Post: Australia on track to generate 50% of electricity from renewables by 2025

Australia on track to generate 50% of electricity from renewables by 2025

Australia is expected to generate half of its electricity needs from renewables within three years, according to a report highlighting the extraordinary pace of change underway in the country’s energy system.

Published on 11 July, the report from The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (AATSE) said renewable energy was “tracking towards” 50% of Australia’s electricity generation in 2025, a share that was expected to rise to 69% by 2030. In what it described as a snapshot of the industry, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (AATSE) found renewable energy adoption was galloping ahead as wind and solar power became cheaper. It also suggested Australia’s electricity networks would be capable of running on 100% green energy for periods at a time by the middle of the decade.

But the report called for changes to help guide and coordinate massive investments needed to transition away from fossil fuels. It stressed that urgent investment was needed, not only in new wind and solar farms, but in the back-up services that would be required to keep the lights on during the transition period. While the AATSE said it expected pumped hydro and batteries to fill in many of the gaps, it acknowledged that gas may be needed to act as a safety net during times of high demand or when wind and solar were insufficient to produce the required energy. The group also noted the massive scope of challenges facing Australia to power its transport, heating and industry with renewable electricity rather than gas or coal.

GridBeyond Sales Director Australia Lisa Balk said: