Work in progress: bottlenecks hinder green export hub

Slow project approvals, energy storage gaps and investment uncertainty are proving hurdles to cutting greenhouse gas emissions from heavy industry.

For the Hunter, a region eyeing off green industrial exports as global demand for its coal wanes, the transition has not been all smooth sailing.

Government support for clean tech innovation and steps to retrain workers for future careers are bright spots in a thorough assessment of the NSW region led by industry think tank Beyond Zero Emissions.

Yet the Hunter was lagging on 17 of the 19 indicators of a successful shift towards an economy powered by decarbonised industrial exports, such as green iron and clean technology.

Slow-moving clean energy projects are a big problem, with 74 per cent of renewable energy capacity in the pipeline yet to receive planning approval and facing delays of up to eight years.

Much hinges on the timely rollout of the Hunter Transmission Project, key infrastructure for unlocking supply from renewable energy zones but still in its early phases and struggling to get full community buy-in.

Local company commitments to cut emissions and shift to clean energy could be in jeopardy without faster progress, according to the report.

Tomago Aluminium, a major energy user as the nation's biggest smelter, is in danger of missing its 100 per cent renewables by 2030 target without securing reliable, affordable clean energy soon.

BZE chief executive officer Heidi Lee said if the Hunter Transmission Project was not delivered on time, the region would continue to rely on "expensive and polluting" coal.

"It's time for action," she said.

"The region understands the importance of good planning to keep the shift happening quickly here, because local advantages will be lost if we take too long."

Electrical Trades Union national secretary Michael Wright said workforce, training and project proposals "spending nearly a decade in consultation hell" were interrelated problems.

"There's no certainty for developers, and hence no reliable pipeline of work to support the workforce and train apprentices on anywhere the scale we need - an extra 42,500 electricians in the next five years," he said.

Several Hunter industry figures voiced their support for the think tank's assessment of the region and recommendations to get things moving.

Founder of Australian battery manufacturer Energy Renaissance, Brian Craighead, said accelerating investment, building a strong local workforce and progressing the energy transition were key.

"Unlocking the Hunter's full potential requires collaboration across government, industry, and communities - guided by clear, consistent policy," he said.