‘Solar photovoltaic and wind power are rapidly getting cheaper and more abundant – so much so that they are on track to entirely supplant fossil fuels worldwide within two decades, with the time frame depending mostly on politics. The protestation from some politicians that we need to build new coal stations sounds rather quaint.
‘The reality is that the rising tide of solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind energy offers our only realistic chance of avoiding dangerous climate change. No other greenhouse solution comes close, and it is very hard to envision any timely response to climate change that does not involve PV and wind doing most of the heavy lifting.
‘About 80% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are due to the use of coal, oil and gas, which is typical for industrialised countries. The land sector accounts for most of the rest. Sadly, attempts to capture and store the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels have come to naught due to technical difficulties and high cost.
‘… Electrifying the whole energy sector of our economy of course means that electricity production needs to increase massively – roughly tripling over the next 20 years. Continued rapid growth of PV (and wind) will minimise dangerous climate change with minimal economic disruption. Many policy instruments are available to hasten their deployment. Governments should get behind PV and wind as the last best chance to deliver the necessary solution to global warming.’
- Solar PV and wind are on track to replace all coal, oil and gas within two decades »
- Solar is now the most popular form of new electricity generation worldwide »
- The pro-coal ‘Monash Forum’ may do little but blacken the name of a revered Australian »
- The Nationals should support carbon farming, not coal »
- Renewables forecast to halve wholesale energy prices over four years »
- At its current rate, Australia is on track for 50% renewable electricity in 2025 »
- The verdict is in: renewables reduce energy prices »
- Wind and solar cut rather than boost Australia’s wholesale electricity prices »
- The best way for Australia to stop worrying about oil is to stop depending on it »
- Rise of renewables may see off oil firms decades earlier than they think »
- Microgrids and neighbourhood power sharing set to transform how we use energy »
- Go local: how to keep the power on when disaster hits »
- Falling cost of renewables creates coal test for federal government »
- Solar power in Australia outstrips coal-fired electricity for first time »
- Renewables could meet 100% demand in Australia at certain times of day by 2025, report says »
- Australia ‘on track’ to generate half its electricity from renewable sources by 2025, report finds »
- Renewables squeeze black coal to record low in electricity grid
We could be a superpower: 3 ways Australia can take advantage of the changing geopolitics of energy
Christian Downie writes in The Conversation (25.5.21) that Australia is well placed to be a ‘superpower’ of renewable energy generation – but it’s an opportunity that won’t last forever. The author points out how countries that move first will gain an advantage in new industries, technologies and export markets.
‘The International Energy Agency confirmed last week what many already knew: the world is undergoing a huge transformation in global energy markets. Fossil fuels are dying and renewables are on the rise.
‘Much of the focus has been on what this means for Australia, given the IEA declared there can be no new fossil fuel projects if global temperature rise is to be kept below 2℃.
‘But what the discussion has missed is how the shift to renewable energy is also set to transform Australia’s geopolitical environment. For a country that likes to think of itself as an energy superpower, it’s time we started paying attention.
‘Australia should embrace the opportunity to become a renewable energy power. If we don’t act now, with the global energy transition gathering pace, Australia could be exposed to a hostile international energy environment with profound economic, security and diplomatic consequences.’
- We could be a superpower: 3 ways Australia can take advantage of the changing geopolitics of energy »
- Most new wind and solar projects will be cheaper than coal, report finds »
- Australia: the renewable energy superstar »
- Latest CSIRO report says renewables make cents, batteries included »
- Up to 90% of electricity from solar and wind the cheapest option by 2030: CSIRO analysis »
- Alan Kohler: Australia’s solar tsunami to trigger coal collapse »
- With record new solar and wind installed, Australia’s clean energy is booming – for now »
- Renewables to overtake coal in four years but Australia lags due to policy void »
- ‘Enormous opportunity’: how Australia could become the Saudi Arabia of renewable energy »
- Australia’s electricity grid could run with 75% renewables, market operator says »
- Australia could get 90% of electricity from renewables by 2040 with no price increase »
- Australia’s electricity market must be 100% renewables by 2035 to achieve net zero by 2050 – study »
- Garnaut: Queensland’s role as a renewables superpower starting to take shape »
- Imagine it’s 2030 and Australia is a renewable energy superpower in Southeast Asia »
- 3 ways the Albanese government can turn Australia into a renewable energy superpower – without leaving anyone behind »
- Albanese aims for superpower status in global energy transition »
- Albanese just laid out a radical new vision for Australia in the region: clean energy exporter and green manufacturer »
- Labor promises to ‘grab this opportunity’ to become renewable energy superpower
- Australia ‘can’t afford to wait’ to develop itself into critical minerals superpower
- Australia is touted as a future clean energy ‘superpower’ – but research suggests other nations will outperform us