States and territories are driving Australia’s acceleration towards a clean and reliable renewable energy grid. In fact, progress on new clean energy generation, like wind and solar, has been so rapid in recent years that it has been hard to keep up. Our report, ‘Race to the top: Australia’s clean energy momentum’, shines a light on the progress Australia’s states and territories have already made, and their plans for the road ahead. It highlights the huge and growing momentum around the country and calls out where governments still have work to do to cut climate pollution further and faster.
How does South Australia stack up?
The ‘festival state’ has reason to celebrate: South Australia has not only switched off its last coal-fired power station, it now has one of the strongest renewable energy targets in the nation and is on track to source 100% of electricity from renewables by 2030.
Becoming a world-leader in renewable hydrogen
South Australia is forging ahead with plans to establish itself a world leader in renewable Hydrogen by releasing its Hydrogen Jobs Plan and Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act – key pillars of a strategy to create jobs and bring new economic opportunities to regional communities like Port Bonython. The South Australian Government is also helping build a world-leading renewable hydrogen power plant near Whyalla that will use renewable energy from large-scale wind and solar farms to provide grid stability and a clean source of reliable power for homes and businesses.
What next for South Australia?
It’s time for South Australia to phase out its support for the gas industry, which is no longer central to its energy system or manufacturing industries. The state is also putting too much stock in carbon capture and storage, an unviable technology that cannot deal with the huge amounts of climate pollution caused by the ongoing use of gas. Going all-in on clean energy solutions that are proven and cheaper is a better fit with the state’s ambition to become a world leader in renewable energy generation.