24 April 2024
The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on the Electricity and Energy Sector Plan discussion paper. We recognise that the intent of the Plan is to outline a credible pathway to reduce emissions in Australia’s electricity and energy sector, while ensuring a reliable, secure, and affordable energy supply.
Concurrent to this process, the Australian Government is also updating and releasing several national strategies and frameworks that will impact and complement this sector plan. This includes the release of the National Energy Performance Strategy, the update of the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings and the release of the Built Environment Sector Plan. We urge the Government to develop this sector plan in close collaboration with the Built Environment Sector Plan, integrating demand and supply sides in a holistic approach to the energy system.
ASBEC suggests the following priorities in relation to the development of the Electricity and Energy Sector Plan (“the Plan”):
- Emissions reduction will be best facilitated by including energy demand equally in the Plan.
a. Incorporate a focus on consumer energy resources (including improving the health and comfort of households).
b. Harness efficient, high-performing buildings to best support the grid.
- Include in the Plan ambitious but achievable timeframes to phase out fossil gas in existing buildings and appliances.
- Build Australia’s clean energy workforce.
Australian Government’s Net Zero by 2050 Plan and 2035 emissions reduction targets must be backed up by strong supporting policies and capacity building programs at all levels of government, to enable an efficient and effective economic transition. Low-cost, renewable energy, underpinned by matching energy demand to energy supply, is the foundation for our net zero transition, and ASBEC members look forward to working in partnership with the Australian Government to develop and deliver the Electricity and Energy Sector Plan, and other sector plans, to realise Australia’s full superpower potential.
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