Today’s meeting of the Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council (ECMC) demonstrated unity and strength of intention among Commonwealth, state and territory governments to cooperate in progressing Australia’s clean energy transformation, and getting the country back on track towards reaching 82 per cent renewables by 2030.
An agreement among Ministers to work together in negotiating bilateral Renewable Energy Transformation Agreements (RETAs) under the National Energy Transformation Partnership (NETP) looks set to accelerate progress among jurisdictions towards an orderly exit of ageing coal-fired power stations, and addressing common issues affecting development of more renewables projects.
It is critical that resolute action is taken to ensure that new and sustained investment continues to grow strongly, prior to the planned replacement of several ageing coal-fired power stations over the remainder of this decade.
Similarly, ensuring that connections processes are designed correctly is a priority, as exemplified by the Clean Energy Council’s strong engagement in the Connections Reform Initiative (CRI); this will continue to be a major focus moving forward.
The Clean Energy Council will contribute to the forthcoming consultation on the establishment of an Orderly Exit Management Framework, due to be released to the public in December 2023.
The commitment by Ministers to develop a National Consumer Energy Resources Roadmap is a significant step towards ultimately ensuring that all Australian households and businesses have access to the benefits of lower cost, and more reliable, renewable energy.
The Clean Energy Council has long called for an expansion of the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme over time to incorporate distributed energy storage to further realise this objective, and is developing resources of its own to provide input into the design of the Roadmap.
We hope that today's commitment to establishing national CER standards also paves the way for the eventual establishment of a National Technical Standards Body to oversee this work.
Unified agreement among Ministers on new Minimum Operating Standards for Government-Funded Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure is also a positive step.
The Clean Energy Council will closely monitor the progress of actions being developed to deliver various components of the National Renewable Energy Supply Chain Action Plan.
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Liam Straughan
Clean Energy Council Media Officer
[email protected]
+61 409 470 683
