A brief glimpse at the history of energy in Australia

Australian energy needs have been largely met by fossil fuels to date with historical records first documenting the presence of coal in 1797 in New South Wales with later deposits mined in all states. Our low-cost coal resources have been responsible for powering the best percentage of Australia’s domestic electricity and underpinned some of the cheapest electricity in the world.

This has contributed to Australia’s complex and organised electrical infrastructure, and had it not been for the coal boom, our nation may not have much of the complex electrical framework we so heavily rely on in our homes, on our railways, in our factories and in our cities.

Our economic stability has been reinforced by the export of coal, without which may have seen particular struggle in our social, cultural and community growth.

Despite the limited lifespan of our coal resources, it has given us a much stronger foundation to move into renewable energy territory. Armed with usable infrastructure and a history of renewable energy resource exploration, the slow transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources has some superb headway. In 2024, renewable energy sources accounted for approx. 36% of Australia’s total electricity generation.


Author - Paul Sedman
​Reference: Australian energy history: A brief look back | Bulk Energy