Vic surges ahead in clean energy uptake

Victoria experienced the biggest jump in renewable energy generation of anywhere in Australia in 2021, according to new data released by the Climate Council.

With an increase of 30% last year, renewables reached record highs in Victoria, followed closely by NSW and WA.

Climate Council Senior Researcher Tim Baxter said, “On the flip side, gas provided less than 2% of the state’s power. That’s a whopping 39% fall from the year before, and the biggest drop in gas use of any mainland state over the same 12-month period.”

Renewables reached record highs in all mainland states in 2021, while gas generation fell once again across the country, down to its lowest level in more than 15 years in the National Electricity Market (NEM) despite virtually no change in electricity demand.

“The increase in solar, wind and batteries in our electricity system is making power bills cheaper for Victorian households and businesses. Electricity is now the cheapest it has been in almost a decade and we have solar and wind to thank for that,” Baxter said.

“Gas is expensive, polluting and diminishing in importance and relevance as the rest of the world moves towards net zero, and our own states and territories rapidly roll out large-scale renewable energy and storage.”

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Andrew