The first National Energy Emissions Audit of 2019 shows renewable energy displacing black coal power generation for the first time, as part of the largest ever year-on-year growth in renewables generation the NEM has seen.

The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program has released the latest National Energy Emissions Audit covering emissions in the electricity sector for the previous month.

Key findings:

• 2018 saw the largest year-on-year growth in renewable energy generation ever seen in the NEM.
• Grid renewable generation grew by nearly a third and when rooftop solar is included renewables supplied 21.4% of electricity in the NEM.
• For the first time, renewable energy is displacing emissions intensive black coal electricity generation in the NEM, not just expensive gas generation, further accelerating emission reductions in the energy sector.
• Greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector (National Energy Market) have decreased 20% since its 2008 peak due mainly due to transition from fossil fuel generation to renewables.
• During the first major heatwave of the Summer (3 Jan), rooftop solar helped curb energy supply by nearly 10% in Victoria and South Australia.