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Energy consumption

Australia’s energy consumption fell 3.6% in 2020-21 to 5,790 PJ. This compares with average growth of 0.2% a year in the prior decade (2010-11 to 2019-20). The drop in consumption in 2020-21 was 214 PJ.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) accounted for 92% of Australia’s primary energy mix in 2020-21. Oil accounted for the largest share of Australia’s primary energy mix in 2020-21, at 36%, followed by coal (29%) and gas (27%). Renewable energy sources accounted for 8%.

Australian energy consumption - by fuel type

 

2020–21 PJ

2020–21 share
(per cent)

2020–21 growth
 (per cent)

10 year
average annual growth
(per cent)

Oil

 2,097.9

36.2

-6.7

-0.5

Coal

 1,661.0

28.7

-2.7

-2.4

Gas

 1,568.2

27.1

-3.7

2.0

Renewables

 462.4

8.0

10.4

4.6

Total

 5,789.6

100.0

-3.6

-0.2

Source: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2022), Australian Energy Statistics, Table C

Australian energy consumption - by fuel type - chart

The chart is a stacked graph of Australian energy consumption, by fuel type. Energy quantity in petajoules is on y axis and year on x axis. Consumption of coal, oil, gas and renewables over time is shown. Oil use has declined sharply in the last two years but is still the largest share. Gas and coal are similar shares to each other now and about two thirds of oil consumption each. Historically coal was bigger. Renewables is small although slowly increasing.

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