Herbert Smith Freehills and WWF-Australia reveal 10 recommendations to maximise QLD’s energy transition goals

Leading international law firm, Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and World Wide Fund for Nature-Australia (WWF-Australia) has released a report with 10 recommendations to improve the planning and environmental approvals framework in Queensland (QLD) to support a fast and ecologically sound energy transition.

Commissioned by WWF-Australia, the report highlights the steps both the public and private sector can take to support the State’s target of 80% renewables by 2035; and WWF-Australia’s national target of 700% renewable generation by 2050.

WWF-Australia’s Senior Manager - Climate and Energy Policy, Ariane Wilkinson, said that with the right policy settings in place to attract private capital investment, Queensland is well positioned to continue leading the nation’s energy transition and continue making paces towards its strong renewables and climate targets.

"Queensland's total electricity generation from renewables, primarily solar, is around 28%, which is relatively low compared to other States.* To increase the share of renewables, substantial upfront capital is needed to build these projects,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“Our report recommends positive actions such as improving renewable energy planning processes and updating governance models to encourage investment. This would help to maintain and build investor confidence and signal to the market that renewables and associating infrastructure will be supported by the new Queensland Government.

“Unlocking private investment by ensuring policy certainty and durability will be key to helping QLD reach its targets faster,” Ms Wilkinson said.

In addition to incentivising private investment, the report recommends maximising the use of existing and new data for faster decision making and establishing clear guidance to streamline Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) assessments.

“Queensland has the existing land, resources, and capability to lead the pack in renewables targets. However, to achieve its targets it will need to deliver 23 GW of renewable electricity by 2035. To put this into perspective, in June last year, large-scale renewable energy projects in Queensland delivered only 6 GW,"*** HSF Environment, Planning and Communities partner, Kathryn Pacey said.

“There is opportunity for the Commonwealth to implement faster and more efficient decision making processes and timeframes under the EPBC Act.

“Opportunities could involve increasing resourcing, providing clear habitat assessment guidance, and clarifying the roles of both State and Federal governments to avoid duplication in assessment,” Ms Pacey said.

WWF-Australia has released the report to support its advocacy for a target of 700% renewable generation across the nation by 2050.

“This target would support our domestic energy needs and develop a substantial clean energy export market that unlocks Queensland’s unique superpowers in a zero-carbon world. Queensland has been identified as a key contributor to reaching this target with its exceptional solar and wind resources,” Ms Wilkinson said.

The ten recommendations include:

1. Ensure policy certainty and market confidence in Queensland's energy transition projects
2. Maximise use of existing data and acquire new high quality and open data for better and faster decision making
3. Maximise the use and efficiency of appropriately located REZs, and encourage project investment and development in REZs
4. Encourage, through efficient development and environmental assessment processes, development of renewables projects in appropriate locations
5. Where appropriate, maximise the use of State land to support renewables projects
6. Improve decision making processes and timeframes under the EPBC Act
7. Implement planning and assessment frameworks that prioritise clean energy infrastructure on degraded low value land and brownfields sites
8. Consider ownership and delivery models that provide for returns to broader community
9. Consider creating a “renewables tenure” in the long term
10. Consider extending the above recommendations to industries that support decarbonisation