AN AUSTRALIAN PARADOX
More than 29 per cent of Australian homes now have solar panels on their roof, the highest per capita uptake in the world. Latest figures from the country’s Clean Energy Regulator show 2.8 million small-scale photovoltaic solar power systems have been installed. Combined, they can generate an electricity output of more than 14,000 MW. In Queensland, which stretches from the sub-tropics to the most northerly tip of the Australian mainland – and is appropriately nicknamed the Sunshine State – the figure is closer to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, in South Australia, roughly 33 per cent of homes have rooftop solar. In October 2020, that state achieved a national and global milestone – for one hour, solar power provided 100 per cent of its energy needs.
As these figures indicate, some of Australia’s states and territories are striding ahead with clean-energy initiatives, particularly when it comes to making the most of the country’s abundant sunshine. Yet there’s a paradox at the very heart of the country. Australia’s federal government – a conservative coalition – is resisting renewables and keenly supporting fossil fuels at every turn. There is no national policy or plan for renewables; nor is there a national policy or plan for electric vehicles (the 2021–22 budget failed to allocate a single dollar to them). The country has chosen not to implement a national target for net-zero emissions and maintains its position as the highest per capita emitter of greenhouse gases in the OECD. In the next issue of Geographical, Matt Brace tries to fathom this paradox as he asks: What on Earth’s going on Down Under?