South Australia’s new climate bill will legally require the state to generate enough renewable energy to cover all of its annual electricity needs from 2027.
The Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reductions (Targets) Amendment Bill will obligate the state to slash its greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, and to reach net zero by 2050.
Home to the city of Adelaide, South Australia has already more than halved its emissions since 2005 thanks to a rapid shift to wind, solar, and battery technologies, which now meet around 70% of its annual power needs. The state is a leader in rooftop solar adoption, with one in every two homes having their own systems.
In the week to Monday, 2 September 2024 — the last of winter — South Australia offered a glimpse of its future. Renewable generation exceeded the state’s electricity needs by 5%, with the excess exported to neighbouring states.
‘Sending a clear signal’
According to the new bill, South Australia must reach 100% net renewable electricity by 2027, though it’ll keep gas power plants on standby for times when there’s not enough zero-carbon power available.
To minimise how much gas it’ll need, the state is ramping up battery installations and constructing a 200MW green hydrogen-fuelled power plant.
In a statement, the state government said the bill “will help guide policy and decision making on measures to achieve the targets.”
“The reforms send a clear signal to the community, investors and business about the government’s commitment to a net zero emissions future.”
Updating the Act is part of the state government’s response to the declaration of a climate emergency in May 2022.
“When the Act commenced in 2007, it was the first of its kind in Australia and helped our state to become the global leader in renewable energy generation and climate mitigation,” said climate minister Susan Close.
“It has helped to drastically reduce emissions and prepare ourselves for climate-related impacts, including more frequent and severe extreme weather events and long term changes in temperatures, rainfall and sea levels,” Close said.
Nick Smith, formerly executive director of the state department of energy and mining’s growth and low-carbon unit, recently explained how South Australia established itself as a frontrunner in the energy transition.
