The biggest power revolution is taking place above your head, and it will only grow stronger.
Rooftop solar is expanding rapidly, reducing electricity demand from traditional sources and imposing the "death penalty" on thermal power.
Coal remains the mainstay of the electricity industry, which now accounts for about 48 percent of Australia's electricity demand, although domestic solar power is growing sharply.
The ensuing problems include power reliability risks and declining demand for power stations, pushing up electricity prices.
This is the findings of the 2016 / 17 annual electricity transmission survey submitted by the Australian Energy Market Council (AEMC), an industry regulator.
Household solar and energy-efficient appliances reduce people's reliance on power companies, reducing household electricity bills, the report said.
AEMC predicts that by 2035-36, new state rooftop solar will generate more than 18.6 megawatts of electricity. This is about 40% of the country's total electricity generation on rooftops.
The AEMC warned that this could have a hollow effect that when solar power ends at sunset, the battery does not store enough electricity to meet demand all night long.
"on the demand side, the increase in rooftop photovoltaic power increases the drop in demand during the day," the report said. "that is, when photovoltaic power is at its peak, there is a significant reduction in demand for [power station] power," the report said. And when photovoltaic power falls at night, demand rises. "
It said adding battery storage would solve the problem, but would be more dependent on power plants.
"finally, the, (AEMC) team noted that photovoltaic generation and storage systems may also affect users' emphasis on the reliability of the grid, as these systems protect households and small businesses at least to some extent from power outages."
The growth in solar energy will not eliminate Australia's reliance on coal and gas power, AEMC said.
Coal-fired electricity currently accounts for 65 percent of Kunzhou's electricity generation, 62 percent of New York's electricity generation, and 42 percent of Victoria's. Gas-fired electricity accounts for 62% of South Australia's electricity.
However, the status of coal is declining.
In 2016 / 17, 1808 megawatts of coal-fired power generation capacity was officially phased out. The largest of the power stations shut down is the Hazelwood Power Station in Victoria. " This is equivalent to 3% of the country's electricity generation.
In addition, "AGL has announced its intention to shut down the new state's Liddell Power Station (capacity of 2000 megawatts in March 2022. Stanwell announced that it will close its Mackay GT Power Station (capacity in Kunzhou to 34 megawatts in July 2021."