<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/16/electricity-generation-costs-third-lower-82-renewable-grid>
"The cost of generating electricity in an Australian grid powered by 82%
renewable energy would be a third cheaper than current wholesale electricity
costs, according to new CSIRO analysis.
The organisation has for the first time modelled the likely cost of electricity
generation from different combinations of technology that could make up
Australia’s grid in 2030 and 2050. Previous work has only looked at the
comparative costs of individual technologies.
The modelling suggests that by 2050 the country’s main electricity market –
covering all states and territories except the Northern Territory and Western
Australia – could run almost entirely on renewable energy without any increase
in the cost of electricity generation.
The results undercut claims from the Coalition that adding solar, wind and
storage such as batteries to Australia’s grid will cause electricity costs to
surge.
The Albanese government has a target that 82% of electricity generation should
come from renewables by 2030, but many experts warn the target is likely to be
missed.
The CSIRO
GenCost report found a grid with this level of renewable energy
would result in wholesale electricity costs of $91 a megawatt hour, including
the extra cost of connecting renewables in 2030. This compares with the current
average cost of $129 a MWh, the report said.
The actual cost of renewable generation is likely to be lower because the CSIRO
took as a baseline the most expensive year for solar and wind between 2011 and
2023.
The cost of wholesale electricity makes up about one-third of domestic bills."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
