Opinion & Analysis

Reaching net zero in Australia relies on the bush. That’s where the land, sun, wind and freshwater resources are. But as the clean energy build accelerates, some landholders are pushing back. Unfortunately, their legitimate worries have been magnified by media coverage and vested interests.

New figures show Australians bought a record 85,000 home batteries in the first half of 2025. That’s almost three times more than the year before, and nearly fivefold growth since 2022.

The power mix in Southeast Asia is heavily reliant on coal and natural gas for baseload generation, with hydropower dominating in countries such as Laos and Cambodia. However, the region’s dependence on fossil fuels is increasingly challenged by rising energy import costs, growing regulatory and corporate pressure to cut emissions, and heightened concerns about energy security amid accelerating demand from industry and cities.

Australia’s energy story is at a turning point. Demand for electricity is rising rapidly as homes, industries, and transport systems electrify. The nation is also under pressure to cut emissions from its energy sector and elsewhere.

It’s increasingly common to hear from experts and the general public that the global shift away from fossil fuels is glacially slow, or even nonexistent but we’re already rocketing through the fastest energy transformation in human history.

As off-grid solar systems expand to serve remote and underserved communities worldwide, digitalisation has become a crucial need for efficient project development, implementation, and long-term sustainability. A new report from IEA PVPS Task 18 systematically explores digital tools across the entire off-grid energy project value chain, providing much-needed guidance for practitioners looking to optimise their operations.

Artificial intelligence is fuelling unprecedented energy demand, but with the right strategy, it could become one of our most powerful tools for building a cleaner, smarter future.

The future of the global energy landscape will be shaped by Asia and the Pacific. Over the past two decades, our region has been the principal driver of global energy demand and emissions. Energy has powered prosperity, lifted millions out of poverty and transformed societies.

There’s a silent problem building across Australia’s solar rooftops and most asset owners don’t even know they’re sitting on it. It starts with something simple: a single damaged panel.

Any week now, Australia will set its 2035 emissions target. It must signal the nation’s strong ambition on climate action, to drive policy and investment. And it must avoid being seen as either unrealistic or too costly. The decision is not an easy one for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his cabinet.