If the effort to reach net-zero emissions is a race, Queensland is winning the Australian leg at the moment. The Sunshine State has become something of a champion of sustainability, leading Australia with 54,365 renewable energy installations, according to a report by Solar Run.
Australia is uniquely positioned to take advantage of renewable energy technologies, with an abundance of natural resources including wind and sun.
The race to decarbonise is imperative to halt the advance of climate change disasters but also offers an economic opportunity – renewable energy is by far the cheapest form available, estimated to have saved US$55 billion in global energy generation costs in 2022.
How the states compare
While Queensland holds a strong lead with more than 54,000 renewable energy installations, many of the other states are not far behind.
Victoria holds the silver medal with 51,104 installations and New South Wales the bronze at 48,470.
Western Australia has built 44,899 as an honourable fourth mention and the ACT’s 22,803 installations are certainly respectable considering the size of the territory.
South Australia is lagging behind with just 20,849 installations, and the Northern Territory and Tasmania are barely in the race at present, with just 6,734 and 6,070 installations each respectively.
"The data from our latest analysis is a testament to the incredible progress Australian states are making towards renewable energy adoption,” Solar Run CEO and managing director Anthony Kurta said.
“We see a strong commitment from states like Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, which are leveraging their populations and policies to lead the way.
“This environmental rivalry among states highlights not just the competition, but the collective effort to ensure a sustainable future for Australia.
“The friendly yet fierce competition underscores the importance of renewable energy adoption across the nation, uniting states in a common goal of environmental stewardship.”
The Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania may require a different approach to renewable energy compared to the more populous states, which can leverage their larger populations and denser urban regions to more efficiently roll out renewable infrastructure.
Solar Run’s report suggests these states and territories may benefit from targeted incentives to enhance renewable energy uptake, focusing on community-specific projects or larger industrial installations that do not require dense population centres.