Prior to the election, both major parties put forward markedly different energy plans to achieve their commitment to net zero by 2050.

The incumbent Labor government’s plan focused on building a renewables-dominated energy grid firmed by battery storage and backed up by gas generation, while the Coalition opposition proposed establishing a nuclear power industry in Australia to eventually replace baseload coal power, alongside renewables and gas. Both parties contested the costs, emissions impact, and feasibility of the other’s energy plans.

When it comes to how Australians think the country should source its power by 2050, a majority believe at least some role should be played by each of the four energy sources surveyed. But views differ widely on the extent of the role people believe each should play.

Renewables are the most preferred source of power in Australia, with three-quarters of the adult population (75%) saying they should play a ‘major role’ in the energy mix. One-fifth (20%) think they should play a ‘minor role’, while almost no Australians (4%) envisage an energy mix without renewable power.

On the place of gas in the future energy mix, the largest share of respondents (51%) believe it should play a minor role by 2050, while almost four in ten Australians (38%) see a major role for gas. Only 9% of Australians see no role at all for gas by 2050.

Many Australians also see coal continuing to be part of the mix, with the largest share envisaging a minor role (44%) for this energy source by 2050, and one-quarter a major role (24%). However, almost one-third (31%) say coal should no longer play a role in Australia’s energy production by 2050.

On nuclear power — the only one of the four sources surveyed not currently part of Australia’s energy mix — two-thirds (66%) of the public see some role for nuclear energy by 2050, about the same number that see some role for coal. Almost four in ten Australians (37%) say it should play a major role, and less than a third (29%) a minor role. By contrast, almost one-third (32%) think nuclear should play no role at all — a similar level to the number opposed to coal playing any role in Australia’s long-term energy mix.

Australia’s 2050 energy mix