Australian businesses spent $75.4 billion on energy during 2008-09, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
In the ABS figures, it was revealed that fifty-five percent of these businesses took measures to reduce their energy consumption, such as switching off equipment or activities related to reducing transport use. While twenty-one percent of companies complained that cost was the major barrier to improving their energy efficiency.
During 2008-09, energy expenditure by Australian business was dominated by electricity and non-renewable fuels. Eighteen billion dollars was spent on diesel, $13b on electricity, $6b on natural gas. A total of $29b was spent on other non-renewable fuels, largely crude oil used by the petroleum industry. In the same period, businesses spent $60m directly on renewable fuels (liquid biofuel, biogas, bagasse and wood/wood waste ), and a further $95m on GreenPower electricity (sourced from accredited hydroelectricity, wind power etc). This was less than 1 percent of total expenditure on electricity by businesses.
Seven percent of electricity generated (18,000 GWh) was sourced from renewables, with hydroelectricity contributing about two-thirds of this amount. The use of non-renewable fuels, coal, and coal by-products generated over 70 percent of electricity, followed by natural gas at 19 percent.
The ABS also released data today on water and other environmental management activities of Australian businesses. Twenty-two per cent of all Australian businesses undertook some type of water management practice, with 60 percent of large businesses (employing 200 or more persons) reporting one or more activities to manage their water use.
