By Malcolm Richards, Circuit Magazine

State and Federal governments are like cats on a hot tin roof at the moment. Our coal fired power plants are nearing their life expectancy, power outages have been flagged, net zero targets set, we’re told the electrification of Australia via clean energy is the future. But how do we get there when there is a trade skills shortage and spiraling material costs and consumers are lost in the raft of technical information.

These challenges and many more were discussed at the MEA Clean Energy Conference in September. Let me share with you the picture presented by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMO). If Australia is to hit net zero our industry is in for a rollercoaster of small and large scale development, not seen before. It’s hard to fathom.

We will need:

• Five times the current roof top solar
• Nine times the current grid scale solar and wind
• 30 time the current storage
• Electricity usage will double
• We will need more gas and then wind down coal in 2043.

Do not miss MEA’s Clean Energy and Smart Technology Trade Shows. Coming to a town near you in 2023!

Delivering the above has opened opportunities for innovation, thinking outside the square. One of the most amazing new ventures in the market is Green Gravity. Such a simple idea of using old mine shafts and potential energy to build significant mechanical storage to match our hydro ventures and compliment chemical batteries.

As an industry, we are aware of the current grid challenges. Whilst the State and Federal governments are mapping requirements to deliver clean energy, consumers are already on the road to the future, with government and regulators scrambling in their rear vision mirror.  In Europe EV’s will reach price parity with ICE vehicles before 2025 and its predicted by 2030 30 per cent of global passenger vehicle sales will be fully electric.

These vehicles will all require charging and if we are to use clean energy, there will need to be a partnership between government, home owners and business owners. Incentives for business owners to install solar panels to enable employees to charge their car during the day, incentives for consumers to invest in electrifying their home (electric hot water system, ovens, appliances) and cars with bi-directional batteries enabling the car battery to power the home at night, taking pressure off the grid. The future is very much a circular economy of all three sectors working together.

The role of tariffs will become critical. These need to be simplified to help drive a change in consumer behavior to use clean energy when its in abundance and at its cheapest. What’s the cheapest time to re-charge my car, run my washing machine, the dishwasher etc. At the moment, understanding the tariff structure would not pass the pub test.

This does however create an opportunity for electrical contractors. If you are a Master Electrician, you carry a brand that is trusted by consumers. Not only in relation to the quality of the work you are undertaking or the appliance you are installing but the advice you provide. You are an independent trusted advisor and best placed to provide the consumer with information to help them make informed decisions, to remove the jargon and simplify the message. At the end of the day, you want to make sure your customer is looked after and that means providing quality, accurate information. The role of your industry association is to support you and consumers. Certainly, MEA will be working closely with all the key stakeholders to ensure the latest information is at our fingertips.

The transition to clean energy is one of enormous opportunity for electrical contractors. Its dynamic and evolving. Stay close to your industry association and leverage every opportunity to stay informed and position your business to maximise the opportunities.

Master Electricians can read Malcolm Richards monthly column in Circuit magazine every month. Make sure you stay up to date with the latest industry news and trends in your industry magazine. 

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