Australia could run on 100% renewable energy by 2030s

Australian National University (ANU) analysis has found that Australia is on its way to running on 100 per cent renewable energy by early 2030s.

Renewable energy in Australia is on the rise, this could also result in them reaching the half way goal of 50 per cent renewable energy, set at the Paris Agreement, by 2025.

The country is set to install over 10 gigawatts of new wind and solar power in 2018 and 2019. As a result, if the rate of growth in maintained, they report found that they should reach their target of running on 100 per cent renewable energy by early 2030s.

Australia had a record breaking last year, adding 2,200 megawatt capacity of renewable energy. However, the people who produced the report, although convinced that technology and the renewable energy industry will be able to meet the goal, have voiced concerns over how politics will interfere.

Recently, the newly appointed Australian Government have come under pressure from environmentalists about the fate of the country’s climate policy.

Professor Andrew Blakers, ANU Research School of Engineering, said: “Australia is installing wind and solar PV at a faster per capita rate than nearly every other country.”

Professor Ken Baldwin, ANU Energy Institute director, said: “Australian industry is proving it’s not difficult or expensive to make deep and rapid cuts to greenhouse gas emissions. All the evidence points to Australia’s capacity to be a renewable energy superpower, with all the economic and environmental benefits that come with that.”

This follows news that Queensland are on track to be 90 per cent renewable by 2030.