A great year for clean energy in Australia ends, while bad news for coal continues

... The real story, driven by the states and the private sector, is more interesting and much more positive.

Australia now has renewables-friendly governments in every state and territory. Victoria legislated a target of 40% by 2025 and both Queensland and the Northern Territory committed to 50% renewables by 2030. South Australia leads the world on wind and solar integration and has shed its title of the highest wholesale energy prices in the country.

More than 50 large-scale renewable energy projects are either under construction or have been completed in Australia in 2017 totalling 4,670MW, as much as was built over the first 15 years of the renewable energy target. Australian households installed more rooftop solar than any year since 2012 when subsidies were three times as generous — no other country has a higher take-up of residential solar.

 ‘It’s undeniable that the energy transition is well under way — but Australians could be forgiven for despairing when coal dominates our politics and media cycle.’ Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

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