After a decade of climate wars, Australia is suddenly united – with state, territory and federal goverments aiming for net zero by 2050 for the first time
We arrived at this moment thanks to a series of policy decisions under previous governments – state and federal - that left Australia’s energy system unable to cope with the demands placed on it.
Some Australian states have committed to 100% renewable energy targets, or even 200% renewable energy targets. But this doesn’t mean their electricity is, or will be, emissions free.
Last year, renewables provided a whopping 60% of South Australia’s electricity supplies. The remarkable progress came as national climate policy was gripped by paralysis – so how did it happen?
Large scale wind farms are driving Australia’s renewable energy generation.
AAP Image/Supplied by CWP Renewables
Australia is installing renewable energy at more than ten times the global average. This is excellent news, but raises serious questions about integrating this electricity into our grids.
Wind energy has played a major role in Australia’s fulfilment of the renewable energy target.
Olivier Hoslet/AAP
There are calls from the backbench and elsewhere for the federal government to safeguard the future of coal. But do those calls make economic sense? A look at Queensland’s energy landscape suggests not.
No money for new coal - and no change to the current situation for renewables, despite the treasurer’s claims.
AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
Scott Morrison’s budget speech held no surprises on energy, after months of debate over the National Energy Guarantee. The real news comes in July with the release of a crucial ACCC report on power prices.
Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher, speaking on Q&A.
ABC Q&A
On Q&A, Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said South Australia’s high electricity prices were “the consequence” of Jay Weatherill’s renewable energy policies. Is that right?
New SA Premier Steven Marshall looks set to scrap the state’s renewable energy target.
AAP Image/David Mariuz
The end of Jay Weatherill’s government has removed a significant obstacle to progress on the federal National Energy Guarantee – even though we don’t yet know what the full policy will look like.
As federal and state energy ministers gather to discuss the Turnbull government’s proposed National Energy Guarantee, many of the finer details of the modelling are not yet available.
As the Clean Energy Target fades away, perhaps a Dispatchable Reliable Energy Target will be innocuous enough to pass the Liberal party room and the Senate.
Has the political sun started shining on Jay Weatherill?
AAP Image/David Mariuz
Victoria’s plan to legislate its own renewable energy target of 40% by 2025 shows how states are increasingly taking the energy policy reins away from the federal government.
Solar panels are still a rarity in WA’s lower-income areas.
Orderinchaos/Wikimedia Commons
Western Australia has huge amounts of sunshine and wind, yet only 7% of its energy comes from renewables. What’s more, most households in the poorest suburbs are still locked out of the solar panel boom.