Warp Speed: Accelerating renewable energy infrastructure deployment is a report from the Centre for Policy Development that outlines a package of policy reforms to radically speed up the renewable energy transition.
A swift transition isn’t just vital to address the climate crisis or meet emissions targets, but an imperative to strengthen energy security, respond to the increasing demand on electrification, and build a more resilient economy that can compete in a world rapidly moving away from fossil fuels.
Australia has made strides recently, with batteries booming and power prices coming down thanks to a renewables-abundant grid. But to ensure a reliable, affordable energy system that supports our growing needs well into the future, we need to radically pick up the pace – to warp speed.
Importantly, a warp speed approach is not about eliminating regulations and social protections that exist to safeguard communities. The energy transition needs to leave Australian communities stronger and more resilient. This report sets out a responsible pathway to accelerating the economy’s ability to build energy infrastructure, providing opportunities for training and employment, better targeted community engagement, and greater certainty for communities hosting infrastructure projects.
Warp Speed is a report from the Centre for Policy Development that outlines a suite of policy reforms to radically speed up the renewable energy transition.
Despite recent progress, current policy settings do not put us on track to meet climate or renewable energy targets. And with the rise of data centres and increasing demands on electrification, our energy needs are only set to grow.
To meet projected future demand and emissions targets, the report says Australia must increase the rate of new renewable generation by six times, the rate of new transmission by five times, and must build 10 times the entire historical (pre-2025) capacity of utility-scale storage.
This cannot be achieved with marginal improvements. Success is only possible by radically supercharging all corners of the infrastructure development process.
The scale of this challenge demands an ambitious, coordinated, strategic response. An acceleration can only happen if there’s a national imperative – with accountability at the highest levels of government – setting cohesive policies that minimise mixed signals to the economy. That’s why the report’s central recommendation is for a ‘warp speed’ energy infrastructure approach to be set as a National Cabinet level priority.
The report also outlines four key reform areas that are essential to a faster transition, with 24 underlying recommendations:
Meeting Australia’s climate and energy transition targets: While planning scenarios such as AEMO’s “Step Change” rely on pivotal shifts to fast-track critical infrastructure, these necessary accelerations remain out of reach under existing policy frameworks and current trendlines.
Decarbonising the economy and developing green industries: Developing the infrastructure for a cleaner grid and expanding data centre capacity are highly energy-intensive pursuits. When combined with the broader drive to decarbonise the economy, these factors are expected to push energy demand upward, likely exceeding even current projections.
Strengthening energy security and easing the cost of living: The energy crisis globally is disrupting supply chains and exposing Australians to price shocks. This reinforces the urgent necessity to achieve energy independence by transitioning toward abundant, low-cost renewable power.
