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Where the action is: How states are benefiting from the low-carbon shift

A Footprint analysis of carbon credit projects, renewables investment and energy productivity initiatives shows NSW has snared the lion's share of ERF revenue, and Queensland is set to dominate large-scale solar.

The analysis is based largely on December updates from the Clean Energy Regulator and the Australian Energy Market Operator.

Solar projects totalling 7,437MW proposed for Queensland

Carbon credits: A total of 9.1 million carbon credits have been created from projects in Queensland so far, worth about $108 million.

That's significantly below the volume issued for NSW projects.

But the state's carbon industry will be further boosted through a $500 million Land Restoration Fund to support land sector projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which was a Labor election commitment.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: According to data from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) published in late December, Queensland has 45MW of existing large-scale solar, a further 1,188MW committed and a massive 7,437MW proposed.

It has only 12MW of existing wind, another 677MW committed, and a further 1,816MW proposed.

It has 368MW of biomass generation capacity, a further 24MW committed, and 190MW proposed.

The state government is conducting a 400MW renewables auction (including 100MW of storage), but hasn't specified additional post-2020 measures to reach its target of 50% renewables generation by 2050.

Energy productivity: Queensland does not have a state energy efficiency subsidy scheme.

Volume of carbon credits issued in NSW exceeds other states combined

Carbon credits: A total of 24.3 million credits have been created in NSW so far, more than in all other jurisdictions combined, and worth about $289 million.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: According to AEMO, NSW has 267MW of existing large-scale solar, a further 165MW committed, and another 1,819MW proposed.

It has 840MW of existing wind, another 673MW committed and a further 4,492MW proposed.

It has 131MW of existing biomass generation capacity, another 7MW committed and 10MW proposed.

NSW has not announced any plans for renewable energy auctions.

Energy productivity: The state's Energy Savings Scheme has created 21.6 million tradable certificates since its establishment in 2009, with 4.2 million created in 2017 (as at the end of November).

The state also has legislation allowing property owners to enter into environmental upgrade agreements with councils and banks to help upgrade their buildings.

To help counter the risk of blackouts this summer, the Australian Energy Market Operator has contracts with NSW businesses to pay them for energy use reductions totalling 61MW, should they be needed.

Clean energy to supply half the ACT's electricity in FY18

Carbon credits: A total of 457,000 carbon credits have been created in the ACT so far, worth about $5.4 million.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: The ACT has a target of sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2020, and is on track to meet it.

Last financial year, 29% of its electricity was sourced from renewables, and in FY18 the proportion is expected to rise to 51%.

Energy productivity: The ACT has an Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme that supports efficiency upgrades in homes and small businesses.

About half the households in the ACT have had energy efficiency upgrades subsidised through the scheme.

Victorian businesses major beneficiaries of AEMO 'demand response' payment scheme

Carbon credits: Victorian projects have not yet been major beneficiaries of the ERF.

So far, about four million credits have been created in Victoria, worth approximately $47.6 million.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: According to AEMO, Victoria has 5.6MW of existing large-scale solar, a further 239MW committed and another 1,149MW proposed.

It has 1,496MW of existing wind, another 272MW committed and a massive 6,926MW proposed.

It has 57MW of existing biomass generation capacity, with no extra capacity committed or proposed.

The government has a target of generating 25% of the state's electricity from renewables by 2020, rising to 40% in 2025 (with the targets including rooftop PV).

In late December, the state government announced that its 2020 target would require at least 6,341MW of renewable energy generation capacity by that date.

Bidding closes February 14 for Victoria's first renewable energy auction, expected to support up to 650MW of new generation.

The government will also be funding a grid level battery that will be operational next year, which is likely to have a capacity of 40MW/100MWh.

Energy productivity: The Victorian Energy Upgrade program (formerly VEET) supports upgrades in homes and businesses.

It has created 43.5 million tradable certificates since its establishment in 2009, representing the same amount of greenhouse gas abatement.

AEMO has contracts in place to pay Victorian businesses for energy use reductions totalling 789MW should they be needed this summer – more than 10-fold larger than the total amount AEMO has contracted with NSW and South Australian businesses.

Building owners can also upgrade their properties, through laws that enable them to obtain Environmental Upgrade Finance.

Proposals to double Tasmania's hydro capacity

Carbon credits: A total of 898,000 credits created, worth about $10.7 million.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: According to AEMO, Tasmania has 2,281MW of existing hydro capacity and a further 2,300MW proposed.

The state has 18MW of large-scale solar proposed.

It has 308MW of existing wind, and a further 329MW proposed. It also has 5MW of existing biomass generation capacity.

Energy productivity: Tasmania does not have a state energy efficiency scheme.

Significant new solar and wind proposals for South Australia

Carbon credits: So far, a total of 401,000 carbon credits have been issued to ERF projects in South Australia, worth about $4.8 million.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: According to AEMO, South Australia has 4.7MW of existing large-scale solar, a further 220MW committed and another 912MW proposed.

It has 1,806MW of existing wind, another 245MW committed and a further 3,393MW proposed.

It has 18MW of existing biomass generation capacity and another 15MW proposed.

Following last month's commissioning of the 100MW/129MWh Tesla battery, significant new initiatives include plans to meet government power needs from the 150MW Aurora Solar Project, which is expected to start operation in 2020 .

Energy productivity: South Australia has a state energy efficiency scheme known as REES.

To help counter the risk of blackouts this summer, AEMO has contracts in place with South Australian energy users for energy use reductions totalling 34MW, should they be needed.

South Australia also has a legislated scheme to help finance environmental improvements to buildings, through Building Upgrade Agreements.

Massive renewables project under consideration in Western Australia

Carbon credits: A total of 2.9 million credits created, worth about $34.5 million.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: Western Australia does not have a state-based renewable energy target.

However, a proposed 7,400MW combined large-scale wind and solar project, which would export electricity to Singapore and Java (see background here), is currently undergoing environmental assessment.

Energy productivity: Western Australia doesn't have a state-wide energy efficiency subsidy scheme.

Fire management projects underpin NT carbon credits industry

Carbon credits: A total of 2.5 million credits have been issued by the Clean Energy Regulator for projects in the Territory, which are worth about $30 million.

Most of these are for projects that reduce the risk of emissions-intensive wild fires in savanna lands.

Renewables and low-emissions energy: The Territory government has a target of generating 50% of its electricity from renewables by 2050.

Energy productivity: The Territory doesn't have an energy efficiency subsidy scheme.

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