FAQs
Q. What is the source of generation of electricity in Tasmania?
A. Aurora Energy purchases electricity from the National Electricity Market which encompasses energy produced by a variety of generators. In Tasmania the dominant generator is Hydro Tasmania. The bulk of electricity generated by Hydro Tasmania (external link) is from renewable hydro electric schemes.
Q. What percentage of energy in Tasmania is renewable?
A. Currently approximately 80% of the electricity generated in Tasmania is from hydro and wind generation.
Q. Does Aurora support renewable energy?
A. Yes. We have an accredited Green Power product. Aurora also supports the development of new renewable generators through the purchase of their output.
Q. What is 'Renewable Energy'?
A. Renewable energy is energy derived from sources that cannot be depleted or that replenish themselves, such as wind, solar and water.
Q. What is 'GreenPower'?
A. GreenPower refers only to renewable energy which is accredited under the National GreenPower Accreditation Scheme, approved by the Commonwealth Government and all states and territories. For more information visit Green Power (external link).
Q. What is the difference between Renewable Energy and GreenPower?
A. The difference is primarily determined by the year the generating facility was built. Renewable energy as described above is generated from facilities built prior to 1997. GreenPower, whilst also renewable, is generated from facilities build after 1st January 1997. In addition, some renewable energy sources are not eligible to be certified as GreenPower, such as any material from high-conservation value forests. For more information visit Green Power (external link).
Q. What is the amount of carbon emissions per kwh of electricity used in Tasmania?
A. Tasmania's average annual carbon emission per household is 1.21 tonnes from electricity use, well below the average national emissions of 7.41 tonnes. This is due to Tasmania’s high use of renewable energy.
Q. What are 'Green House Gases'?
A. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), greenhouse gases are defined as: “...those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation". Under the Kyoto Protocol, 'controlled' greenhouse gases are listed as:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
- Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
Q. What is 'Carbon Footprint'?
A. Carbon footprint is just another term for the net carbon emissions associated with an activity or business.
Q. What is 'Carbon Neutral'?
A. Carbon neutral means that all carbon emissions (associated with an activity or business) are 'neutralised' by some combination of reducing the emissions at source (e.g. by using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels), by process efficiency (e.g. energy efficiency) and/or by offsets for any remaining emissions (see below). An activity is not carbon neutral until all emissions associated with that activity have been reduced and/or offset down to a net zero.
Q. What are 'Carbon Offsets'?
A. Carbon offsets refer to actions taken to remove (e.g. store carbon, generally by growing trees) an equivalent amount of carbon emitted from an activity or business, or else to reduce emissions by that amount somewhere else. This can be done directly, by investing in emissions reduction or sequestration, or else by purchasing certified emission reduction certificates of different kinds.
Q. What amount of energy is transacted over Basslink?
A. On a daily basis up to 500MW is transmitted across the interconnector in both directions. Last year the net flow on Basslink was a total of 2,509 GWh imported over the year. This is approximately 22% of Tasmania’s total energy consumption.