Industry body backs Australian opposition’s ‘50% renewables by 2030’ pledge

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

The outspoken chief of industry body the Australian Solar Council has backed a pledge by the country’s parliamentary opposition party to put in place a 50% renewable energy by 2030 target if elected.

John Grimes, who is also head of the Energy Storage Council for Australia, said yesterday that an expected announcement this weekend from Bill Shorten, head of the country’s federal Labor Party is a “game changer”. A pledge to generate half of Australia’s power from renewables would, Grimes said, be “the right announcement economically, environmentally and socially”.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

“This is a game changer for Australia’s economy, 50% renewables by 2030 will ensure Australia takes advantage of the biggest economic opportunity our country has ever seen – the unstoppable global transition to a clean energy future. Australia will join all of its major trading partners – China, US, EU, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea – in embracing solar and renewable energy,” Grimes said.

“Labor’s commitment means thousands of clean energy jobs, regional development and new economic opportunities across Australia.”

Grimes has frequently been a critic of current prime minister Tony Abbott’s approach to renewables, with Abbott calling for the abolition of the Renewable Energy Target (RET) and blocking the country’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) from investing in rooftop solar and wind among just two examples of recent acts that have drawn strong opposition. The RET was eventually saved, but at a much lower threshold than before. A pledge of 50% renewables by 2030, incidentally, would put Australia's commitment to clean power in line with New York, which recently announced that same benchmark as a state-wide target.

Grimes is by no means alone, with support coming from a perhaps unexpected quarter in April when major utility company AGL laid out its own carbon reduction plan, urged Abbott’s government to do the same and also requested the federal administration consider keeping a subsidy programme in place for solar. Additionally, the chief executive of the Clean Energy Council (CEC), Kane Thornton, said support for solar from local governments was becoming increasingly important in Australia, since the debate at national level had become “corrosive”.

“Politicians ignore clean energy at their peril,” Thornton said earlier this month at the Australian Clean Energy Summit 2015.

The next possible federal election will take place between next year and early 2017. John Grimes had been quoted in The Guardian newspaper recently vowing to use marginal seats to oust Abbott’s government.

Read Next

September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.
September 17, 2025
Spanish renewables developer and operator Acciona Energía has commissioned its 412MWp Juna solar PV plant in Kawani village in the western state of Rajasthan. 
September 17, 2025
Spanish IPP Velto Renewables has acquired a portfolio of 53 operational solar assets in Spain with a combined capacity of 260MW.
September 17, 2025
Struggling Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger has formally entered into a debt moratorium, with the possibility of rescuing the entire group now looking unlikely.
September 17, 2025
Nexamp has secured US$350 million through a long-term financing facility to expand its 6GW utility-scale solar and battery storage pipeline in the US. 
September 17, 2025
Chinese module producer DAS Solar is planning a 5GW manufacturing facility focused on producing high-efficiency back contact cells.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA