State govt aiming to be carbon-neutral aim by 2050 with 50% renewables by 2025
The South Australian government in 2015 set a bold target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Its renewable energy production target is 50% by 2025 (compared to New South Wales’ 20%), up from 40% generated in 2016.
South Australia was Australia’s first state to put in place laws committing to renewable energy and emissions reduction. It legislated in 2015 to cut South Australian carbon emissions by at least 60% (on 1990 levels) by 2050. Emissions are already 9% lower than 1990 levels while the state’s economy grew beyond 60%.
Across South Australia, $6.6 billion has been invested in low-carbon generation, and the target has been set for $10 billion of investment by 2025.
South Australia’s Low Carbon Investment Plan is the core to making the state an innovative low-carbon economy supporting new industries.
The state government has targeted100% renewable energy electricity for its own use. It will also
- Continuing to support renewable energy in the state, with a target to generate 50 per cent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025
- Investigate new renewable energy options for the state
- initiatives to improve government’s own operations, including improving the energy efficiency of government buildings, decarbonising government’s electricity supply and reducing emissions from the government fleet
- Supporting the uptake of energy storage options
- Supporting a hybrid-electric car share project
- Increasing Adelaide’s green infrastructure
