NGF's Environmental Policies

Electricity generators in Australia operate to strict, best practice environmental standards.  NGF members recognise their responsibility to minimise the environmental impact of their operations.

Power stations must comply with strict regulation of atmospheric emissions (e.g. particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide) and pollutants in water-borne discharges.  Generators also meet a raft of performance and reporting obligations, including  National Environment Protection Measures, the National Pollutants Inventory, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act and, most recently, the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act. 

Generators use environmental management systems certified to international best practice standards.   These systems are complemented by various business and industry initiatives.  Many generators, for example, report their environmental performance using the internationally recognised Global Reporting Initiative.   

Generators continue to invest in  new processes, plant and equipment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The growth of gas and renewable generation is driving change.  The latest official figures show that the emissions intensity of electricity generation is falling.  Even without a carbon price, emissions intensity is projected to fall from 0.93 tonnes of CO2per megawatt hour to 0.78 tonnes over the next few years.  Of course, much more needs to be done to refine and deploy lower emissions technologies.  NGF members will play a leading role in the transition to lower emissions power.