Manager of ESSO Australia to the ANZAAS Conference in May 1976. Other estimates are even higher, often double or treble, if 1976 dollars and prices are not used.
Against the background of world events and increasing concern for the energy future for almost every country, it must be asked whether Australia has a national energy policy. An energy policy is not as simple a matter as it
might at first seem.

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