South Australia’s climate action is creating a global buzz. Our state is proposing to update its climate change laws to align with how we’re leading the world in renewable energy.
Climate change is no longer just a threat – it’s a reality Australians are experiencing right now through more frequent floods, fires, droughts and rising temperatures. That’s why the South Australian Government has introduced amendments to its climate change legislation to Parliament, seeking to enshrine in law our big push towards net zero.
A legacy of leadership, updated for today’s challenges
The changes in the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2024, currently before Parliament, set bold new targets and help build a framework for a cleaner, more sustainable future. They reflect both the State Government’s environmental policy objectives and the significant progress South Australia has already achieved in developing renewable energy and reducing emissions.
In addition to new targets, the amendments will require a state-wide emissions reduction plan to help achieve South Australia’s emission reduction targets. There’s also a new requirement to create a state-wide climate risk assessment to identify risks and opportunities and how SA can adapt and plan to be prepared for them.
Ambitious targets for a sustainable future
The proposed changes to South Australia’s Climate Change Act will update the renewable electricity target to 100 per cent net renewable electricity generation by 2027, three years earlier than the previous 2030 goal.
This accelerated timeline is possible because South Australia is already well on its way to achieving it, leading the nation with more than 74 per cent of its electricity generated from renewable sources, compared to the national average of just less than 40 per cent.
The amendments include a new interim emissions target for at least 60 per cent interim emissions reduction target by 2030 relative to 2005 levels. This compares to a 43 per cent interim national reduction target, and an interim target of 30 per cent in Queensland, 50 per cent in NSW and 45-50 per cent in Victoria. South Australia has already reduced its emissions by more than 50 per cent since 2005.
The Bill also locks South Australia’s policy target of net zero emissions by 2050 into law and signals that SA is serious about tackling climate change and is a place to invest in clean, low emissions business.
We’re already on track to smash our interim targets
While these targets may seem ambitious, South Australia has already made remarkable and rapid progress to decarbonise our energy. In 2007, just one per cent of our electricity came from solar and wind. By last year, this proportion had risen to 74 per cent. That makes it the highest of any major grid in the world, well ahead of frontrunner Denmark, which achieved 60 per cent in the same year. In 2023, there were 289 days on which renewables met all South Australia’s electricity demands for part of the day.
More than 40 per cent of South Australian homes have solar panels installed – the highest proportion of any state. More than 35,000 home batteries are also installed across our state.
On New Year’s Eve 2023, rooftop solar alone met 101.7 per cent of South Australia’s energy needs for 30 minutes. The Australian Energy Market Operator says that’s a world record for a grid of that size.
We’ve also been a pioneer in wind power, expanding from a single wind farm in 2003 to 24 large-scale operations today. Wind energy now constitutes almost 47 per cent of South Australia’s total energy production.
The world is watching
We’re doing so well that we’ve even been featured in New Scientist magazine as a global model for how to “cut carbon fast”. The highly respected mag calls our state a “trailblazer” and “renewable energy champion”, and urges countries around the world to learn from our “remarkable” transition to renewables.
South Australia has also just achieved a major milestone in renewable energy. A new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) ranks our state, along with Denmark, as one of the two top performers worldwide in integrating wind and solar energy into our power system.
According to the report, Denmark and SA are in a class of their own when it comes to integrating renewables into our power system, with an IEA ranking of 5 out of 6. That compares to 3 for Australia as a whole, while most countries are still ranked 1 or 2.
Why the legislation matters
By enshrining our state’s commitment to net zero into law, these amendments will set the direction of the state and signal to the world how committed South Australia is to address the climate emergency.
- It will shape government decisions on everything from energy policy to urban design, leading to more sustainable public transport and energy-efficient buildings.
- Businesses can plan long-term investments in clean tech with confidence, which means more solar farms, wind projects and green hydrogen facilities across the state.
- South Australia’s leadership can attract international collaborations and investments in cutting-edge green technologies, positioning the state as a hub for climate innovation.
- It encourages new job opportunities in growing sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and green construction.
- The push for emissions reduction will lead to cleaner air and healthier ecosystems that support South Australia’s unique landscapes and wildlife.
- It will help communities be better prepared for climate impacts like extreme weather, changing rainfall patterns and rising sea levels.
Green hydrogen: Driving the journey towards net zero
South Australia is poised to become a world leader in green hydrogen, significantly boosting the state’s journey to net zero emissions. The State Government is spearheading this revolution with the construction of a world-leading hydrogen plant at Whyalla, set to be one of the largest globally.
This facility will harness excess renewable energy from wind and solar farms to produce green hydrogen, which can be stored and used as a flexible power source when power prices peak. This would also further reduce the use of fossil fuels in our state’s energy mix. If you’re a little vague on what exactly green hydrogen is and does, our two-minute explainer is here.
An Australia-first hydrogen milestone
South Australia this year achieved a national milestone by increasing the blend of renewable hydrogen in its gas supply to 10 per cent, serving nearly 4000 homes and businesses. This leap, occurring at Australia’s first Hydrogen Park in Tonsley Innovation District, builds on the previous five per cent hydrogen blend.
It marks the highest concentration of hydrogen-blended gas in the country and highlights South Australia’s leading role in potentially moving towards a future where gas networks are fully powered by 100 per cent renewable hydrogen, as suggested by the Australian Hydrogen Centre’s recent findings.
