Melbourne Energy Institute

Zero Carbon Australia Project

Overview

The Zero Carbon Australia Project is a research collaboration between Beyond Zero Emissions and the University of Melbourne. The Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan is the first of six, ten-year plans for a fully decarbonised future.

1. Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan
2. Zero Carbon Australia Transport Plan
3. Zero Carbon Australia Land Use & Agriculture
4. Zero Carbon Australia Buildings
5. Zero Carbon Australia Industrial Processes
6. Zero Carbon Australia Renewable Energy Super Power

The Project draws on the enormous wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise from volunteers working in industry and researchers from the University of Melbourne and other Universities across Australia.

To find out more about the project please visit zerocarbonplan.org.

You can help

To this point research contributions to the Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan have all been on a pro-bono basis.

To significantly accelerate the production of the Zero Carbon Australia Plans for Transport, Industrial Processes, Land & Agriculture and Buildings please donate to the Zero Carbon Australia Research Fund.

To get involved in the project and contribute as a technical volunteer register online at zerocarbonplan.org.

Order online Download free PDF Download Synopsis/a> ZCA Launch multimedia downloads

Donate to the Zero Carbon Australia Research Fund Here Donations of $2 or more to University of Melbourne initiatives in Australia are tax-deductible for Australian tax payers.
ABN: 84 002 705 224


Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan in brief

  • The plan shows that it is technically possible to reach 100% renewable energy for Australia within a decade and the technology to achieve this transition is commercially available now. (Solar thermal with molten salt storage replaces baseload power currently sourced from fossil fuels.)
  • Australia has one of the best solar resources in the world – solar thermal power in the ZCA plan will supply 60% of Australia's electricity.
  • Wind will supply 40% of Australia's electricity in the ZCA plan. This is comparable to Denmark's 50% by 2025 goal, and Spain's 25% by 2020. In another comparison, China's wind energy industry has been growing by 100% per year for the last four years.
  • The plan sets out detailed resource and labour requirements. A transition to 100% renewable energy will create around four times more permanent jobs than currently exist in the domestic fossil fuel sector.
  • The ZCA Plan will generate an investment of $370 billion over ten years – a stimulus to the Australian economy that is equivalent to 3% of our GDP over ten years.
  • The investment required for the transition is affordable at $8 per household per week.