South Australia targets 100% renewable energy electricity by 2030
Green Party announces plan for South Australia to have 100% renewable energy electricity
South Australia could have a 100 per cent renewable energy electricity supply by 2030, according to new plans launched by the Green Party.
The plan would create 1,000 jobs and includes proposals for a 110MW solar tower by SolarReserve and a storage plant near Port Augusta.
Green Party leader Richard Di Natale announced the plan in the South Australian capital Adelaide (pictured) on Monday ahead of the forthcoming federal election.
Mr Di Natale said the target will require about AUS$15 billion of investment over 15 years.
Giles Parkinson, founder and editor of Reneweconomy.com.au, Australia's leading website on clean technology and climate change, said: “South Australia is the obvious place for the Greens to target a 100 per cent renewable energy plan.”
Parkinson added: “This year, it will be the first mainland state to pass the 50 per cent renewable energy mark, courtesy of more than 1,500MW of wind energy and 640MW of rooftop solar.”
Jay Weatherill, South Australia’s Labor premier, also supports a 100 per cent renewable energy future and the official state target is 50 per cent by 2025.
In a statement, Di Natale said: “Transitioning to clean energy is the key to unlocking South Australia’s economic potential and combating global warming… While both Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten talk about tackling climate change, they have locked us into the industries of the last century, supporting coal and vested interests.”
“It is a testing time for South Australia. The Whyalla community is facing the possible closure of its major employer while Port Augusta prepares to close its coal-fired power station. Thousands of jobs have been lost in this state yet our vision for a clean energy future would see this state thrive.”
The Greens are supporting a proposal by US-based SolarReserve to build the 110MW solar tower and storage plant.
In a statement, the Green Party said: “This plan will deliver major new clean energy projects where the sun shines and the wind blows by working with industry and the community through a combination of reverse auctions and direct investment.”
