Renewable energy in Australia - statistics & facts

The renewable energy industry has seen a surge in activity across the globe. From solar panels converting energy from the sun into electricity to onshore and offshore wind farms generating clean power, there has been a worldwide trend of increasing green infrastructure that can produce energy, while minimizing environmental impacts and pollution production. The Paris Agreement, which aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, as well as advancements in technology have led to a forecasted increase in size of the renewable market, estimated to be valued at over two trillion U.S. dollars by 2030.

What is fueling growth in Australia’s renewable technologies?

In Australia, the renewable energy market has been booming; with investments, loans, and government policy all driving growth in this industry. Investments in clean energy technology looks set to increase in Australia and the nation was one of the leading investment markets in this sector. In terms of government policy, the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target and the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme have both contributed to the influx of green power capacity. The former encourages investment in renewable power stations to achieve 33 thousand gigawatt-hours of additional renewable electricity generation each year, while the latter financially incentivizes individuals and small businesses to install small-scale renewable energy systems.

What are Australia’s green energy resources?

Hydropower, wind power, and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy led the renewables segment of the energy generation market in Australia. The country's diverse regional landscapes and climates contribute to the varying mix of energy sources dominating each region. Victoria and South Australia are suited to wind power generation, while solar is predominant in the eastern states, with the highest capacities of solar installed in Queensland and New South Wales respectively.

Australia’s bright renewables future

The latest consumer preferences towards energy sources in Australia has reinforced the shift towards renewables. A large share preferred solar as an energy source, and this can be supported by the increasing number of small-scale solar photovoltaic installations across the country. In terms of opinions on rising electricity prices in Australia, a relatively minor share of consumers in Australia believed that renewable energy was the cause of this. While cost, intermittent supply, and geography are all barriers to a fully renewable energy future, continued innovations in technology and government policy change will hopefully secure Australia's renewable energy supply.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by L. Granwal, Mar 31, 2023

Key insights

Annual electricity consumption
189.1TWh
Preferred source of energy among Australians
Solar
Installed solar energy capacity
5.2k MW
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Installed capacity of existing energy projects in the national electricity market (NEM) in Australia as of May 2021, by energy source (in megawatts)

Electricity

Installed electricity capacity Australia 2021, by energy source

Share of energy acquired from renewable sources in Australia in 2022, by state

Renewable Energy

Share of energy usage from renewable sources in Australia 2022, by state

Total renewable energy capacity in Australia from 2013 to 2022 (in megawatts)

Renewable Energy

Total renewable energy capacity in Australia 2013-2022

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