1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/05/2012   
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Energy

INTRODUCTION

Energy is a vital input to all sectors of the economy. As well as supplying the power on which industry and households depend, the production and supply of energy provides employment, investment and export opportunities, all of which contribute substantially to the welfare and standard of living of Australians.

Energy sources are divided into two groups – renewable (energy sources for which the supply is essentially inexhaustible) and non-renewable (energy sources with a finite supply). Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydro-electric and bio-energy. However, most of Australia's energy production, for export or domestic energy consumption, comes from uranium and fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas and coal.

Australia's energy resources are outlined in the initial section of this chapter. Subsequent sections describe the supply and use of energy in Australia, the production of energy and international trade in energy products.

Information on the Electricity supply and Gas supply industries can be found in chapter 22 SERVICE INDUSTRIES.

Other related information can be found in chapters 2 ENVIRONMENT and 18 MINING.

 

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Statistics contained in the Year Book are the most recent available at the time of preparation. In many cases, the ABS website and the websites of other organisations provide access to more recent data. Each Year Book table or graph and the bibliography at the end of each chapter provides hyperlinks to the most up to date data release where available.