Frequently Asked Questions

What is Alternative Energy?

Some of the definitions are:

  • Energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy (as opposed to fossil fuels). (Natural Resources Defense Council)
  • Energy derived from nontraditional sources (e.g., compressed natural gas, solar, hydroelectric, wind). (Natsource)
  • Energy derived from sources that do not use up natural resources or harm the environment. (Princeton University)

What most of the Alternative energies have in common, is:
  • it's not a fossil fuel
  • it's not finite
  • it tends to be less harmful to the environment.

see Alternative Energy

Why do we need alternative energy?

Importing crude oil is costing us dearly. -- Australia is currently spending $12 billion on importing petroleum products. That is 72 per cent of our current account deficit. This figure has increased by 58 % in the two years since 2003-04. A major contributor to that has been the continuing decline in the production of Australia’s oil—from 31 billion litres in 2001 to just over 16.4 billion litres last year. We are now producing less, importing more and paying more for the imports. We are using some 20,000 Million litres of petrol per year. (The USA uses about 550,000 Million litres per year). Australia has the capacity to produce 110 million litres of ethanol per year. Only 25.1 million litres have been sold in the 6 months to June.

  • Using alternative energy is better for the environment
  • Using homegrown energy is better for your health
  • Using Biofuels is better for the (Rural) economy
  • It makes us less dependant on foreign imports
see Alternative Energy

It's not easy being green, but is it affordable?

The cost of producing energy (in both dollars and the cost to the environment) depends on how it is made and where it is used.

The cleanest form of energy is electricity. However: although electricity is very clean, no green house gases at all, it needs to be produced first. And it is the production which may or may not be so clean.
Most of the electricity produced in Australia comes from coal fired power stations. And no matter how efficient or "clean"; they produce Carbon Dioxide.
We also have Gas Fired and Oil fired power stations, and again, they produce Carbon Dioxide.
There are some Biomass power stations, and they produce CO2 but its from renewable resources, so CO2 produced in the electricity generating process should be absorbed by the plant material used to power the station. Hopefully this leads to a nil overall emission.

see Alternative Energy

What are some Examples of Alternative Energy

  • Wind Power
  • Wave Power
  • Biomass - Biofuel
  • Hydrogen
  • Solar
  • Geothermal
  • Hydroelectric
  • Nuclear (not renewable, but does not produce Carbon Dioxide)

see Alternative Energy

Today the average price of unleaded petrol is $1.492. How much does the government and the refineries receive?

see Who gets what?

Over the last number of years, how much has the price of crude oil changed?

WTI Spot price in $US

Daily Spot price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) in $US per barrel .

Is there GST on Petrol?

Yes there is. see Who gets what?