Australian energy consumption rose by 1.1 per cent in 2016–17 to 6,146 petajoules, its highest ever level. This compares with average growth of 0.8 per cent a year over the past ten years.
Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) accounted for 94 per cent of Australia’s primary energy mix in 2016–17. Oil accounted for the largest share of Australia’s primary energy mix in 2016–17, at 38 per cent, followed by coal (32 per cent) and natural gas (25 per cent). Renewable energy sources accounted for 6 per cent.
Australian energy consumption, by fuel type
|
|
2016–17 |
Average annual growth |
||
|
|
PJ |
share (per cent) |
2016–17 (per cent) |
10 years (per cent) |
|
Coal |
1,936.9 |
31.5 |
-1.0 |
-1.9 |
|
Oil |
2,315.4 |
37.7 |
2.1 |
1.7 |
|
Gas |
1,515.0 |
24.7 |
1.1 |
2.9 |
|
Renewables |
378.7 |
6.2 |
5.3 |
3.2 |
|
Total |
6,145.8 |
100.0 |
1.1 |
0.8 |
Source: Department of the Environment and Energy (2018) Australian Energy Statistics,
Table C
