A new Energy Networks Australia (ENA) and CSIRO report outlines the specific measures that could be taken to transition to smart energy, saving electricity customer hundreds of dollars per year and allowing Australia to achieve zero net carbon emission by 2050.

The two-year Electricity Network Transformation Roadmap study, which involved hundreds of stakeholders, found a national, integrated plan was needed to enable reliable and affordable electricity supply to be maintained during Australia’s transition to a more decentralised, clean electricity system.











Affordable move to zero net emissions


“CSIRO analysis confirms it is possible for the electricity sector to maintain a reliable, stable grid while achieving zero net emissions by 2050, in line with the aspiration of the COP21 Paris Agreement,” Mr Graham said.

“On the way to a zero net emissions future, Australia’s electricity sector could exceed its share of current national carbon abatement targets, achieving 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.”


“A low cost and secure transition of the electricity system depends on stable, enduring carbon policy and the Roadmap recommends an Emission Intensity Scheme for the generation sector be developed by 2020,” Mr Bradley said.



Mr Bradley said decarbonisation would require transformational changes in electricity grids.

“Significant abatement is achieved by connecting millions of small scale renewables and our analysis forecasts Australia to have six times its current Solar PV capacity in 10 years and 16 times current levels by 2050.


Mr Graham said the Roadmap analysis confirmed the critical role of thermal plants in balancing variable renewable energy output during the transition. However, this would need to be replaced over time by low emission solutions like battery storage, pumped hydro, gas fired generation with carbon capture and storage, or Power to Gas hydrogen technology.







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