What are Australia's key energy sources?
The main sources of total energy production in Australia include coal, gas, and renewables. Most of the country still relies on non-renewable sources. However, the renewable energy share of electricity generation has gradually increased over the past decade. Wind energy now accounts for almost 13 percent of the total energy generated in Australia. Despite renewable energy having a more prominent domestic presence than ever, Australia’s coal production has continued to increase overall, with the nation a net exporter of the product.How is energy consumed in Australia?
Oil, coal, and gas were the leading primary energy sources consumed in Australia. Most of the electricity in Australia is delivered via the National Electricity Market (NEM). Electricity is generally distributed via high-voltage transmission lines and converted to lower voltages for use in homes, offices, and factories. Moreover, many homes in Australia have installed their own small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. In fact, the total capacity of small-scale solar photovoltaic installations in Australia has increased over the past decade.At the same time, natural gas consumption in Australia has also increased. While gas can be used for electricity generation, it is also used in homes for heating and cooking. Once the gas is sourced, it is processed and compressed before being used for electricity generation, stored for later use, or distributed through transmission pipes. Australian households or smaller commercial and industrial customers are supplied depressurized gas through smaller pipe networks.