MEDIA RELEASE: 27 September 2022
Friends of the Earth welcomes the Andrews government’s announcement to legislate a Victorian Energy Storage Target if returned to power at the November state election.
The target would see 2.6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy storage built in Victoria by 2030, and scale this up to 6.3GW by 2035.
‘This energy storage target will help future-proof Victoria’s energy supply, accelerate our emissions reduction efforts, and create a pipeline of local manufacturing jobs,’ said Friends of the Earth renewables spokesperson Pat Simons.
Friends of the Earth says the target is the kind of smart, forward-planning policy needed to prepare for the inevitable early closure of Victoria’s coal fired power stations.
‘The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO’s) Integrated System Plan Step Change scenario forecasts coal fired power stations to be retired two to three times faster than currently scheduled,’ said Simons.
‘This Energy Storage Target is a smart way for the Victorian government to get on the front foot and not leave the fate of the energy system to the whims of fossil fuel generators,’ said Mr Simons. ‘Building storage is sensible policy which we hope the Victorian Coalition will also support’.
Friends of the Earth says the target builds momentum for the Victorian government to accelerate the state’s pace of emissions reduction before 2035.
‘One of the first tasks of the next-elected Victorian government will be to set Victoria’s 2035 Emissions Reduction Target. Victoria will be the first jurisdiction in Australia and one of the first in the world to set a 2035 target,’ said Friends of the Earth climate spokesperson Anna Langford.
The announcement comes as the independent panel chosen to advise the Victorian government on its 2035 Emissions Reduction Target prepares to recommend options for a 2035 target to the Victorian government.
Friends of the Earth says the target adds weight to the case for the independent panel to recommend a 2035 Emissions Reduction Target that aims well above the ‘business as usual’ trajectory.
‘This Renewable Energy Storage Target sets Victoria up to commit to a bold and ambitious 2035 Emissions Reduction Target that aligns with climate science,’ said Ms Langford.
For further comment, contact:
Pat Simons
Friends of the Earth Yes 2 Renewables coordinator
0415 789 961
Anna Langford
Friends of the Earth Act on Climate coordinator
0478 031 771