South Australia sets plan for 100 per cent renewable energy

The Clean Energy Council has welcomed the South Australian Government’s plan A secure transition to affordable renewable energy, which reiterates the state’s commitment to 100 per cent renewable energy and accelerates a range of reforms to better prepare and integrate these technologies into the energy system.

The South Australian Government has recognised the incredible success of renewable energy to date, and has now set a firm plan for getting to 100 per cent renewable energy. This is the future, and the Clean Energy Council looks forward to working with the South Australian Government to make this a reality.

Stronger network interconnection is at the heart of a 21st-century energy system, and the South Australian Government’s commitment to Project EnergyConnect (the interconnector between South Australia and New South Wales) will modernise the grid, drive down power prices and unlock the next wave of large-scale and household-level renewable energy.

“The project has been burdened by a regulatory process and RIT-T that is no longer fit for purpose,” said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton. “Accelerating Project EnergyConnect is key to addressing the challenges identified in the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) report, as is continued investment in energy storage at the household, community and utility-scale.”

The plan also recognises the importance of leveraging smart technology built into solar power systems. By updating regulations and standards to catch up with the latest technology developments, South Australia can ensure that rooftop solar better supports the grid and empowers customers to manage their power better and reduce energy bills.

Many of the measures proposed by the South Australian Government echo those outlined in the Clean Energy Council’s Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Roadmap in September 2019.

“We need to change the way that we manage solar and battery systems and how they interact with the grid,” said Thornton. “New rules are required to mandate technological capability and new markets to make the best use of the capabilities already at our disposal.

“The Clean Energy Council, with our members, look forward to working with the South Australian Government and AEMO as they work through the details of this plan and ensure they are effective in driving the uptake of renewable energy while managing energy security and lowering power prices.”