Billions in the bush: Renewable energy for regional prosperity
Read our report on the economic benefits clean energy is delivering to farmers and regional communities across Australia.
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18 Nov 2024
Large-scale renewable energy projects are estimated to deliver $1 billion to farmers and $200 million to regional communities by 2030, according to our report with Farmers for Climate Action.
Renewables are not only keeping the lights on as coal plants reach the end of their technical life, but they’re also creating jobs and alternative income streams and benefits right across Australian communities.
The report shows farmers can earn $38,500 to $45,500 per year from hosting a typical 7MW turbine and up to $1,250 per hectare from solar. For comparison, a beef farmer can expect returns of $1,500 per hectare per year in a good year.
Our analysis shows contributions are expected to deliver $213 million by 2030 and $1.9 billion to 2050, supporting regional communities to thrive.
Based on total renewable capacity, farmers and landholders in NSW are expected to receive $290 million - $371 million by 2030, while those in Queensland are expected to receive $220 million - $274 million; those in Victoria are expected to receive $238 million - $288 million, those in South Australia are expected to receive $109 million - $132 million and those in Tasmania are expected to receive $41 million to $48 million.
The report only looks at the National Electricity Market, covering eastern and southern states and territories.
Response to the 2025-26 Default Market Offer (AER)
While today’s decision is not what was hoped for, it confirms that ageing and increasingly unreliable coal-fired power stations, are by far the biggest contributors to these higher costs for Australian households and small businesses - as well as an over-reliance on expensive gas, which is in short supply.
Renewables the cheapest path to lower Aussie energy bills - new report finds
Australian power bills could jump by 30 per cent for households and 41 per cent for small businesses by 2030, further aggravating the cost-of-living crisis, if Australia stalls the rollout of renewable energy, independent modelling released today by the Clean Energy Council reveals.
The Impact of a Delayed Transition on Electricity Bills
The Impact of a Delayed Transition on Electricity Bills report examines the impact to power bills for Australian households and businesses should renewable energy generation be capped at 54 per cent, as proposed under a nuclear energy policy.
New feasibility licences put wind in the sails for clean energy generated at sea
“The Clean Energy Council welcomes Minister Bowen’s announcement today which saw the awarding of feasibility licences to two additional Australian offshore wind projects – the Equinor and Oceanex-developed Novocastrian offshore wind farm in the Hunter offshore wind area and the Alinta and JERA Nex-developed Spinifex offshore wind farm in the Southern Ocean region.
NSW Government support for big batteries and pumped hydro will help keep the lights on
The Clean Energy Council welcomes the NSW Government's announcement today to support the development of three new long-duration storage assets, including two big batteries and a pumped hydro scheme.
