Transforming Household Electrification In Australia

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Australia's aim to cut greenhouse gases, pioneered by Greenline Electrification...

As Australia sets its sights on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 32% by 2030, the nation faces a pressing challenge in meeting domestic fossil gas demands.

The latest 2023 Gas Statement of Opportunities from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) highlights a looming shortfall in gas supplies, particularly in the southern states. Despite a decline in gas demand, AEMO's projections indicate a sustained need for additional supply across various energy scenarios.

Both state and federal governments, notably Victoria, have committed to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, prompting a swift transition away from fossil fuels. However, a recent report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) offers an alternative approach: addressing gas deficit through enhanced energy efficiency and electrification in households and industries.

An example of an alternative solution as addressed by IEEFA is a push to replace resistive heaters and water heaters with heat pumps. These pumps use significantly less electricity, typically one-third to one-fifth compared to resistive equipment. Despite higher upfront costs, heat pumps offer superior cost-effectiveness over the appliance's lifespan.

IEEFA calculations indicate that transitioning from gas appliances such as resistive heating nationwide could slash residential electricity usage by approximately 20% by 2045.
 
So how can the electrical trade seize this transformative opportunity? By innovating, educating and motivating consumers to embrace electrification in exactly the same way the electrical trade has supported Solar PV and driven Australia’s world leading uptake of rooftop solar.

Electrification entails replacing fossil-fuel-powered equipment, appliances, and vehicles with energy-efficient electric equivalents. By embracing an all-electric approach, households stand to:

• Reduce electricity bills
• Eliminate gas expenses
• Slash greenhouse gas emissions
• Gain greater control over energy usage

Nick Mackay and Benn Simpson of Greenline Electrification are leading the charge, offering customers comprehensive all-electric upgrade packages, integrating common renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies with emerging solutions. These packages pair LED Lighting, Solar PV, and Battery Energy Storage with Hot Water Heat Pumps, Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning and Induction Cooktops for an all-electric household. Additionally, customers have the option to install an Electric Vehicle Charger or make the provision for an electric vehicle charger to be easily installed in the future.
 
Greenline Electrification was recently commissioned to facilitate a household electrification project in order to reduce both the customer's electricity and gas bills and ideally, disconnect their gas supply.

During the consultation phase Greenline identified the need to install the following technologies to achieve the desired result:

• Solar PV System
• Battery Energy Storage (customer opted to wait 12+ months)
• Hot Water Heat Pump
• Ducted Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning
• Electric Oven
• Induction Cooktop

Middy’s electrification software 'EnergyTrust' was utilised by Greenline to generate the proposal for the customer which included a return on investment calculation. There is no other sales proposal software that considers both electricity and gas together so ‘EnergyTrust’ proves critical to Greenline’s push into electrification.

Greenline was able to demonstrate to the customer how electrifying their house delivers a return on investment from the electricity and gas bill savings and results in a significant reduction in carbon emissions. The install was also assisted by federal and state government incentives and Greenline made a provision for the customer to install an Electric Vehicle Charger in the future.

"We utilised Middy’s and their electrification software 'EnergyTrust' to generate the proposal for the consumer which included a return on investment calculation which is impossible for us to do accurately given the complexity of electricity and gas bills. There is no other sales proposal software that considers both electricity and gas together so 'EnergyTrust' is critical to our push into electrification." - Benn Simpson, Greenline Electrification