Emissions reductions delivered by renewable energy
Read our report on emissions reductions in Australia as a direct result of the uptake and acceleration of clean energy
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19 Nov 2024
Since 2015, 40 GW of new rooftop solar and large-scale renewable energy capacity has been deployed across Australia, with the share of renewables in the energy system climbing from 16 per cent to just shy of 40 per cent in 2023.
This investment has resulted in emissions being 30 per cent lower today than they would have otherwise been without the renewable energy investment since 2015. In aggregate, this has resulted in over 200 million tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions since 2015, relative to if Australia had continued to rely on the 2015 power plant fleet.
The growth in renewable generation since 2015 is estimated to have avoided 55 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in the 2023 calendar year, relative to a situation in which we had continued to rely on the generation fleet in place back in 2015. This is equal to a 30 per cent reduction in electricity emissions
This will deliver 75 million tonnes of emission reductions in that year relative to if we had
kept the 2015 mix of generation plant in place. This is a 39 per cent reduction on electricity emissions. That is equivalent to reducing the emissions from all of Australia’s cars, light commercial vehicles, and aeroplanes to zero.
That's if growth continues at the pace required to meet the Federal Government's target of 82% renewable energy by 2030.
Submission to the AEMC on the consultation paper on optimising contingency size in dispatch
We welcome the opportunity to comment on the Australian Energy Market Commission's (AEMC) Consultation Paper on Optimising contingency size in dispatch and Allocating FCAS contingency costs.
Connections Reform Initiative - December 2025 update
In early 2021, AEMO and the Clean Energy Council (CEC) established the CRI to address concerns with delays and increasing complexity in connecting to the National Electricity Market (NEM).
Asbestos in wind turbine brake pads - update on testing and remediation
The Clean Energy Council is continuing to work with wind industry manufacturers, regulators and our members on the discovery of asbestos within brake pad components of internal service equipment of some wind turbines supplied by third-party manufacturers.
Energy market reforms on the horizon from Ministers' final meeting for 2025
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) supports the outcomes of yesterday’s final meeting between the country’s Energy Ministers, and said it demonstrated positive progress towards securing the vital reforms that will drive a fit for purpose wholesale energy market design and a national technical framework for consumer energy resources.
CSIRO GenCost report reaffirms firmed renewables as most practical option for Australia
The Clean Energy Council, Australia’s peak body for the sector, welcomed the 2025-26 GenCost report released today calling it the most comprehensive electricity cost modelling to-date which it said confirms the cheapest way to replace ageing coal power stations is with renewables backed by batteries, storage and flexible firming.
More Aussie households to benefit from a summer of solar storage
Today’s announcement by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, of an increase in funding for the Cheaper Home Batteries Program to $7.2 billion, recognises the success of the program in driving substantial uptake among the 4.3 million Australian households and small businesses with rooftop solar installed.
