Australia’s 2035 Emissions Target: Why Infrastructure and Engineering Hold the Key

Australia has announced an ambitious new climate commitment: cutting emissions 62–70% below 2005 levels by 2035. 

It’s a bold step on the road to net zero by 2050, but one thing is clear: achieving this target won’t be possible through policy announcements alone. It will require large-scale infrastructure projects, world-class engineering, and a highly skilled workforce to deliver solutions at unprecedented speed and scale. 

Engineering at the Centre of the Transition 

As Engineers Australia has highlighted, the path to net zero depends on practical, engineered solutions. From energy storage and grid stability to renewable generation and low-carbon fuels, every piece of the emissions puzzle comes down to design, innovation, and delivery. 

Two projects currently underway, Snowy Hydro 2.0 and the Kidston Pumped Hydro Project, showcase exactly how infrastructure can underpin the transition. 

Snowy Hydro 2.0: Powering Australia’s Renewable Future 

Snowy Hydro 2.0 is one of the most ambitious renewable projects in Australia’s history. Building on the original Snowy Scheme, this development is designed to deliver 2,200 MW of dispatchable power and around 350,000 MWh of storage – enough to power three million homes for a week. 

By linking the Tantangara and Talbingo dams with 27km of tunnels and a new underground power station, Snowy 2.0 will act as a giant water battery. It will pump water uphill when renewable energy is plentiful and release it to generate electricity during peak demand, stabilising the grid and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. 

This scale of project demonstrates the engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain coordination required to transform Australia’s energy mix. 

Kidston Pumped Hydro: Turning a Gold Mine into a Renewable Powerhouse 

In Far North Queensland, the Kidston Pumped Hydro Project (K2-Hydro) is reimagining an abandoned gold mine into a renewable energy asset. 

By repurposing two mining pits as reservoirs, the project will deliver 250 MW of generation capacity and 2,000 MWh of storage, enough to power 280,000 homes for eight continuous hours. 

Kidston isn’t just about pumped hydro; it forms part of the Kidston Clean Energy Hub, integrating solar, wind, battery storage, and hydro into a single renewable precinct. It will also deliver major regional benefits, with around 900 construction jobs and long-term operational opportunities. 

Beyond Targets: The Skills and Workforce Challenge 

Projects like Snowy Hydro 2.0 and Kidston are proof of what’s possible, but scaling these solutions across the nation is the real challenge. 

To deliver the 2035 target, Australia will need to: 

• Quadruple wind capacity 

• Triple large-scale solar 

• Double rooftop solar 

• Dramatically expand energy storage and transmission infrastructure 

This will require not only investment, but also a significant uplift in engineering capability. Engineers Australia is calling for: 

• A national engineering surge to boost workforce capacity. 

• 60,000 additional engineering graduates over the next decade. 

• Senior engineering roles in the public sector to guide national strategy. 

Without this skills base, even the best-designed projects risk falling behind. 

The Road Ahead 

The Albanese Government’s new target is both ambitious and achievable, but only if matched with the engineering solutions and infrastructure needed to make it real. 

Snowy Hydro 2.0 and Kidston Pumped Hydro are just two examples of how Australia can balance innovation with delivery, combining renewable generation, large-scale storage, and regional economic development. 

To hit 62–70% reductions by 2035, Australia must accelerate projects like these, invest in engineering talent, and ensure the clean energy transition is underpinned by resilient infrastructure. 

Because without infrastructure, targets remain just numbers on a page.