PoliticalClaims.au

The claim is accurate in its attribution - Coalition Senators Chris Back and Jonathon Duniam did make this assertion. In their dissenting report to the 2017 Senate Select Committee inquiry into electricity infrastructure, they stated: "Energy generated by wind turbines do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the electricity sector by the amount claimed. In fact, there is some evidence that the addition of wind energy onto the grid actually increases carbon emissions" [1].

However, this statement is factually incorrect and contradicted by extensive scientific evidence. The overwhelming consensus of peer-reviewed research, international energy bodies, and independent analyses demonstrates that wind power significantly reduces net emissions compared to coal-fired generation [1][2].

Key factual findings:

1. Coal produces ~1,000 gCO2/kWh while wind produces approximately 10-15 gCO2/kWh over its lifecycle (including manufacturing, installation, and disposal) [2]. This is a difference of roughly 60-100 times lower emissions from wind [1].

2. Lifecycle analysis shows wind pays back its carbon debt in 6-9 months - meaning within less than a year of operation, a wind turbine has offset the carbon emissions from its manufacturing and installation [2].

3. Renewable Energy Target (RET) analysis shows wind delivers measurable emissions reductions - The Renewable Energy Target was projected to reduce emissions by approximately 23-25 million tonnes CO2e annually (approximately 5% of Australia's total emissions) when operating at target levels [1].

The Senators cited "some evidence" but provided no specific studies or authoritative sources to support their claim. Journalist Giles Parkinson's analysis noted that the main sources for their position were "anti-wind campaigners and economic analysts Alan Moran and Brian Fisher," not peer-reviewed scientific research [1].