The Clean Energy Regulator
The Clean Energy Regulator administers the carbon pricing
mechanism, National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting, the
Renewable Energy Target, the Carbon Farming Initiative and the
Australian National Registry of Emissions Units. Our role is to make
sure these schemes operate effectively and that clients understand
their obligations under the law. The establishment of the Clean
Energy Regulator was part of the Australian Government's Clean
Energy Future plan. The long term plan aims to reshape Australia's
economy, cut carbon pollution, drive innovation and support
industries and households that are impacted by the changes.
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER)
In 2007 Australia introduced a single, national framework for corporations
to report on greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and energy production.
Corporations that meet a National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting
(NGER) threshold must register and then report each year. Information
collected through the NGER scheme provides the basis for assessing
liability under the carbon pricing mechanism.
The data reported under the Scheme is a key input to Australia's National
Greenhouse Gas Inventory, projections and reporting under the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Kyoto Convention,
and Australia's reporting to the International Energy Agency. Domestically,
it is a critical input to policy development relating to greenhouse emissions
and energy production and consumption in the Commonwealth and
increasingly in Australian states and territories.
Carbon pricing mechanism
The carbon pricing mechanism puts a price on pollution and creates an
incentive for businesses to cut emissions by investing in clean technology
and finding more efficient ways of operating. The carbon price applies to the
Australia's biggest polluters who need to report on and pay for their carbon
pollution.
The carbon price applies to facilities that produce more than 25,000 tonnes
of carbon emissions per year. The price is fixed each year for the first three
years, starting at $23 a tonne in 2012–13. Then from 2015–16 the price
will be set by the market. Assistance is being offered to those corporations
who may be affected by the carbon price such as those in emissionsintensive
trade-exposed industries.
Australian National Registry of Emissions Units
The Australian National Registry of Emissions Units (ANREU) is a secure
electronic system designed to accurately track the location and ownership
of:
- emission units issued under the Kyoto Protocol
- ACCUs issued under the Carbon Farming Initiative, and
- carbon units issued under the carbon pricing mechanism.
Carbon Farming Initiative
The Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) allows land managers to earn Australian
carbon credit units (ACCUs) by storing carbon or reducing greenhouse
gas emission on the land. Activities that count towards our national target
under the Kyoto Protocol including reforestation, avoided deforestation, and
reducing emissions from livestock, manure, fertiliser and waste deposited in
landfills before 1 July 2012 can earn Kyoto ACCUs.
The CFI allows land managers to earn carbon credits by storing carbon or
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These credits can be sold to people
and business wishing to offset their emissions. There is a step by step
process for participating in the CFI available on the Clean Energy Regulator
website.
Renewable Energy Target (RET)
The Renewable Energy Target (RET) creates a financial incentive for
investment in renewable energy sources through the creation and sale of
certificates. Electricity retailers are required to offset a proportion of their
demand by buying and surrendering certificates.
The RET is split into two parts—the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target
(LRET) and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES). The
RET has an internet-based registry system called the REC Registry that
facilitates the creation, registration, auditing, transfer and surrender of largescale
generation certificates and small-scale technology certificates.