Australia’s Energy Future: A Community Approach

Hand placing the final wooden block labeled 'Net Zero' on top of a stack with other blocks displaying green energy and sustainability icons, against a blurred natural background.

The Australian government is moving forward with its plan to rewire the nation, a project that could be quite costly, with land acquisition prices potentially reaching $10,000 per kilometre. Recognising the importance of including everyone in the conversation, there’s a strong push for community involvement.

Last month  discussions at the All Energy conference in Victoria emphasised how crucial it is for local communities to be part of creating new Renewable Energy Zones and updating power transmission systems. The benefits? These projects can bring significant improvements to local areas.

The Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) is now making sure that for any new energy project to be approved, it must be communicated clearly to all involved, from government councils to the people who own the land. This means everyone should understand what’s proposed and know their rights in the process.

Here’s what’s new:

  • Information must be easy to understand and readily available.
  • Communication and engagement must be tailored to meet different needs.
  • Everyone should know how they can contribute and that their views will matter.
  • People should have the chance to be involved in energy plans from the start.

At a recent energy conference, Chris Bowen, speaking optimistically, mentioned that a well-designed renewable power system is not only reliable but also essential, especially during tough times. He noted that failing to update our infrastructure could be why Australia might not meet its energy goals. By 2030, Australia aims to get 82% of its energy from renewable sources and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 45% compared to 2005 levels.

However, there are concerns that the government’s current focus on power transmission issues might distract from a broader strategy for renewable energy, which has been somewhat lacking over the past decade. This could be why the Minister for Climate Change and Energy is avoiding tough questions at the upcoming COP28 climate conference in Dubai.

The Australian government’s decision to send Jenny McAllister, the Assistant Minister, instead of the Minister to COP28 has been noticed by many, especially by the Pacific island countries. With those nations key to Australia being announced as the COP31, are watching Australia closely. They want to make sure Australia keeps its promises to address climate change. This interest is shared by other countries, like Turkey, who are also keen on hosting the conference and holding Australia to its climate commitments.

This is a summary article from Edge2020 – read the original article.

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And the Most Shocking News of 2023 Goes to…

Forget about scary books, the real fright this year is a report about Australia’s electricity supply, and it’s coming out this week.

In Western Australia this week, a report from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) showed that the government’s plan to stop using coal by 2030 would cause electricity shortages. The WA government, realizing the problem, quickly announced that the Muja 6 power plant would continue to operate until at least April 2025. This is because WA is planning to remove a large amount of electricity from the system by 2030, and the report shows there will be significant shortages by 2026 and even more by 2033. So, the conversation in the state is now about how to manage the change rather than how to achieve the targets.

In the National Electricity Market (NEM), even before this report was released, there were already announcements in Victoria and expected news from New South Wales. The question is no longer whether Australia will achieve its goal of net-zero emissions, but by how much we will miss it and what impact will the closures of coal plants have before we can replace them with renewable energy?

The Victoria government has made a deal with energy company AGL to keep the Loy Yang power plant running until 2035. Despite some objections, it is clear that the switch to renewables is not happening quickly enough to smoothly move away from coal.

Following this, Energy Australia announced that the Yallourn power plant will close in 2028, but the Point Piper plant will remain available until 2040.

Adding to this, the NSW government has hinted that the Eraring plant will stay open, raising questions about what form it will take and at what cost.

With the uptake of renewable energy in Australia at one of its lowest levels in years, held back by large subsidies in the US and high demand in Europe, opposition to upgrades of the electricity network, especially in rural areas, and uncertainty about policies after 2030, this week’s report will undoubtedly be alarming.

As the COP28 conference approaches in November, there will likely be debates in Canberra about who will attend, as the report will undoubtedly put Australia back in the spotlight for not meeting its targets.

So, the question is not whether we will miss our targets for changing our energy supply and reducing our impact on the climate, but by how much?

This is a summary article from Edge2020 – read the original article.

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