Cheap, Renewable Power
Renewables plus storage is the cheapest, most reliable way to power Australia. Everyone knows this, except perhaps the LNP COALition.
The latest Gencost report, released in May 2024, by CSIRO and the Australian Energy Market Operator concludes that generating power from solarPV+wind+storage currently costs $100-$140 per MWh. This is equivalent to 10 to 15 cents per kWh (the unit retailers charge electricity consumers).
By 2023, the cost of solarPV+wind+storage is expected to fall to 8.9 to 12.5 cents per kWh, compared to 14.1 to 23.3 cents for large scale and 23 to 38.2 cents for small modular nuclear reactors, although it's unlikely that any could be built in Australia by 2030.
Adding the cost of transmission to the generation costs implies that nuclear power will result in hefty price increases for Australian households compared to what we currently pay, especially in Renewable Energy Zones, where the shorter transmission distances should enable developers to provide residents with low-cost renewable power.
Transmission Troubles. From 2006-2013, average power prices increased by 85% mainly because of the poor regulation that led to the "gold-plated-grid".
Even today, many people don't understand that poor regulation, not the carbon tax, was the real reason for the power price hikes, especially those who voted for the Abbott government because of this untrue information. Others believe strongly that our electoral system needs a "truth in political campaigns and advertising " requirement that ensures voters can make informed decisions based on correct information.
Greens will continue to advocate for the urgent reform needed to shield consumers from yet another round of gold-plating so that all consumers pay a fair price for their clean, renewable energy, especially locally-generated power in renewable energy zones.
Fair access to energy-efficiency rebates. When governments provide rebates only through accredited suppliers, rural and regional residents can miss out if there are no accredited suppliers in the area.
It is also disheartening and inefficient to require residents to telephone numerous suppliers listed as serving a particular area, being kept on hold for considerable periods of time, only to find that none of them actually supply the resident's area.
Governments should therefore work with accredited suppliers to provide a list of suppliers for each type of rebate (heat pump hot water, energy efficient reverse cycle, home battery systems, other) by postcode and specifications so that only the suppliers that currently serve the resident's area need to be contacted.
Equally importantly, if no accredited suppliers serve the area, there should be a safety net that allows rural and regional residents to access an online system to obtain a discount voucher for the accredited equipment that can be used with any local supplier and installer.
Authorised by A. Croft for The Greens NSW, 19/1 Hordern Place, Camperdown, NSW 2050.