Lyla Lindsey
Australia has abundant renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including fossil fuels. The country's energy system is undergoing its most significant transformation since the 1950s, driven by economic, engineering, and environmental factors. While Australia's energy needs are still mostly met by fossil fuels, there is a growing trend towards renewable energy sources. As of 2024, renewable energy sources accounted for around 39-40% of Australia's total electricity supply, with wind, solar, and hydro providing about 29% of electricity generation in 2021. This has been stimulated by government policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing energy security, and limiting climate change. South Australia has been described as Australia's hot rock haven, with geothermal energy expected to play a significant role in the country's renewable energy future.
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What You'll Learn
Government policy and investment
The Australian government has implemented various policies and made significant investments to support the growth of renewable energy in the country. The government's commitment to reducing emissions and transitioning to a cleaner energy system is evident through initiatives such as the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) scheme and the Rewiring the Nation program.
Under the LRET scheme, as of May 2022, 29.2 GW of large-scale renewable energy capacity has been accredited. This scheme encourages the development and investment in large-scale renewable energy projects, contributing to the country's renewable energy targets.
The Rewiring the Nation program aims to upgrade, expand, and modernise electricity grids to unlock renewables and storage capacity. The Australian Energy Market Operator's (AEMO) 2024 Integrated System Plan (ISP) highlights the need for approximately 4,581 km of new transmission lines to meet the 2030 targets. The ISP also recommends key transmission projects to enhance the reliability and security of the National Electricity Market (NEM). These transmission investments will not only improve electricity affordability but also enable renewable generation and large-scale storage investment, facilitating the transition to a cleaner energy future.
The Australian government has also recognised the potential of geothermal energy, with South Australia being described as "Australia's hot rock haven". Geothermal energy, in the form of buried, high-heat-producing rocks, could provide an estimated 6.8% of Australia's base load power needs by 2030. There are significant investments being made in this sector, with companies expected to invest $524 million in their projects over the next six years.
In addition to government initiatives, renewable energy in Australia has also been encouraged by government energy policies aimed at limiting climate change, reducing oil import dependency, and stimulating the economy. The growth in large-scale renewable energy has been stimulated by recent government policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security. While there were concerns about the lack of a federal renewable energy policy beyond 2020, the Australian government has since reaffirmed its commitment to renewable energy and is taking steps to meet its emissions reduction targets.
Overall, the Australian government's policies and investments in renewable energy demonstrate a recognition of the importance of transitioning to cleaner energy sources and a commitment to supporting the growth of renewable energy in the country. These initiatives are crucial in driving the expansion of renewable energy projects and accelerating the country's progress towards achieving its emissions reduction goals.
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Solar energy
The Australian government has provided financial incentives for installing solar systems, such as the Solar Homes and Communities Plan, which offered rebates of up to AUD 8,000 for installing solar panels on homes and community buildings. The price of photovoltaics has been decreasing, and solar is now one of the cheapest forms of new electricity generation. The government has also committed $1.5 billion to support the construction of large-scale solar power plants using solar thermal and PV technologies.
Australia has the highest per capita solar capacity, now at more than 1 kW per capita. The installed PV capacity in Australia increased tenfold between 2009 and 2011 and quadrupled between 2011 and 2016. More than 30% of Australian households now have rooftop solar PV, with a combined capacity exceeding 11 GW. Large-scale solar farms are also on the rise, with almost 7 GW of generation connected to the grid.
The growth in solar energy is expected to continue, with the Institute for Sustainable Futures estimating that Australia has the potential to install 179 GW of solar power on roofs across the nation. Australia's energy system is undergoing its greatest transformation since the 1950s, driven by economic, engineering, and environmental factors, as well as changing consumer preferences for independence and control over electricity supply and use.
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Wind energy
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has funded wind energy projects since 2012. At the end of 2018, there were 94 wind farms in Australia, delivering nearly 16 GW of wind generation capacity. This made wind energy one of the lowest-cost sources of new electricity supply in Australia, along with utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV).
Wind turbines are commonly located on hilltops or near the ocean. In some countries, wind turbines have also been built in the ocean, either floating on the surface or using giant pylons extending to the sea floor. Offshore sites have been identified as having significant potential for wind energy, both to take advantage of increased wind speeds and to increase the number of available sites. Australia has some of the best wind resources in the world, particularly in the southern parts of the continent, which lie in the path of the westerly wind flow known as the 'Roaring Forties'. Sites in this region have average wind speeds above 8–9 m/s at turbine hub height.
The Australian government's Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) scheme has helped drive the growth of wind energy in the country. As of May 2022, 29.2 GW of large-scale renewable energy capacity had been accredited under the scheme.
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Geothermal energy
Australia has some of the highest temperatures in its known near-surface rocks anywhere in the world, and its geothermal potential is distributed across the entire country. In 2011, geothermal consulting company Hot Dry Rocks released a geothermal map of Australia, developed in partnership with Google.org, which showed that using just 2% of its geothermal potential with today's technology, Australia could produce 395,092 MW—about ten times more than the country's total coal and gas production.
Despite its potential, the Australian geothermal energy industry remains in its infancy. Since 2009, the federal government has funded seven geothermal projects at a cost of more than $40 million, but only one is still active. In 2013, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Arena) established an international geothermal expert group to review Australia's prospects for commercial geothermal energy generation. The group concluded that despite more than $1 billion worth of investment since the 1990s, the sector faced significant technical hurdles, and the prospect of commercial viability before 2030 was slim.
However, there are signs of progress and optimism for the future of geothermal energy in Australia. Australia's energy system is undergoing its greatest transformation since the 1950s, driven by economic, engineering, and environmental factors. The government has passed a major carbon pricing law, which will assist in making geothermal power more price-competitive with coal and gas. Additionally, hundreds of projects are going through the approval process and gaining funding, indicating that the geothermal energy sector is poised for exponential growth.
Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) is one type of geothermal energy under development in Australia. Wells are drilled at depths of 3-5 kilometers to find heat-producing granites. Water is pumped into these wells, heated up to 300°C, and then pumped back to the surface to drive a turbine and produce electricity. EGS has the potential to provide base load power and is one of the most abundant sources of renewable energy available.
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Hydroelectric power
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme is the most well-known hydroelectricity project in Australia. It comprises sixteen major dams, seven power stations, a pumping station, 145km of interconnected trans-mountain tunnels, and 80km of aqueducts. The Snowy Mountains Scheme accounts for around half of Australia's total hydroelectricity generation capacity and provides base load and peak load power to the eastern mainland grid.
Hydro energy is particularly important in Tasmania, where it provides much of the state's electricity. The Tasmanian integrated hydropower scheme harnesses hydro energy from six major water catchments and involves 50 major dams, numerous lakes, and 29 power stations with a total capacity of over 2600MW. The scheme provides base and peak load power to the National Electricity Market, supplying Tasmania first and then the broader Australian network through Basslink, an undersea interconnector.
In addition to the large-scale projects in the Snowy Mountains and Tasmania, there are also hydroelectricity schemes in northeast Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, and a mini-hydroelectricity project in South Australia. These projects contribute to the overall renewable energy capacity in Australia, which has seen significant growth in recent years.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, renewable energy sources in Australia have increased significantly over the last decade, rising from around 10.5% in 2010 to 29% in 2021.
The growth in renewable energy in Australia is driven by a combination of economic, engineering, and environmental factors. Government policies, such as the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET) scheme, also play a significant role in encouraging investment in renewable energy sources to limit climate change, reduce oil import dependency, and stimulate the economy.
Australia has a diverse range of renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, and hydro energy sources. For example, Hydro Tasmania is the main energy provider in Tasmania, and the Snowy Mountains Hydro scheme has produced renewable energy since the 1970s. Additionally, South Australia, known as "Australia's hot rock haven", has significant geothermal energy potential and is expected to dominate the sector's growth.
Australia has set ambitious targets for renewable energy, aiming to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Many Australian states have committed to a 40% target for renewable energy sources by 2030. By 2025, Australia is estimated to generate around 50% of its electricity needs from renewable sources, rising to 69% by 2030.
