A new report published by the Clean Energy Council and Green Energy Markets shows that a surge in renewable energy investment since 2015 has reduced emissions by 30% relative to if Australia had remained reliant on the 2015 fleet of power stations.
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Launched at COP29, the report shows that by the end of 2025, emissions will be 40% lower thanks to installation of renewable energy projects and solar systems since 2015. This will result in a saving of 340 million tonnes over the decade from 2015 to 2025.
Clean Energy Council CEO Kane Thornton says the renewables sector is not only keeping the lights on as coal plants reach the end of their technical life, but creating wide-ranging benefits for Australians from income to farmers hosting renewable energy projects to lower power prices.
“This report shows that the emission reductions delivered by the growth of renewable energy since 2015 are equivalent to reducing the emissions from all Australia’s cars, light commercial vehicles and aeroplanes to zero.”
“If renewable energy projects currently under construction or contracted are completed as planned and rooftop solar continues to grow at the expected rate, emissions in 2030 alone are projected to be 179 million CO2 tonnes lower as a result of renewable energy growth since 2015, with aggregate emissions savings of 998 million tonnes between 2015 and 2030, which is an extraordinary effort by the sector,” he says.
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Renewable energy now provides more than 40% of Australia’s electricity—a figure that has doubled in the past five years. By 2030, Australia has committed to cut its emissions by 43% over 2005 levels as part of its contribution to international efforts to combat global warming.
