MSc Project: Problems and Prospects of Sustainable Energy in Australia

This project proposal investigates the prospects and problems of sustainable energy in Australia. It highlights Australia's abundant sustainable energy sources, while also acknowledging the challenges in fully utilizing them. The study reviews existing literature to identify key issues such as dependence on fossil fuels, environmental concerns, and the need for technological advancements. The project aims to identify the benefits of sustainable energy, address research questions concerning Australia's sustainable energy landscape, and outline the methodology, including research philosophy, approach, and design. The proposal emphasizes the use of secondary data sources, such as journal articles and books, to analyze the feasibility of sustainable energy implementation and offers insights into the future of energy in Australia. The proposal also provides the research questions and objectives to analyze the problems and prospects of sustainable energy in Australia and elaborates on the significance of sustainable energy for the country. The methodological approach involves a descriptive research design, utilizing a positivism research philosophy and a deductive approach to connect the topic with relevant theories.

Prof. Curran/Dr. Saunders, 2013, project template v2
Template Project Proposal and Plan
By ‘Author Name’
Affiliation (MSc Profile or Track) & Study no.
Executive Summary
The project reflects sustainable energy in Australia. The main aim of the report is to
identify or analyze the problems or prospects that are associated with sustainable energy in
Australia. It is identified that Australia has abundant as well as diverse sustainable sources of
energy with significant potential of future development. But it is identified that there are number
of problems due to which Australia faces problems in proper sustainable energy supply. The
paper mainly reviewed number of articles for illustrating the different prospects as well as
problems which are associated with sustainable energy.
1. Introduction
The paper mainly focuses on the prospects and problems of sustainable energy in
Australia. According to Azad et al. (2015) sustainable energy in Australia mainly helps in
dealing with different efforts that is generally made for quantifying as well as expanding various
types of sustainable energy that includes thermal energy, electricity as well as transport fuels. It is
identified that the entire consumption in Australia in the year is around 346PJ that is 5.9% of the
entire energy consumption of Australia. However, it is identified by Chakrabarti et al. (2014),
that Australia also faces several issues in moving strongly towards environmental sustainability
while managing the economic prosperity of the country. The problems are minimizing the
dependence on fossil fuel of the country for oil and electricity generation.
In this paper, both the problems as well as prospects of sustainable energy in Australia are
elaborated. It is identified that several journal articles are reviewed in order to illustrate the
significance as well as problems associated with sustainable energy. The paper also undertakes an
experimental set up in order to provide proper justification.
2. State-of-the-art/Literature Review
According to Azad et al. (2015), the problem which the world is facing can be categorized
into two major categories namely environment and energy. The factor of economy can be stated
as another issue in the above stated factor. So it can be stated that the factors of economy, energy
and the environment are majorly bounded by the three dimensional relationship among the
concepts. The rate of increase which is related to the consumption of the energy is growing at a
rate which is exceeding the number of population increase. On the other hand it is stated by
Bloch, Rafiq and Salim (2015) that the problem which is being faced by most of the countries
regarding the use of energy are gaining importance and different ways are being incorporated in
order to reduce the overall loss of energy and the means of how the energy is hampering the eco
system as a whole.

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Prospects of sustainable energy in Australia
It is opined by Bahadori, Zahedi and Zendehboudi (2013) that research is being
conducted all over the world on the fact that how to fulfill the main energy demand of the people
without altering or hampering the environment in which people live and survive. Much of the
energy consumption growth occur in the countries outside the organization which is for the
economic corporation and development (OECD) which is known as non OECD, where the
demand is mainly driven by long term economic growth. It is stated by Bhuiya et al. (2016) that
the main prospective which should be taken into consideration are the efficiency and the energy
saving, carbon dioxide recovery, switching to natural gases for daily use and development of
alternatives of the sources of energy in order to reduce the carbon dioxide emission which mainly
results from the use of energy. According to Liu et al. (2016), Australia energy market operator
mainly investigated two future scenarios which mainly featured an electricity grid fuelled which
can be used and the use of an entire renewable energy resource can be used by the year 2030 with
the price tagging in the range of $219 billion to $252.
Presently the renewable resources are being used for the concept of cooling and the
heating, transportation and electricity generation. It is argued by Bhuiya et al. (2016) that the
resources which are termed as clean energy resources are mainly utilized on a scale of
commercial which may include wind energy and hydro energy for the purpose of generation of
the electricity and bioenergy and solar energy for the purpose of the cooling and the heating and
the electricity generation. The search for the alternative should always be incorporated in the field
of the researchers in order to minimize the overall loss of the energy and the proper use of the
renewable resources as it would be very much affective in the near future.
Problems of sustainable energy in Australia
The main problem which is being faced with the sustainable energy in Australia is the
direct combustion of the fossils fuel which results in several environmental issues which acts as a
catalyst in the change of the eco system (Bahramara, Moghaddam, and Haghifam 2016).The
green house affect and other type of pollutants that can be termed as air pollutants for example
nitrogen dioxide, hydrocarbon and the organic compounds which are volatile. It is stated by
Head (2014) that the effect of the greenhouse gas can be minimized by moving towards different
alternative energy resources which are majorly eco-friendly, green energy and very much clear.
According to Nizami et al. (2017), the population would be reaching the margin of 9 million in
count by the end of 2030.
The factors that play an important role in order to furnish the concept are new production
technology, living standard, new transport, industrialization etc. It is reflected from a recent
survey that Australia is consuming presently 96% of the energy which is non-renewable and on
the other hand the renewable for the remaining of the 4% Australia has 33% of the resources of
uranium and 10% of the black coal resources and almost 2% of the world’s conventional gas
resources. It is opined by Moosavian et al. (2013) that Australia has a small portion of the world
crude oil resources and there are number of barriers which play a significant role for the large
scale utilization concept of the Australia’s clean resource of the energy. The major changes which
are incorporated in the field of technologies which are well established for example wind farms
which are located in the same location. It is opined by Hakrabarti et al. (2014) that the renewable
energy resources are very much complicated and too much sophisticated and complex when
comparing them with the conventional energy conversion techniques (Alotto, Guarnieri and
Moro 2014). Due to the factor of initially higher investment cost which is related to the

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renewable resources, the technology is not yet so much eco-friendly that it can be used and
implemented. On the other hand, it is argued by Kaplan (2015) that despite of the factors of the
large investment which is involved in the process there are still few sector where the
implementation had gained major pace and it is very much expected to play a very vital role in
the near future in order to move towards a low emission future while meeting the Australia
continued energy demand.
3. Research Question, Aim/Objectives and Sub-goals
The research questions are as follows:
 What are the prospects of sustainable energy in Australia?
 What are problems or risks that are associated with sustainable energy of Australia?
 What are the benefits that Australia achieves by utilizing sustainable energy?
Aim/objectives and Sub goals
The main aim of the report is to identify or analyze the problems or prospects that are
associated with Sustainable energy in Australia. It is identified that Australia has abundant as
well as diverse sustainable sources of energy with significant potential of future development.
But it is identified that there are number of problems due to which Australia faces problems in
proper sustainable energy supply.
The main objectives of the report are as follows:
 To identify the problems which are associated with the sustainable energy in
Australia
 To identify the prospects of sustainable energy in Australia
 To elaborate the significant of sustainable energy for Australia
The sub goal of the project is to review different types of books as well as journal articles
in order to identify the prospects as well as problems of sustainable energy. In addition to this, it
is quite important to elaborate the problems as prospects properly in order to get proper
understanding about the risks so that that it can get minimized and the use of sustainable energy
in Australia in the coming future can be enhanced.
4. Theoretical Content/Methodology
The research methodology generally assists in articulating the reasons for the selection of
particular data collection technique as well as procedure. It is identified that the reader mainly
helps in identifying data in such a procedure that is quite consistent with the practice that is
generally accepted in the field of study (Mackey and Gass 2015). The selected methods are quite
appropriate for fulfilling the various aims as well as objectives of the research study.
Research philosophy
The term research is defined as a belief about the process in which various types of data
as well as information about a specific phenomenon is analyzed, gathered as well as utilized
(Glesne 2015). It is identified that research philosophy are mainly categorized into positivism,
interpretivism as well as realism. It is identified that in this existing research study, positivism is

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generally utilized in order to analyze various types of hidden information that are associated with
the topic. It generally assists in finding out proper information about both the prospects as well as
problems of sustainable energy in Australia. Moreover the research study is time limited and
therefore the selected philosophy helps in limiting the role of the researchers for evaluating the
data that generally leads to reduction of the entire data error. As the entire research study is
dependent on the feasibility study, thus it is very much significant to gather accurate information
that assists in overcoming the issues associated with research study.
Research Approach:
According to Lick (2015), research approach is considered as one of the plan or approach
that mainly comprises of various steps of broad assumptions to different detailed methodology of
data collection, data analysis as well as interpretation. It is identified that the research approach is
mainly categorized into two categories that include inductive approach and deductive approach.
In this existing research study, deductive research approach is selected in order to study the
various concepts that are associated with the problems as well as prospects of sustainable energy.
It is identified that the selected research approach is quite appropriate as it is very much accurate
for relating the selected topic with different theories.
Research design
It is opined by Smith (2015) that the research design mainly refers to the overall strategy
that is mainly selected for integrating to the various components of the study that is totally
coherent in a logical way that helps in ensuring to effectively address the research problem. It is
found that research design is mainly categorized into three types that include exploratory,
explanatory as well as descriptive. In the present research study, descriptive research design is
mainly selected as it is helpful in providing detailed procedure for analyzing the feasibility that
further helps in measuring the effectiveness of prospects as well as problems of sustainable
energy in Australia. For this research design, the descriptive design is helpful as it assists in
identifying the areas of improvements so that sustainable energy use can be enhanced in the
coming future.
Data sources
The data sources are mainly categorized into primary and secondary data sources. It is
identified that in this current research study secondary data collection procedure are utilized for
gathering information about the problems as well as prospects of sustainable energy in Australia
(Tarone, Gass and Cohen 2013). In order to gather information, numbers of journal articles are
well as books re reviewed.
Data technique
The data technique is mainly divided into qualitative data technique as well as
quantitative data technique (Tuohy et al. 2013). In this research study, it is identified that
qualitative analysis is utilized for successfully conducting the research so that the benefits of
analyzing the prospects as well as problems can be identified
Hypothesis
H0: The prospects of sustainable energy in Australia is quite high

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It is identified that the Australia has diverse as well as abundant sources of renewable
energy with significant potential for development. Australia is not only gifted with widely
distributed sources of sustainable energy. The production of renewable energy in Australia in the
year 2011-2012 is high and from then the trend of producing renewable energy in continuing.
H1: The prospects of sustainable energy in Australia is low
It is reflected from a current review that Australia is consuming about 96% of the non-sustainable
energy and the only remaining 4% of Australia uses sustainable energy. It is identified that 33%
of the resources mainly include uranium and 10% of the dark coal resources and around 2% of
the world’s customary gas resources which suggest that the prospects of sustainable energy needs
to grow more.
5. Experimental Set-up
The field set of the entire study is considered as analysis based study that is mainly
undertaken for investigating the prospects as well as problems of sustainable energy in Australia.
It is identified that number of journal articles as well as books are reviewed that investigates the
problems that Australia faces in context to sustainable energy (Chakrabarti et al. 2014). The
hypothesis states that are made in the research study indicates that the prospects of sustainable
energy in Australia is high but only 4% of the total consumption of energy is sustainable energy.
Thus after reviewing different research paper it is reflected that the use of sustainable energy in
Australia can be enhanced as Australia receives around 60 million of solar energy which is
around 20,000 times the current utilization of energy.
6. Results, Outcome and Relevance
It is analyzed that that the total energy production in the year 2011 to 2012 increased by a
range of 5% when relating to the year 2010-2011 to a total 17, 460 pet joules which reflects the
strong growth in the natural gas (8%), black and brown (5% and 6%) and the uranium (6%)
production Bahadori, Zahedi and Zendehboudi (2013). The production which is related to the
crude oil and the petroleum gas fell to range of 6% and the energy decreased by 7% in the year
2011 -2012 when being compared to 2010- 2011. The prospective which is related to the
renewable energy can be considered to be more in Australia which would directly be contributing
to the Australia energy economic as expected in the near future (Azad et al. 2015). If the
Australia’s renewable economic can be variable and the undeveloped renewable energy can be
used in an effectively manner in a way of generating electricity and the transport sector. The use
of the renewable energy resources should be promoted all over the world due to the factor of
saving the energy for the use in the near future.

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7. Project Planning and Gantt chart
Main activities/ stages Week
1
Week
2
Week
3
Week
4
Week
5
Week
6
Week
7
Investigation and proposal  
Implementation configuration  
Rough draft writing 
Supervisor review 
Final editing 
8. Conclusions
It can be concluded from the entire research paper that proper consideration must be taken
for enhancing the utilization of sustainable energy in Australia for saving energy and for
recovering carbon dioxide that further helps in developing alternatives sources of energy in order
to reduce the carbon dioxide emission. Proper analysis is made on the prospects as well as
problems of sustainable energy by reviewing number of journal articles as well as books. It is
identified that the use of sustainable energy can be enhanced as Australia has abundant sources of
sustainable energy.
9. References
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energy: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 29, pp.325-335.
Azad, A.K., Rasul, M.G., Khan, M.M.K., Sharma, S.C. and Hazrat, M.A., 2015. Prospect of
biofuels as an alternative transport fuel in Australia. Renewable and Sustainable Energy
Reviews, 43, pp.331-351.
Azad, A.K., Rasul, M.G., Khan, M.M.K., Sharma, S.C. and Islam, R., 2015. Prospect of Moringa
seed oil as a sustainable biodiesel fuel in Australia: A review. Procedia Engineering, 105, pp.601-
606.
Bahadori, A., Zahedi, G. and Zendehboudi, S., 2013. An overview of Australia's hydropower
energy: Status and future prospects. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 20, pp.565-
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Bahramara, S., Moghaddam, M.P. and Haghifam, M.R., 2016. Optimal planning of hybrid
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2nd generation biodiesel as a sustainable fuel—Part: 1 selection of feedstocks, oil extraction

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techniques and conversion technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55,
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