Submission to the Call for Evidence on pathways

Achieving the state's emissions reduction targets will require a coordinated, systems-based approach that supports innovation, investment and the conditions needed to enable the widespread adoption of low-emissions technologies across all sectors of the economy. Further opportunities exist to reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, strengthen the research and commercialisation pipeline, and ensure the infrastructure, workforce and governance arrangements are in place to deliver the transition. Realising these opportunities will require strategic investment in renewable energy systems, emerging technologies and enabling infrastructure, alongside stronger collaboration across government, industry, research organisations and communities. ATSE’s submission responds to the Net Zero Commission’s questions regarding priority emission reduction opportunities, including electrification, available and emerging sector-specific technologies needed to achieve net zero and the enabling systems required to support their successful implementation.  

ATSE makes the following recommendations: 

Recommendation 1: Accelerate emissions reduction by prioritising investment in renewable electricity generation, transmission, storage and digital grid technologies to deliver a reliable, resilient and low-emissions electricity system. 

Recommendation 2: Support the uptake of distributed energy resources, demand-side management and energy-efficient technologies to improve grid flexibility, reduce energy costs and enable economy-wide electrification. 

Recommendation 3: Increase investment in research, development, demonstration and commercialisation to accelerate the deployment of emerging low-emissions technologies, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors. 

Recommendation 4: Strengthen the enabling systems for the transition through coordinated governance, streamlined planning processes, workforce development and meaningful community and First Nations partnerships.