Renewable energy growth must double to meet Australia’s emission goals, Clean Energy Council says

(The Guardian, 17 Apr 2023) More than 35% of Australia’s electricity last year was supplied by renewables, up from just under 17% in 2017.

Australia’s renewable energy industry is growing at half the pace needed for the sector to meet the Albanese government’s emissions reduction goals, despite the sector having one of its best years, the Clean Energy Council said in its annual report.

Last year construction commenced on a record of more than 5,000MW of large-scale wind and solar farms. Work also started on 19 big batteries with 1,380MW/2,004MWh capacity, or almost half as large again as the previous record year in 2021, the council said.

Households also joined in the renewables rush, with 310,000 new solar systems with a capacity of 2,700MW added to rooftops. While down on 2021’s record of 3,300MW, the extra capacity increased the share of total renewable energy on rooftops to 25.8%.

Renewables supplied 35.9% of Australia’s total electricity generation last year, up from just under 17% in 2017, the report said.

External link

The Guardian, 17 Apr 2023: Renewable energy growth must double to meet Australia’s emission goals, Clean Energy Council says