1. Australia and New Zealand are widely different
In 2022, non-renewable sources accounted for 68% of Australia’s electricity mix, versus only 15.5% for New Zealand.
Unsurprisingly, the country-continent emits 503g CO2e per kilowatt-hour, against 98 for its Trans-Tasman counterpart.
2. Australia likes its coal
Breaking down this previous statement, we can see that coal amounts to 47% of the Australian electricity mix.
Among renewables, Solar is the most prominent source of electricity with 14% of the total. An uptick of 2% compared with the year before.
The Australian government Net Zero by 2050 strategy includes an increase in electricity production from renewables, notably with new infrastructures. As it also include carbon-compensation projects and as coal is not about to be phased out, it will be interesting to see how these figures evolve closer to 2050. Coal could still hold a significant percentage of the mix while the country reaches net zero.
3. New Zealand is a hydroelectric-powered nation
60% of New Zealand electricity stems from hydroelectric sources, notably with over 100 electricity-generating dams. With fewer fossil fuels to extract, the country still has natural resources to exploit for its energy-mix. Just like Australia, they mean to reach net zero mid-century.
4. Most Pacific Island nations are very reliant on (imported) fossil fuel
Despite high solar, wind or hydro potential, Pacific Island nations tend to be reliant on fossil fuel for energy generation.
Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Mironesia and Palau all have a share of fossil fuel going over 75% in their electricity mix.
5. But those countries want to change this by the end of the decade.
Two Pacific countries highly use renewables in their mix, namely Fiji and the small NZ-associated state of Tokelau. The latter stated in the 2010’s that it was 100% powered by solar energy.
Other Pacific countries are expected to join this trend through ways of investment in solar infrastructures notably.
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