NSW lags on rollout of renewables, putting Australia’s 2030 clean energy target at risk

A recent report says NSW will need to approve nearly 7.5GW more in wind and solar farms to meet targeted emissions reduction goals by 2030. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

New South Wales has the largest gap between its 2030 emissions reduction goals and the present pace of renewables rollout among the states, a performance that will make it harder for Australia to meet national goals unless addressed, a new report argues.

The report, by Green Energy Markets, said NSW’s legislated electricity infrastructure roadmap indicates the state would need to generate 33,600 gigawatt hours of renewable energy from projects in place by the end of 2029.