More renewables powered up in Q4 2025 than ever before, breaking new records - report finds

Utility-scale battery deployment also hit an all-time high. The quarter added 1 GW / 2.3 GWh of new storage capacity – more than tripling the previous record set just one quarter earlier (541 MW / 1766 MWh) and pushing 2025’s annual battery total (1.9 GW / 4.9 GWh) above the combined output of the previous eight years (2.2 GW / 3.8 GWh).

Investment momentum strengthened in the last quarter of the year, with five renewable generation projects reaching financial close in Q4. These projects represent 1.2 GW of new capacity and $3.5 billion in value – an uplift from more subdued investment in the prior three quarters. It’s the second-highest investment total recorded in a single quarter, behind Q4 2022 ($4.3 billion). 

Jackie Trad, CEO of the Clean Energy Council, said the surge in project delivery and boost to investment in Q4 2025, coincided with major milestones across the National Electricity Market (NEM) towards the end of last year. 

“The final quarter of last year saw many new renewables records broken. Sixty-three per cent of total renewable generation capacity that was switched on in 2025 was delivered in Q4 (2.1 GW). That scale of projects being commissioned in a single quarter is an Aussie first,” Ms Trad said.

“In addition, renewable energy supplied over half (51%) of all electricity in the NEM for the first time during Q4 2025, and reached up to 77 per cent of peak demand when the grid was pushed to its limits during January’s extreme heatwaves, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.

“As more renewable projects come online, we’re seeing them do exactly what they’re designed to do: stabilise the energy system as coal-fired generators retire. It’s more evidence that Australia’s transition to renewables is well underway,” she said.

Ms Trad said Australia is in a critical handover period from coal to renewables, and that maintaining positive investment momentum will require faster planning approvals and grid connection across jurisdictions.

“The seasonal rush to close out on projects before years’ end, together with more political stability in the second half of 2025, ended the year on a stronger note than where it started. However, there is still much work to be done to accelerate future investment in large-scale generation,” Ms Trad said. 

“This must include streamlining planning and approval processes and delivering the transmission infrastructure required to connect projects to the National Electricity Market.

“Combined with world-leading uptake of rooftop solar and home batteries, large-scale renewable projects are already making our energy system more reliable and resilient. We are now approaching half of our electricity consistently being supplied from renewables, and the construction pipeline is further solidifying this shift,” she said. 

Among the states and territories, the report found South Australia led the nation with the fastest average time from financial commitment to commissioning - 19 months for solar farms and 23 months for onshore wind. SA and Victoria were tied for the quickest battery development timelines, averaging 20 months. 

Queensland commissioned the most clean energy projects in Q4 last year (four), as projects, approved under the former State Government, came online; however, it continued to have the longest delivery timelines: 23 months for solar, 37 months for wind, and 28 months for utility-scale batteries, against a backdrop of major energy policy reforms introduced by the current Government in 2025.

Key highlights from the Q4 report:

• Q4 2025 outperformed all other quarters on record for commissioned renewable generation projects, as nine wind and solar farms brought 2.1 GW of capacity online. 
• Australia’s battery surge continued outside the home, with utility-scale batteries also setting new records, adding 1 GW / 2.3 GWh of new capacity in Q4.
• An uptick in renewable generation investment saw five projects (1.2 GW) worth $3.5 billion reaching financial close – an uplift from the previous three subdued quarters.

ENDS

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: 

Danielle Tricarico
Clean Energy Council General Manager - Media

Liam Straughan
Clean Energy Council Media Officer

+61 409 470 683