Australia reaches record solar, generating a QUARTER of its electricity from solar in October 2024

Data compiled by OpenNEM from AEMO and APVI shows that, since September, Australia also saw a new combined wind and solar record, generating 40% of its electricity.

Rooftop installations have played a pivotal role. The Clean Energy Council (CEC) reported that with a cumulative 24.4 GW of rooftop solar installed in the first six months of the year, Australia is on track to exceed 25 GW installed capacity by the end of this year. Rooftop PV alone has already surpassed coal generation capacity of 21.3 GW.

This shift has contributed to record lows in coal’s share of electricity generation, which dropped below half of Australia’s electricity for only the second month ever, to 48% in October.

Despite this progress, coal remains the largest single source of electricity, generating 54% of power from January to October this year. Ember’s data shows that Australia still emits more CO2 from coal power per capita than any other G20 country, although rising renewables is gradually curbing fossil fuel use.

Ember’s recent report also highlights one overlooked fact about coal that receives very little attention: coal mines are a major source of methane. And methane emissions from Australian coal mines may be up to double the amount reported to the government and remain inadequately addressed.

Moreover, the government’s proposed shift to unverified, company-led emissions estimates for open cut mines, which now make up 85% of all black coal production, risks leaving millions of tonnes of methane unaccounted for, while satellite data raises ongoing concerns of under-reporting.