Total electricity generation in Australia in 2018 was around 261TWh. This figure includes all electricity generation, including by power plants and generation for own use by businesses and households.
Fossil fuels contributed 81% of total electricity generation in 2018, including coal (60 per cent), gas (19 per cent) and oil (2 per cent). 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 13 per cent of Australia’s electricity was generated outside the electricity sector by business and households in 2017–18.
Australian electricity generation
Source: Department of the Environment and Energy (2019) Australian Energy Statistics, Table O and L
Australian electricity generation fuel mix
Source: Department of the Environment and Energy (2019) Australian Energy Statistics, Table O
Australian electricity generation fuel mix - calendar year 2018
Source: Department of the Environment and Energy (2019) Australian Energy Statistics, Table O
Australian electricity generation by industry - 2017–18
Source: Department of the Environment and Energy (2019) Australian Energy Statistics, Table O
