Despite a gloomy year, the New South Wales and Victorian Governments are proposing to spend an unprecedented $1.7 billion and up to $1.6 billion respectively to support the energy transition to renewable energy in their States.

Commitments and policies to progress the renewables imperative have been made by governments at local and State levels across Australia in the course of the year, with the future looking bright for renewables into 2021 and beyond.

The focus of this article is on developments last week through the Victorian budget and the passing of a legislative package in New South Wales.

Common to both packages is an emphasis on transmission network planning and investment to streamline efficient investment in renewables (including storage) direct support for superior projects and a focus on new technologies, including hydrogen.

Victoria

Of the $1.6 billion budgeted in Victoria, $540 million will be spent to create six Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) across Victoria.

The REZs will allow the efficient upgrade of grid infrastructure to connect and support businesses, jobs and towns across regional Victoria to solar and wind resources.

So far, Gippsland and Mildura have been named as two potential zones. The Victorian Government will be working with the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) to establish these zones in order to assist Victoria reaching its legislated target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030. Victoria’s announcements follow AEMO’s recent announcement that it would produce a REZ Development Plan for Victoria which may assist with determining a clearer picture on optimal transmission.

Victoria’s budget initiatives – a snapshot

Policy  Funding 
Renewable energy zones 
Establishment of six Renewable Energy Zones   $540 million 
Large scale renewable energy and storage project investments 
Second renewable energy auction for 600MW of clean energy   $12.6 million 
Network investment 
Commitment to accelerating the KerangLink transmission line and interconnector  $100 million 
Hydrogen 
Innovative and transformational renewable energy projects   $108 million 
Small scale renewable, storage and efficiency programs 
Household energy package  $797 million 
Local energy projects   $27 million 
Installation of renewable energy systems, storage and energy efficiency improvements for community buildings, and ResourceSmart Schools program  $21 million 
Establishing electric vehicle fast-charging network  Unspecified 
   

New South Wales

The New South Wales budget was recently bolstered by the passing of the crucial Electricity Infrastructure Investment Bill 2020 on November 27, 2020. The budget and new legislative package is intended to move New South Wales’ energy infrastructure to renewables and away from ageing coal-fired power station assets, which are fast approaching the end of their technical life.

Like Victoria, New South Wales is looking to the future with emphasis on the right infrastructure to support renewables. This is a bold and forward-looking initiative.

New South Wales’ initiatives – a snapshot

Policy 
Energy security targets 
  • An energy security monitor will be tasked with calculating annual energy security targets (based on expected maximum demand and in light of anticipated coal-fired generator retirements) and assessing whether the target will be met over the following ten years. 
Renewable energy zones and supporting network infrastructure 
  • Establishment of REZs, planned to be in the Central West-Orana, South West, New England, Hunter-Central Coast and Illawarra areas. See here for further explanation of a REZ.
  • Declaring REZs will include specification of the nature and type of network and generation infrastructure required to populate the zones.
  • REZ network spending will be subject to different rules around access to and use of infrastructure, compared to those which usually apply under the National Electricity Law.
  • Investments must still be approved by an appointed regulator as being prudent, efficient and reasonable. 
Electricity infrastructure fund 
  • A “scheme financial vehicle” is required to establish an electricity infrastructure fund and provide the money that may be paid into and from the fund to support the approved network investments.
  • Distribution network service providers will be required to pay contributions into the fund. 
Investment safeguards and incentives 
  • An electricity infrastructure investment safeguard will encourage private sector investment to contribute to generation, long-duration storage and firming infrastructure, and to support any forward-looking investment in network infrastructure.
  • Derivative arrangements (i.e. an income stream for investors), referred to as long-term energy service agreement, will be available from the scheme financial vehicle for a person who operates and constructs generation assets (including long-duration storage and firming infrastructure) that meets relevant criteria (and may include a competitive tender process).
  • Planning and risk-management frameworks by the consumer trustee will be established  to support development pathways for generation, long-duration storage and firming infrastructure and de-risk the financial investment by the scheme financial vehicle. 
Hydrogen 
  • $50 million funding will be available to develop the green hydrogen sector between 2021 and 2030, covering production, supply, use and export of hydrogen using renewable energy 
 

Commentary

For several years, grid connection and the costs of pioneering new infrastructure builds have caused significant concerns for project developers, financiers and contractors. Steps are already being taken at various levels (including under AEMO’s Integrated System Plan, which we write about here). However, these announcements are welcome measures to further address these key challenges.

Moreover, there is money for developers of renewable generation (including firming and storage solutions). There is, however, a more discerning approach to awarding such investment support, with the location, quality and profile of the technology being subject to greater scrutiny. In New South Wales, the nature of the financial investment is moving away from grants and offtakes to a more sophisticated later-stage income stream.

New South Wales has a detailed and developed plan. It also includes specific frameworks built in to the legislative package relating to consultation and negotiation with Aboriginal communities, fostering local community support, jobs, economic development and manufacturing.

The renewed enthusiasm and support by these and other governments will create competition amongst jurisdictions for investment in renewables, storage, transmission and other energy transition initiatives. This can be expected to benefit the quality and price of renewable solutions delivered to the market and consumers.

 

This article was co-authored with Benjamin Kende.



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