Weld Australia will be hosting a summit to discuss how to tackle future emission reduction targets.
The National Manufacturing Summit aims to look at infrastructure targets and industry shortages, with Australian emissions planned to drop by 43 per cent by 2030.
This will be the first major step toward net zero for the nation by 2050.
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More than 11,000 wind towers will need to be constructed in order to reach these targets. At least 500 tonnes of plate steel will be needed for onshore towers (750t for offshore).
An additional 10,000km of transmission lines and 25,000 transmission towers will need to be built in this time too.
That’s a lot of work for a welding industry which is already experiencing shortages.
“All this the renewable energy infrastructure will require a veritable army of skilled workers, including welders,” Weld Australia CEO Geoff Crittenden said.
“The renewable energy industry will require huge volumes of fabrication in the coming years.
“While this represents enormous opportunities for Australia’s welding, fabrication and manufacturing industries, there are also enormous challenges ahead.”
“While our governments can wish, and hope, and make public pledges about Australia’s transition to renewable energy, we simply do not have the sovereign manufacturing capability to make this a reality.
“The Federal Government and state governments can wish their renewable energy policies into existence, but without a massive investment in local manufacturing, it will not be achievable.”
Weld Australia will collaborate with the National Institute’s Centre for Future Work for the summit.
The summit will welcome industry leaders and stakeholders to discuss the theme – ‘Manufacturing the Energy Revolution: Industrial Opportunities from Renewable Energy’.
The National Manufacturing Summit will be held at Old Parliament House in Canberra on August 2-3.