Clean energy choices
Origin Energy offers energy products to help residential and business customers reduce both their greenhouse gas emissions and their energy use.
Green electricity
Through Origin Energy GreenEarth we offer clean electricity from hydro,
wind, biomass and solar sources. These generation methods produce electricity
with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Origin is the market leader in Green Electricity sales with more customers purchasing green electricity from us than any other energy retailer in Australia.
Our customers continue to increase their take-up of renewable energy. In October 2006, we celebrated the achievement of 100,000 green customers by planting 100,000 trees with Landcare Australia, and reached 120,000 green customers by 30 December 2006.
Solar energy
With 30 percent of the national market, we continue to be the Australian
retail market leader for installation of grid-connected solar photovoltaic
panels.
In August 2006, the Australian Government selected an Origin Energy-led consortium to deliver the Adelaide Solar City Project.
Part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities initiative, the project’s aim is to demonstrate how solar power, smart meters, energy efficiency and new approaches to electricity pricing can combine to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia.
As part of an extensive redevelopment for the 2006 Commonwealth Games, we have installed photovoltaic solar panels on the new members stand entrance at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. More than 15 kilowatts of panels will generate 10 to 15 megawatt hours of electricity each year and reduce greenhouse gas production by 500 tonnes over the system’s life.
 Melbourne Cricket Ground |
SLIVER technology
In South Australia, we are producing solar panels using our unique new
SLIVER technology. In 2006, we undertook extensive
reliability testing of our 75-watt module and built a series of 150-watt
modules.
Energy efficiency
For seven years, our Energy Efficiency Team has provided advice to a wide
range of businesses on reducing gas and electricity consumption. The team
has developed a unique collaborative approach to identifying opportunities
and implementing energy saving actions.
During 2005/06, the team helped our customers to identify energy efficiency
projects that enabled them to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more
than 20,000 tonnes. Find out more about energy
efficiency.
Our Carbon Calculator
In November 2006, we launched a carbon calculator
product that consumers can use to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions
generated by their energy use, and car and air travel. They can then choose
to offset these emissions by purchasing carbon offsets through the Origin
Energy website. By December 2006, carbon offsets for 1,700 tonnes of greenhouse
gas emissions had been purchased.
Offsetting our own emissions
Since 2004, Origin has been able to report a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from our Australian offices, shops, LPG terminals and our SLIVER solar manufacturing plant through the purchase of Green Power, sourced from renewable energy.
For the 2006/07 financial year, we have now extended our commitment in reducing emissions from our business activity to include company air and vehicle travel. In line with offsetting of our office emissions, we are also offsetting the electricity we use in running our generation plants.