Emissions reduction and renewable energy stay resilient through 2020

Australia is deploying renewable energy capacity 10 times faster than the global average on a per person basis. The share of renewable energy in Australia’s electricity generation is expected to reach around 30% by the end of 2020.

Although COVID-19 restrictions almost halved rooftop solar installation rates in Melbourne in August and September, Australia remains on track for a record 2.9GW of new rooftop capacity in 2020. The previous record was 2.2 GW installed in 2019.

Modelling by the Clean Energy Regulator forecasts investment in rooftop solar will remain strong, and installed capacity could double over the next 4 years to 26GW.

The report also reveals more investment in large-scale renewables in the first 9 months of 2020 (2.5 GW) than in the whole of 2019 (2.3 GW), despite the pandemic.

The Hon Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, said the report shows Australia will continue to be a world-leader in renewable energy.

‘Australian families and businesses are adopting new energy technologies like rooftop solar at record-breaking rates, and we expect this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.’