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| The energy intensity of an activity is defined as the amount of energy consumed to produce one unit of output. Energy intensity is used to monitor changes in energy consumption over time and across activities. The objective in this study is to analyse trends in energy intensity in Australian industry over the period 1989-90 to 2005-06. Different factors affecting the amount of energy consumption are distinguished using a technique called ‘factorisation’. The analysis in this report covers five major sectors of Australian industry including the manufacturing, services, agriculture (including forestry and fishing), mining and construction sectors. For the manufacturing and services sectors, the analysis is also undertaken at the subsectoral level. These sectors together accounted for 51 per cent of total final energy consumption and 78 per cent of economic output in Australia in 2005-06. The shares of final energy consumption and economic output for sectors covered in this report are presented in figure d. Over the past 15 years ABARE has produced a series of reports analysing trends in energy intensity in Australia (Wilson, Ho Trieu and Bowen 1993; Cox, Ho Trieu, Warr and Rolph 1997; Harris and Thorpe 2000 and Tedesco and Thorpe 2003). These ABARE studies were based on a decomposition method used by the IEA and others (see, for example, IEA 1997, Schipper et al 1990). In this report, ABARE introduces a new decomposition method — the log-mean divisia index I (LMDI I) — that brings the mechanics of the analysis in line with recent similar studies for other advanced economies. The analysis undertaken is based on energy consumption data derived from ABARE’s Australian energy statistics (AES), physical production data from ABARE’s Australian commodities statistics (ACS) and gross value added data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The AES database provides comprehensive statistics on energy consumption by industry, fuel and state, much of which is unavailable elsewhere. The most recent version of the AES was released in July 2008, and is available at www.abare.gov.au. |
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