From coal to climate change: an Australian perspective on the energy transition

Australia is experiencing an unprecedented energy transition. As a fossil fuel exporting nation, transitioning to renewable energy, battery storage, and other low-carbon technologies is a crucial and complex endeavour in policymaking. Creating a resilient, effective, and sustainable National Electricity Market in Australia requires a major system restructure including comprehensive coordination of renewable energy and storage hubs coupled with decentralised transmission infrastructure. This chapter provides an analysis of the new horizons in energy for Australia. Following a survey of past energy policies until 2019, the chapter focuses on the shift in energy policy and provision from 2020. It argues Australia must craft a sustainable energy policy stance that embraces the need for diversified renewable energy and storage sources to ensure its future as a global renewable energy exporter. In doing so, it discusses three primary issues: the development of renewable energy sources, the need for and role of concomitant energy storage, and the place of hydrogen in Australia’s energy mix.