Australia-Australia’s Coal Share Falls Below 50% for the First Time as Renewables Surge. In the final week of August, coal’s share of Australia’s electricity generation dipped below 50% for the first time, marking a historic low as renewable energy production surged, according to market monitor Open-NEM.
Coal provided 49.1% of the electricity, while renewables accounted for 48.7%, driven largely by increased wind energy from recent storms.
Historically reliant on fossil fuels, Australia—one of the world’s leading coal and gas exporters—has seen a shift as extreme weather and an unusually warm start to spring reduced electricity demand by up to 20%. High winds, reaching over 150 kilometers (93.2 miles) per hour in southeastern Australia, notably boosted wind energy production.
Climate finance expert Tim Buckley observed that this represents a significant milestone for coal’s decreasing role in the national energy market, suggesting a future with minimal coal use. He forecasted that coal’s contribution could become nearly negligible within a few years.
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With many of Australia’s 16 coal-fired power stations scheduled to close soon, both the government and industry are aggressively investing in renewable energy. On Wednesday, the government unveiled plans for six new battery projects across South Australia and Victoria, aimed at adding 1,000 megawatts of storage capacity by 2027.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen highlighted the necessity of transitioning to renewable energy, stating, “The climate demands it, and economic reality demands it.” He underscored the importance of immediate action to meet Australia’s energy needs, rather than delaying for decades.
While investment in renewable energy is on the rise in Australia, it still lags behind other countries. Buckley noted that China is investing nearly a trillion Australian dollars ($671 billion) annually in clean technology, adding as much new renewable capacity in a week as Australia does in a year.
Last week, Australia’s energy regulator warned that continued investment in renewable energy is essential to avoid blackouts in the future, as energy demand is expected to grow significantly. For the 2022-2023 period, fossil fuels accounted for 91% of Australia’s total energy consumption, a broader category that includes transportation and industrial fuels.
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