The state government of South Australia has launched a bid for the city of Adelaide to host the COP31 climate summit in late 2026, showcasing the region’s prowess in clean energy.

The government set out its case on Monday, saying the state is a pioneer in renewables, hydrogen and battery storage, and also has sufficient accommodation for more than 30,000 visitors. Welcoming delegates to the Adelaide Convention Centre would deliver local economic benefits of more than A$500 million (US$336m), it added.

State premier Peter Malinauskas said in a statement: “South Australia is already a world leader in renewable energy and decarbonisation and hosting COP31 would firmly put our state on the global map.”

The Australian government wants to co-host COP31 – expected to be held in November 2026 – with at least one Pacific Island nation. Turkiye also wants to host the summit and both will compete to convince members of their United Nations regional group – which includes Western Europe, North America and New Zealand – to back their bid at COP29 next month.

The Guardian reported that South Australia’s interest was welcomed by the Australian government, which also said it was working with Turkiye “to find a mutually beneficial resolution” on hosting the COP.

If the Australia and Pacific bid is successful, the co-hosts will then decide where to hold the annual UN climate talks. Malinauskas said, in comments reported by the Guardian, that major conferences are usually held in Australia’s two biggest cities – Sydney and Melbourne.

“Because of what we’ve been doing here in South Australia we now have an opportunity to say no to Sydney and Melbourne, and instead allow the federal government to choose Adelaide to host what will be one of the largest international conferences this nation has ever seen,” he said.

Renewables pioneer

South Australia currently gets 75% of its energy from renewable sources, according to the state government – and is aiming for net 100% renewables by 2027, one of the most ambitious targets in the world.

The “net” aspect of the target means that some non-renewable energy may be used at certain times but the state will generate or purchase enough renewable electricity to cover all its consumption. South Australia exports a lot of renewable electricity to neighbouring Victoria.

With such a high proportion of variable renewable electricity, the state government is investing in innovative ways to balance the grid – matching demand and supply of electricity.

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For example, US company Tesla has built a battery there called the Hornsdale Power Reserve, which the state government says is the world’s largest battery. It will take in and store renewable electricity when there is an over-supply and release it when needed.

The state government, meanwhile, is investing nearly A$600m (US$400m) in a facility combining one of the world’s biggest hydrogen electrolysers and one of the only hydrogen-fired power plants.

When there is excess renewable electricity supply, the surplus power will be used to turn water into hydrogen using an electrolyser, and when electricity generation falls short of demand, the hydrogen will be burned in a power plant.

(Reporting by Joe Lo; editing by Megan Rowling; video by Fanis Kollias)

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Australian renewables pioneer Adelaide bids to host COP31 climate summit