WE NEED to urgently slash global carbon emissions to avoid catastrophic climate change. The scale of the task can seem overwhelming. But there are grounds for optimism in places where action to ditch fossils fuels is accelerating, offering vital lessons for the rest of us.
One such place is the state of South Australia. In 2007, just 1 per cent of its electricity came from solar and wind. Today, this proportion has risen to almost 73 per cent – the highest of any major grid in the world. It is tipped to become the first large-scale grid to run solely on solar and wind, a goal it could reach in a few years.
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How has it managed this remarkable transition? As we explore on page 36, it has taken a great deal of courage from South Australia’s political leaders, who have been unusually willing to try cutting-edge technologies like grid-scale batteries and virtual power plants, as well as widespread buy-in from citizens, who have enthusiastically covered their homes in solar panels. The state has stuck doggedly to its vision while many detractors, including top figures in Australia’s federal government, have fiercely criticised it for moving too fast.
The long-term benefits to South Australia won’t just be environmental – they will be economic too, because when it can produce all of its energy on its own, it will be liberated from international coal and gas price shocks.
The state has certain advantages: abundant sun, wind and space for building infrastructure. Plus, it has a population of only 1.8 million. But the beauty of renewable energy is that it comes in many forms – so if there’s a will to harness it, there’s a way.
Momentum is building. The International Energy Agency expects a record , and South Australia isn’t the only trailblazer. With that in mind, this is the first in a series of stories in which we will report on similarly groundbreaking projects around the world that demonstrate how we can reach net zero before it is too late.
