Clean Energy Council calls for $100bn transformation package to turn Australia into renewables superpower

Clean Energy Council has called for a $100bn transformation package to turn Australia into a renewables superpower with full decarbonisation of the electricity sector by 2035.

The Clean Energy Council has set down its game plan for ensuring Australia gets back on track for 82 per cent renewables by 2030. Picture: Fadel Senna / AFP

The Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia, has set down its game plan for ensuring Australia gets back on track for 82 per cent renewables by 2030, arguing for a $100bn transformation package to help the nation become a clean energy superpower.

The submission released on Monday, titled “Power Playbook – Accelerating Australia’s Clean Energy Transformation” is claimed to be a fully integrated plan for seizing the global opportunities in renewable energy.

Setting out a structure for the creation of a formalised national masterplan the pitch by the Clean Energy Council includes a raft of recommendations, designed to work together, that include a Clean Energy Transformation Investment Package in the order of $10bn per annum for at least 10 years, or a minimum of $100bn.

This $100bn government fund is centred around boosting and retaining Australia’s international competitiveness as the economy transforms into a renewable energy superpower.

As part of that plan the Council is calling on the Australian government to formalise a “Renewable Energy Superpower Masterplan” for the full decarbonisation of the electricity sector by 2035, recognising that low-cost, renewable energy will be the foundation of Australia’s competitive advantage in a net zero economy.

It is also recommending a long-term national policy mechanism to drive increased and sustained investment in large scale renewable energy projects, an increased large-scale renewable energy target extended beyond 2030 — to at least 2040 the preferred option — and new national targets for rooftop solar and distributed energy storage for 2030 and 2040.

There is no mention in the plan of the part nuclear energy and nuclear power plants could play in a low carbon or zero carbon economy.

Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton said that Australia had a historic opportunity to leverage its “abundant natural resources” to maintain a competitive edge relative to other nations.

Clean Energy Council chief executive Kane Thornton. Picture: Timothy Arch

“In a blizzard of ideas, our renewable energy future needs a single cohesive strategy for us to progress as a nation, our playbook helps Australia chart that course,” Mr Thornton said. “The decisions we make now will impact future generations, we can’t leave our energy future to chance.

“Our goal with the Power Playbook is to spark serious discussion and focus our national efforts on establishing a masterplan to direct our collective resources and deliver on our aspirations.”

Policy director for decarbonisation Anna Freeman said Australia was in a global race and needed to stake its claim.

“We need to signal as quickly as possible that Australia intends to be a leader in clean energy and green commodities markets. If we don’t, we’ll find ourselves at the back of the queue for capital, technology and skilled workers,” Ms Freeman said.

“Low-cost renewable energy is the foundation of a competitive Australia fit for the race to net zero.”

The submission has also recommended that the government prioritise investment in green hydrogen and minerals processing market opportunities over the next decade.

“Australia may not have the financial firepower of the United States to throw resources at all the opportunities before us, but we can make the choice to invest strongly in priority markets that align with our comparative advantages. However, each and every opportunity depends on access to low-cost, renewable energy, and that has to be our number one priority,” Mr Thornton said.