Electricity Emissions

Electricity production is the biggest contributor to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

This is primarily due to our reliance on coal-fired power plants, which are highly emissions-intensive.

Natural gas and, to a lesser extent, oil, have also played key roles in Australia's energy mix.

As the demand for electricity has grown, so too has the impact of its production on Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

Different fuel types have vastly different effects on greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector. Here is a breakdown.

Coal produces the highest amount of CO2 emissions per unit of electricity generated.

Wind generates electricity without direct emissions of greenhouse gases. The main emissions come from the manufacturing, transportation, and installation of turbines, but these are relatively low over the turbine's lifecycle.

Emissions intensity is the greenhouse gas emissions produced per unit of output, such as per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated.

Lower emissions intensity means that less CO2 is released for the amount of energy produced, signifying a more efficient and environmentally friendly production process.

Renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power stand out for their low emissions intensity.

Australia’s reported greenhouse gas emissions are often revised in later reports. This page tracks every version of reported emissions in the quarterly inventory updates.

How to read these charts: The lines show Australia's reported emissions in million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2-e). Each line represents the date they were reported. Click on the categories in the legend to deselect.

Acknowledgment: This topic was inspired by Ketan Joshi, an author and communications consultant who focuses on climate. The chart concepts below also come from him.