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Electricity generation

Total electricity generation in Australia in 2019 was around 265 TWh. This figure includes all electricity generation, including by power plants and generation for own use by businesses and households.

Fossil fuels contributed 79% of total electricity generation in 2019, including coal (56%), gas (21%) and oil (2%).

Renewables contributed 21% of total electricity generation in 2019, specifically hydro (5%), wind (7%), and solar (7%). The share of renewable energy generation increased from 19% in 2018.

About 14% of Australia’s electricity was generated outside the electricity sector by business and households in 2018–19.

Australian electricity generation

Line chart of Australian electricity generation. The y axis is in terrawatt hours from 0 to 300. The x axis is years. There are two series. The dark blue series is the bigger series. It shows total generation which increases over time up to around 270 terrawatts in 2019. The light blue line is generation from renewables. It is fairly flat but begins to climb around 2005 and is now around 50 terrawatt hours.

Australian electricity generation by fuel mix

The y axis is per cent. The x axis is the years 1993-94, 1998-99, 2003-04, 2008-09, 2013-14, 2018-19, 2019. The biggest bar historically was black coal. It is dark blue and was about 60% of the fuel mix in 1993-94. It has now declined to about 45%. The next biggest historically was brown coal, light blue. It has declined significantly over time. Natural gas is teal coloured and has grown over time. Renewables is grey coloured and has grown over time. It is now about the same as gas.

Australian electricity generation by fuel mix - calendar year 2019

The y axis is per cent. The x axis shows the states in this order: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, AUS. There are 5 series. Coal is dark blue. It is the majority of generation in NSW, VIC, QLD and AUS. Natural gas is light blue. It is the majority of generation in WA and NT. It also a significant amount of generation in SA. Oil is teal. It is significant in NT. Hydro is grey. It is the majority of generation in TAS. Dark teal is other renewables. It is is the majority of generation in SA.

Australian electricity generation by industry - 2018–19

The y axis is per cent. The x axis has the states in this order: NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT, AUS. The biggest bar is the electricity sector. It is dark blue and is the majority in most states. The second biggest bar is industry and is light blue. The smallest bar is Other industries including residential solar. It is teal. Generation outside the electricity sector makes up about 50% of generation in WA and NT.

 

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