A new report by the Asia-Pacific-focussed independent Centre for Policy Development (CPD) says that renewable energy generation development approval (DA) timeframes must be halved if Australia wants to secure its energy future.
Strategies the ‘Warp Speed: Accelerating renewable energy infrastructure deployment’ report outlines to achieving a 50% reduction in DA timeframes include using expedited pathways, limiting time and effort for assessments, and standardising assessment requirements.
“Recent changes to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation will speed up environmental approvals, but the separate planning and development processes can still take years,” the report says.
EPBC Act reforms were introduced in February 2026, with a further tranche of changes expected in the second half of 2026, which do include a new fast-track option for projects with the correct upfront information (excluding fossil fuel projects).
However, the CPD calls on National Cabinet to adopt a warp speed agenda to supercharge the energy transition, identifying a need for a renewable energy generation build out 6x faster than current rates, transmission 5x faster, and 10x the entire pre-2025 capacity of utility-scale storage.
CPD Economic Director Toby Phillips said Australia is not on track to meet climate or renewable energy targets.
“Workforce shortages and supply chain constraints leave developers hamstrung, complex project planning approvals cause lengthy delays, and policy settings are holding back clean energy capital from getting out the door,” Phillips said.
“Australia needs to build out new energy infrastructure at warp speed. Every year, we need to build five or six times more renewable generation and transmission than we currently build each year. This demands a whole system overhaul.”
Other key reform areas suggested by CPD include doubling the energy workforce pipeline by expanding training infrastructure, improving cross-border labour mobility, and addressing regional labour shortages through vocational training hubs and skilled migration.
The CPD also wants to see capital to flow where it is needed most, leveraging public capital to crowd-in private investment for higher-risk, first-mover projects, and secure the supply of key inputs through national multi-year procurement frameworks and support for the onshore manufacturing of critical grid components.
“Even if we completely eliminated barriers in one of these areas, the current speed limit would still apply if constraints in other areas are not addressed,” Phillips said, describing the overarching need to lockstep all proposed reforms..
He also emphasised the CPD approach is not about eliminating regulations and social protections that exist to safeguard communities.
“The energy transition needs to leave Australian communities stronger not weaker. Our report sets out a responsible pathway to accelerating the economy’s ability to build energy infrastructure,” Philips said.
“We know what needs to be done. And industry, finance and workers are all ready to play their part. It is possible to change the speed limit, but we need an ambitious, coordinated, strategic response.”
CPD Chief Executive Officer Andrew Hudson said recent events had made it clear that the renewable energy transition is an absolute imperative to strengthen Australia’s energy security.
“Governments across Australia have made substantial improvements recently, but we still need a distinct shift in prioritisation and a coordinated, whole-of-government effort. That’s why we’re proposing that National Cabinet adopt a ‘warp speed’ agenda to supercharge the transition.”
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