If you guessed rooftop solar, you’d be right. And the world’s cheapest rooftop solar is here in Australia, truly making us the lucky country. Even if a big coal or gas power plant provided us with energy for free, the cost of transmitting it (around 10c/kWh) would still be greater than what it costs for us to produce it ourselves on our own roofs (around 3c/kWh). Meanwhile, gas and coal prices are skyrocketing, making them not only more polluting forms of energy, but more expensive. The fact that rooftop solar has become so economical makes electrification so exciting. No longer do we have to rely on the moral imperative to switch to less polluting sources of energy, it makes financial sense to do so.
If you combine this with using more efficient appliances, which means the amount of energy needed drops, there is huge potential to reduce power costs and emissions. For instance, if you heat your water (which is one of the biggest household energy users) with a heat pump water-heater it uses only 25-33% of the energy of a gas or electric resistance alternative.
Of course, the up-front cost of installing solar or any energy-efficient appliance or electric vehicle is prohibitive for many. And for others, it may be that their roofs are too shaded to benefit, or they live in an apartment, a strata block or they rent, making solar installation difficult or near impossible.
That is why we really believe a community-wide electrification project is the way forward (think community solar arrays, community batteries, low financing options, bulk buys of efficient appliances etc) and we think that various government agencies should be supporting households, businesses and communities to make this transition. Think that would cost too much? In the 2021/22 financial year, the Australian Federal Government handed out $11.6 billion in subsidies for fossil fuels. The same amount of money could have bought solar panels for 1.5 million homes or one electric vehicle charging station for every 12km of Australia’s entire road network.
We’re currently working with Rewiring Australia to seek funding to take on a community electrification pilot project so we can demonstrate to decision-makers what the future could look like – today. We’re hoping to find out if we’re successful early next year. Either way, we look forward to working with you in the new year to reduce our community’s carbon emissions, and our power bills, so please stay tuned…
Visit www.electrify2515.org
