Australia is guaranteed to hit its 2020 renewable energy target, but experts say there’s more to be done

Good news, Australia! The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) have confirmed that we’re guaranteed to hit our large-scale 2020 renewable energy target of 33,000 gigawatt hours of additional renewable energy. 

According to the CER, 6400 megawatts of large-scale renewable energy capacity needed to be built between 2017 and 2019 in order to hit the target. 

And as of August 31, 2019, the goal was officially in the bag, thanks to the approval of four new wind and solar stations, that have a combined capacity of 406 megawatts. 

“It is now certain Australia will generate enough renewable energy to meet the 2020 Large-scale Renewable Energy Target,” said Clean Energy Regulator, Chair David Parke. 

“This achievement represents the hard work of a growing and dynamic renewables industry.” 

But just because the target has been met, it doesn’t mean the ongoing support and investment into renewable energy will slow down. 

“Coincidentally, we are currently tracking another 6410 megawatts of renewable energy to be built over the coming years. While future investment faces a number of constraints, this is by no means the end of renewable energy investment in Australia, with markets continuing to innovate and adapt to opportunities and challenges,” said Parker. 

Ancient Aussie powerlines holding back renewable energy growth 

Despite the outpouring of support and investment to maximise the growth of renewable energy, recent statements by renewable experts have revealed that there may be one thing standing in the way of reaching its full potential: old power lines. 

According to David Shapero, Managing Director for Bay Wa r.e., a global renewable energy developer, the outdated technology is making it difficult to take on other projects. 

At the moment, renewable energy stations are being built in areas where solar and wind generate the most energy. But these are also areas where existing power lines aren’t as efficient and are not designed to move electricity from high-powered renewable energy generators. 

“The transmission infrastructure is filling up and it’s providing more and more electrical challenges,” he said recently to the 7:30 report. 

“At the moment we’ve been able to put most of the renewable energy that’s available to go in (to the grid), but there’s many more projects to go in.” 

So if you’re ready to take up a solar project of your own and play your part in the renewable energy journey, head on over to our energy comparison tool to compare a range of solar-friendly plans.