LowEmissionsTechnologyRoadmap-Main-report-170601
CSIRO Low Emissions Technology Roadmap 2017
The primary objective is to identify the emission reduction technology options within the energy sector that Australia could pursue in order to meet or exceed its 2030 target and achieve deeper decarbonisation post-2030. The report also considers what actions might be required to achieve rollout of these technologies, while continuing to maintain energy security and affordability.
The secondary objective is to identify the main opportunities presented by low emissions technologies, in terms of economic value and job creation. The transition to a low emissions economy is often framed in terms of cost; this roadmap seeks to broaden the discussion by also highlighting the opportunities and net benefits that the identified technologies and associated industries can provide.
Impact mitigation [of job losses from phasing out coal-fired generation] – Opportunities within the electricity sector [p 53-54]
Outside of a few countries in Asia where the manufacturing of renewable energy technologies is concentrated, the bulk of job opportunities associated with low emissions generation are in construction, installation, O&M (IRENA, 2015). Replacing Australia’s existing generation fleet with low emissions technologies will create large job opportunities in these areas.
A 2016 report from the Climate Council and EY found that a scenario in which renewable energy provides 50% of electricity generated in 2030, with new build generation consisting of large-scale and rooftop solar PV and wind, will result in thousands of net additional electricity sector jobs in Australia. (Ernst & Young and the Climate Council of Australia, 2016).
Around 55% of the net additional jobs are in construction/installation, with the remainder in O&M. Most of the construction jobs are for rooftop solar, will be located in population centres, and will represent an ongoing source of employment. For wind and large-scale solar, construction jobs will likely involve a mix of continuous employment for skilled labour moving from site to site as well as local unskilled and semi-skilled labour for individual construction projects.
Large-scale wind and solar projects will provide ongoing employment opportunities in rural and regional areas. Similar opportunities exist in construction and O&M of other low emissions technologies, such as CST (both for electricity and industrial heat) and CCS. Opportunities also exist in incorporating renewables in standalone power systems in Australia and building modularised components for these systems. Note however that a net positive jobs impact won’t necessarily apply in communities subject to coal-fired generator closures and it will be important to manage this transition to reduce the impact on the individuals and communities involved.
There are also a number of Australian companies developing niche solutions relating to EPC and O&M that could be exported overseas as well as servicing the local market. Bladepile is an example of such a company, and has developed a novel structural pile for deployment in local solar farms (see Box 7 in Section C.5). Another example is Heliostat SA, which builds heliostats for international CST projects (see Box 11 in Section C.5) using innovative Australian technology, enabling the company to diversify out of providing parts to the auto industry.
While presenting a challenge, transformation of Australia’s electricity sector also provides an opportunity to modernise the system and ensure it continues to provide secure, reliable and accessible power for the decades to come.
Transitioning Australia’s grid to a more decentralised model with high penetrations of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar PV, batteries, EVs and smart appliances also creates a range of diverse opportunities for innovative products and services. These include home energy management systems, energy trading platforms and cyber-security solutions. Australia’s leading position in this transition also creates opportunities to export technologies and services in this area. An example of this type of opportunity is provided by Evergen, which provides home energy systems, capitalising on leading Australian research and a clear market opportunity in distributed energy (see Box 8 Section B.5).
These types of opportunities could also be built on by offering assessment and installation of high-efficiency appliances and building services at the time of installation of rooftop solar PV systems, batteries and EV chargers. Undertaking an energy efficiency assessment at the same time as a solar PV installation offers a range of benefits. For instance, identifying opportunities to reduce energy demand could allow for the solar PV system and battery sizes to be reduced, lowering the amount of investment required.
While presenting a challenge, transformation of Australia’s electricity sector also provides an opportunity to modernise the system and ensure it continues to provide secure, reliable and accessible power for the decades to come.
Transitioning Australia’s grid to a more decentralised model with high penetrations of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar PV, batteries, EVs and smart appliances also creates a range of diverse opportunities for innovative products and services. These include home energy management systems, energy trading platforms and cyber-security solutions. Australia’s leading position in this transition also creates opportunities to export technologies and services in this area. An example of this type of opportunity is provided by Evergen, which provides home energy systems, capitalising on leading Australian research and a clear market opportunity in distributed energy (see Box 8 Section B.5).
These types of opportunities could also be built on by offering assessment and installation of high-efficiency appliances and building services at the time of installation of rooftop solar PV systems, batteries and EV chargers. Undertaking an energy efficiency assessment at the same time as a solar PV installation offers a range of benefits. For instance, identifying opportunities to reduce energy demand could allow for the solar PV system and battery sizes to be reduced, lowering the amount of investment required.
While presenting a challenge, transformation of Australia’s electricity sector also provides an opportunity to modernise the system and ensure it continues to provide secure, reliable and accessible power for the decades to come.
Transitioning Australia’s grid to a more decentralised model with high penetrations of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar PV, batteries, EVs and smart appliances also creates a range of diverse opportunities for innovative products and services. These include home energy management systems, energy trading platforms and cyber-security solutions. Australia’s leading position in this transition also creates opportunities to export technologies and services in this area. An example of this type of opportunity is provided by Evergen, which provides home energy systems, capitalising on leading Australian research and a clear market opportunity in distributed energy (see Box 8 Section B.5).
These types of opportunities could also be built on by offering assessment and installation of high-efficiency appliances and building services at the time of installation of rooftop solar PV systems, batteries and EV chargers. Undertaking an energy efficiency assessment at the same time as a solar PV installation offers a range of benefits. For instance, identifying opportunities to reduce energy demand could allow for the solar PV system and battery sizes to be reduced, lowering the amount of investment required.
2013 report on Future Grid Forum – 120 stakeholders from all aspects of electricity sector. Report does not cover employment prospects, but is a detailed whole of system analysis of electricity sector in Australia, identifying several ‘megatrends’ and alternative pathways.
2009 CSIRO report Intelligent Grid: A Value proposition for Distributed Energy in Australia
Brief list of CSIRO energy research projects