Australia looks to technology for 2030 GHG goals

The Australian federal government has released its plans to achieve its medium- and long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction target as part of its obligation under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The plan outlines a dependence on technology to meet it goals.

The discussion paper is part of the ruling Liberal-National party coalition government's policy to detail how it will meet its target of reducing GHG emissions by 26-28pc by 2030 from 2005 levels, as well as the broader Paris aim of the globe achieving net-zero emissions.

Its technology roadmap includes investment in technology to keep Australia's dependence on coal-fired power plants going through carbon capture and storage (CCS), as well as being open to deploying nuclear plants in Australia, even though nuclear plants are effectively prohibited under current law.

It also refers to Canberra's other policy energy announcements in terms of bioenergy, hydrogen, critical minerals, as well as the Integrated Systems Plan (ISP) developed by semi-government agency the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo). The ISP has forecast that around 15,000MW, or 63pc, of Australia's coal-fired power generation capacity will retire by 2040.

Canberra plans to have a final technology roadmap policy ready by the end of the year.

The roadmap paper also includes the recommendations from a government-commissioned report into low-cost abatement across the Australian economy headed by Grant King, the former chief executive of Australian utility and gas group Origin Energy. His report recommended that the government-funded Clean Energy Finance Corporation should invest in CCS projects, which marks a significant shift from its founding principle when it was formed in 2012 to only invest in renewable energy projects.

One of the largest increases in GHG in Australia has been in the transport sector, where there are no fuel efficiency standards. The discussion paper expects fuel cell technology to drive a significant take-up of road vehicles in the future but gave no timeline.

The report shows that some of the lowest cost commercial technologies capable of delivering the largest GHG emissions is solar and wind with pumped hydro energy storage.

An Aemo report showed that solar and wind power sources could provide up to 75pc of electricity supplies in the National Electricity Market in east Australia by 2025 from the current 25pc using existing technology, although regulatory changes are seen being required to reach this level. Australia's power generation accounts for a third of Australia's GHG emissions.

By Kevin Morrison