Australia’s journey towards renewable energy is a tale of innovation, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to a sustainable future. This comprehensive exploration of renewable energy in Australia delves into its genesis, the current landscape, and the potential it holds for the future.

Renewable Energy vs Non-Renewable Energy

Renewable energy, a stark contrast to non-renewable energies like coal and gas, is derived from sources that naturally replenish themselves. These sources include:

• Solar Energy: This involves harnessing the sun’s energy and converting it into electricity using photovoltaic cells or concentrated solar power systems. It’s renewable because the sun is a virtually inexhaustible source of energy.
• Wind Energy: Wind turbines capture the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into electricity. As long as the wind blows, it can be harnessed to generate power.
• Hydropower: This involves using the energy of flowing or falling water to generate electricity. It’s renewable because the water cycle is continuously replenished by the sun.
• Geothermal Energy: This involves harnessing the heat energy from beneath the Earth’s crust. It’s renewable because the Earth continuously produces heat.
• Biomass Energy: This involves using organic materials (like plant and animal matter) to generate electricity, produce heat, or create biofuels. It’s renewable because we can always grow more biomass.

On the other hand, non-renewable energies like coal and gas involve processes that cause significant environmental pollution. Coal, for instance, is mined and then burned to produce electricity. This process releases harmful pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, which contribute to air pollution and climate change. Similarly, natural gas, while cleaner than coal, still produces carbon dioxide when burned.

These fossil fuels are formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals under high pressure and temperature. This long formation process makes them a limited resource. As we continue to extract and burn these fuels, we are depleting a resource that cannot be replenished within a human timescale, leading to an unsustainable energy future.

Australia’s electricity grid is renowned for its stability, with forced rolling blackouts being an infrequent occurrence. However, recent fluctuations in wholesale power prices and policy changes have sparked debates about the grid’s reliability. It’s crucial to understand that these concerns may be amplified by media, lobby groups, or government agendas, especially as Australia sets its sights on reducing its dependence on coal-generated power.

Australia is a significant exporter of its raw minerals and energies. With the price increase of these fossil fuels and government policy to reduce Australia’s reliance on them, some mining companies may be looking to export to other countries like China and Japan instead of serving Australia’s current needs. This shift could have significant implications for Australia’s energy security and economic stability.

The Adoption of Renewable Energy in Australia

The adoption of renewable energy in Australia, while promising, has been slower than anticipated. According to GreenPower, a mere 330,000 Australian homes use accredited renewable energy. This figure is alarmingly low, given that there were 10.7 million households in Australia at the end of 2022, according to the NHFIC. This implies that just over 3% of households are using accredited renewable energy.

It’s important to note that most Energy Retailers in Australia offer some form of renewable product for consumers. These products range from plans that source a portion of their energy from renewable sources to plans that are 100% renewable. However, there is a crucial distinction between Renewable and Accredited Renewable Energy. While both are better than energy produced from burning fossil fuels, Accredited Renewable Energy is certified by GreenPower, ensuring that the energy is sourced from renewable projects that meet strict environmental and sustainability standards.

The transition to GreenPower accredited renewable energy plans offered by Energy Retailers is often overlooked due to misconceptions about cost and convenience. However, these plans, which can range from 25% to 100% renewable energy, offer consumers a choice of wind, solar, hydro, and more. In some instances, the price is even comparable to coal-burning plans. This means that consumers can make a significant impact on Australia’s renewable energy uptake without a significant change in their energy bills or lifestyle.

The low adoption rate of accredited renewable energy is a cause for concern, but it also represents a significant opportunity for growth. Even a plan using 25% accredited renewable energy is still better than 100% non-renewable energy. As consumers become more aware of the environmental impact of their energy choices and the benefits of renewable energy, the adoption rate of accredited renewable energy is expected to increase.

The journey towards a sustainable energy future in Australia is a collective effort. While the government and the energy sector play crucial roles, the power to drive change lies in the hands of consumers. By choosing accredited renewable energy, Australian consumers can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future.

The Significance of Rooftop Solar Systems

While the adoption of accredited renewable energy in Australia may be lagging, the country has seen a significant surge in the installation of rooftop solar systems. Approximately 3.4 million properties across Australia now boast solar installations, equating to just over 31% of Australian households. This places Australia among the top nations for the highest number of installed rooftop solar systems per capita, contributing to an estimated 15% share of total electricity consumption.

However, it’s important to understand the limitations of solar energy. Solar panels can only produce power during daylight hours. This means that unless households have installed batteries to store the power generated during the day, they will still need to draw electricity from their energy provider during the night. This is where the choice of energy plan becomes crucial. Households with solar installations should consider switching to plans that offer accredited renewable energy, thereby reducing their carbon footprint even further.

The Australian government has been instrumental in promoting the uptake of solar installations, offering attractive incentives over the years. These incentives have undoubtedly played a significant role in the high number of solar systems installed across the country. However, it raises the question: is the drive behind Australia’s high solar uptake primarily for economic benefit, or is it driven by a genuine desire to help the environment?

The answer is likely a combination of both. The economic benefits of solar power, particularly in light of government incentives, are undeniable. However, the growing awareness of the environmental impact of non-renewable energy sources is also driving more Australians to consider renewable options. As the country continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, the shift towards renewable energy is not just an economic decision, but a necessary step towards a sustainable future.

The Future of Renewable Energy in Australia

The Australian government has set ambitious targets to reduce the country’s reliance on Coal Generation. However, the achievement of these targets is not solely in the hands of the government. Rather, it requires the active participation of consumers in adopting accredited renewable energy plans. As the Greens political party gains more support, this should ideally be reflected by consumers and households making the switch to accredited renewable energies.

However, it’s important to remember that government policies can change with the ruling party or the leader of the party. Nothing is set in stone, and consumers cannot solely rely on the government to do the right thing. The responsibility to act lies with the consumers. It is simple and easy to switch to renewable energy plans, yet only a small percentage of households are doing this.

Energy retailers also have a role to play in this transition. They should be doing more to advertise renewable plans and products, perhaps even making them cheaper to increase customer uptake. However, there may be conflicts of interest, with some energy retailers being vertically integrated with coal-burning generation. This is a complex issue that requires careful consideration and transparency.

The power to protect the future of our country and our planet is in our hands. It’s time to move beyond policy and government action and take personal responsibility for our energy consumption. The switch to renewable energy is not just about reducing our carbon footprint. It’s about investing in a sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come. It’s about making a choice that benefits not just us, but the entire planet. So, make the switch to renewable energy now.