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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Nationals net-zero pushback intensifies, Littleproud open to dropping policy
Nationals leader David Littleproud has revealed he is "definitely" willing to flip the party's support for a 2050 net-zero emissions target while the renewable rollout is "tearing families apart" across regional communities. The revelation follows former Nationals leader Michael McCormack lending his support to a private members' bill being proposed by another former party leader in Barnaby Joyce to repeal legislation mandating greenhouse gas reduction goals. The tinderbox situation may see a new chapter in the nation's climate wars written as both Coalition partners continue to separately review their emissions and energy policies following the May 3 election bloodbath. However, Mr Littleproud stressed the party position adopted during the Morrison government was no longer set in stone prior to receiving the research being put together by Queensland senator Matt Canavan, a coal mining advocate who has steadfastly opposed net-zero. "I'm open ... I wanted to make sure we do this calmly and methodically, and understanding the human toll, the economic toll and the social toll this is having on our communities," Mr Littleproud said on Wednesday. "I think net zero unfortunately, has become something about trying to achieve the impossible rather than actually doing what's sensible, and we're bearing the burden of that." The comments follow news that the Clean Energy Council has thrown down the gauntlet to its 1000-odd member organisations in declaring that the industry must "redouble" its attempts to win community support and social license from regional Australians being asked to host large-scale wind and solar renewable projects. In a four-page letter sent to members, the peak lobby group's 10-member board said the rollout of the energy transition across the regions had so far produced "a mixed reaction from those communities". Meanwhile, it is unknown how the Coalition Agreement could work, or even survive, given there was already a week-long split after the election, should the Nationals drop net zero and a Liberal Party, desperately needing to win back inner-city seats to reform government, voted to retain it. Mr Joyce further stirred the pot in revealing that he "did not vote for net zero" in any previous party room vote, while Mr McCormack said he only backed the policy in 2021 to allay producer fears that Australia might be hit with international trade barriers if it did not adopt the target. "But the world has changed," the Riverina MP said. New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has not put a timeframe on when her party room would finalise its emission reductions and net-zero position, but provided some pointers to its substance in saying the nation should "play its part" in reducing emissions while needing to ensure a reliable and stable domestic energy grid. The policy will be significantly informed by an energy working group being led by opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan. A Peter Dutton-led Coalition went to the May 3 election advocating for an energy sector transition underpinned by the rollout of up to seven nuclear power plants across Australia. Mr Tehan recently told ACM that the Coalition intends to "look at all aspects" of the terrain before bedding down a net-zero by 2050 policy, from weighing up its assessment of the economy-wide impacts of Labor's renewable rollout to "the cost of doing nothing". While Mr Joyce's proposed "Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025" does not have a chance of succeeding given Labor's majority and presumed opposition from the Greens and crossbench, the New England MP said people in the regions were "furious". "You get to understand the sort of fury that (people) have in regional areas," he said. While Mr Tehan likened Mr Joyce and Mr McCormack, who also placed a question mark over Mr Littleproud's leadership, to "two steers in a paddock", Nationals senator for NSW Ross Cadell told the ABC that his colleagues were "espousing the views of their electorates, which people come (to parliament) to do." "Michael is really concerned by the number of wind towers and the things around Yass that are going up, and how that affects his farmers," he said. "Barnaby is the same ... one thing we do know, and I agree with them very much on, is (the rollout) can be done better. "It is really hurting regional communities. When you see acres and acres of roofs without solar panels in the cities, we should be doing more there and having less effect on the regions for a start. "Social license has to happen. It is not happening and you are seeing increasingly these communities rise up because it is not being done the right way." Meanwhile, Liberal senator Jane Hume told media on Wednesday that "over and over" the electorate has indicated that it wants emission reduction policies. "We need to be able to take the politics out of the issue," she said. "And say, how do we get to a net-zero energy future, and reduce emissions, but at the same time maintain our prosperity?" Nationals leader David Littleproud has revealed he is "definitely" willing to flip the party's support for a 2050 net-zero emissions target while the renewable rollout is "tearing families apart" across regional communities. The revelation follows former Nationals leader Michael McCormack lending his support to a private members' bill being proposed by another former party leader in Barnaby Joyce to repeal legislation mandating greenhouse gas reduction goals. The tinderbox situation may see a new chapter in the nation's climate wars written as both Coalition partners continue to separately review their emissions and energy policies following the May 3 election bloodbath. However, Mr Littleproud stressed the party position adopted during the Morrison government was no longer set in stone prior to receiving the research being put together by Queensland senator Matt Canavan, a coal mining advocate who has steadfastly opposed net-zero. "I'm open ... I wanted to make sure we do this calmly and methodically, and understanding the human toll, the economic toll and the social toll this is having on our communities," Mr Littleproud said on Wednesday. "I think net zero unfortunately, has become something about trying to achieve the impossible rather than actually doing what's sensible, and we're bearing the burden of that." The comments follow news that the Clean Energy Council has thrown down the gauntlet to its 1000-odd member organisations in declaring that the industry must "redouble" its attempts to win community support and social license from regional Australians being asked to host large-scale wind and solar renewable projects. In a four-page letter sent to members, the peak lobby group's 10-member board said the rollout of the energy transition across the regions had so far produced "a mixed reaction from those communities". Meanwhile, it is unknown how the Coalition Agreement could work, or even survive, given there was already a week-long split after the election, should the Nationals drop net zero and a Liberal Party, desperately needing to win back inner-city seats to reform government, voted to retain it. Mr Joyce further stirred the pot in revealing that he "did not vote for net zero" in any previous party room vote, while Mr McCormack said he only backed the policy in 2021 to allay producer fears that Australia might be hit with international trade barriers if it did not adopt the target. "But the world has changed," the Riverina MP said. New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has not put a timeframe on when her party room would finalise its emission reductions and net-zero position, but provided some pointers to its substance in saying the nation should "play its part" in reducing emissions while needing to ensure a reliable and stable domestic energy grid. The policy will be significantly informed by an energy working group being led by opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan. A Peter Dutton-led Coalition went to the May 3 election advocating for an energy sector transition underpinned by the rollout of up to seven nuclear power plants across Australia. Mr Tehan recently told ACM that the Coalition intends to "look at all aspects" of the terrain before bedding down a net-zero by 2050 policy, from weighing up its assessment of the economy-wide impacts of Labor's renewable rollout to "the cost of doing nothing". While Mr Joyce's proposed "Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025" does not have a chance of succeeding given Labor's majority and presumed opposition from the Greens and crossbench, the New England MP said people in the regions were "furious". "You get to understand the sort of fury that (people) have in regional areas," he said. While Mr Tehan likened Mr Joyce and Mr McCormack, who also placed a question mark over Mr Littleproud's leadership, to "two steers in a paddock", Nationals senator for NSW Ross Cadell told the ABC that his colleagues were "espousing the views of their electorates, which people come (to parliament) to do." "Michael is really concerned by the number of wind towers and the things around Yass that are going up, and how that affects his farmers," he said. "Barnaby is the same ... one thing we do know, and I agree with them very much on, is (the rollout) can be done better. "It is really hurting regional communities. When you see acres and acres of roofs without solar panels in the cities, we should be doing more there and having less effect on the regions for a start. "Social license has to happen. It is not happening and you are seeing increasingly these communities rise up because it is not being done the right way." Meanwhile, Liberal senator Jane Hume told media on Wednesday that "over and over" the electorate has indicated that it wants emission reduction policies. "We need to be able to take the politics out of the issue," she said. "And say, how do we get to a net-zero energy future, and reduce emissions, but at the same time maintain our prosperity?" Nationals leader David Littleproud has revealed he is "definitely" willing to flip the party's support for a 2050 net-zero emissions target while the renewable rollout is "tearing families apart" across regional communities. The revelation follows former Nationals leader Michael McCormack lending his support to a private members' bill being proposed by another former party leader in Barnaby Joyce to repeal legislation mandating greenhouse gas reduction goals. The tinderbox situation may see a new chapter in the nation's climate wars written as both Coalition partners continue to separately review their emissions and energy policies following the May 3 election bloodbath. However, Mr Littleproud stressed the party position adopted during the Morrison government was no longer set in stone prior to receiving the research being put together by Queensland senator Matt Canavan, a coal mining advocate who has steadfastly opposed net-zero. "I'm open ... I wanted to make sure we do this calmly and methodically, and understanding the human toll, the economic toll and the social toll this is having on our communities," Mr Littleproud said on Wednesday. "I think net zero unfortunately, has become something about trying to achieve the impossible rather than actually doing what's sensible, and we're bearing the burden of that." The comments follow news that the Clean Energy Council has thrown down the gauntlet to its 1000-odd member organisations in declaring that the industry must "redouble" its attempts to win community support and social license from regional Australians being asked to host large-scale wind and solar renewable projects. In a four-page letter sent to members, the peak lobby group's 10-member board said the rollout of the energy transition across the regions had so far produced "a mixed reaction from those communities". Meanwhile, it is unknown how the Coalition Agreement could work, or even survive, given there was already a week-long split after the election, should the Nationals drop net zero and a Liberal Party, desperately needing to win back inner-city seats to reform government, voted to retain it. Mr Joyce further stirred the pot in revealing that he "did not vote for net zero" in any previous party room vote, while Mr McCormack said he only backed the policy in 2021 to allay producer fears that Australia might be hit with international trade barriers if it did not adopt the target. "But the world has changed," the Riverina MP said. New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has not put a timeframe on when her party room would finalise its emission reductions and net-zero position, but provided some pointers to its substance in saying the nation should "play its part" in reducing emissions while needing to ensure a reliable and stable domestic energy grid. The policy will be significantly informed by an energy working group being led by opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan. A Peter Dutton-led Coalition went to the May 3 election advocating for an energy sector transition underpinned by the rollout of up to seven nuclear power plants across Australia. Mr Tehan recently told ACM that the Coalition intends to "look at all aspects" of the terrain before bedding down a net-zero by 2050 policy, from weighing up its assessment of the economy-wide impacts of Labor's renewable rollout to "the cost of doing nothing". While Mr Joyce's proposed "Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025" does not have a chance of succeeding given Labor's majority and presumed opposition from the Greens and crossbench, the New England MP said people in the regions were "furious". "You get to understand the sort of fury that (people) have in regional areas," he said. While Mr Tehan likened Mr Joyce and Mr McCormack, who also placed a question mark over Mr Littleproud's leadership, to "two steers in a paddock", Nationals senator for NSW Ross Cadell told the ABC that his colleagues were "espousing the views of their electorates, which people come (to parliament) to do." "Michael is really concerned by the number of wind towers and the things around Yass that are going up, and how that affects his farmers," he said. "Barnaby is the same ... one thing we do know, and I agree with them very much on, is (the rollout) can be done better. "It is really hurting regional communities. When you see acres and acres of roofs without solar panels in the cities, we should be doing more there and having less effect on the regions for a start. "Social license has to happen. It is not happening and you are seeing increasingly these communities rise up because it is not being done the right way." Meanwhile, Liberal senator Jane Hume told media on Wednesday that "over and over" the electorate has indicated that it wants emission reduction policies. "We need to be able to take the politics out of the issue," she said. "And say, how do we get to a net-zero energy future, and reduce emissions, but at the same time maintain our prosperity?" Nationals leader David Littleproud has revealed he is "definitely" willing to flip the party's support for a 2050 net-zero emissions target while the renewable rollout is "tearing families apart" across regional communities. The revelation follows former Nationals leader Michael McCormack lending his support to a private members' bill being proposed by another former party leader in Barnaby Joyce to repeal legislation mandating greenhouse gas reduction goals. The tinderbox situation may see a new chapter in the nation's climate wars written as both Coalition partners continue to separately review their emissions and energy policies following the May 3 election bloodbath. However, Mr Littleproud stressed the party position adopted during the Morrison government was no longer set in stone prior to receiving the research being put together by Queensland senator Matt Canavan, a coal mining advocate who has steadfastly opposed net-zero. "I'm open ... I wanted to make sure we do this calmly and methodically, and understanding the human toll, the economic toll and the social toll this is having on our communities," Mr Littleproud said on Wednesday. "I think net zero unfortunately, has become something about trying to achieve the impossible rather than actually doing what's sensible, and we're bearing the burden of that." The comments follow news that the Clean Energy Council has thrown down the gauntlet to its 1000-odd member organisations in declaring that the industry must "redouble" its attempts to win community support and social license from regional Australians being asked to host large-scale wind and solar renewable projects. In a four-page letter sent to members, the peak lobby group's 10-member board said the rollout of the energy transition across the regions had so far produced "a mixed reaction from those communities". Meanwhile, it is unknown how the Coalition Agreement could work, or even survive, given there was already a week-long split after the election, should the Nationals drop net zero and a Liberal Party, desperately needing to win back inner-city seats to reform government, voted to retain it. Mr Joyce further stirred the pot in revealing that he "did not vote for net zero" in any previous party room vote, while Mr McCormack said he only backed the policy in 2021 to allay producer fears that Australia might be hit with international trade barriers if it did not adopt the target. "But the world has changed," the Riverina MP said. New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has not put a timeframe on when her party room would finalise its emission reductions and net-zero position, but provided some pointers to its substance in saying the nation should "play its part" in reducing emissions while needing to ensure a reliable and stable domestic energy grid. The policy will be significantly informed by an energy working group being led by opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan. A Peter Dutton-led Coalition went to the May 3 election advocating for an energy sector transition underpinned by the rollout of up to seven nuclear power plants across Australia. Mr Tehan recently told ACM that the Coalition intends to "look at all aspects" of the terrain before bedding down a net-zero by 2050 policy, from weighing up its assessment of the economy-wide impacts of Labor's renewable rollout to "the cost of doing nothing". While Mr Joyce's proposed "Repeal Net Zero Bill 2025" does not have a chance of succeeding given Labor's majority and presumed opposition from the Greens and crossbench, the New England MP said people in the regions were "furious". "You get to understand the sort of fury that (people) have in regional areas," he said. While Mr Tehan likened Mr Joyce and Mr McCormack, who also placed a question mark over Mr Littleproud's leadership, to "two steers in a paddock", Nationals senator for NSW Ross Cadell told the ABC that his colleagues were "espousing the views of their electorates, which people come (to parliament) to do." "Michael is really concerned by the number of wind towers and the things around Yass that are going up, and how that affects his farmers," he said. "Barnaby is the same ... one thing we do know, and I agree with them very much on, is (the rollout) can be done better. "It is really hurting regional communities. When you see acres and acres of roofs without solar panels in the cities, we should be doing more there and having less effect on the regions for a start. "Social license has to happen. It is not happening and you are seeing increasingly these communities rise up because it is not being done the right way." Meanwhile, Liberal senator Jane Hume told media on Wednesday that "over and over" the electorate has indicated that it wants emission reduction policies. "We need to be able to take the politics out of the issue," she said. "And say, how do we get to a net-zero energy future, and reduce emissions, but at the same time maintain our prosperity?"
AU Financial Review
3 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
ASX to rise, Wall St records reset
Australian shares are set to open higher, reflecting enduring optimism on Wall Street that helped lift both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite to record highs. A key reason for the latest move higher in US equities is a positive start to the June quarter reporting season. 'We expect a more dovish tone from next week's [Federal Open Market Committee's] statement and [chairman Jerome] Powell's press conference,' veteran market strategist Ed Yardeni said in a note. 'If so, that would continue to fuel the bull market in stocks, especially since the Q2 earnings reporting season should continue to beat expectations. The blended (actual/estimated) S&P 500 earnings per share growth rate edged up to 4.3 per cent year-over-year last week. It should be closer to 8.0 per cent when all the results are in.' Market highlights ASX futures are pointing up 29 points or 0.3 per cent to 8677. All US prices near 2.30pm New York time. Today's agenda The RBA will release the minutes from its latest meeting on Tuesday at 11.30am. NZ trade balance data will be released at 8.30am. Top stories Gas is in as renewables industry adopts new playbook | In a detailed letter to its members, the Clean Energy Council says it must be realistic about gas and work harder to secure support for regional wind and solar projects. Chinese car brands all the rage, and on track to dominate by 2035 | Forecasting conducted for car dealerships suggest vehicles manufactured in China will make up 43 per cent of sales within a decade in a major market shift. No longer a 'state issue': Feds stump up $14 million for marine crisis | The federal government has pledged millions to help SA deal with its marine catastrophe, but experts say much more is needed. | From Tim Tams to Rexona, the ACCC's case against Woolworths and Coles will hinge on 24 grocery items.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Major change to how you run your car that could save Aussie drivers $250 a day
Electricity providers say vehicle-to-grid (V2G) connections will revolutionise how Australia produces and uses energy, eventually allowing electric vehicles (EVs) to power homes during outages and even earn their owners extra income. Now, those capabilities are moving closer to the mainstream, as infrastructure begins to catch up with innovation. In recent months, EV owners have shared how they've used V2G and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) set-ups — both of which involve the two-way flow of energy between EVs, homes and the grid. Early adopters have successfully powered not only appliances and other vehicles but, in one case, even an entire school's server room. This month, Ausgrid — Australia's largest electricity distributor, serving more than four million people across New South Wales — announced it had successfully connected a working V2G system to its network at a depot in Artarmon, Sydney. It's a major milestone proving the technology is now safe and viable at the distributor level, and while it doesn't mean every customer can use it immediately, it confirms V2G is a live, proven option — and Ausgrid is now working to prepare its broader network for future rollout. Speaking to Yahoo News, Nick Black, Head of Ausgrid's EVC and Infrastructure Development, said several suppliers will have V2G chargers available in the Australian market over the coming months, with competition expected to increase considerably. "Any Clean Energy Council (CEC) approved equipment may be installed by customers using an accredited service provider (ASP)," he said. "For a customer who is able to install a charger at home, the added V2G capability can give them an additional revenue stream and is another reason to purchase an electric vehicle." Right now, only certain chargers can be used in Ausgrid's network — either ones that are officially certified by the Clean Energy Council (CEC), or ones that meet Australian safety standards and have been approved by Ausgrid. Each energy distributor is different in what they allow If a charger meets those rules and the installer is properly qualified, then it can be safely set up. "Eventually, V2G equipment will be CEC approved and then available for any customer to apply," he said. "Ausgrid can approve devices that have an AS1477.2 [charger] for connection to its network." Black said there was serious financial potential when it comes to V2G for everyday Australians. He explained that Australia already has a strong retail energy market, which means there are real money-saving opportunities for people who use V2G smartly. For example, if a customer charges their EV during the day using cheap solar power and then discharges that energy back to the grid during the expensive evening peak, they can earn money or reduce their power bills. Amber Electric recently claimed a customer earned $255 in a single day alone in June, exporting power at peak prices, charging when electricity was cheap. "That $255.08 was earned by a single EV at one location, in one evening, using the StarCharge charger," an Amber spokesperson told Yahoo. Ross De Rango, Head of Energy and Infrastructure at the Australian Electric Vehicle Council, agreed the tech could be transformative. He said while useful, V2G must be used responsibly and only after drivers research how to do it safely first. "The amount of battery storage that will ultimately exist in the batteries in our cars will dwarf all other forms of grid-connected storage," he said. "Unlocking V2G will drive down energy costs for everyone (not just the EV drivers), enable us to close coal and gas-fired power stations sooner, and make our energy system more reliable and resilient." BYD photo highlights 'revolutionary' EV feature changing Aussie habits EV driver's surprising use of car set to 'revolutionise' common power problem Warning against EV owners' 'revolutionary' solution to battery concern But, one of the country's leading mechanics warned of just how much is at stake if a person doesn't know what they're doing. Canberra-based mechanic Saffy Sgroi said "safety is the number one concern" when it comes to V2V charging. "We're talking about working with a huge battery here," she said. "You've got 400 kilowatts of battery running — they can fry you. If you do the wrong thing, you're gone." Addressing potential safety concerns when it comes to the emerging tech, Black said Ausgrid has focused intensely on the installation process to ensure the "V2G charger does not present a hazard" to workers or customers. "Manufacturers have been testing to ensure that they are confident in using V2G for specific EV models," he said. "Ultimately, the vehicle's battery management system will protect the battery, and the power levels for V2G are much more gentle than driving a vehicle or fast charging it," he said. Head of Customer Connections at Ausgrid, Fatima Bazzi, branded the announcement a "game-changer". "We are excited to see how this technology will enable our customers to take a more active role in the energy ecosystem, turning their electric vehicles into a valuable resource that can support their homes and earn them income," she said. "This means we can better manage network stress, improve overall grid performance, and potentially defer costly infrastructure upgrades, ultimately benefiting all our customers." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Perth Now
17-06-2025
- Science
- Perth Now
Sunny outlook: big solar farms given tick by neighbours
Large-scale solar farms are more popular with neighbours than some might think, with a study finding four in every five nearby residents would not oppose further projects being developed in their area. The US study, published in an international science journal on Tuesday, also found more than two in every five people surveyed felt positive about the renewable energy projects located near them. Australian experts say the findings mimic the experience of those living near solar farms in regional areas, although they have called for greater education and transparency to ensure continuing community acceptance. The research comes as the number of renewable energy projects ramps up in Australia, with 1.2 gigawatts of solar capacity added in 2024 in 14 large-scale projects, according to the Clean Energy Council. The American study, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, surveyed 979 residents across 39 states living within five kilometres of a large-scale solar farm. It found most residents felt positive (43 per cent) or neutral (42 per cent) about the solar project in their neighbourhood, while only 15 per cent felt negatively about it. Asked whether they would approve of more solar projects being built in their area, 82 per cent expressed support or felt neutral, and 18 per cent said they would be opposed. The size of solar projects had the greatest impact on residents' opinions, study author and University of Michigan associate professor Sarah Mills said, but the positive message from locals was clear. "Just as has been documented for wind energy, we found that the NIMBY – not in my backyard – explanation for opposition to solar was overly simplistic and unhelpful in explaining neighbours' sentiments," Dr Mills said. The study found some residents living near solar farms were poorly informed about them, she said, and recommended developers engage further with local communities. The findings are similar to those from a Farmers from Climate Action study in 2024 that found 73 per cent of people in renewable energy zones supported wind and solar projects. Australians were widely supportive of renewable energy as the recent federal election proved, RE-Alliance national director Andrew Bray said, and that approval extended to people in regional areas directly affected by solar projects. "These are the sort of numbers we see supporting renewable technologies both in abstract and when you go to regional areas where these technologies are being built," he told AAP. "Often the headlines you see around these things are not always telling the full stories." Greater support and engagement should be provided to those living in renewable energy zones to keep them informed, Mr Bray said, and the federal government should consider establishing local energy hubs to help them access accurate information. "The engagement has not been uniformly up to scratch," he said. Australia developers established 21 renewable energy projects in Australia in 2024 according to the Clean Energy Council, including 14 large-scale solar developments and six wind projects.
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Investment in big batteries booms as Australia's energy transition gathers pace
Investment in big batteries hit $2.4bn in the first three months of 2025, making it the second strongest quarter for energy storage on record in Australia. The latest data from the Clean Energy Council found six new storage projects – totalling 1.5 gigawatts capacity – reached financial close (the financial commitment that means the project is likely to be built) and a level of investment last seen in the final quarter of 2023 with a record $2.8bn. The largest was the four-hour Wooreen battery system in Victoria, at 350MW, which was supported by the federal government's capacity investment scheme. Three large-scale battery systems in South Australia, one in Queensland and one in New South Wales also reached financial close. Renewable energy had a slower start to the year, with two solar farms – totalling 386MW and $410m investment – reaching financial close. A quieter first quarter was typical, the CEC said, with investment ramping up throughout the year. Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton's Clear Air column as a free newsletter 'Over the past five years, new investment commitments in the first quarter of the year have averaged 427MW, compared to a Q4 average of 1,153MW over the same period,' it said. By the end of March, 82 renewable energy projects had either reached financial commitment or were under construction, representing 12GW of capacity. The strong result for storage in the first quarter followed Australia's biggest yearfor clean energy investment in 2024, in which rooftop solar installations on homes and businesses raced past 4m, the CEC's annual snapshot found. Investment in large-scale renewable energy hit $9bn, a 500% increase on 2023. This combined with investment in energy storage to deliver the nation's highest clean energy investment on record at $12.7bn. The CEC's chief policy and impact officer, Arron Wood, said political certainty would continue to help drive the 'eye-watering' levels of private sector investmentneeded for the government to meet its target of 82% renewable energy by 2030. 'The target is ambitious, but it's achievable,' Wood said. 'With the election behind us, inflation easing and strong industry participation in the Capacity Investment Scheme, the early signs suggest we can expect to see private sector investment in both renewable power generation and battery storage projects continue to increase as the year progresses.' Renewable energy provided 40% of Australia's total electricity generation in 2024, up from 39.4% in 2023. The CEC report said an additional 6GW from wind and solar farms would be needed annually by 2030 to replace retiring coal generation. 'The Clean Energy Australia report has a lot of really good news in it,' Wood said, adding that it showed investment flowed with the right policy settings and continuity. 'The willingness to build Australia's energy transition is there. But that's not something where you can just set and forget.' Sign up to Clear Air Australia Adam Morton brings you incisive analysis about the politics and impact of the climate crisis after newsletter promotion New transmission lines were critical to maintaining the pace, along with connecting projects to the grid as quickly and efficiently as possible, Wood said. Working with communities to build support for the transitionand maximise local benefits was also important. The director of Clean Energy Finance, Tim Buckley, said there was cause for optimism but maintaining the pace of investment and developmentrequired much quicker approvals, construction and commissioning. 'We need to get speed and scale way beyond current rates, particularly with extended delays to grid connection,' he said. 'There is great momentum, and more to do,' said Anna Skarbek, the chief executive of Climateworks Centre. She said the electricity transition was tracking well in terms of replacing fossil fuels with renewable power. 'We know that to achieve a prosperous economy, in a fully decarbonised global economy, when all sectors are net zero – that actually will use a lot more electricity than what we use today,' she said. Reaching the government's legislated target of net zero by 2050 would mean at least a doubling in electricity demand as other sectors including transport, mining and industry sought to cut their emissions. 'We know that Australia has the capacity to do that,' Skarbek said. 'Australia does have very large-scale potential to use renewable energy in its heavy industry sectors, and that's a really important contribution to global trade. And also we have world-class solar penetration at what's considered small scale or distributed energy in households.'
