The Future Is Renewable: Targets and Policies By Country · 2019-08-21 · In addition to the 2025...
Transcript of The Future Is Renewable: Targets and Policies By Country · 2019-08-21 · In addition to the 2025...
The FutureIs Renewable:
Targets and PoliciesBy Country
Phillip Riley Research Series
Australia: South Australia, Victoria & New South Wales |
March 2017
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Introduction
ThisPhillipRileyresearchseriesisaninvestigationintotherenewableenergypolicies
ofAustralia,theUnitedStatesandvariousAsiaPacificnations.Thereportslookinto
thecountries’renewableenergypotential,climatechangetargetsandthesuccessof
theirpolicytodate.Eachreportfocusesonthecurrentandfutureuseofrenewable
energyandtakesintoaccountthepolitical,geographicalandeconomicchallenges
uniquetoeachnation.
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PV,SolarThermal,Bioenergy,Wave,Tidal)types,andincludessupportingcompanies
suchasOriginalEquipmentManufacturers(OEMs),EngineerProcureConstruction
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The FutureIs Renewable:
Targets and PoliciesBy CountryAustralia: South Australia,
Victoria & New South Wales | March 2017
Author:
SophieMateria
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Targets and Policies By Country: South Australia, Victoria & New South Wales
Throughearlyinvestmentinrenewableenergy,SouthAustraliahaspositioneditselfas
aleaderintherenewableenergyfield.Thestatedistinguishesitselffromothersas
althoughtherearesignificantreservesoffossilfuelspresent,theirenergymixisnot
dependentoncoal.SouthAustralia’senergygenerationisleadbynaturalgas,whichis
closelyfollowedbywindpower.ThecurrentrenewableenergytargetinSouth
Australiaaimstoincreasethestate'srenewableenergyproductionto50%by2025and
achievenet-zeroemissionsby20501.Thestatehasalsocommittedtoaninvestment
targetof$10billioninlowcarbongenerationby20251.Thistransitiontocleanenergy
hasalreadybeguntotakeplacewiththeclosureofanumbercoal-firedpowerplants
inPortAugusta.Asmentionedinthepreviousreport,statewideblackoutshave
occurredinSouthAustraliaresultingfromtoomanyintermittentsystemscoupledwith
aseverestormandsubsequently,aheatwave.Thishasresultedinsomescepticism
towardsotherstatesinAustraliatransitioningtowardrenewableenergy.Despitethis
scepticism,theSouthAustralianGovernmenthasimplementedanumberofprograms
andplanstopromoteinvestmentintherenewableenergysector.Althoughrecently
SouthAustraliahasreceivedcriticism,hopefullywiththecontinueddevelopmentand
researchintorenewableenergy,thestateisabletoovercometheseproblemsand
achievetheirlong-termtargets.
SouthAustralia’scurrentenergymixconsistsofalargeproportionofrenewable
energy,especiallywhencomparedtootherAustralianstates.Therecentdeclineinthe
generationoffossilfuelshaspositionedSouthAustraliaastherenewableenergy
1http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/
South Australia
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Australia: South Australia
leaderwithinAustralia.Ofthefossilfuelsthatarecurrentlybeinggenerated,natural
gasandcoalcontributethemost,respectively.Althoughalargerproportionofnatural
gasisgenerated,SouthAustraliahasplacedanemphasisonreducingtheirgeneration
ofcoal.Thisisduetoanumberofreasons,namely,naturalgasisbettercoupledwith
moreintermittentsystems(suchaswindandsolarpower– whichSouthAustraliais
highlydependenton)anditproduceslesscarbondioxideemissionsperjoulethan
comparedtocoal.
Inordertosignificantlyreducetheirgenerationofcoal,SouthAustraliaannouncedthe
permanentclosureoftheonlytwocoal-firedpowerplantswithinthestate.Locatedin
PortAugusta,thecoal-firedpowerplantsproducedover50%ofthestate’scarbon
dioxideemissionsfromelectricitygeneration2.Asofearly2016,neitheroftheplants
areinoperation,however,areyettobereplaced.Thishasleftanemptymarketand
lossofjobsinPortAugusta.Therehavebeenrecentcampaignstoreplacetheplants
withasolarthermalpowerstation.Thiswouldnotonlycreatemanyjobsintheregion
butalsoreplacethosejobslostwithinthecoalindustry.Thesolarthermalprojectis
currentlyinplanning,however,willbedifficulttobuildwithoutappropriatefunding
fromthegovernment3.
InordertosupportrenewableenergyinvestmentandgrowthwithinSouthAustralia,
RenewablesSA4 wasdevelopedbythestategovernment.RenewablesSAisresponsible
foranumberofdocumentsoutlininghowSouthAustraliawilltransitiontowardsclean
energy.In2011,RenewablesSAdevelopedaRenewableEnergyPlanforSouth
Australia5.Theplanoutlinesanumberofinitiativestopromoterenewableenergy
growth,includinggrantstosupportrenewableenergyresearch.Theplanalsolooks
2 https://www.theclimategroup.org/sites/default/files/archive/files/Greenhouse-Indicator-Generation-Report-2009.pdf3 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-12/port-augusta-solar-project-needs-100-million-to-shine/78372924 http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/5RenewablesSA, A Renewable Energy Plan for South Australia, 2011, http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/files/111019-renewable-energy-plan-for-south-australia.pdf
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intodevelopinglegislationwhichwouldprovideaccessforrenewableinvestorsto
governmentownedland.Thisbillhassincebeenpassedthroughboththeupperand
lowerhouses6.
WhentheSouthAustralianRenewableEnergyPlanwasdeveloped,thestatetargetat
thetimewastoincreaserenewableenergyproductionto33%by20207.Duringthis
period,therewasalsoanationalrenewableenergytargetinplace.Thistargetwasto
increaseAustralia’srenewableenergyproductionto20%by20208.Throughthe
developmentoftheRenewableEnergyPlan,allowingearlyinvestmentinrenewable
energytechnologies,SouthAustraliaachievedboththesetargetsoversevenyears
aheadofschedule.Followingtheearlyachievementofthe2020statetarget,anew
targetfor2025wassetin2014.Thenewstatetargetaimstoincreaserenewable
energyproductionto50%by2025.
Alongsidetheaforementioned2025statetarget,SouthAustraliaalsosawthe
implementationofaninvestmenttarget.Setin2013,thetargetaimsforSouth
Australiatoinvest$10billioninlowcarbongenerationby20259.Thisinvestment
targetisuniquetoSouthAustraliaanditplacesthefocusonincreasingrenewable
energywhilstalsoreducingemissions,thelatterofwhichissometimesoverlookedby
otherstates.Inordertohelpachieveboth2025targets,RenewablesSAdevelopeda
LowCarbonInvestmentPlanforSouthAustralia10.Theplanconsistsoffourkey
strategiestopromotelowcarbongenerationinvestment.Astrategyincludedunder
thisplanistheBio-energyRoadmapforSouthAustralia11.Asbio-energyisnotawell-6http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/sa/bill/plmaceab2014618/7RenewablesSA, Projected Carbon Intensity for South Australian Renewable Energy Target in 2020, 2010, http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/files/1j1869-final-report-projected-carbon-intensity-for-south-australian-renewable-energy-target-in-2020-feb2010.pdf8 Clean Energy Regulator, History of the Scheme, 2016, http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/RET/About-the-Renewable-Energy-Target/History-of-the-scheme 9 RenewablesSA, Proposed Economic Targets for Low Emission Investment in South Australia, 2013, http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/files/130930-final2-report-for-dmitre.pdf10 RenewablesSA, A Low Carbon Investment Plan for South Australia, 2015, http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/files/93815-dsd-low-carbon-investment-plan-for-sa-final-web-copy.pdf11 Jacobs/RenewablesSA, A Bio-energy Roadmap for South Australia, 2015, http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/files/a-bioenergy-roadmap-for-south-australia--report--version-1-appendix-a-removed.pdf
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developedrenewableenergywithinthestate,thisroadmapintendsonlayingthe
foundationfornewbio-energyprojects.Anotherstrategyincludedintheplanis
providingsupportforAdelaide’sfirsthybrid-electriccarshareinitiative.This
incorporatessolarphotovoltaicandbatterystoragewithinAdelaide'scentralbusiness
district.ThroughsupportingGoGet,Australia’slargestcarsharecompany,thisproject
aimstoprovideindividualswithexperiencedrivinganelectricvehicleandinturn,
increasingawarenessandacceptanceofelectricvehicles.SouthAustraliaisontrendto
achieveboth2025targets.Asof2015-16,SouthAustraliahadinvested$7.1billionin
lowcarboninvestmentandapproximately43%ofelectricityproducedwithinthestate
wasfromrenewableenergysources12.
Despitebeingontracktoachievingboth2025targets,SouthAustraliarecently
receivedcriticismfollowingtwoinstancesofstatewideblackouts.Theblackoutin
2016wascausedasaresultofastormcausingdamagetoelectricitytransmission
infrastructure.Thisresultedinastatewide(excludingKangarooIsland)blackout.The
secondblackoutoccurredin2017andresultedfromanextendedheatwavealongside
issueswithtransmissionlines(causingcertaingeneratorsnotabletobeturnedon).
Thesefactorsresultedinthedemandforelectricityexceedinggeneration.Federal
MinisterforEnergy,JoshFrydenbergstatedthatthelackofpowerwascausedbywind
poweronlyproviding2.5%ofSouthAustralia’senergyneeds.Hethencontinuedby
sayingthatthisamountisalotlessthanexpected,andthatthisuncertaintyisoneof
theproblemsassociatedwithintermittentsystems13.Inthesetwoinstances,South
Australiahasexperiencedsomedifficultiesinthedeliveryofenergygeneratedfrom
renewablesources.However,hopefully,withcontinueddevelopmentandresearch
intorenewableenergystorage,theintermittencyofthesystemsisabletobereduced.
12 The Government of South Australia, South Australia’s Renewable Energy Future, 2015, http://www.statedevelopment.sa.gov.au/upload/energy/facts/Renewable%20and%20future%20electricity%20generation_DSD_11216.pdf?t=148124130392513http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-08/sa-heatwave-forces-rolling-blackouts-angering-government/8252512
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Thiswouldallowfortheseissuestobeovercome,andminimisethelikelihoodof
blackoutsinSouthAustraliabecomingarecurringsituation.
Inadditiontothe2025targetsset,SouthAustraliahasalsodevelopeda2050target.
Thislong-termtargetaimsforthestatetoreachnetzeroemissionsby205014.This
2050isinlinewithbothVictoria’sandNewSouthWales’2050targets.TheSouth
AustralianStateGovernmentalsointendstoestablishAdelaideastheworld'sfirst
carbonneutralcity.TheStateGovernmentaimstodothisthroughenhancinglow-
carbonjobsandindustriesandreducingemissionsfromwaste15.SouthAustralia
appearstobeontracktoachievetheircleanenergytargetsandhavepositioned
themselvesasarenewableenergyleaderwithinAustralia.Thestatehasachievedthis
throughearlyandcontinuousinvestmentintocleanenergytechnologies.Although
SouthAustraliahashadsomerecentdifficultiesinmaintainingpowergeneration,
hopefully,thiswillnotcontinueintothefuture.IfSouthAustraliacontinues
development,researchandinvestmentintorenewableenergytechnology,thestate
cancontinuetoactasarenewableenergyleaderwithinAustraliaandtherestofthe
world.
14The Government of South Australia, Target Zero, 2015, http://www.climatechange.sa.gov.au/target-zero/15 The Government of South Australia, Carbon Neutral Adelaide, 2016, http://www.climatechange.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/climate_change/carbon-neutral-action-plan.pdf
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Targets and Policies By Country:South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales
Victoriacurrentlyhasanambitiousrenewableenergytargetset,helpingtoreposition
themasacleanenergystate.Currently,setundertheClimateChangeAct2016,
Victoriaaimstoincreasetheirrenewableenergygenerationto25%by2020and40%
by2025.Victoria’slong-termgoalunderthislegislationistohavenetzeroemissions
by205016.Asof2015,renewableenergyaccountedforapproximately14%of
Victoria’selectricitygeneration17.BothVictoriaalongwiththerestofAustraliahave
hadalonghistoryrelyingoncoaltoformthemajorityoftheirenergymix.Asaresult,
increasingtherelianceonrenewablesourcescanonlybeachievedbyalarge
restructuringoftheenergymix– alteringVictoria’sbaseloadsupply.Moreover,the
prospectofjoblossresultingfromtheclosureofcoal-firedpowerstationshasalso
raisedpublicconcern.Despitetheseconcerns,Victoriacurrentlyhasanumberof
newlyimplementedstrategiesandframeworksinplaceinordertohelpincreasetheir
renewableenergygeneration.TheVictorianStateGovernmenthasalsoimplemented
amorelong-termdocument,theClimateChangeFramework,whichlooksatachieving
Victoria’s2050target.AlthoughVictoriahassetambitioustargets,thechangesinthe
sectorareyettobereflectedinthestate’senergymix.
CoalconstitutesamajorityoftheenergygeneratedwithinVictoriaandhasalong
historybeingthedominantenergysource.Althoughthegenerationofcoalwithin
Victoriahasdecreasedslightlyinrecentyears,thereisstillalargedependencyonthe
fossilfuel.Currently,itgeneratesapproximately85%ofVictoria’selectricity
16http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/PubPDocs.nsf/ee665e366dcb6cb0ca256da400837f6b/7BD94EEFDEE4690DCA258073007E0980/$FILE/581271bi1.pdf17Victoria State Government: Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria’s Climate Change Framework, http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/369032/DELWP0039_ClimateChange_Framework_v14.pdf
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consumption,withwindpowerbeingthenextmajorcontributor(6%)17.Assuchalarge
andlong-termdependencyhasbeenplacedoncoal,thishasresultedinsome
challengesinincreasingtheproportionofgenerationfromrenewablesources.Ascoal
poweredstationsrequirealongerperiodoftimetobegingeneratingelectricity,after
previouslybeingturnedoff(whencomparedtonaturalgas)theyarenoteasilypaired
withintermittentsystemssuchaswindandsolarpower.Moreover,switchingto
renewableenergygenerationmusteventuallyresultintheclosureofthesecoal-fired
powerplants.ThereforeinorderforVictoriatosignificantlyincreasetheirrenewable
energygenerationandcapacity,alargerestructuringoftheenergysystemmustoccur.
ConcernshavebeenraisedinVictoriarelatedtothejoblossthatwillfollowfromthe
eventualclosureofthecoal-firedpowerplants.Anexampleofthistookplace
followingtheannouncementoftheclosureoftheHazelwoodPowerStation.The
powerstation,whichislocatedintheLatrobeValleyofVictoria,suppliesupto25%of
Victoria’sbaseloadelectricitysupply18.Althoughtheclosurewillresultinhundredsof
workerslosingtheirjobs,theHazelwoodPowerPlantwasidentifiedin2005asoneof
themostemissions-intensivecoalpowerplantswithintheOECD19.TheVictorian
Governmentwasforcedtofindabalancebetweentheemissionsproducedbythe
plant,andthejobsthatwouldbelostasaresultofitsclosure.Inthisinstance,the
choicewaseasiertomakeastheHazelwoodPowerStationwasapproachingtheend
ofitsoperationallife.TheVictoriangovernmenthasacknowledgedtheimpactthatthe
lossofjobswillhaveonthisregion.AplantohelpthetransitionoftheLatrobeValley
communityhasbeenincludedaspartoftheClimateChangeFrameworkdevelopedin
2016.
Victoria’sRenewableEnergyRoadmap20 wasreleasedin2015andoutlinesinitiatives
18http://www.power-technology.com/projects/hazelwood/19http://www.wwf.org.au/?2320/Hazelwood-tops-international-list-of-dirty-power-stations#gs.t4eZUh420 Victoria State Government: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria’s Renewable Energy Roadmap, 2015, http://delwp.vic.gov.au/energy/renewable-energy/?a=351525
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aimedatacceleratingthedevelopmentofrenewableenergyinVictoria.TheRoadmap
achievesthisbyidentifyingkeyareasinwhichchangescanbemade.Forexample,the
Roadmapidentifiesandaddressesthecurrentbarriersbeingfacedbydistributed
generation(locallygeneratedelectricitythatisfedbackintothegrid,e.g.solarpanels
onaresidentialroof)andstorage.Itisacknowledgedintheroadmapthatcurrentlythe
processthatconnectsdistributedgenerationtothegridisnottransparent,consistent
norcustomerfriendly.Thecurrentframeworkpreventstheinstallationofdistributed
generationprojectswiththoseinruralareas,low-incomehouseholdsandrental
tenants.Oneofthewaysthegovernmentintendstoimproveconnectionisby
reviewingthecurrenttechnicalconstraintspreventingtheconnectionofdistributed
energygeneration.Throughthisreview,thegovernmentishopingtodecreasethe
currentbarriersandincreaseaccessibilityinconnectingtothegrid.AstheRoadmap
wasimplementedin2015,itisstilltoosoontodetermineifithassuccessfully
increasedrenewableenergygenerationinVictoria.However,theVictorian
GovernmenthasstatedthatanyfeedbackreceivedfromtheRoadmapandanyfurther
methodsdevelopedtopromotecleanenergywillbethebasisfortheRenewable
EnergyActionPlan,whichisyettobereleased.
InMid-2016,theVictorianStateGovernmentannouncedTAKE221 whichisVictoria’s
commitmenttoreachnetzeroemissionsby2050.Thiscommitmentwasthen
supportedinlegislationundertheClimateChangeAct2016.TAKE2isuniqueasitis
thefirstgovernment-ledclimatechangepledgeprogramwithinAustralia.TAKE2
acknowledgesthatinordertoreducetheimpactofclimatechange,everyonehasa
roletoplay.Inordertoachievethislong-termstategoal,TAKE2takesbothatop-down
andabottom-upapproach.Theprogramencouragesbothconsumersandbusinesses
21 Victoria State Government: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, TAKE2: Acting Now on Climate Change, 2016, http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/369033/DELWP0046_ClimateChange_Take2Summary_singlesector_layout_v19.pdf
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tomakepledgesalongsidethegovernment,tohelpkeepwarmingundertwodegrees.
Inordertoachieveboththeshort-termtargets(startingat2020andbeingupdated
everyfiveyearsthereafter)andthelong-termtargets(netzeroemissionsby2050),the
VictorianGovernmentpledgestocutemissionsinitsoperationsandkeysectorsofthe
Victorianeconomy,includingagriculture,transportandwaste.TheStateGovernment
intendsondoingthisthroughanumberofprogramsincludingtheResourceSmart
Schools22 initiativeandtheremovalof50levelcrossings23 acrossMelbourne.AsTAKE2
wasannouncedinmid-2016,itisstillearlyoninitsdevelopmentmeaningsignificant
changesinVictoria’semissionsareyettobeseen.TheuniquenatureofTAKE2
differentiatesitselffromotherprojectsthathavebeenimplementedinVictoriaand
acrossAustralia.Hopefully,thisdistinctiveapproachadoptedbytheVictorian
Governmentwillbeabletosuccessfullyreduceemissionsandhelpkeepwarming
belowtwodegrees.
TheChangeAdaptionPlan(2017-2020)24 wasdevelopedtoaddresstheshort-term
targetssetbytheVictorianGovernment.Throughplacinganemphasisonthe2020
targetthiswillhelpVictoriabeontracktoachievingitsfuturelong-termtargets.The
planoutlinesthegovernment'splanforthenextfouryearstoensureintegratedand
effectiveactionoccursacrossallofVictoria’ssectors.Aparticularfocusisplacedon
partnerships.Partneringwithlocalgovernmentsallowsforthisactiontobeeffective
andtohelpreducetheimpactsofclimatechange.Anexampleincludesapartnership
betweentheVictorianGovernmentandagriculturalindustries.Thiswillencourage
investmentinnewtechnologiesandresearch,allowingthesectoradaptwiththe
changingclimate.AfulllistoftheactionstheVictorianGovernmenthastakenunder
theClimateChangeAdaptionPlancanbefoundonpage54oftheplan.
22 http://www.resourcesmartschools.vic.gov.au/23 http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/24 Victoria State Government: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria’s Climate Change Adaption Plan: 2017-2020, 2016, http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/369929/Victorias-Climate-Change-Adaptation-Plan-2017-2020.pdf
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TheVictorianGovernmentreleasedtheClimateChangeFramework25 whichprovides
anoverviewonhowVictoriawillreachnetzeroemissions.Theframeworkdetailsallof
theprogramscurrentlybeingimplementedandthosethatwillbeintroducedinthe
future.Inordertoachievenetzeroemissionsby2050,thisrequireslong-term
planning,ensuringtheVictorianeconomyisclimate-resilient.Moreover,dueto
Victoria’scoaldependence,italsorequirestransformationtotakeplaceinanumberof
keysectors.AnexampleinvolvesworkingwiththeLatrobeValleytotransition,during
andfollowingtheclosureoftheHazelwoodPowerStation.TheClimateChange
Frameworkalongwithmanyoftheotherprogramshaveonlyrecentlybeen
implementedwithinVictoria.Asaresult,itisdifficulttogaugehowsuccessfulthese
programshavebeen.WiththeClimateChangeAct2016resultingVictoria’srenewable
energytargetsbeingsetinlegislationandmanyotherplansandinitiativesunderway,
itislikelythatVictoriawillchangeinthecomingyears.Atransformationinthestate’s
keysectorswillhopefullytranslatetoreducedemissionsandincreasedrenewable
energytechnologies.
25 Victoria State Government: Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria’s Climate Change Framework, http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/369032/DELWP0039_ClimateChange_Framework_v14.pdf
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Targets and Policies By Country:South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales
NewSouthWaleshasalonghistoryofgeneratingandexportingcoal.Manystates
withinAustraliahavebeguntoreducetheirdependencyoncoal,however,NewSouth
Waleshasfallenbehind.AccordingtotheAustralianGovernment,in2016NewSouth
Waleshadthelowestrenewableenergysupplyoutofanystate26.Areasonbehindthe
delayedimplementationofrenewableenergytechnologiesmaybeduetotheHunter
ValleyCoalChainlocatedwithinthestate.NewSouthWaleshasreceivedcriticismdue
toalackofcommitmentregardingincreasingtheirrenewableenergysupplyanda
reluctancetosetastatetarget.Despitethis,oftherenewableenergytechnologies
thathavebeenimplemented,hydropowergeneratesthemostenergy.In2016,the
NewSouthWalesClimateChangePolicyFrameworkwasdeveloped.Currently,under
thisframework,NewSouthWaleshasastatetargetofnetzeroemissionsby2050,the
sameasSouthAustraliaandVictoria.Moreover,undertheimplementationofthis
framework,itisrequiredthattheNewSouthWalesClimateChangeFunddevelopa
StrategicPlan.TheDraftStrategicPlanwasreleasedin2016,withthefinalStrategic
Planexpectedtobereleasedin2021.AlthoughNewSouthWaleshasabadreputation
withregardstoadependencyoncoalandalackofrenewableenergy,thismaychange
withtherecentdevelopmentofstateprograms.
NewSouthWalesishometonumerouscoal-firedpowerplantsintheHunterValley
region,andasaresult,theirenergymixhasalonghistoryofbeingdependentoncoal.
TheHunterValleyCoalChain27 islocatedinNewcastle,NewSouthWalesandisthe
world'slargestcoalexportport,consistingofapproximately35coalmines28.Asa
26 Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Energy Statistics, https://industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Pages/Australian-energy-statistics.aspx#27https://www.hvccc.com.au/Pages/welcome.aspx28https://www.hvccc.com.au/AboutUs/Pages/History.aspx
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result,thisregionnotonlygeneratesandexportslargeamountsofcoalbutalso
providesnumerousjobs.ThismayexplainNewSouthWales’reluctancetodecrease
thehighproportionofcoalintheirpowersupply.Despitemanystatesbeginningthe
transferawayfromcoal,theNewSouthWalesStateGovernmentisattemptingto
maintaintheproductivitywithintheregion.Thishasbeendonethroughthe
investmentofamedium-scalesolarthermalenergyboosterforacoal-firedpower
stationwithintheHunterValleyregion.Althoughthiswouldresultinreduced
emissionswithintheregion,inorderforNewSouthWalestosignificantlyreducetheir
emissionsfurther,moresustainable,renewableenergytechnologiesmustbe
implemented.Furthermore,therehasbeenrecentspeculationregardingthe
expansionandreopeningofcoalmineswithintheupperHunterValleyregion.This
wouldfurtherimpedeNewSouthWalesfromachievingtheirrenewableenergytargets
andincreasethestate’scarbondioxideemissions.
WithinNewSouthWales’electricitysupply,hydropoweristhethirdmajorcontributor,
followingcoalandnaturalgasrespectively.Themajorityofthestate'shydropower
energyoriginatesfromtheSnowyMountains.TheSnowyMountainsScheme29 was
originallydevelopedtocollectandstorewater,howeverthepotentialforthe
generationofhydroelectricitywithinthesystemsoonbecameapparent.Themulti-
reservoirhydroscheme,whichwascompletedin1974,provides32%ofallrenewable
energythatisavailabletotheeasternmainlandgridofAustralia30.Thescheme
generateslargeamountsofpeak-loadelectricitytoNewSouthWalesandtherestof
Australia.AlthoughthisschemeputsNewSouthWalesforwardasaleaderin
hydroelectricpowergeneration,thetechnologyusedisnowmature.Inorderto
repositionthemselvesastheleaderofhydropowerwithinAustralia,furtherexpansion
ofthissectormustoccur.Thismayincludeinstallationofsmall-scalehydropower
29http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/30http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-energy/hydro/the-scheme/
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facilitiesandtheexpansionandrefurbishmentofexistingplants.AlthoughtheSnowy
MountainsSchemeprovidesNewSouthWaleswiththemajorityoftheirrenewable
energygeneration,inordertoincreasethisgenerationfurther,adiversificationofthe
sectormustoccur.Asaresult,thedevelopmentofavarietyofschemeshavebeen
developedtoexpandrenewableenergycapacityandgeneration.
TheNewSouthWalesEnergyActionPlan31 wasimplementedin2013andaimsto
increaserenewableinvestment,andgrowrenewableenergyexpertisethrough
research.ItisstatedintheplanthatNewSouthWalessupportsthenationaltargetof
20%renewableenergyby202032 (asdiscussedinthepreviousreport).Duringthis
period,NewSouthWaleshadnotyetsetastaterenewableenergytarget.TheEnergy
ActionPlanoutlinesthreemaingoalsandnumerousactionsthatwillhelpthe
renewableenergyindustrygrowefficiently.Anexampleofanactionincludedwithin
theplanisfacilitatingtheconstructionoftheSolarFlagshipsProject.TheNewSouth
WalesGovernmentcontributed$64.9millioninfundingforthedevelopmentofthe
solarphotovoltaicprojectinBrokenHillandNyngan.Thesesolarplants,locatedin
ruralNewSouthWales,areexpectedtopoweraround50000homesandreduce
greenhousegasemissions.Moreover,theplanalsogoesintothedetailsofeach
renewableenergytype,andthewayinwhichthestategovernmentintendson
expandingthesetechnologies.Theplanalsoplacesaspecificemphasisonresearchin
thisfield.
TheEnergyActionPlanwasdeemedasuccessbyLeslieWilliams(ParliamentSecretary
forRenewableEnergy),statingthatinthefirstyearfollowingtheplan's
implementation,thestategovernmenthadcompletedoverathirdoftheactions
31 New South Wales Government: Department of Industry - Resources and Energy, NSW Renewable Energy Action Plan, 2013, http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/475318/nsw-renewable-energy-action-plan.pdf32 Clean Energy Regulator, History of the Scheme, 2016, http://www.cleanenergyregulator.gov.au/RET/About-the-Renewable-Energy-Target/History-of-the-scheme
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outlinedtheplan33.However,whenacomparisonismadetootherAustralianstates,it
canbeseenthatNewSouthWaleshasthelowestpercentageofrenewableenergy
electricityandhighestconsumptionofoverallenergy34.Therefore,inorderforNew
SouthWalestosignificantlyincreasetheirrenewableelectricity,thedevelopmentofa
moreholistic,long-termplanneededtooccur.
In2016,theNewSouthWalesClimateChangePolicyFrameworkwasreleased.This
frameworkoutlinesNewSouthWales’long-termplansforreducingtheimpactsofand
adjustingtothechangingclimate.Theframeworkalsooutlinesthestate’s2050goalof
netzeroemissionsandemphasisestheimportanceofincreasingNewSouthWales’
resiliencytoclimatechange.Theframeworksummarisesthepolicythatwillneedtobe
setinordertoachieveemissionssavingsandenableeffectiveactiononclimatechange
tooccur.Asanemphasisisplacedonpolicy,theframeworkactsmoreasacompilation
oftheendgoalstheNewSouthWalesStateGovernmentishopingtoachieve.The
methodsthatneedtobeundertakeninordertoachievethesegoalsareoutlinedin
theDraftClimateChangeFundStrategicPlan
TheDraftClimateChangeFundStrategicPlan(2017-2022)35,whichwasreleasedin
2016,detailsthepriorityareasinwhichtheNewSouthWalesGovernmentintendson
investingin,inordertoreducetheimpactsofclimatechange.Theplanstatesthatit
willprovidefundingfromtheClimateChangeFundtowardsacceleratingadvanced
energy,nationalleadershipinenergyefficiencyandpreparingforachangingclimate.
Includedinthis,NewSouthWaleswouldseefundingputtowardscleanenergy
upgradesforrentalhouseholds,toreducepowerbills.TheStateGovernmenthas
33 New South Wales Government: Department of Industry - Resources and Energy, Report Hails NSW Renewable Energy Plan a Success, 2014, http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/539501/141222_Report-hails-NSW-Renewable-Energy-Action-Plan-a-success.pdf34Climate Council, Game On: The Australian Renewable Energy Race Heats Up, 2016, http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/uploads/2acac0b824742ec83f99676255ae5a81.pdf35New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage, Climate Change Fund: Draft Strategic Plan 2017-2022, 2016, http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/climatechange/Environmentalfuturefundingpackage/draft-climate-change-fund-strategic-plan-20160438.pdf
Australia: New South Wales
18
placedanemphasisonthisarea,asaroundone-thirdofhouseholdsinNewSouth
Walesarerentalhouseholds.Byprovidingratingsforrentalhouseholds,thislets
interestedpartiesknowwhichpropertiesaremoreenergyefficientandthereforewill
havealowerelectricitybill.Asfuturerentersaremoreinclinedtooptforthecheaper,
moreenergyefficientoption,thisencourageslandlordstoinstallenergy-efficient
products,suchassolarhotwater.Avarietyofotheractionsareincludedintheplanin
ordertoachievethethreepriorityareasdetailedabove.Moreover,theplanalso
acknowledgesthatinordertoachievenetzeroemissions,theclosureofcoal-fired
powerstationsmustoccur.TheplandetailstheclosureoftheLiddellPowerStation
andtheBayswaterPowerStationandemphasisestheimportanceofasmooth
transitionintoreliable,affordableenergy.
TheDraftClimateChangeFundStrategicPlanwasdevelopedinordertoreceivethe
generalpublic’sfeedbackontheactionsbeingundertakentoaddressthepriority
investmentareas.TheNewSouthWalesGovernmentintendsontakingintoaccount
thefeedbackreceived,whilstmonitoringthesuccessoftheactionsunderthedraft
plan.Itisstatedinthedraftplanthatthegovernmentintendsoncontinuously
evaluatingthestate'sprogressthroughthedevelopmentofannualreportsfrom2017
onwards.TheNewSouthWalesStateGovernmentwillalsoreleasetheClimateChange
FundStrategicPlan(2022-2027)in2021,whichlooksatthefutureprogressionofNew
SouthWales’shifttorenewableenergy.NewSouthWaleshasbeenslowtoplanand
implementtheirrenewableenergytechnologies,whichcurrently,hasresultedin
minimalchangestotheirenergymix.However,therecentdevelopmentofplansand
frameworkshashopefullylaidthegroundworkforchangetooccur.Thedevelopment
ofthe2050targetalongsidethesedocumentswillhopefullyresultinincreased
renewableenergywithinNewSouthWales’energysectorinthenearfuture.
Australia: New South Wales
19
Resource:https://industry.gov.au/Office-of-the-Chief-Economist/Publications/Pages/Australian-energy-statistics.aspx#
ProportionofRenewableEnergyConsumptionbyState(2008-2014)Co
nsum
ption(PJ)
ProductionandConsumptionofCoalbyState(kt)(2015)
20%
38% 2% 6%
33%
1%
Coal Natural GasOil-based SolarWind Other renewables
86%
4% 5% 3%
EnergyGenerationbySource,Victoria(2015)
EnergyGenerationbySource,SouthAustralia(2015)
3,164
62,226
25,225
2,466
62,895
196,413
SA
VIC
NSW
Production Consumption
0
2
4
6
8
10
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
SA
NSW
VIC
QLD
WA
82%
7% 2%
6%
EnergyGenerationbySource,NewSouthWales(2015)
20
The GovernmentofSouthAustralia,ClimateChange,http://www.climatechange.sa.gov.au/home
RenewablesSA,RenewableEnergyResourceMapshttp://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/investor-information/resources
TheGovernmentofSouthAustralia, Zero WasteSA,http://www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/
ABC News,RenewableEnergyMixplayedaroleinSAblackout,thirdAEMOreportconfirms,2016,http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-12/renewable-energy-mix-played-role-in-sa-blackout/8111184
The Guardian,PortAugusta'bustingagut'toreinventitselfasasolarcitywhencoal-firedpowerisswitchedoff,2016,https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/24/port-augusta-busting-a-gut-to-reinvent-itself-as-a-solar-city-when-coal-fired-power-is-switched-off
News.com.au,WhySouthAustralia’sblackoutsareaproblemforusall,2017,http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/why-south-australias-blackouts-are-a-problem-for-us-all/news-story/bc3bbc8be17d80844bc05ab7f5760d56
TheAustralia,Government: DepartmentofResources,EnergyandTourism,TheSolarCitiesProgram– TheJourney,2013,https://industry.gov.au/Energy/EnergyEfficiency/Documents/solar-cities-journey.pdf
TAKE2,Victoria’sClimateChangePledge,https://www.take2.vic.gov.au/
VictoriaStateGovernment,DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,ClimateChangeandVictoria,http://www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/
RenewEconomy,VictoriaCoalitionmayvoteagainst“fairer”solarfeedintariffs,2016,http://reneweconomy.com.au/victoria-coalition-may-vote-against-fairer-solar-feed-in-tariffs-83337/
VictoriaStateGovernment,DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,EnergyEfficiencyandProductivityStatement,http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/energy/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency/energy-efficiency-and-productivity-statement
TheAge,GovernmentAttackedonSolarTariffPlan,2009,http://www.theage.com.au/environment/government-attacked-on-solar-tariff-plan-20090316-8zww.html#
VictoriaStateGovernment,DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,Victoria’sRenewableEnergyRoadmap,http://delwp.vic.gov.au/energy/renewable-energy/victorias-renewable-energy-roadmap
VictoriaStateGovernment,DepartmentofEnvironment,Land,WaterandPlanning,ClimateChange,http://www.delwp.vic.gov.au/environment-and-wildlife/climate-change
Further Resources
SouthAustralia Victoria
21
NewSouthWalesGovernment,OfficeofEnvironment& Heritage,http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grants/ccfund.htm
The SydneyMorningHerald,Revealed:MajornewcoalminesplannedfortheUpperHunter,2015,http://www.smh.com.au/environment/revealed-major-new-coal-mines-planned-for-the-upper-hunter-20150220-13ki4a.html
ABC News,UpperHuntercoalminesettoreopen,creating275jobs, 2016,http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-02/upper-hunter-coal-mine-set-to-reopen-creating-275-jobs/7989002
Sky News,PMannouncesSnowyHydroexpansionplan, 2017,http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2017/03/16/pm-to-announce-snowy-hydro-expansion-plan.html
NewSouthWales Government,FactSheet:Achievingnet-zeroEmissionsby2050,http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/~/media/7ABECB42C4684E07A1B241679956786B.ashx
NewSouthWales Government,OfficeofEnvironment& Heritage,ClimateChange,http://climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/
NewSouthWales Government,OfficeofEnvironment& Heritage,NSWClimateprojectionsmapfor 2060-2079,http://climatechange.environment.nsw.gov.au/Climate-projections-for-NSW/Interactive-map
Snowyhydro,ExpandingPumpedHydroStorage,2017,http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/news/expanding-pumped-hydro-storage/
Further Resources
NewSouthWales