Image: Jerry and Pat Donaho/Flickr
The South Australian government unveiled an ambitious plan to create a more reliable and cost effective energy infrastructure.
After being hit with some of the most highly publicised and dangerous power blackouts in the blistering summer of early 2017, the government was under pressure to ensure that its energy supply infrastructure was up to the challenge in future heatwaves.
But now the Jay Weatherill government wants to overhaul the state’s energy strategy that will ‘put downward pressure on prices and create jobs’.
Under the Weatherill government’s plan, the following key elements will be pursued:
- Australia’s largest battery will be built in South Australia to store renewable energy and add stability to supply as part of a new $150 million Renewable Technology Fund.
- The South Australian government will build its own gas power plant to have government-owned stand-by power available in South Australia for emergencies.
- The state government will legislate to give the Energy Minister direction over the market so South Australia’s best interests always come first if there is an electricity shortfall.
- The state government will use its bulk-buying power to attract new electricity generation to increase competition and put downward pressure on prices.
- Incentives will be offered to source more gas for use in South Australia replacing coal-fired energy from Victoria.
- A new Energy Security Target will increase South Australia’s energy self-reliance by requiring more locally generated, cleaner, secure energy to be used in South Australia.
Mr Weatherill said “in the longer term through this plan, South Australia will become more self-reliant for its power supply”.
“As a state that has built its reputation on clean green environment, this plan recognises that clean energy is our future,” he said.
“We will now lead Australia’s transformation to the next generation of renewable storage technologies and create an international reputation for high-tech industries.”
South Australia will take charge to source, generate and control more of our power right here in South Australia.
Federal Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg was asked to share his thoughts about the plan by Sandy Aloisi on ABC NewsRadio, where he said that the federal government would support greater stability in the SA market “because they’re seeing more blackouts in as many months and clearly that is not a good outcome for that state or for the country as a whole”.
“The high uptake for wind and solar in that state without the necessary planning, particularly for storage capacity, has led in part to these problems,” Mr Frydenberg said.
He said if more gas and more storage goes into the South Australian market, “that will be a good outcome for all”.
