Australia is producing so much solar power that it’s going to start giving it away to its citizens during the day, the government announced this week.
According to official data, some 4m households in Australia – almost a half of all homes – have rooftop solar arrays, which collectively generate more electricity than the country’s coal-fired power stations. Often, more electricity is produced than needed.
However, under the government’s ‘solar sharer’ plan, energy companies will be forced to offer free electricity to customers for three hours in the middle of the day. The scheme will enable renters and people who live in flats to benefit from the solar revolution, while de-incentivising electricity use at night, when coal and gas provide most of the electricity.
Tim Buckley, director of the think-tank Climate Energy Finance, told the Financial Times that the plan “guts coal even faster and makes gas less relevant”.
Not everyone will benefit initially, though. The ‘solar sharer’ scheme will be available only to people in New South Wales, South Australia, and in southeastern Queensland from July 2026, with more regions set to follow in 2027.
“We want to see the benefits of renewable energy flow to all, even those without solar panels and batteries,” said energy minister Chris Bowen.
Image: Dan Freeman