South Australia on track for net 100% renewables by 2030

South Australia will be powered almost entirely by renewable energy by 2030 — as exports to eastern states from wind and solar exceed the state’s gas-fired generation, the State Government says.

South Australia will be near to a net 100 per cent of its electricity generated by renewables by 2030, the State Government says.

Going further than previous forecasts of 75 per cent renewables by 2025, Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan said on Friday that SA was on track to be a major energy exporter to other states.

“Our aim won’t be 100 per cent renewable generation, but actually net 100 per cent renewables with a sensible level of gas generation and a greater amount of renewable energy exported interstate,” he said.

“ … Our goal is that in the 2030s, SA is a national and global force in reducing emissions by generating more clean power than needed for our domestic use.”

Addressing a national energy conference in Melbourne, Mr van Holst Pellekaan said the need to integrate climate change and energy policy was not going to go away.

He called on the Federal Government to give more clarity on Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the proposed Tasmanian connection, Battery of the Nation.

These projects would have a huge impact on renewable energy projects by providing firm power when wind and solar were low.

“We should work to clarify the timing of their delivery, how their transmission will be managed and how they will operate, so the rest of the market can invest around them with confidence and in an orderly fashion,” he said.

South Australia has already exceeded 50 per cent renewables generation and recently became a net energy exporter to Victoria.

Billions of dollars of new investment in renewables are planned, especially if the ElectraNet interconnector to NSW is approved.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan urged greater co-operation between governments and a more ambitious agenda by COAG, including on energy efficiency.

Large-scale renewables coupled with one third of households already having rooftop solar have created challenges in supply and demand as well as technical challenges in stability.

SA would continue to lead the nation in adapting to these challenges, he said.

“Our Government will act in advance of national reforms to address these matters as required,” he said.

“SA needs to solve these problems — not just for ourselves and the NEM, but for other countries in transition as well.

“SA is among California, Hawaii, Ireland and Germany as the places where the difficult lessons are being learnt due to high levels of solar and wind, low levels of net demand and two-way distribution networks.”