Australia is the world's second-largest exporter of coal, which plays an important role in both its economy and politics. However, Australia has also quietly become a big renewable energy country.
About 1x4 Australian households have installed rooftop solar panels, which is far higher than other major economies in the world, and the installation speed of Australian solar panels is also much higher than the global average.
Germany, Japan, and California, which are recognized as leaders in clean energy, are also being left behind by Australia. California is the largest user of solar energy in the United States, and less than 10% of its residents have installed rooftop solar panels.
In recent years, in the absence of coordinated measures from the Australian government, state governments have introduced incentives that have led to a sharp drop in the price of solar panels for sale, and Australians have opted for solar panels because of rising electricity prices.
Relatively conservative households have also gradually embraced solar energy, reducing their dependence on the power grid.
As many as half of households in Australia's two most populous states, Queensland, the conservative stronghold, and New South Wales, the birthplace of Sydney's leftist doctrine, are equipped with solar panels.
Relatively conservative households have also gradually embraced solar energy, reducing their dependence on the power grid.
As many as half of households in Australia's two most populous states, Queensland, the conservative stronghold, and New South Wales, the birthplace of Sydney's leftist doctrine, are equipped with solar panels.
Relatively conservative households have also gradually embraced solar energy, reducing their dependence on the power grid.
As many as half of households in Australia's two most populous states, Queensland, the conservative stronghold, and New South Wales, the birthplace of Sydney's leftist doctrine, are equipped with solar panels.
Matt Kean, energy and environment minister of New South Wales, said: "New South Wales and Australia as a whole will rely on solar, wind, and hydroelectric power in the future. This is not only conducive to environmental protection but also conducive to economic development. "
"This is one of the reasons why we are so ahead in rooftop solar energy," he added, "because everyone wants to save money. "
The Australian federal government has announced plans to limit carbon emissions, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison has expressed support for the development of the coal industry.
Last year, Australia was the largest exporter of coal after Indonesia, according to the International Energy Agency. And just last year, the Australian government approved a large-scale project to export coal to India.
However, many Australian state governments have expressed the opposite attitude. At the beginning of the 21st century, the federal government failed to pass the Renewable Energy Act. Since then, Australian states have adopted proactive climate policies to encourage people to buy solar panels and recently began to encourage people to buy batteries.
Various incentives have promoted the prosperity of the solar energy industry. Typically, 5% of Australia's total electricity consumption comes from rooftop solar energy, compared with less than 1% in the United States.
Rishab Krishna Shrestha, a research analyst at Wood Mackenzie Power Renewables, said: "Coal is still the main source of power generation, but rooftop solar power has repeatedly reached more than 6 percent of total electricity generation. "
Rooftop solar power is particularly high in Queensland. Queensland is located in northeastern Australia, with a vast expanse of land. Keynes and Brisbane belong to the state. Queensland has a hot and humid climate, which is very similar to Florida in the United States, and also calls itself the "Sunshine State".
