The greenhouse effect

Climate change is the result of the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), create a one-way layer that allow the suns energy to penetrate but reflects radiated heat back to the surface of the Earth. The greenhouse effect contributes positively to the Earth’s climate by raising the surface temperature from –18oC, which would be the average earth temperature if there were no atmosphere or greenhouse gases. 

It is believed that man’s activities, including the burning of fossil fuels, clearing of forests and intensive farming practices have all contributed to a rapid rise in greenhouse gases. There has always been some natural variation in climate - the earth has been much hotter and much colder in previous times.  However, if the climate changes too rapidly, plants and animals will have difficulty adapting.

A secondary effect is rising sea levels. This is caused, not by melting icebergs as if often quoted, but by expansion of the seawater with warming climate. Significant climate change may also lead to weather pattern changes, with some places experiencing worse weather whilst other places experience improved conditions.

For these reasons, efforts are being made to reduce the rate of increase and ultimately reduce the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  The difficulty lies in balancing this with the requirement for world economic growth.

What Delta is doing about greenhouse

Delta Electricity has long recognised the growing concern by communities and governments of the issues of global warming and emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) from the combustion of fossil fuels. Delta Electricity not only monitors the quantity of carbon dioxide emissions and thermal efficiencies at each power station site, but implements programs to improve operational performance and reduce CO2 emissions. The programs are as follows:

-         RENEWABLE ENERGY: Development of renewable generation sources. (See Sustainable Development section of the web site).

-         GREENHOUSE CHALLENGE: Delta has been a member of the Greenhouse Challenge Program since 1997. Details of the program and Delta Electricity’s performance in 2002/03 are provided below.

-         GENERATOR EFFICIENCY STANDARD: Delta Electricity was the first generator to agree to legally binding targets under the Australian Government’s Generator Efficiency Standards (GES). Details are provided below. To see Delta Electricity’s current and previous two year’s performance under the GES refer to page 11 in the Environment section of Delta Electricity’s 2003 Annual Report.

Greenhouse Challenge

What is the Greenhouse Challenge?

The Greenhouse Challenge - launched in 1995 - is a joint voluntary initiative between the national Government and industry to abate greenhouse gas emissions. Participating organisations sign agreements with the Government that provide a framework for undertaking and reporting on actions to abate emissions.  These are generally “no regrets” programs, that is, the program itself is cost effective or cost neutral whilst reducing CO2-e emissions. To see how Delta Electricity performed in 2002/03 under the GES/ Greenhouse Challenge follow this hyperlink:

GES/Greenhouse Challenge combined report 2002/03


Generator Efficiency Standards

The objectives of the Generator Efficiency Standards measure are to:

• Achieve movement towards best practice in the efficiency of fossil-fuelled electricity generation; and
• Deliver reductions in the greenhouse gas intensity of energy supply.

Improving the efficiency of the fossil-fuel combustion process will lead to reductions in the greenhouse intensity of the electricity supply. It will have important flow-on effects for the wider Australian business community, in particular with large end-users buying lower greenhouse intensive fossil fuel based power.  The difference between the GES and Greenhouse Challenge is that GES programs are not “no regrets” actions and may cost at $0 -$10 per tonne of CO2-e reduced.