A report by the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office has found that while total renewable energy generation in Victoria has increased, efforts to increase the proportion of electricity generated from renewable sources have not been effective.

 

The audit, which examined the role of renewable energy development and facilitation by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC), the Department of Primary Industries (DPI),  the Department of Business and Innovation (DBI) and Sustainability Victoria (SV),  found that neither the setting of renewable energy targets, nor the establishment of investment incentives, had delivered expected results.

 

“The volume of renewable energy presently generated falls well short of expectations and growth in the state’s capacity to generate renewable energy is not on track to deliver future targets.”

 

The report concludes that poor planning had played a significant role in failure to achieve targets. It noted that DPC had not undertaken an assessment of the 2010 solar energy targets to demonstrate that they were practicable.

 

Renewable energy R&D projects, as well as projects aimed at developing new technologies funded by the state,  have been generally well managed by DPI, DBI and SV, and these projects have contributed positively to developing the capability required to generate renewable energy.

 

The report, Facilitating Renewable Energy, is available at http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports_and_publications/reports_by_year/2010-11/20110406_fred.aspx