MLÂ· PRESS STATEMENT ..........

by the Minister for National Development q  7f 79/79

ENERGY.MODEL FOR AUSTRALIA

The Minister for National Development,  Mr Kevin Newman

today released a paper by the National Energy Advisory Committee

which outlines some aspects of energy modelling presently being

carried out in Australia. .

Mr Newman said that during 1979 there had been a

considerable increase in community awareness of energy issues.

The Committee's paper discusses the manner in which energy

modelling can assist understanding of these issues and contribute

to the development of energy policy.

Mr Newman said .that on the advice of the National

Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council he had .

approved a grant of $106,300 over three years to support an

energy modelling project by the Australian National University

on "An Energy Model for Australia". The Project is to construct

a model of the interactions between the energy sector and the

rest of the economy. The model will allow the examination of

such issues as the impact of rising energy costs on the growth

and structure of the Australian economy, the impact of environÂ­

mental constraints on energy strategies, the rate at which new

energy technology should be introduced and the extent of interÂ­

fuel substitution and energy conservation possible in the

various sectors of the Australian economy.

In setting up this project there has been liaison .

between the National Energy Office in the Department and the

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ANU, Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales

and the Atomic Energy Commission, and this liaison will

continue.

The manner in which Australia identifies and analyses,

the energy options open to it will have significant implications

for economic growth and living standards.  Mr Newman said that

in this context energy modelling was a useful analytical tool.

Since modelling is time consuming and expensive,  it. was important

that energy researchers co-operate in modelling activities in .

order to maximise the potential of the research effort.

-  Mr Newman said that the National Energy Office would

be interested in receiving reports on Australian energy

modelling projects which have not been covered in the NEAC paper./

Copies of the paper are available free of charge

from the Assistant Secretary, Energy Economics and Forecasting,

National Energy Office, Department of National Development

G.P.O. Box 5, Canberra A.C.T. 2600. ,

Canberra 26 September 1979

