Legislation and the Renewable Energy Regulator
Expanded national Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme
To deliver on the Government's goal of 20 per cent renewable energy in Australia's electricity supply by 2020, a national Renewable Energy Target (RET) scheme is being established which will expand the previous Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) by over 4 times to 45 000 gigawatt-hours in 2020.
The national RET scheme, which will also absorb existing and proposed state and territory targets, is being designed in cooperation with the states and territories through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
Following COAG considerations of a RET Scheme design, Commonwealth legislation will be amended and an exposure draft released for consultation. It is intended that the amended legislation will be in place by mid 2009.
Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) scheme
The MRET scheme started on 1 April 2001. The Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 requires the generation of an additional 9500 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity per year by 2010. This is enough power to meet the residential electricity needs of four million people.
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator
The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator oversees the implementation of the existing MRET scheme and will also administer the expanded national RET scheme once it is put in place.
The Department of Climate Change handles policy issues on the legislation.
For more information about the MRET, including factsheets, registration and accreditation forms, the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000 and the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001, visit the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator website at www.orer.gov.au.
