National Supergrid

Connecting Australians to a zero-emissions future

‘National Supergrid’ outlines a five-year grid investment program to build the foundation from which Australia can become a renewable energy powerhouse.

Australia’s major trading partners are racing towards the global green economy. But right now, our energy grid is a handbrake on dispatching new renewable energy and our fossil fuel-dominated exports leave our economy highly exposed to demand collapse.

The transition to 100% renewable energy is an opportunity for our economy to thrive. By fast-tracking investment into the energy grid, the federal government will help Australians save money on their energy bills, create good quality jobs and build the infrastructure we need to strengthen manufacturing and become a green exports powerhouse.

To become a renewable energy powerhouse, Australia needs a National Supergrid. Just as past government investment in rail, roads and ports opened up new economic opportunities, rapid deployment of renewable energy via nation-building energy infrastructure is key to reducing energy costs and will form the foundation of Australia’s prosperity for generations to come.

Download the National Supergrid report here.

Download the National Supergrid Appendix here.

Five steps to build the National Supergrid foundations

1. Invest a minimum of $20 billion in grid infrastructure over the next five years to lay the foundations of a National Supergrid for strong economic growth.

2. Prioritise grid upgrades that promote rapid decarbonisation in regional industrial ecosystems to unlock private investment and drive growth of zero-emissions industry.

3. Adopt a holistic approach to upgrade all grid assets including transmission, energy storage, distribution, and system security. The National Supergrid takes a holistic view of the grid, beyond ‘poles and wires’, to deliver reliable, robust and low-cost energy where and when it is needed.

4. Embed social licence and community benefits as core principles. Success is contingent on the inclusion and empowerment of all impacted communities, including First Nations peoples, regional and remote communities.

5. Accelerate the move towards 85% renewables by 2028 by harnessing the capabilities of the Supergrid, and target close to 100% by 2030. This will drive down emissions and shield businesses and households from volatile fossil fuel prices.

Why do we need a National Supergrid?

With a National Supergrid delivering cheap, abundant renewable energy from where it is generated to where it is used, Australia can fully harness our world-class renewable energy resources to create economic opportunities for zero-carbon industries and regional communities, and shift to close to 100% renewable energy by 2030.

A National Supergrid means:

  • Strong energy security: In 2022, the war in Ukraine caused energy prices in the National Energy Market to soar by over 200%. By decoupling our energy market from expensive and geopolitically exposed fossil fuels, we will take back control of the the cost of energy.
  • Reduced cost of living: Strengthening Australia’s energy grid supports households to electrify and reduce the cost of energy. Beyond Zero Emissions’ analysis shows that an average household can save as much as $4021 per year.
  • Long-term economic growth: Prioritising grid infrastructure to industrial regions accelerates Australia’s capability to manufacture zero-emissions products that are in high demand all over the world. Beyond Zero Emissions’ Export Powerhouse report shows how Australia can create a green exports industry worth $333 billion by 2050.
  • Cheaper energy for rural, remote and First Nations communities: Improved access to renewable energy will create jobs and unlock economic opportunities in areas currently reliant on expensive fossil fuels.

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