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 on draft Matters of National Environmental Significance Standard
Our submission to AEMC’s draft report broadly supports proposed reforms but cautions against fixed network charges, which disincentivise solar investment and unfairly increase the relative costs for smaller energy users.
2025: A record-breaking year for Australian clean energy but investment in new wind and solar remain
The Clean Energy Australia 2026 report shows renewables hit 43% of national electricity last year; battery capacity tripled; while financial commitments for new generation fell 46%, threatening transition momentum.
Budget 2026-27 upholds commitments to delivering secure, affordable electricity
The Clean Energy Council has welcomed the Albanese Government’s funding commitments to deliver faster environmental approvals as part of its productivity agenda that will include clean energy projects in this year’s Federal Budget.
Coalition transmission backflip puts Victoria's energy security at risk
The Victorian Liberal-Nationals announcement today to halt critical infrastructure projects VNI West and Western Renewables Link would leave Victoria with a weaker and less secure electricity system, that is increasingly exposed to coal outages as Yallourn heads towards closure.
