Victoria, Queensland and the ACT insist they won’t compromise on their renewable targets as COAG Energy Council members prepare for tomorrow’s meeting.
The meeting of state and territory energy ministers, headed by Federal Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg, will decide whether the proposed National Energy Guarantee (NEG) proceeds to design stage or not.
Victoria’s Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio told the Guardian she would not sacrifice clean energy “red line issues” for national consensus on energy policy.
States pursue their own renewable energy targets
The Queensland government is pursuing a 50 per cent renewable target by 2030, while the ACT is targeting 100 per cent renewables by 2020. Victoria is heading for 25 per cent by 2020 and 40 per cent by 2025.
The Australian Financial Review weighed in to the debate today, saying a national agreement between states and Commonwealth is necessary to ensure electricity security.
According to the AFR, state policies should enter into the framework only when a national agreement is fixed.
The states/Commonwealth stoush comes as new research contradicts Coalition renewable energy predictions. A study by Green Energy Markets shows Australia’s clean energy capacity on track to exceed targets dubbed “impossible” by Canberra.
National renewable targets ‘pathetic and weak’
The Victorian energy minister says she won’t sign off on the NEG without a guarantee on the independence of existing state renewable targets.
Ms D’Ambrosio rejects the Turnbull Government’s insistence on determining the emissions reduction framework for electricity. This includes both emissions reduction target and trajectory.
The minister subsequently called the 26 per cent emissions cut proposed under the NEG “pathetic and weak”.
She said it is cheaper to win big carbon reductions in electricity using solar power, home battery systems and commercial energy storage than in sectors like transport or agriculture.
Two large-scale, grid-connected energy storage batteries are also set for installation in regional Victoria. They are part of a $50 million project backed by ARENA and the Victorian government.
Low emissions target blocks new renewables
According to the Clean Energy Council (CEC), the low NEG emissions target discourages renewable plants needed to replace coal-fired stations.
However, the CEC supports a national agreement moving to the design stage. It should, however:
- Be scalable, allowing for stronger emissions targets.
- Have a higher carbon reduction target than 26 per cent.
- Allow states and territories to have higher renewable ambitions.
- Regard state-based schemes as additional to NEG target.
