In 2016, the ACT Government legislated a new target of sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2020—from within the ACT or across the National Electricity Market. If you want to be part of the journey, and help the Territory get there in your home, school, business or community group, visit Actsmart, the Government's sustainability hub.
The ACT is connected to the national energy grid which runs from Queensland, through the eastern states to Tasmania and South Australia. The location of the renewable energy supply needed to reach the ACT's target isn't critical to our emission reduction effect. We source our renewable energy from generators located across eastern and southern Australia. This means the Territory won't have any concerns about future supply reliability. We'll be able to continue sourcing electricity as part of the National Electricity Market.
The Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011 provides a mechanism to stimulate investment in large-scale renewable energy in the Territory. This was successfully demonstrated through the 2012 Solar Auction and is the primary policy tool for attracting investment to meet the ACT's 100% renewable energy target by 2020.
Review of Next Generation Renewables Auction and the Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011.
Under the ACT Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy) Act 2011, renewable energy generators are granted a feed-in tariff through a competitive process. This approach is the first of its kind in Australia. It ensures that the Territory can access proven technology at the lowest possible cost. The approach was successfully demonstrated through the Solar Auction.
Generation will also be registered as GreenPowerTM to ensure additional renewable energy generation above and beyond national renewable energy targets. Total costs per household of achieving 100% renewables are expected to peak in 2020 at around $5.50 per household per week.
More information about the competitive auction process and how the ACT's large-scale feed-in tariffs are paid.
Participants in large-scale renewable energy auction processes will need to set out how their proposal supports ACT renewable energy investment priorities. These are set out in ACT Renewable Energy Local Investment Framework which is built around a vision of Canberra as an internationally recognised centre for renewable energy innovation and investment.
Find out more information on how we are driving growth in the clean economy.