By 2030, our homes could help power the nation
Households across Victoria are becoming their own power plants as a renewable energy boom puts power back in the hands of communities. We’re embracing new renewable energy technology, electric vehicles and e-bikes powered by energy generated from the wind or the sun – the future looks electric.
In our communities, and in the households and businesses that bring them to life, renewable energy is becoming part of the everyday. By 2030, at least half of our electricity will be from renewable sources, and this will be our new normal. In fact, Victoria has a renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2030 and we’re on track to achieve this!
We’ll generate and store more electricity ourselves – whether solar panels on our homes and businesses, or the neighbourhood battery powering long nights at the local badminton hall. We might even use our electric vehicles to power the streaming of our favourite shows or cook delicious dinners on our induction cooktops!
Powering everyday life
More of the electricity Victorians use is coming from renewable energy such as from hydro, wind and solar (up from 31% in 2021). By pairing solar panels with battery storage, households can also store excess power generated by the sun.
Renewable energy options can also be kind to the hip pocket, with Victorian Government support for householders in the form of solar panel and battery rebates.
And, in the years to come when we prepare for our morning ride to work on an e-bike, or drive to work in an electric vehicle or catch public transport powered by renewable electricity - having a home powered by clean, renewable power could be more important than ever.
There has been a shift to electric vehicles in Victoria and national sales in 2021 increasing by 191 percent. Electric cars now make up 2% of the new car market. Recent fuel hikes have also spiked demand, as car owners see vehicle electrification to become self-sufficient and avoid paying more at the petrol pump. Victoria is aiming for half of all light vehicle sales in Victoria to be zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) by 2030.
The battery in your electric vehicle could even be helping manage peak demand on our electricity grid.
Energy efficient future
In the future, we will be using more electricity overall, due to a larger population, more electric appliances and electric vehicles. But we’re also thinking about how we can stretch our energy further at home as we embrace energy efficiency.
With people spending more time at home, replacing inefficient appliances with energy-efficient, electric alternatives is increasing in popularity – from fridges and heaters to cooktops and washing machines. Making our homes more efficient (for example by simple draft sealing and improving insulation) is keeping us more comfortable and using less energy to heat and cool. Smart technology in our homes will be making it easier to cleverly manage energy use.
Households will increasingly meet their heating, water heating and cooking needs with high-efficiency electrical appliances and, where possible, shift their electricity consumption to the middle part of the day to take advantage of solar electricity.
>> Learn more about our Small Business Energy Saver program: Small Business Energy Saver Program.
As we look to 2030, new homeowners are set to see similar benefits as they embrace the shift from 6-star homes to 7-star homes and avoid gas appliances and instead install all-electric energy-efficient ones.
Research conducted by our 7 Star Homes program shows that switching to energy-efficient appliances can result in energy bill cost savings between $555 (mixed fuel home) – $910 (all-electric home) per year (assuming that energy prices remain the same).
>> Learn more about our 7 Star Homes Program.
Power in the hands of communities
It’s not just renewables in our homes that will power the nation.
The everyday facilities we know and treasure in our own communities – such as swimming centres, recreation reserves, or museums and galleries – have been embracing renewables and helping to power our state.
Every bit counts as we work to reduce our emissions and reach net zero emissions in Victoria by 2050.
The Victorian Government’s Community Power Hubs program has seen 0.75 megawatts of renewable solar installed on community facilities in the last year. That’s enough to switch the lights on at around 750 homes at any one time.
>> Learn more about our Community Power Hubs Program.
But renewable energy is not just about power, it’s also about empowerment.
Through programs like Community Power Hubs, we have upskilled local communities to develop their own renewable energy projects and create local jobs.
And, the Victorian Government is backing our state’s transition to home powerplants with education for householders.
Helping you – Victorians – to use energy efficiently and make the most of renewable-generated power in your home, business, transportation, neighbourhood or community will set us on a path to a cleaner, more climate-resilient future.
Future trends
SV is looking to the future of sustainability in Victoria. We’re unpacking the future trends that matter and spotlighting key opportunities for innovation and investment as we look to a future defined by our transition to a circular, climate-resilient economy.
Learn about 4 more future trends that will shape Victoria’s climate resilient economy by 2030.
