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 the Inquiry into solar panel re-use and recycling
The CEC has made a submission to a national inquiry into the management of end-of-life (EOL) solar panels, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action as Australia faces a rapid increase in solar panel waste.
Senate Inquiry shines light on Australia's energy discourse
The peak body for the clean energy sector has welcomed the final report of the Senate Select Committee Inquiry into Information Integrity on Climate Change and Energy released yesterday, saying it underscores the serious impact that mis and disinformation is having on Australia’s energy system - stalling investment, undermining public confidence and delivery of the economic benefits of clean energy, at a time when energy security has never been more important.
WA Clean Energy Summit - Opening remarks by Jackie Trad, Clean Energy Council CEO
Good morning, everyone. It is a genuine pleasure to be here in Perth for the Western Australia Clean Energy Summit – this is my first clean energy summit as the CEO of the Clean Energy Council, and I already know WACES has set the standard high for the remaining 2026 events.
CEC welcomes new government data centre principles to deliver energy security and jobs for Australia
A strategic and national approach to the development of data centres represents an opportunity to support Australia’s energy resilience and our national interest, says the peak industry body for the clean energy sector.
Submission on Domestic Wind Tower Manufacturing to DISR
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources consulted on options to support the domestic manufacturing capability of wind towers in the short (1-4 years) to medium (5+ years) terms, including their servicing supply chains.
Submission to BCT regarding Biodiversity Offsets Payment Calculator
The CEC provided a submission regarding changes proposed by the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust to the Biodiversity Offsets Payment Calculator Order 2022.
