The Smart Energy Council (SEC) has welcomed Beyond Zero Emissions’ Powering Up Western Australia report, and backed its call for legislated state targets and speedy transmission delivery.
The SEC strongly supports the build out of both the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) and the North West Interconnected System (NWIS), which is critical to decarbonising Western Australian industry. The report finds the state needs 40.5 gigawatts of renewable generation and 125 gigawatt hours of storage across the two grids by 2035.
“Transmission is the enabler, and the development of renewable energy can’t happen without it,” Smart Energy Council Western Australia State Manager John Welch said.
“A great deal is already underway in the SWIS. The $1.4 billion Clean Energy Fund and priority project status for the Clean Energy Link are key steps and we welcome that progress. The task now is to keep the build moving and lock in dates for the next stages so projects can be timed and financed.”
“The North West needs the same commitment. The Pilbara will not decarbonise without shared transmission and access to firmed renewable energy. Building out both systems is critical to the state’s decarbonisation, and we welcome the focus this report brings to that task.”
The Smart Energy Council also supports calls for the Commonwealth to reform the diesel fuel tax rebate, to accelerate the switch to clean industry investment.
“We need reform that rewards the operators making that investment rather than leave them competing against artificially cheap diesel,” Mr Welch said.
“Underpinning all of this is a legislated renewable energy target. That is the floor investors plan against, and Western Australia still does not have one.”
Media contact: media@smartenergy.org.au – 0448 872 192
