South Australia to enshrine 100% net renewable target in law
The South Australia Labor government will enshrine its world-leading 100 per cent net renewable energy target into law, as mining giant BHP looks to double its refining and smelting capacity in the state.
The state is already a world leader with more than 70% of demand met by wind and solar.
SA recently brought its target of 100% renewables forward, from 2030 to 2027 - when a new transmission link to NSW will be completed.
Other states and countries have higher renewable shares but they are supported by hydro, or geothermal.
South Australia will be the first to reach 100% delivered only by wind and solar, with storage and a diminishing amount of gas capacity as back up and reserve.
South Australia has significantly reduced its fossil fuel use on the grid and achieved impressive emissions reductions.
Those successes have inspired the state to upgrade its 2030 climate targets to a 60% cut below 2005 levels, and lock in its 2050 net zero target into law.
SA Deputy premier and climate minister Susan Close said this would send a clear signal to the community, investors and businesses about the Government’s commitment to net zero.
The state’s transmission company has said it is fielding enquiries from businesses looking to add around 2,000 MW of load to the grid – about double its average load.
Those companies were attracted to the state’s low carbon grid, and the falling wholesale power prices, as well as its reliability.
Business investment in SA in the latest quarter was $2.5 Bn, more than 15% higher than at the time of the 2022 State Election. Growth was 4% higher than the national average.