energy.gov.au

Energy consumption

Australia’s energy consumption fell by 2.9% in 2019-20 to 6,014 PJ. This compares with average growth of 0.7% a year in the prior decade (2009-10 to 2018-19). The drop in consumption in 2019-20 was 182 PJ.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) accounted for 93% of Australia’s primary energy mix in 2019-20. Oil accounted for the largest share of Australia’s primary energy mix in 2019-20, at 37%, followed by coal (28%) and gas (27%). Renewable energy sources accounted for 7%.

Australian energy consumption - by fuel type

	2019-20		Average annual growth
	PJ	share (%)	2019–20 (%)	10 years (%)
Oil	2,241.2	37.3	-6.9	0.1
Coal	1,706.6	28.4	-5.3	-2.4
Gas	1,647.2	27.4	3.8	2.9
Renewables	418.8	7.0	4.6	4.0
Total	6,013.8	100.0	-2.9	0.2

Source: Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (2021), Australian Energy Statistics, Table C

Australian energy consumption - by fuel type - chart

Stacked graph of Australian energy consumption, by fuel type Graph has PJ on y axis and year on x axis. It shows coal, oil, gas and renewables change over time. Grey is renewables, it is slowly increasing. Teal is gas and it increasing as well, it is much bigger than renewables. Light blue is oil and is also increasing. It is as big as renewables and gas combined. Dark blue is coal. It is decreasing over time but was historically as big as oil. It is now about as big as gas.

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