SA slashing red tape for renewable energy

Red tape will be slashed for renewable energy investors in landmark laws the Premier has touted as allowing big global firms to “participate in grabbing land”.

Red tape is poised to be slashed for hydrogen and renewable energy investors in landmark laws designed to smooth controversial land acquisition processes.

Described by Premier Peter Malinauskas as allowing big global firms to “participate in grabbing land” with high-quality wind and solar energy potential, the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Bill is touted as a national first.

A competitive system of land access and approvals is designed to capitalise on a “gold rush” of large-scale hydrogen and renewable energy development, with more than $20bn of projects said to be in the pipeline.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Projects (CIP), which is eyeing a $30bn renewable energy project to drive industry in Port Augusta and Whyalla, said the new laws would enable “significant investment into South Australia”.

Artist's impression of what Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) wind, solar and hydrogen production development on the Eyre Peninsula could look like. Picture: Supplied by CIP

Introduced to parliament on Wednesday, the Bill includes five licence types relating to key stages of renewable energy projects.

Areas of pastoral land and state waters would be identified by the Energy and Mining Department and recommended for release to the market, in consultation with native title holders and landowners.

Asked by The Advertiser how he reconciled an extensive consultation process, including SA’s First Nations Voice to Parliament, with enabling global firms to grab land, Mr Malinauskas said: “What we’re doing here is putting, should the legislation pass the parliament, through an organised licensing regime making very significant parcels of land available to the market for big industrial players, significant international companies to get access to that land for renewable and hydrogen energy production.

“We want to provide a process that is clear, that does take into account considerations, whether it be around managing native vegetation, biodiversity, and also Indigenous communities. Aboriginal heritage is an important element that has to be contemplated here as well.”

Monegros wind farm in Spain. Supplied by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners

Mr Malinauskas said companies and investors were deterred by complex or unclear rules, which the legislation sought to resolve.

Extensive consultation with Indigenous communities across the state had been conducted, he said, but the SA Voice, once operating, would be able to choose to respond to parliament if it wished.

CIP Australia vice-president Matthew Stuchbery said: “The combination of South Australia’s world-class wind and solar resources, the way the government has prioritised hydrogen policy, makes it very attractive to international investors.

“One of the main things that’s driving our strategy is building industry up through Whyalla and Port Augusta. The opportunities for an industry to be built here are immense.”