In 2022, 70%+1 of all of South Australia's energy needs were delivered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
South Australia is well on track to meet its target of net 100% renewables by 2030, and 500% renewables by 2050. This means South Australia will be a net exporter of renewable energy to the rest of Australia.
To support the export of renewble energy to the rest of Australia, a new power interconnector is currently under construction enabling South Australia to export power to New South Wales, where Sydney is located.
The project value is AUD $2.3 billion and will be 900km long when completed in December 2024.2
1,2 Government of South Australia Energy and Mining, January 2024
Image: Australian Gas Networks
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, making it an ideal source of energy to help decarbonise the planet. It is produced through a process called electrolysis, which splits water into its two elements - hydrogen and oxygen.
Green hydrogen is when the electrolysis process is powered by renewble energy without releasing carbon dioxide into the air.
Adelaide, South Australia already exports more than twice the amount of renewable energy to than any other state in Australia. An abundance of wind and solar power generating capacity means that Adelaide can generate green hydrogen at scale.
The Government of South Australia has recently passed world first legislation to provide a coordinated approach to unlocking AUD $21 billion of value in hydrogen and renewable energy in South Australia.3
It enables companies to engage in a streamlined process that helps fast-track development through a coordinated regulatory approach.
3 Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia, November 2023
Critical minerals are essential components used in technologies such as clean energy technologies, computing, telecommunications and manufacturing. They include elements like copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earths.
Rare earths are a group of 15 elements that are relatively abundant, but are typically dispersed meaning they are not found in concentrated clusters that are viable to mine. This is where they get their name from.
South Australia e is the home of a significant global resource of critical minerals. This includes 65% of Australia's graphite resources (used in batteries, pencils and electric motors), and the world's largest zircon mine (used in engines, electronics and spacecraft).
There are a number of other rare earth clay deposits which can be used in electric motors, turbines and magnets.
Adelaide is also home to the Australin Critical Minerals Research Centre at The University of Adelaide.
The centre runs three core research programs:
Use the course search tool below start your journey to Adelaide
Discover some of the minerals and energy industry occupations available in Adelaide.
ANZSCO: 233611
Yearly Salary: AUD $169,104
Mining Engineers plan and direct the engineering aspects of locating and extracting minerals, petroleum and natural gas from the earth.
ANZSCO: 133513
Yearly Salary: AUD $121,264
Production Managers plan, organise, direct, control and coordinate the production activities of forestry, manufacturing and mining organisations including physical and human resources.
