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.
The Clean Energy Council and the Clean Energy Investor Group, Australia’s leading clean energy industry and investment peak bodies, warn that political grandstanding over net-zero targets risks undermining the investor confidence and policy certainty needed to build the cheap, clean and reliable power that Australians need.
Clean Energy Council welcomes NSW Liberals' support for Net Zero
The Clean Energy Council has welcomed the NSW Liberal Party’s reaffirmed commitment to Net Zero by 2050 and recognition that New South Wales must replace its ageing coal-fired power stations with modern, clean energy alternatives.
Clean Energy Council response to the Coalition's net zero announcement
The politics of net zero does not change the physics of our electricity system. Australia’s coal-fired power stations are closing whether we like it or not — more than 90 per cent are due to retire in the next decade. The fastest and cheapest option to replace the power is solar, wind backed by batteries and a bit of gas.
Submission to the AEMC on Integrated Distribution System Planning - Directions Paper (ERC0410)
The CEC supports the objectives of the proposed rule change and sees it as critical to enabling consumer energy resources (CER) uptake and virtual power plant (VPP) services by reducing uncertainty, improving hosting capacity visibility and lowering risk of stranded or constrained CER assets.
Joint submission into the inquiry into the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025
We write with a joint submission on behalf of the Smart Energy Council and the Clean Energy Council. We have prepared this submission at the request of the Committee and in advance of our anticipated appearance at a Committee hearing on 14 November 2025.
Submission on VicGrid’s proposed changes to the connections and access framework
We welcome this opportunity to comment on VicGrid’s proposed draft connections and access consultation paper and the draft Grid Impact Assessment (GIA) Guidelines that will underpin the proposed connections and access regime to apply in Victoria from early 2026.
