Australia Could Hit 2,000 GW Solar Market by 2030

Australia could become a green energy superpower within six years, thanks to a ambitious plan that makes solar power cheaper than ever imagined.

Researchers from the Australian National University and University of New South Wales have crunched the numbers on an exciting target: solar panels that are 30% efficient and cost just 30 cents per watt by 2030. The results show this "ultra-low-cost" solar could create a 2,000 gigawatt solar market across Australia.

That's enough clean energy to power every home, business, and factory in the country while still having plenty left over to export. The modeling shows the system could deliver 1,000 terawatt-hours per year for domestic use and a whopping 2,600 terawatt-hours for export to other nations.

Dr. Bin Lu, a research fellow at ANU, says the plan would completely decarbonize Australia's economy while positioning the country as a major supplier of green products to the world. "Australia has abundant solar resources and some of the world's richest mineral reserves," Lu explained.

The research goes beyond just generating electricity. It shows how cheap solar power changes the entire economic equation for heavy industry.

Green aluminum, ammonia, and steel production could match the cost of conventional methods that pollute the atmosphere. Even aviation fuels made with renewable electricity move closer to being commercially viable, opening new doors for carbon-free flight.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this research special is how it connects the dots between clean electricity, industrial transformation, and export opportunities. Instead of looking at each piece separately, the team modeled how they work together as one integrated system.

The wholesale electricity market could deliver reliable 100% renewable power at costs below current prices. Those savings flow directly into manufacturing, making Australian-made green products competitive on the global stage.

Australia sits on massive reserves of iron ore and bauxite, the raw materials for steel and aluminum. Combining those resources with the cheapest solar power on Earth creates a recipe for becoming the world's go-to supplier of products made without carbon emissions.

The research team, led by professors Kylie Catchpole and Andrew Blakers, is already expanding their work. Follow-up analyses are examining how electricity networks need to evolve and exploring the best pathways for clean energy exports.

This isn't just about building solar farms; it's about reimagining what an entire economy can become when clean energy gets cheap enough to power everything.