The Australian Conservation Foundation has welcomed the prospect of household solar electrification pilot projects in every state and territory.
“Burning gas is bad for the climate and it’s bad for the hip pocket, with the average household spending $1,600 a year on gas bills,” said the Australian Conservation Foundation’s climate policy adviser Annika Reynolds (they/them).
“We welcome Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s direction to the board of ARENA to consider funding solar electrification projects in every state and territory following a deal with independent senators Pocock, Lambie, Van and Thorpe.
“Solar electrification can help address cost of living pressures for households and reduce climate pollution as the electricity grid moves away from a reliance on fossil fuels.
“ACF is pleased to see this announcement comes with support for people that face cost barriers to household electrification, including renters and First Nations communities.
“We encourage the Albanese government to make these pilots the start of a comprehensive national plan for home energy upgrades, electrification and household renewables to ease cost of living pressures and to get polluting fossil gas out of houses,” they said.
Gas use in households contributes around 2.3% of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions (~10 million tonnes of CO2e) and relies on the continued extraction of fossil gas from major onshore and offshore gas projects around Australia.
The production of gas for domestic use and export produces 60.5 million tonnes of CO2e emissions per year.
Household gas use is a sizeable portion of household expenses, for those connected to gas. From 2009 to 2023, gas bills increased from around $600-$900 per year to over $1,200-$1,800 per year, increasing at three times the rate of inflation.
ACF supports Renew Australia for All’s repowering our homes package, which calls for a $5 billion investment to deliver immediate home energy upgrades, electrification and household renewables as part of a 10-year investment program.
Rewiring Australia estimates fully electrified households can save up to $5,433 a year.