Senior Library Books

Resource Key

When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:

LEVEL 1

brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)

LEVEL 2

provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.

LEVEL 3

lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)

Linked Databases

West Australian Digital Archive
The West Australia Archive Digital Editions provides full text searching of past issues of the West Australian. Each issue is searchable the day after publication.
World Book Encyclopedia
Online version of the complete reference work along with dictionary, atlas, links, magazines, historical documents, audio, video, images, and 3D photograph
Britannica Schools
Britannica School covers the core subject areas of English, Maths, Science and History. Interactive lessons, activities, games, stories, worksheets, manipulatives, study guides and research tools.

Key Terms

bioenergy energy derived from biofuel.
biofuel fuel, as wood or ethanol, derived from biomass.
geothermal of or relating to the internal heat of the earth.
hydro power relating to, or furnishing water, water power, or hydroelectricity.
marine Marine energy uses the movement of ocean tides, currents, or waves to produce electricity.
solar power manufacturing or providing solar power: the solar industry.
wind power power derived from wind: used to generate electricity or mechanical power.
renewable energy any naturally occurring, theoretically inexhaustible source of energy, as biomass, solar, wind, tidal, wave, and hydroelectric power, that is not derived from fossil or nuclear fuel.
sustainable pertaining to a system that maintains its own viability by using techniques that allow for continual reuse.

Introduction

Welcome to the research guide for Energy Use in WA. This guide has been created to assist Year 12 students research the ways in which WA currently produces electricity and how this can be done in a more sustainable, less polluting way in the future. Energy sources explored in this guide include fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables.

Overview

Government of Western Australia: Department of Finance. (n.d.). Renewable Energy. Retrieved from https://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/.../Renewable_energy/Renewable_energy.aspx
In Western Australia, renewable energy helps the State meet the community’s long term energy needs, while supporting the growing economy. The Western Australian Government continues to support investment in renewable energy to deliver a cleaner energy future for Western Australia.
Renewable energy projects support future energy security, help lower emissions from the energy sector and enables Western Australia to contribute to the national renewable energy target of 20% renewable generation by 2020.
Synergy. (2015). Our energy. Retrieved from https://www.synergy.net.au/Our-energy
Without electricity, we would still be living - literally - in the dark ages. But what exactly is electricity? Who is responsible for generating it? Why is it something we need? How does Synergy price its services?
Our expert approach sees us follow electricity from generation to delivery. Here's everything you need to know about the process.
Western Power. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from http://www.westernpower.com.au/corporate-information-about-us.html
Western Power is a Western Australian State Government owned corporation with the purpose of connecting people with electricity in a way that is safe, reliable and affordable.

Climate Council

Stock, A. (2014, June 16). What's up with Australia's electricity sector? [Video file]. The Climate Council.

Energy Generation in Western Australia

Government of Western Australia: Department of Finance. Generation. Retrieved from https://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/Public_Utilities_Office/Energy_in_Western_Australia/Electricity/Generation.aspx
Generation involves the conversion of a fuel source into electricity. In Western Australia, the majority of electricity is generated using coal and gas, with smaller amounts coming from diesel and renewable sources (wind, solar and biomass).
Stock, A. (2014, June 16). Australia's Electricity Sector: Ageing, Inefficient and Unprepared. Retrieved from https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/australia-s-electricity-sector-ageing-inefficient-and-unprepared
Australia’s electricity is largely generated by ageing, inefficient coal-fired power plants and there are currently no plans, nor a national discussion on the future of the electricity sector and options to significantly reduce its emissions. Delaying the shift to a low carbon future increases the likely risks and costs of transition to a low carbon future in the electricity sector, where it typically takes a decade or more to plan, permit, finance and build major new power infrastructure.

Current News

Hannam, P. (2013). Australia unlikely to build new coal-power stations. The Australian.
Australia is unlikely to build new coal-fired power stations because of tumbling prices for renewable energy and the rising cost of finance for emission-intensive fuels, according to research by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
Anderson, S. (2015, November 22). Greens announce plan to double Australia's energy efficiency by 2030. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-22/greens-plan-for-90-per-cent-renewable-energy-by-2030/6961606
Greens leader Richard Di Natale has announced plans for the new agency, RenewAustralia, which he said would drive the country through a 15-year pipeline of clean energy projects.

The pros and cons of a variety of renewable energy sources

Conway, K. (2014, November 26). Greening Energy [Educational Series]. Pumpkin Interactive.

NB: Video requires Google Chrome or Safari to view.

Energy Education

Adlong, W. (2012). 100% Renewables as a Focus for Environmental Education. Australian Journal Of Environmental Education, 28(2), 125-155. doi:10.1017/aee.2013.5
The rapid development of renewable energy technologies has a number of implications for environmental educators and educators more generally. The costs of a number of renewable energy technologies are expected to be competitive with fossil fuels within 10–15 years and some installations are competitive already