We’ve been saying for years that one day soon, solar power will overtake coal as the biggest supplier of electricity in Australia. Well, that day has finally arrived. The post Solar power outstrips coal-fired electricity for first time appeared...
We’ve been saying for years now… that one day soon, solar power will overtake coal as the biggest supplier of electricity in Australia.
Well, that day has finally arrived.
A new solar power record has been set
22nd August 2021, will go down in history as the day solar power outstripped coal-fired electricity for the first time.
The transition happened shortly after noon and only lasted a few minutes, but those few minutes were enough to mark a place in the record books.
The contribution of coal-fired electricity dropped to a record low of 9,315MW, while solar provided the dominant share with 9,427MW.
What does this mean?
Some might say it was only a fleeting moment, a few minutes isn’t important.
But they’re missing the bigger picture!
The Wright Brothers’ first flight was only 37 metres and lasted a mere 12 seconds. A couple of generations later and we were walking on the moon.
This moment is similar. It’s proof that coal is declining and solar power is rising, both to the point where they can cross each other.
And, of course, in case you didn’t realise, this was the first time the entire country was powered by the sun!
Solar power is the future
This is the latest in a series of records set by solar power in recent months, again proving the trend of a rise in renewables.
In October last year, 100% of South Australia’s energy demand was met entirely by solar power, while 2020 saw more than 25% of the nation’s electricity come from renewables for the first time.
Renewable energy now makes up almost one-third of all energy generated in Australia, with solar power making up a third of renewables.
Rooftop solar panels are being installed in record numbers, with almost 400,000 installations last year alone.
Even in the middle of the COVID pandemic, when global energy consumption dropped by 5%, renewable energy rose by 10%.
Australians are embracing solar power and it’s easy to see why.
Why you should invest in solar panels
Australia has some of the world’s largest coal and natural gas reserves, but is one of the most expensive countries when it comes to electricity.
The shocking thing about your electricity bill (pun intended) is, almost half of it is to cover the cost of the poles and wires needed just to bring the electricity to your home!
With three-quarters of your electricity bill taken up with the energy company’s overheads and profits, it’s no wonder people are turning to solar to generate their own power.
The money saved by switching to solar is no laughing matter.
Recently, a report by the ACCC found that family homes with solar panels saved a massive 33% on their energy bills.
The median quarterly bill for residential households without solar was $347, while those homes with solar panels only paid $253 – almost a hundred bucks difference!
And that was for a quarter. Multiply that by four and you’re starting to see how much switching to solar can save you.
Add onto that a solar battery to store your electricity and you could save an additional 75% on your energy bills.
Let us make your switch to solar stress-free
Australia and New Zealand have the highest growth rate of renewable energy in the world, with thousands of people installing solar panels every week.
If you feel it’s time to join the solar revolution and start saving money (and the planet), we can help.
We have installed thousands of solar PV systems in Victoria and South Australia, for both residential and commercial properties.
No matter what your unique situation, we can find a way to customise a package suitable for you, with affordable payment options available for those on a budget.
Our highly skilled engineers are fully accredited and licensed by the Clean Energy Council (CEC), so you can depend on us to know what we’re talking about.
It’s only a matter of time before we’re all looking towards the sun for our energy needs, so why wait for years and keep paying the extortionate rates to the big energy companies?
If you have any questions about us or making the switch to solar power, then please don’t hesitate to contact us today.
The world is switching to solar power – don’t get left behind.
The post Solar power outstrips coal-fired electricity for first time appeared first on Bright Earth Solar.