PhD Scholar
Renewable Energy Electricity Policy
E-mail: greg.buckman@anu.edu.au

Climate change is the greatest environmental threat the world faces. Reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation is one of the most feasible ways of reducing global greenhouse emissions. One of the best ways of reducing electricity generation emissions is to increase the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources.

My studies focus on what type and design of support mechanism can best help stimulate the uptake of renewable energy electricity and what ramifications this has for Australia.

The most popular mechanisms for stimulating renewable energy electricity are emissions trading, feed-in tariffs, and renewable portfolio standards like Australia's Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) mechanism. All three have advantages and disadvantages and need to be augmented with complementary policies that address transmission access, research and development and capital costs. The basic mechanics of the mechanisms are well known. Major questions remain about how they can be finessed to ensure that a broad range of renewable energy electricity types is stimulated at least cost, and how they can best interact with other policies. My research effort will attempt to answer these questions.

My principal supervisor is Jack Pezzey