Opportunity for least cost net-zero pathway missed in Roadmap

The Victorian Gas Substitution Roadmap misses an opportunity to lead the State down the least-cost path to net-zero emissions, APGA National Policy Manager Jordan McCollum said today.

While the modelling suggests that renewable gases will play a key role in Victoria’s energy future, the roadmap fails to take steps in the short term which would enable the role of renewable gases.

“Gas now supplies more than 50 per cent of energy used by Victoria’s industry, commerce and households, and changing that to electricity is likely to be a more expensive pathway to net-zero,” Mr McCollum said.

“The roadmap does canvas setting a renewable gas target, and this is certainly a step in the right direction, but it would be better if it outlined steps required in the short term to be ready for the uptake of renewable gases.

“Gas users in parts of Adelaide and Sydney are already using a 10 per cent hydrogen gas mix and this is set to expand to other areas by 2030. As indicated in the Australian Bioenergy Roadmap, biomethane could make up another 20 per cent of gas use by 2030.

“If the roadmap encouraged the development of both of these options, which are technologically viable today, by setting a 30 per cent renewable gas target, Victoria could achieve even greater emissions reduction by 2030 than is outlined within the Roadmap’s actions to support electrification.

“And this would be achieved without the need for consumers to buy new appliances, and that has got to be a great outcome.”

Read more in the Opportunity for least cost net-zero pathway missed in Roadmap media release.