Renewable energy
Renewable energy comes from sources such as the sun, wind, wave, hydro, geothermal and organic matter. Generating energy from these sources produces minimal overall greenhouse gas emissions and reduces other impacts on the environment.
Industry & Investment NSW promotes the development of renewable energy as part of a portfolio approach to ensuring sustainable development in the New South Wales energy sector and reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions.
Sources of renewable electricity generation in NSW
About six per cent of the state's total electricity usage is provided from renewable energy sources. The NSW Government has set targets through the State Plan to achieve 20% renewable energy consumption by 2020 in light of the Federal Government's expanded Renewable Energy Target. Renewable energy in NSW is derived from the following sources:
- hydro (88%)
- biomass (5%)
- landfill methane (5%)
- wind (1%)
- solar (1%)