WA government launches energy transformation strategy, but denies support to stricter carbon emissions guidelines

In response to the energy sector’s transition from coal to renewables and distributed energy resources, Western Australia’s Labor government says it has started drafting a strategy to deliver a cleaner and more resilient energy supply for decades to come. Coming off the back of the strategy launch, WA’s environment watchdog has announced new and expanding mining and oil and gas projects would face much tougher scrutiny around their emissions. The WA government has moved to distance itself from the proposed emissions rules.

The 10 MW Greenough River Solar Farm was Australia's first utility-scale solar power project when it was commissioned in WA in late 2012.

Image: First Solar

Share

Noting that Western Australia lags behind the rest of the country in greenhouse gas reduction, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has revised its guidance on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from new or expanding proposals in Western Australia, signaling its intention to recommend offsets for proposals with direct emissions above 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per annum.

The environment watchdog has laid down new air quality standards, noting that future resource proposals, LNG projects in particular, risked further increasing the state’s emissions “by a large margin to 2030”.

EPA Chair Tom Hatton said while the EPA Board recognised the lead role of the Commonwealth Government in relation to Australia’s international obligations on reducing emissions, it noted there was a need to clarify and provide greater certainty in the EPA’s consideration of greenhouse gas emissions.

“Over the past two decades the EPA has recommended greenhouse gas abatement measures for around 40 proposals however more needs to be done to limit global warming, consistent with the Paris Agreement,” Hatton said.

Stressing that the federal climate policy lacks “an effective carbon restraint or rate”, the EPA also expressed concerns about WA’s rising emissions, which had increased by 27% from 2000 to 2016.

“Western Australia has the second highest per capita emissions of all Australian states and territories, with emissions per capita well above those of other developed economies, including resource-based economies such as Canada,” the guidelines state.

While some green groups have described the move as balanced and sensible, the revision of guidelines provoked an immediate outcry from the industry, which voiced fears it could thwart proposed new LNG projects worth tens of billions of dollars.

Having taken the side of the industry, the government made sure to distance itself from the EPA guidelines, stressing that they are not a government policy, but rather the approach and expectations of the EPA when considering greenhouse gas emissions related to a proposal.

“As a responsible State Government it is important to ensure that projects have certainty for the long term,” said Environment Minister Stephen Dawson. “The McGowan Government is fully supportive of our job-creating LNG industry and will listen to their views as part of our response to the EPA.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan also made clear he was not willing to endorse the new guidelines, adding that the EPA had overreached.

“To just apply these guidelines to new projects would mean those projects are penalised against older projects, and just to apply it to LNG projects means the massive coal exporters in NSW and Queensland get away scot-free while the LNG projects – which produce half the emissions of coal from NSW and Qld – get penalised,” McGowan said speaking on ABC radio.

The WA government also underscored that it was in the process of developing a new coordinated climate policy for the state, which is to be delivered by the year’s end and ensure it played its part in meeting national emissions targets. “It is the State Government’s view that emissions mitigation is best managed through a nationally consistent approach,” it said in a statement, dismissing the proposed guidelines out of hand.

Strategy for a greener grid

While it still lacks a renewable energy target or a net zero emissions target, WA appears to be in line for a modernization of the wholesale electricity market with the aim to enhance power system security and enable new, largely renewable generators to access Western Power’s network.

Last week, the McGowan government launched a strategy for a better co-ordinated power system, noting that the electricity sector is experiencing a major transformation because of the rapid uptake of rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems, and increasing levels of large-scale renewable generators, such as wind and solar farms.

Announcing the strategy, Energy Minister Bill Johnston noted that it was clear that the generation mix would continue to change, so it was important to have a whole of system approach to plan for the future.

“In Western Australia, we’re blessed with world-class solar and wind resources, abundant gas supply, a wealth of battery metals, and a highly skilled workforce,” said Energy Minister Bill Johnston. “We have a genuine opportunity to lead the way in establishing a cleaner, brighter and more resilient energy supply for decades to come.”

The WA government had already launched a separate strategy to grow WA’s future li-ion battery manufacturing industry, which includes plans for an investment attraction strategy.

The Whole of System Plan will be complemented by a Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Roadmap, which will guide the integration of onsite generation (largely rooftop solar), battery storage and future technologies such as electric vehicles. The DER Roadmap will be produced by the end of 2019 and the first Whole of System Plan in mid-2020.

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.