For many of us, 2026 has been the year where the need for clean energy really hit home.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a passageway that normally carries 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply – has caused major disruptions to the global energy markets.
Here in Australia, we’ve seen skyrocketing prices across groceries, petrol and imports including fertiliser and plastics . As people come to terms with the value of energy independence, it’s no surprise that sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have surged in recent months.
“Global shocks like this reinforce the need for Australia to reduce its exposure to volatile international energy markets,” says Dr Marjan Nazifi, a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie Business School (MQBS).
But how do we ensure that the clean energy transition brings everyone along for the journey? This is a question Nazifi’s research seeks to answer.
“Growing up and working in Iran, where oil and gas play such an important role in the economy, it was impossible not to appreciate how energy influences people’s lives,” Nazifi explains.
Dr Marjan Nazifi. Picture: Macquarie University
Before she joined Macquarie University, Nazifi was a Senior Advisor to Iran’s Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs. In her role, she saw how energy decisions affected everything from government revenue and a country’s economic development through to everyday household costs. She often tells people that she didn’t choose energy economics – it chose her.
“That experience inspired me to pursue research that focuses on energy markets and designing smarter and fairer clean energy policies that make the transition accessible to more people,” she says.
“The transition to clean energy should be something everyone can benefit from, not just those who already have the resources to participate.”
Nazifi completed her second PhD – yes, you read that right – on the links between carbon emissions and energy markets at Macquarie University.
Having come to Australia from overseas, she says Macquarie offered a genuinely welcoming and inclusive community, and that strong sense of belonging has been important to her.
“I was looking for an environment where research could make a real contribution to public policy rather than simply remain in academic journals,” she says. “Macquarie stood out because of its strong reputation for applied research and its collaborative culture. I value being part of a university that encourages innovation and strong partnerships with industry and government.”
Did having one PhD under her belt already make the second easier in any way?
“It certainly helped, although a second PhD is never easy,” Nazifi admits. “The first time, I felt that every idea had to be perfect before I could move forward. During the second, I learned to accept that research develops through questioning, revision and sometimes taking the wrong path before finding the right one.”
Nazifi’s recently published research explored the connection between a household’s income and its investment in cleantech such as home batteries, solar panels, and EVs. As part of a team of MQBS researchers, she reviewed data from household surveys conducted by Energy Consumers Australia.
Around one in three homes are equipped with solar panels – making Australia a global leader in this area – but there are still obstacles when it comes to adopting or investing in clean energy.
“People often assume the biggest barrier is income, but our research shows the picture is much more complicated,” Nazifi says.
“For some households, the main problem is the upfront cost of technologies such as batteries and electric vehicles. For others, the barrier is more practical: they may rent, live in an apartment, lack suitable space, or have limited control over changes to their home.”
Navigating information in this space can also be a challenge. In an overwhelming, overstimulating world, learning more about different kinds of technology can feel like another few kilos added to your mental load.
Dr Nazifi’s recent research explores solar panels and EVs. Picture: Adobe
“Even homeowners may simply lack access to information and find the decision difficult,” Nazifi acknowledges. “They may be unsure whether a battery will save them money, which technology is suitable, or how long it will take to recover the upfront cost.”
This mix of expense and inaccessibility could lead to a kind of energy inequality unless we act thoughtfully.
“There is a real risk that renters, apartment residents, lower-wealth households and families without existing solar are being left behind,” Nazifi says. “Some cannot make changes to their property, while others cannot afford the upfront cost, even when the technology could reduce their bills over time.”
Nazifi’s recent research explores whether already having solar panels changes the relationship between household income and investment in batteries and EVs. Solar ownership can be a sign that a household has already overcome some of the financial, practical and institutional barriers to investing in clean-energy technology.
The solution? Better, fairer policy design and more strategic funding.
“Better policy design means using evidence to identify the households facing genuine barriers rather than assuming income alone tells the whole story. This can improve equity and deliver better value for taxpayers,” Nazifi says.
“Australia already invests significant public funding in the clean energy transition. The next challenge is ensuring that these investments are as effective as possible.
“Policies could respond by considering more than annual income – a household’s assets, housing situation and existing access to clean technology may provide a better picture of its ability to invest.
“Governments could also provide more targeted support for renters and apartment residents.”
While it might seem like the ongoing situation in the Middle East would spark greater interest in technologies that improve your household’s energy independence and reduce long-term costs, Nazifi warns that economic uncertainty can make people more cautious.
“While interest may increase, actual investment could slow if people feel financially uncertain,” she says.
She adds that the government can assist with this by expanding renewable generation, storage and grid capacity, while ensuring households are safeguarded against rising costs. On the homefront, strategies such as comparing electricity plans and investing in solar or battery storage can make a difference too.
But if that last sentence made you tense up, remember, it’s not all on you.
“Responsibility should not fall entirely on individuals,” Nazifi says. “A resilient energy transition requires reliable infrastructure and policies that give different households a genuine opportunity to participate.”
