Policy success in promoting Australia’s clean energy transformation could be expected to produce:
- the achievement of Australia’s national emissions reduction targets
- a more diverse, resilient and integrated energy portfolio with a growing penetration of clean energy (including better demand management and distributed generation and a widening range of cost-competitive clean energy products and services) commensurate with the efficient achievement of our national greenhouse gas emissions reduction and renewable energy targets
- successful demonstrations in the Australian market of clean energy technologies, leading over time to reduced risks and lower financial hurdles for future projects
- improved sharing of knowledge about the successes (and failures) of clean energy technologies and systems
- a better understanding within government, the community and the energy and financial sectors of clean energy resource and technology potentials
- closer public and private sector collaboration on clean energy development, here and overseas
- the capture of a greater share of global clean energy intellectual property and knowledge by Australian businesses and researchers
- the development of robust national supply chains (including skilled workforces) and adequate access to international supply chains to support the needs of the clean energy sector
- a robust pipeline of clean energy deployment and innovation investment that can support sustained transformation and the outcomes described above.
Clean energy policy actions
To ensure a sustainable pace of transformation, the Australian Government will:
- continue to ensure the effective and efficient implementation of carbon pricing and the Renewable Energy Target
- provide ongoing support for the development and deployment of renewable and other clean energy technologies through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, ARENA and other clean energy programs
- actively monitor progress in achieving clean energy objectives, including through the Clean Energy Future Plan implementation process, the National Energy Security Assessment, four-yearly strategic reviews of national energy policy, and scheduled Renewable Energy Target reviews
- improve network planning and connection outcomes through a timely response to the Australian Energy Market Commission Transmission Frameworks Review and further work to develop a national framework for distribution connection.
To capture opportunities from clean energy innovation, the government will:
- improve the effectiveness of Australian Government support for clean energy technology development, taking into account lessons learned from program delivery to date
- seek opportunities to develop collaborations with business and the research community to build a better understanding of the alignment of clean energy R&D to large-scale demonstration and commercialisation (including linking to international efforts)
- engage in value-for-money international processes and partnerships to make the best use of experience and capacity and to promote clean energy technology development and deployment.
To ensure the efficient integration of new technologies into the energy system, the Australian Government will, in conjunction with energy market bodies, monitor the impact of increased intermittent and distribution generation on the NEM.