As we look ahead to 2025, the renewable energy sector stands at an exciting crossroad. Amid the intense focus and varied narratives surrounding the energy transition—ranging from not being able to meet emission targets up to 2050, to breakthroughs that suggest we could—there’s strong cause for optimism.

While the path to a sustainable future isn’t without its hurdles, the collective determination to solve for the energy transition is unlocking solutions that were once considered beyond reach. The next few years are essential in shaping the industry and ensuring we are equipped for a reliable energy transition.

2025 promises to be a year of significant strides, as we consider capitalising on existing network capacity, innovations in technology, industry collaboration, strong uptake of electric vehicles (EVs), and continued policy and investment support. These trends are paving the way for a more resilient and sustainable energy ecosystem.

Capitalising on Existing Network Capacity

In 2025, there will be an increased focus on the opportunity to capitalise on existing electricity network capacity, better known as ‘latent capacity,’ to accommodate additional renewable energy generation. Being more innovative with the infrastructure that has already been built is already getting significant airtime in 2024 and will continue.

Australia has a significant amount of untapped energy infrastructure, offering a unique opportunity to support the energy transition. By leveraging this latent capacity, we can complement the necessary investment in new infrastructure rather than relying solely on one approach. Together, optimising existing assets and building new infrastructure will accelerate Australia’s progress toward achieving net zero goals.

Innovations in Technology

Continued prioritisation of safety and workforce protection will be observed in the coming years, with new technologies playing a crucial role in mitigating the risks associated with renewable energy projects. This includes tower construction methods that minimise the need for humans to work at heights and ensure faster and safer construction.

What's Ahead for Australia’s Renewable Energy Sector?

Additionally, as new technology is introduced to the sector, it will result in local job creation as new fields and areas of work are explored. For instance, there will be a growing need for workers in emerging new fields like drone operation for line-stringing.

We believe we will also see over time in Australia a growing appetite to consider changes in conductor materials, which have been rapidly adopted globally by entities like the National Grid, NextEra Energy, and Edison International. These materials offer high capacity, reduced losses, and faster construction, attributed to shorter pole requirements and fewer transmission points.

Also, we envisage more monopoles will be considered as part of large-scale renewable energy projects (as witnessed overseas), given the potential long-term savings over the life of a project as well as the improved social acceptance from communities and landowners impacted by the projects.

EV Adoption and V2G Technology

EV adoption will continue to grow as the technology evolves and the benefits, such as reduced operating costs and lower emissions, become more widely understood.

Along with greater EV adoption, new battery technology like vehicle-to-grid (V2G) will gain momentum as education and familiarity increase in everyday households and the cost of batteries continues to decline. As V2G technology enables EVs to store energy and feed it back to the grid, it has the potential to revolutionise the way we manage energy, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient system.

By involving consumers in the grid management process, there will be greater opportunity for EV owners to utilise their car batteries as energy storage solutions during peak demand periods.

As complex technology becomes increasingly accessible to everyday consumers, we will continue to see more and more of this deployed at household and business levels.

Continued Government Policy Support and Investment

As countries around the world struggle to meet their climate goals, policymakers are recognising and acknowledging the ongoing need for financial support and incentives at both a corporate and consumer level.

The Australian Government’s focus on accelerating the transition through funding opportunities is likely to continue, as governments around the world seek to drive innovation and uncover new technologies capable of leading us to net zero at a faster pace.

Key incentives are likely to continue, such as battery and EV rebates for commercial fleet owners and consumers, as well as ongoing investment opportunities off the back of the government’s Future Made in Australia initiative.

This will encourage both businesses and households to invest in clean energy solutions, boosting overall demand across the country and reducing carbon emissions.

As we move into 2025, developing a long-term strategy for Australia’s renewable transition is key, and the trends look promising. Looking past the next five years and envisioning what it will take to become a full-scale green economy in 2075 and beyond is critical if we hope to achieve our net zero targets and provide sustainable and reliable energy to all Australians.