100% Renewable Power No Longer a Dream

Australia is proving that a fully renewable power grid isn’t a fantasy — it’s within reach. The country’s energy market operator says coal is rapidly fading and renewables are already delivering record results.

“Our old coal-fired power stations are breaking down; they’re retiring,” said Daniel Westerman, CEO of the Australian Energy Market Operator. “They’re getting replaced by the least-cost energy, which is renewable energy, backed with storage.”

Renewables now supply around 35% of Australia’s electricity, with peaks already exceeding 77% on the national grid. Solar panels cover four million rooftops, and the state of South Australia often generates more clean power than it needs. Engineers are also pioneering “rotating stabilisers” and long-duration storage to keep the grid steady without coal. With 90% of coal plants set to close by 2035, Australia’s can-do momentum may soon light the world’s first advanced economy powered entirely by the sun and wind.