Australia is saying g’day to more solar power.
What happened: Starting next July, Australia will offer households in three states up to three hours of free electricity from solar energy during the afternoon, when solar production peaks. Homes won’t even need solar panels to benefit, just a smart meter (which may be installed for free).
- The pilot, which the country plans to expand if all goes well, will allow those who live in apartments or don’t have adequate rooftops to benefit from neighbouring panels.
Why it’s happening: Australia has become a solar energy powerhouse since incentivizing rooftop panels in 2011. Today, over a third of all homes are equipped with them, which has allowed the country to offer these free hours in a bid to reduce stress on the energy grid.
- The hope is that more folks will shift some of their energy consumption to earlier in the day and away from pricier nighttime hours, when coal and gas generate power.
Why it matters: A recent study found that solar power is the most affordable energy, holding true even for places that aren’t as sunny as Bondi Beach. In fact, most panels in Oz are actually located in less-sunny urban areas, suggesting this plan could be adopted elsewhere.
In Canada: Our fair nation’s solar energy capacity nearly doubled between 2019 and 2024, but that didn’t stem from residential panels. Per a 2023 study, just one in 200 Canadian homes had rooftop solar panels, with upfront costs likely a factor hindering adoption.—QH