Six clean reforms to mitigate Australia's fossil fuel-driven energy crisis

Australia’s peak body for the renewable energy industry is calling on governments to bring forward reforms that will unlock the investment in renewable generation needed to replace the coal and gas generation that is driving high prices and hurting household budgets.

“Ultimately, it’s about bringing more low-cost, renewable energy online to replace unreliable and expensive coal and gas,” said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton.

“As the Clean Energy Council’s recent Q3 Renewable Projects Quarterly Report revealed, clean energy investment has been impacted by years of policy uncertainty and is not at the level it needs to be to replace retiring coal and gas generation.

“The renewable energy industry is ready to provide the necessary investment to deliver this transition at the lowest possible cost to consumers. We look forward to working closely with governments to continue accelerating the decarbonisation of the electricity system.

“There is enormous private sector appetite to invest in renewable energy and energy storage in Australia. At the same time, we know consumer confidence in the energy market to deliver affordable power is declining. By getting projects moving and bringing more clean energy online, more consumers will be able to benefit from energy direct from the sun and wind, along with renewable storage.

“Renewable energy is the only answer to keep energy affordable in the long term.”

The six key reforms recommended by the Clean Energy Council are:

1. Accelerate sensible market reforms that build confidence in clean energy investment. This includes proceeding quickly with reforms to the connection process, getting storage investment signals right, and developing new markets to value all of the capabilities of renewable generation and storage.
2. Avoid distorting markets, recognising that intervention in setting either wholesale or retail electricity prices presents a material risk to investors in clean energy generation and must therefore be avoided.
3. Accelerate investment in the grid through partnerships between governments and leveraging the Rewiring the Nation fund.
4. Implement the Energy Transformation Plan, which is critical in identifying priorities and overcoming barriers that could stall the energy transition, including a strong workforce and resilient supply chain.
5. Empower customers to adopt rooftop solar, household batteries, electric vehicles, electric heating and hot water systems, and energy efficiency solutions that give Australian electricity consumers a way to manage their own energy use, generation and storage.
6. Accelerate investment in energy storage with an Energy Storage Target and Strategy that recognises the critical role of energy storage in the energy transition and provides clear policy support and reforms to unlock the enormous amount of investment required.

“Clean energy and storage can meet our energy and capacity needs, and the technology is here now,” said Thornton

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact:

Jane Aubrey
Clean Energy Council Media Manager
[email protected]
+61 409 470 683