The 2024 Climate Change Authority Annual Progress Report made recommendations that addressed the issues of achieving renewable energy targets, maintaining system security and reliability as the share of renewables increases, connecting renewables to the grid more quickly and unlocking more generation and storage at the local level. This report provides further advice on those issues, supported by consultation with over 2 dozen expert organisations and individuals.

The rapid transition to renewable electricity will underpin the achievement of Australia’s emissions reduction targets and is vital for ensuring sufficient generation capacity is being built to replace ageing, and increasingly unreliable coal-fired power stations. Australia leads the world in household rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV). Renewables continue to make up a greater share of electricity generated in Australia’s main electricity grid, accounting for a record 46% in the last quarter of 2024. However, the 2024 report concluded that additional policy measures would be required to ensure the Australian Government’s 82% renewable electricity target for 2030 is met. 

The renewable build-out will need to continue at pace beyond 2030 as the remaining coal-fired power stations retire and to meet demand as other sectors electrify. It is expected that additional policy measures, as are required to achieve the 2030 target, will continue to be needed after 2030 to drive the continued build out.