Add Category
Efforts are underway to ensure people from culturally diverse backgrounds aren't left behind as Australia races to reduce its carbon emissions.
The nation's uptake of rooftop solar has been world-leading, but advocates are worried not everyone is finding it easy to access — and benefit from — renewable energy.
Energy Consumers Australia senior policy associate Caroline Valente said cultural and language barriers had left many people feeling excluded.
"The energy system in Australia is like a confusopoly, because it's intended to confuse everyone," Ms Valente said.
"For migrants the energy industry jargon, unfamiliarity with Australian consumer rights and the system can actually make it really difficult for people to make choices for their household, their lifestyle, and that can help reduce their bills.
"They feel like the energy transition narrative doesn't really reflect their concerns, their needs and expectations and they feel marginalised, so it's about energy exclusion."
Empowering culturally diverse Australians
In western Sydney, one of the most multicultural parts of the country, a group of faith and community leaders has been helping bridge the energy divide.
Voices for Power leader Diana Olmos said she experienced some barriers first-hand while renting in western Sydney.
She was daunted by the energy market in Australia after migrating from Columbia about a decade ago.
"It took me five years to actually understand that I needed to shop around for a better deal," Ms Olmos said.
"I could have saved a lot of money being an international student, but I didn't know where to go or the fact that I could negotiate with energy providers."
Voices for Power has been running workshops in different languages to inform people about the best way to power their homes and how to navigate the energy transition.
Ms Olmos said religious and community leaders had a crucial role in empowering people from diverse backgrounds.
"Many of us don't read a lot of mainstream media, it's a language barrier, but what we do trust is our leaders, in many cases our faith leaders," she said.
"We saw that during COVID-19 with the rollout of the vaccination process where hubs were placed in spaces we trust, and that's what we need to do in our energy transition."
Renters most exposed
On top of the language and cultural barriers, migrants are more likely to be renting, which also limits their ability to control their energy usage.
While more than 30 per cent of Australian households have rooftop solar, the uptake for rental properties sits at just four per cent, according to economist Mara Hemmerle.
Dr Hemmerle, who has just returned from a visit to Scotland to examine the issue of energy poverty, said there was a major risk of some Australians being left behind.
"What I'm most concerned about is that it really does seem to be that home owners of fully detached properties find it easiest to participate in this transition," Dr Hemmerle said.
"However, there are a lot of other groups that find it challenging to benefit from the affordable costs and increased comfort."
Dr Hemmerle said improving energy efficiency standards, along with more incentives for landlords to install solar, would help address the energy divide.
In a statement, the New South Wales government said it offered free translation services for energy rebate enquiries, along with fact sheets in 10 languages.
It said it was also working with the Commonwealth and other states to develop minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties.
Community energy projects gain momentum
In the western Sydney suburb of Bungarribee, there have been practical efforts to make new forms of energy accessible to everyone.
A community battery, built in the suburb last year, has been storing excess solar energy from nearby homes.
Tan Hassan said he was among the residents who paid a monthly fee to use the battery.
He said it was an affordable alternative to forking out thousands of dollars for his own household battery.
"We're only paying about $15 a month to rent the space but in return we're getting about $40 on average," Mr Hassan said.
The community battery was the first of dozens to be rolled out across New South Wales.
Mr Hassan said it was a way of making renewable energy accessible for everyone, even if they didn't have solar panels on their rooftop.
"It's not just home owners, renters can rent a space, the way it's laid out it's fair for everyone as long as you live in the suburb and it's available, you can rent it out," he said.
"Not only that, there is heavy demand on western Sydney, a lot of people are moving into these areas because it's still affordable to a lot of people."