The Smart Energy Council (SEC) has released a ten-point plan to bolster Western Australia’s renewable energy future and ensure it fulfils its economic potential.
The SEC is calling on the Western Australian Government to legislate the following targets as soon as possible:
- At least 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030 on the SWIS (South-West Interconnected System)
- At least 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2035
SEC’s Western Australia General Manager, Wilf Johnston, said that a future made in Australia is a future made in Western Australia.
“Western Australia has lacked firm commitments to renewable energy and climate targets for too long.
“Western Australia is the only state in Australia without a commitment to emissions reduction,” Mr Johnston said.
The Smart Energy Council has laid out a ten-point pathway by which the government can achieve this:
- Introduce a legislated target of at least 82 per cent renewable energy by 2030 on the SWIS.
- Introduce a legislated target of at least 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2035 as part of an amended Climate Change Bill.
- Introduce a household battery booster program with a rebate of up to $5,000 for residential batteries to reduce power bills.
- Develop a Western Australia Renewable Jobs Plan, which includes adopting the recommendations from the First Nations Clean Energy Network’s Powering First Nations Jobs in Clean Energy report.
- Build the required 4000kms of energy network to deliver large-scale renewable energy projects in the south-west.
- Develop a comprehensive single Common-User Grid Infrastructure Plan in the expanded Pilbara region to deliver large-scale renewable energy, green iron and green minerals projects in the north-west.
- Establish an industry-led reuse, recovery and recycling scheme for solar panels, battery storage systems, inverters and related products, creating new jobs and industries from the recovery of these resources.
- Work with the Federal Government to deliver at least $15 billion investment in Western Australia through the Future Made in Australia program, the National Reconstruction Fund, Rewiring the Nation, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
- Establish Green Iron Precincts in partnership with the Federal Government, ensuring strategic and sufficient investment in large-scale renewables necessary for the delivery of green iron.
- Adopt a traffic light system for large-scale renewable energy projects; where approval processes for large scale renewable projects are prioritised, climate impacts and benefits are taken into account; and biodiversity protection and benefits are prioritised.
Mr Johnston said that this is a plan for the future prosperity of the people of Western Australia.
“Western Australia is an international player in the resource and energy sector, but global markets are shifting away from our carbon-heavy exports,” Mr Johnston said.
“The Western Australian Government needs to have a clear pathway for the future and that starts with joining all other states in Australia in establishing interim emissions and renewable energy targets.”
Mr Johnston said that working towards 2030 and 2035 targets will give industry the confidence to invest in a future made in Western Australia, ensuring resource and energy jobs into the future.
“This isn’t a nice to have, it’s a must have and is well overdue.”
Image credit: Adwo/Shutterstock.com.
