The Real Cost of Net Zero

Australia’s push for Net Zero promises a greener future, but The Real Cost of Net Zero reveals the soaring bills, grid instability, and hidden trade-offs that could leave the nation in the dark.

Australia is in the grip of an energy transformation. The Albanese Government has set a bold target: 82% of our electricity generated by wind, solar and hydro by 2030. Both major parties have committed to net zero emissions by 2050. It’s a grand promise of a cleaner, cheaper future. But will it deliver?

The Real Cost of Net Zero asks the hard questions politicians would rather avoid. What happens if the price blows out? Who pays when the system fails? And as we rush to rewire the nation, are we replacing one problem with another?

Electricity prices are already biting households and businesses. Despite the claim that renewable energy is cheap, the reality is far more complex. The grid wasn’t designed for weather-dependent power. We need expensive back-up – gas, batteries, pumped hydro – to keep the lights on when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. And that comes at a cost.

This documentary follows the money trail, breaking down why bills keep rising. It investigates how much transmission infrastructure is needed to plug renewables into the grid, and what it means for communities who don’t want power lines marching across their farmland. It hears from energy industry insiders who warn that we are moving too fast, closing coal plants before we have reliable replacements.

But the story doesn’t stop at electricity. Net Zero demands we replace petrol, gas heating, and industrial power with electricity, forcing a total transformation of how we live. Yet no one can say what that will cost – or whether it can even be done.

Globally, other nations are facing the same reality check. In California, where renewables dominate, electricity is among the most expensive in the US. Germany’s energy transition has led to high prices and greater reliance on coal. The United States, Canada and France are turning to nuclear power, while in Australia it remains illegal.

With exclusive interviews, industry insights, and real-world case studies, The Real Cost of Net Zero exposes the flaws in the grand energy transition. It’s a story of ideology colliding with reality, of promises running into physics, and of a nation being led into an uncertain future without a clear plan.

For Australians wondering why their power bills are soaring, why their energy system is becoming more unstable, and why no one is telling the full story – this is the documentary they need to see.