Australia's natural gas generation fell to a 25-year low in Q1 2026 as battery storage systems tripled their capacity to shift solar power from midday to evening peak hours, reducing reliance on fossil fuels. This shifts the grid's energy mix to 46.5% renewables—up from 42.5% the prior year—with the Australian Energy Regulator proposing household electricity price cuts of up to 10.1% starting in July. The development shows how battery technology can address the intermittency problem that has historically required gas peaking plants, reducing both emissions and consumer energy costs simultaneously.