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.
$58 billion of clean energy investment, 42,000 jobs foregone by 2030 under Coalition plan
At least $58 billion worth of new private investment in clean energy would be wiped from Australia’s economy, with more than 42,000 full-time equivalent jobs and billions of dollars in community benefits at risk if renewable energy is capped at 54 per cent of Australia’s electricity mix under the Coalition’s energy agenda, new modelling has found.
Op-ed: Coalition nuclear power plan risks energy bill meltdown
Is it just me or have we somehow gone back in time? US President Donald Trump is introducing 1960’s era tariffs and isolationist polices that are creating massive global economic risk and uncertainty.
While here at home, the Federal Coalition is proposing to halt private investment in the lowest cost form of energy generation (renewables) and instead focus on the highest cost forms of generation (nuclear and gas) with 1960’s levels of government ownership and taxpayer funding.
Cheaper batteries set to supercharge Aussie rooftop solar savings
Today’s commitment by Federal Labor to provide a 30 per cent discount on the upfront cost of purchasing a home battery, through its Cheaper Home Battery Program, is a significant and welcome cost of living measure that will supercharge energy savings for the four million Aussies with rooftop solar on their homes.
Budget 2025-26: Short-term energy bill relief with renewables on track to lower future power bills
With over 70 per cent of Australians naming cost-of-living as their priority issue in recent polls, the Clean Energy Council has welcomed the additional $150 energy bill rebate for all Australian families and small businesses in this years’ Federal Budget.
While this short-term relief will be welcomed by Australians, the Clean Energy Council continues to call for a national home battery program that will deliver long-term reductions in power prices.
Green light to unlock Australia's green hydrogen potential
The Clean Energy Council welcomes today’s announcement of the first recipient from the Australian Government’s Hydrogen Headstart program with $814 million in funding allocated to the 1500 MW Murchison Green Hydrogen Project in Western Australia, for the development of a major new renewable ammonia export facility.
