- $74 million towards new initiatives to reduce WA's
greenhouse gas emissions
- New $60 million 'Investment Attraction Fund'
round opens, driving job creation in new energy industries
- Cook Government to host Energy Transition Summit
tomorrow
The Cook Government will deliver a $134
million funding boost to slash Western Australia's greenhouse gas emissions and
drive new job opportunities in clean energy industries.
The funding package comes ahead of the Cook
Government's landmark Energy Transition Summit, which will chart the course for
WA's journey to becoming a global renewable energy powerhouse.
The Cook Government is putting $60 million on the table to drive
investment into new energy projects across the State through its flagship 'Investment Attraction
Fund' (IAF).
The $60 million IAF New Energies Industries
round opens today, offering funding for projects in battery and critical
minerals processing, renewable hydrogen, advanced manufacturing in wind and
solar componentry, along with carbon capture use and storage projects.
The
IAF has previously supported energy industry projects across the State,
including a high purity alumina plant for high-tech battery cells, a renewable
diesel biorefinery, an electrolyser and hydrogen refuelling station network, and
an advanced solar manufacturing facility.
The State Government will deliver a further
$74 million into a range of initiatives to further WA's net zero ambitions, as part of its Sectoral Emissions
Reduction Strategies (SERS) process launched in December 2021.
Through SERS, the Cook
Government will inject an extra $11.2 million into its 'Clean Energy Future
Fund', to support innovative projects that reduce the State's emissions and
create local jobs.
Previous projects supported
by the 'Clean Energy Future Fund' have included hydroelectric storage in
Walpole, a microgrid for industry in Moora, and a big battery in Port Hedland.
The Cook Government will
deliver a $6.5 million boost for its 'Green Energy Approvals Unit', to slash
green tape and fast-track approvals for major job-creating clean energy
projects.
To help WA's regional
communities reach net zero, the Cook Government will invest around $31 million
through Horizon Power to deliver cleaner, reliable and affordable energy across
the State.
The investment will deliver
five new community batteries in Kununurra, Esperance, Exmouth, Carnarvon, and
Denham, as well as two long-duration energy storage trials in microgrid
locations, and a new team to deliver renewable energy across Horizon powered
towns.
As part of efforts to
support electric vehicle (EV) uptake, the Cook Government will invest $2.2
million to install almost 70 dual-bay EV chargers at new METRONET stations, and
has lifted the EV target for new vehicles in the State Government car fleet to 50 per cent.
The State
Government is developing SERS in consultation with all sectors to lay the
foundation for transitioning to net zero by 2050.
The final
SERS will include emissions reduction opportunities for all sectors of the WA
economy, including electricity, industry, transport, agriculture, land use,
buildings, and waste and will be announced before the end of 2023.
For
more information on the Investment Attraction Fund, or submit an expression of
interest head to Investment
Attraction Fund: New Energies Industries Funding Stream (www.wa.gov.au)
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"WA
has the potential to become a global renewable energy powerhouse - not only
meeting our own net zero targets, but helping our neighbours to transition away
from coal to cleaner energy sources.
"We're
backing local industry to take advantage of the incredible opportunities in the
energy transition - from battery assembly and manufacturing to hydrogen
production and critical minerals processing.
"That
means more local jobs, a stronger local economy, and cleaner, reliable and
affordable energy for the future."
Comments attributed to Climate Action
Minister Reece Whitby:
"Through our net zero commitment, development of
legislation and enactment of SERS, our Government is delivering credible action
on climate and providing industry the certainty and stability needed to make
future decisions.
"Work is already underway to drive WA towards a zero
emissions future.
"By working together, industry and Government can
position WA to maximise the energy transition's economic opportunities.
Comments attributed to Energy Minister Bill
Johnston:
"This
is a truly a cross-Government venture of several departments collaborating on
the most efficient transition towards the State Government's commitment to net zero by
2050.
"Diversifying the economy to deliver a cleaner,
affordable and reliable energy future are key priorities which present
challenges - but also enormous opportunities to position WA as a global green
energy superpower."
