Natural gas, which emits less carbon than most other fossil fuels, has a limited role as a transition fuel from coal to renewable energy sources.
ATSE in its ‘Becoming a Net Zero Nation’ position statement has called for Australia to commit to an ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2035, and for the immediate prioritisation and deployment of mature, low-carbon technologies that can make deep cuts to high-emitting sectors before 2030 (ATSE 2023a).
Renewables, increased efficiency and a host of innovative technologies across a range of industries are needed. The Future Gas Strategy should outline a role for gas as a transition fuel and provide a pathway for substitution with clean energy sources. ATSE puts forward the following recommendations for the Future Gas Strategy:
Recommendation 1: Commit to nationally phasing out gas in new residential buildings.
Recommendation 2: Create a clear and ambitious pathway to reduce the role of gas in industry, by supporting smaller manufacturers to develop new technologies for electrification and fund transition to renewable electricity.
Recommendation 3: Support development and early-stage testing of carbon capture utilisation and storage technologies to reduce emissions from natural gas extraction and use.
Recommendation 4: Strengthen mechanisms to transition gas infrastructure to store and transport alternate fuels.
Recommendation 5: Develop a strategy to coordinate the repurposing of gas transportation and infrastructure for renewable energy infrastructure.
Recommendation 6: Improve data collection and availability on energy-related emissions to assist in planning emissions reduction measures and review progress.
Recommendation 7: Develop an incentive-based Gas Strategy that would encourage those emitters, that are under the Safeguard Mechanism threshold level, to reduce their emissions.
Recommendation 8: Develop a policy for encouraging and supporting gas exports to be progressively substituted by exports of clean energy fuels.
Recommendation 9: Prioritise inclusive stakeholder engagement at various stages of developing gas projects to identify and address adverse social impacts.
Recommendation 10: Support displaced gas industry workers to retrain to work in different industries like mining.
