Dr Jason Byrne and Dr Tony Matthews examine (5.11.17) the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to renewables:
‘The Palaszczuk government in Queensland recently introduced impressive renewable energy targets. The over-arching goal is to guide the state to 50% renewable energy by 2030 – a mere 13 years away. Two key questions are: How fast is the shift to renewables likely to occur, and how realistic is it to expect a complete transition to 100% renewable energy? The answers depend upon a supportive policy environment, market forces, technology that solves issues of energy intermittency and storage, and the willingness of energy generators, investors and energy customers to embrace renewable energy. A continued transition to renewable energy will also depend upon a state government that supports renewables, and maintains a positive investment climate. We address these in turn.’
- What are the realities of energy transition from coal to renewables? »
- Time for a global agreement on minerals to fuel the clean energy transition »
- Australia’s mining boom transition is on shaky ground »
- Facing uncertain future, fossil fuel workers want retraining in renewables »
- Energy ministers’ power policy pow-wow is still driven more by headlines than details »
- What’s the net cost of using renewables to hit Australia’s climate target? Nothing »
- Where the River Runs Red – a mining community caught between the past and a sustainable future »
- Queensland, NSW set to fall short of climate targets but Victoria on track »
- The new electricity boom: renewable energy makes staggering leap but can it last? »
- Australia’s old powerlines are holding back the renewable energy boom »
- Australia has met its renewable energy target. But don’t pop the champagne »
- Australia’s energy transition: a blueprint for success »
- Australia needs to triple renewable energy plants by 2040 to replace coal power plants set to close »
- To hit 82% renewables in 8 years, we need skilled workers – and labour markets are already overstretched »
- The price of daylight hasn’t changed, so why are our renewable costs on the rise?
- Alan Kohler: Move to renewables bundles false hope, bad policy and slow progress into giant mess
- Clean comes with a cost: Workers face big pay cuts in energy transition
- Here’s what happens to workers when coal-fired power plants close. It isn’t good
- Race for critical minerals boom to test government’s mettle
- The government will underwrite risky investments in renewables – here’s why that’s a good idea
People need to see the benefits from local renewable energy projects, and that means jobs
Tom Morton and colleagues write in The Conversation (18.6.20) about how renewable energy projects are often in direct competition with fossil fuels for the hearts and minds of communities. The authors argue there’s a way to win people over, with ongoing local employment in an energy transition.
‘The Australian government’s investment roadmap for low-emissions technologies promises more taxpayers’ money to the gas industry but fails to deliver the policy needed for people to support a transition to renewable energy.
‘It ignores what academic experts, the CSIRO, the Australian Energy Market Operator, the Australian Industry Group and several premiers and energy ministers are all saying: renewable sources of energy are already cheaper than gas or coal generation, and wind and solar could provide up to 75% of Australia’s electricity by 2025.
‘The technologies could also drive employment in a post-COVID renewables-led recovery, enabling Australia to “rebuild stronger and cleaner”.
‘But policymakers need to make sure the communities bearing the costs of the energy transition also share in its benefits.’
- People need to see the benefits from local renewable energy projects, and that means jobs »
- Solar power contributes to cheaper energy but also ‘critical’ grid instability, warns ESB »
- Critical minerals are vital for renewable energy. We must learn to mine them responsibly »
- Queensland transition to renewables would generate almost 10,000 jobs, analysis shows »
- Australia’s climate transition policy remains inadequate »
- Australia’s states have been forced to go it alone on renewable energy, but it’s a risky strategy »
- Plans for Townsville’s battery metals project doubles in size »
- Clean energy? The world’s demand for copper could be catastrophic for communities and environments »
- More coal-fired power or 100% renewables? For the next few decades, both paths are wrong »
- Clean power future on the cards, only not yet »
- Mining boom could be on the way for Australia, with record-breaking exploration spend »
- Early closure of Australia’s largest coal-fired plant could create electricity shortages without grid upgrades »
- The rush to renewable energy means a new mining boom. But first, Australia needs to make some tough choices »
- The clean energy revolution isn’t just a techno-fix – it’s about capturing hearts and minds »
- Cooperation with the US could drive Australia’s clean energy shift – but we must act fast
- A successful energy transition depends on managing when people use power. So how do we make demand more flexible?
- What is a ‘just’ transition to net zero – and why is Australia struggling to get there?