Infrastructure Australia Priority List a Step in the Right Direction

The release of Infrastructure Australia's preliminary audit of projects for consideration and prioritisation has identified the critical relationship between electricity infrastructure and real action on climate change, said leading Australian renewable energy company Pacific Hydro.

The release of the audit comes on the back of the Federal Government's white paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) and the draft legislation for the 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target (RET) and identifies electricity infrastructure as a key infrastructure challenge for Australia's future.

"If we are to take real action on climate change we must address emissions from electricity generation", said Pacific Hydro CEO, Rob Grant.

"The Federal Government's CPRS white paper identifies the key role of renewable energy in its strategy to address climate change and Infrastructure Australia's preliminary audit released today highlights the longterm challenges facing Australia in transforming its electricity sector."

Pacific Hydro's submission to the Infrastructure Australia Priority List identified opportunities for new zero emission electricity generation including traditional geothermal resources which could provide base load power but are a significant distance from the existing transmission network. This significant proven resource could provide 25 per cent of the east coast of Australia's current energy needs.

"We applaud the Government's commitment to tackle climate change and encourage them to continue to address both short and long term policy, regulation and infrastructure measures to remove barriers to renewable energy generation", said Mr Grant.

"New electricity infrastructure will be critical for Australia if we are to take advantage of our substantial zero emission energy resources which can significantly reduce carbon pollution from electricity generation."