Total electricity generation in Australia in 2018 was around 261 terawatt hours. This figure includes all electricity generation, including by power plants and generation for own use by businesses and households.
Fossil fuels contributed 81 per cent of total electricity generation in 2018, including coal (60 per cent), gas (19 per cent) and oil (2 percent). Australia is now less reliant on coal than at the beginning of the century, when coal’s share was more than 80 per cent of electricity generation.
Renewables contributed 19 per cent of total electricity generation in 2018, specifically hydro (7 per cent), wind (6 per cent), and solar (5 per cent). The share of renewable energy generation increased from 15 per cent in 2017.
About 12 per cent of Australia’s electricity was generated outside the electricity sector by business and households in 2016–17.
Australian electricity generation
Australian electricity generation fuel mix
Australian electricity generation fuel mix, calendar year 2018
Australian electricity generation, by industry, 2016–17
