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Senator McAllister drove the National Energy Performance Strategy and the Consumer Energy Resources Taskforce. These provide a foundation for the new assistant minister to enable solar and electrification for more households, including renters, apartments and low income demographics.

Josh Wilson has been federal member for Fremantle since 2016.

“It’s an honour to have been asked by the Prime Minister to take on the responsibility of serving as the Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, working with Minister Chris Bowen,” he said in a statement.

“There is no area of greater challenge and greater opportunity for Australia, and I relish the chance to work with communities around the country, with innovators and entrepreneurs, with businesses and clean energy advocates and civil society to continue the Albanese government’s sharp focus on the path to net zero, with cheaper energy, cleaner air, and a safe climate.

“Our approach will always involve taking action now and supporting households, including with the cost of living, while laying the foundation for lasting positive change in renewable generation, storage, transmission, transport, and efficiency, including through collaborative work with nations in our region.

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“For her tireless work in this portfolio, I pay homage to my friend, colleague and now Minister, the Hon Senator Jenny McAllister and extend my congratulations on her new appointment.”

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The Guarantee of Origin scheme will provide the emissions accounting backbone to support the development of Australia’s green industries.

The scheme will issue digital certificates that allow producers, exporters and users to prove where a product was made, and the emissions associated with its production and transport.

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The scheme will commence with hydrogen and will then expand to include low carbon liquid fuels like sustainable aviation fuel, green metals like steel and aluminium, and biomethane and biogas.

The certificates will be used to establish eligibility for tax credits under the $6.7 billion Hydrogen Production Tax Credit announced in the 2024/25 Federal Budget and are likely to play a crucial enabling role in the development of other green industries.

The Guarantee of Origin scheme is supported by the Renewable Electricity Guarantee of Origin scheme, which will issue digital certificates proving when, where and how renewable energy was produced. The scheme will replace the RET in 2030 as the framework for certifying renewable electricity.

The government is currently considering the submissions made as part of its consultation into design questions. A final response to that consultation is due to be released shortly.

The government said it was working to finalise the enabling legislation for this reform so it can commence operation in the second half of 2025.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy  Jenny McAllister said, “The Guarantee of Origin scheme is the most important green industry program you never heard of.

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“As the world decarbonises, it will be increasingly important for businesses to be able to account for the carbon emissions associated with their products.

“Guarantee of Origin is a key to new market opportunities for Australian energy exporters in the race to net-zero.

“The Guarantee of Origin scheme will give Australian companies a competitive advantage by providing government backed certification of the carbon intensity of key green products.”

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Related article: Australia commits $105m to Vietnam’s energy transition

The collaboration efforts will include the exchange of knowledge between nations as well as potential new trade agreements and connecting businesses from the two countries.

Notably, the Australian Energy Regulator is sharing Australia’s knowledge of creating clean energy regulations with the Energy Regulatory Authority of Vietnam in order to help Vietnam forge a strong policy base in clean energy.

Australia has also committed AUD$105 million to support development and private investment in sustainable infrastructure planning in Vietnam, with a focus on increased clean energy uptake.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said, “Cooperation is the key to unlocking economic opportunities for Australia and Vietnam as our countries and international partners undergo a clean energy transformation.

“We are on a shared journey, and while in many ways our countries are very different, we both understand that as we embark on this path, we must ensure the continued economic prosperity for our people.

“When our partners prosper, Australia prospers. And nowhere is this truer than in the clean energy transition.”

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Australia and Vietnam’s official relationship has also been upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), with this formal agreement adding a specific focus on “Strengthening Climate, Environment and Energy Cooperation”.

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The strategy outlines action across five key focus areas—economy; households; communities, businesses and industry; energy system; and technology and innovation—and is focused on empowering Australians to improve energy performance and ensure more consumers have access to energy saving upgrades.

This includes greater access to tools that deliver transparency about the performance of homes, workplaces and appliances and reforms that will reduce barriers to making upgrades.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said, “Energy performance is about energy savings and bill savings. We want more Australians to have the choice to save on energy and save on bills, and this strategy, along with our large investments’ energy saving upgrades for households and businesses across the country, does just that.

“Australia has a clear-cut plan to drive action on the demand-side of the energy market to support the economy-wide energy transformation and help put downward pressure on energy bills.

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said, “Households are partners in our renewable energy transformation. We want solar on rooftops, batteries in garages to work hand in hand with the rest of the energy market.”

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The strategy drew on 135 submissions from businesses, industry, consumer groups and experts, roundtables, and consultation with state and territory governments.

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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has provided RayGen $10 million to scale up its innovative solar PV and electro-thermal storage technology.

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This potentially game-changing innovation for firming the grid combines its tower-mounted, concentrated solar PV technology with thermal storage capabilities. The system stores hot water produced as a byproduct of PV electricity generation and water cooled with a small portion of the electricity. The hot and cold water are then combined to power a turbine that generates electricity on demand.

Development of the RayGen technology will complement government initiatives, such as the Capacity Investment Scheme, supporting the development of dispatchable capacity and help guard against future price spikes.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said the innovative solar and thermal storage technology could offer generators and industry new versatility on the path to decarbonise the economy.

“RayGen is another terrific Australian innovation story. This latest funding into RayGen is just another example of the Albanese Government investing in the technology of the future that we need to power our grid and decarbonise our economy,” Senator McAllister said.

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“We know that firmed renewables are the cheapest form of energy. Projects like these will help provide the storage capacity we need to achieve 82% renewables by 2030. Efficient and cost-effective solar thermal power plants like RayGen’s could help deliver storage across the grid.

“It could provide vital supply during peak demand, longer duration storage, and export to the wholesale market at times of low renewables output. The scalability of technology like this also has off-grid potential to help decarbonise harder-to-abate sectors like mining.”

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The Commonwealth-led strategy forms part of the Albanese Government’s $15.2 million investment over four years to provide a framework for demand-side action. As part of a broad review to support efficient energy use, it will consider the suitability of targets for driving better energy performance across the economy.

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Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the government was committed to easing cost of living pressures and improving energy efficiency is crucial to that.

“Australian households and businesses are now paying the price for the immoral invasion of Ukraine as well as a decade of delay, denial and failed energy policies.

“The government is working to ensure all households and businesses can access affordable energy and our National Energy Performance Strategy is another avenue to make that happen,” Minister Bowen said.

Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister said better energy performance was key to taking pressure off energy bills, the energy system, and the climate.

“The benefits of improved energy performance for all Australians are there waiting to be grasped,” Assistant Minister McAllister said.

“We want to support affordable energy for Australians, ensuring no one gets left behind, while taking strong action on climate change. Action on the demand-side of the market will mean Australians can take control of their energy use.

“This is an issue directly affecting the health and welfare of our nation, including low-income and disadvantaged households, and regional communities.

“After almost a decade of delay and neglect, Australia is lagging behind our international partners.

“But with national leadership we can grasp the opportunities ahead of us for homes, business and industry.”

The consultation paper is seeking views on issues including:

• governance;
• energy efficiency targets;
• residential, commercial and industrial sectors; and
• supply chains and the workforce.

Related article: UN Secretary General: “We’re on a highway to climate hell”

The National Energy Performance Strategy discussion paper is available on the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Consultation Hub.

Responses to the discussion paper should be submitted via the Consultation Hub by February 3, 2023.

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