Momentum Power managing director Lisa Chiba says it’s not a matter of if Australia’s going to ditch fossil fuels, however when.

‘Coal, fuel and fossil gas era sources, they’re dropping their social license to proceed,’ she tells Lucy within the newest episode of our podcast TDF Talks. She joined the group at Momentum Power in 2022 and is passionate concerning the position vitality corporations can play in serving to companies and households take part within the transition to a clear vitality future.

She solutions a number of the regularly requested questions on this subject within the episode, and we’ve recapped a number of the largest takeaways beneath!

The challenges dealing with our vitality sector

The invisible nature of vitality and the complexities of the ‘grid’ could make it an awesome subject to get your head round. One of many largest challenges is balancing provide and demand. As we slowly (however absolutely) make the transition to all-electric houses and automobiles, and on the identical time we see fossil gas mills exit the market, which means that we want way more renewable era in our energy system.

Fortunately, Australia has began constructing the infrastructure round renewables like photo voltaic and wind energy, however as Lisa notes: ‘the wind doesn’t at all times blow, and the solar doesn’t at all times shine’.

That’s why the business is at the moment understanding how and the place to construct extra ‘firming’ or back-up capability, applied sciences reminiscent of pumped hydro and batteries that may be sure that there’s sufficient provide. ‘We’re a giant nation, there’s a number of land to cowl to verify everyone has entry to electrical energy,’ she says.

Our renewable future is in our sights

‘There’s little doubt it’s a problem,’ Lisa says. The excellent news is we’ve already made some nice progress, because the grid is now made up of about 64.1 per cent fossil fuels, and 35.9 per cent renewables — roughly double what it was in 2017.

‘It does must speed up much more, however I feel it’s not one thing that individuals must panic about.’

Why Momentum are certainly one of Australia’s ‘greenest’ vitality retailers

Momentum Power are owned by Hydro Tasmania (Australia’s largest generator of renewable vitality) who opened their first hydroelectric energy station in 1916, which suggests they’ve been producing renewable vitality from water for greater than 100 years.

‘So, if you’re with Momentum, you’ll be able to really feel good that we’re not solely Australian owned and operated, but additionally that we’re constructing out extra renewables,’ Lisa says. This funding in renewables is likely one of the key the explanation why Momentum at the moment ranks second on the 2022 Greenpeace Inexperienced Electrical energy Information.

The significance of hydropower

In terms of which renewable is finest out of wind, photo voltaic, or water, Lisa says it’s not a contest — ‘we want all of them and we want as a lot of all of them as we will get.’

Pumped hydropower may show to be notably vital although. ‘The entire idea of a pumped hydro is that you just run it while you want it,’ she provides. ‘So when there isn’t sufficient vitality being generated by different sources, you run that energy, then the water falls all the way down to the underside and you then pump it again up the hill, and it’s prepared once more for while you want it subsequent time. So the water virtually acts like a battery, and while you’re pumping it again up the hill, you’re recharging your battery. So it’s actually highly effective, but it surely’s fairly completely different to photo voltaic and wind, that are intermittent.’

You possibly can watch this video to see what she means in motion!

What people can do to make a distinction

Lisa says prospects maintain a number of shopping for energy that may affect the provision and demand of renewable vitality over fossil fuels.

‘Take into consideration the place is your cash going to and what’s it getting used for? So query your retailer, your vitality firm, what are they investing in? What varieties of transition plans have they got in place for web zero?’

Making the swap to GreenPower, putting in photo voltaic panels, or just being extra acutely aware about how a lot vitality you’re utilizing (and while you’re utilizing it) also can assist add up.

Hearken to the complete podcast interview with Lisa Chiba on TDF Talks by way of Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 

Momentum Power is owned by Australia’s largest renewable vitality generator and presents accredited GreenPower. Signal as much as certainly one of Australia’s greenest energy corporations.