Author: PPD Team Date: 10/03/2025
The Australian government has introduced a National Renewable Energy Priority List to expedite approvals for key renewable energy generation, storage, and transmission projects.
The initiative, led by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), aims to streamline regulatory processes while ensuring environmental compliance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
The first Priority List includes 32 renewable energy projects exceeding 30 MW, featuring solar, wind, battery, and pumped hydro technologies. If approved, these projects could add 16.5 GW of generation capacity and 6.3 GW of storage capacity, supplying power to over nine million homes and meeting peak demand for five million homes for up to four hours. The initiative also includes 24 key transmission projects to support the integration of renewable energy into the grid.
To improve regulatory efficiency, the Australian government has allocated AUD 134.2 million (USD 84.56 million) to enhance assessment capacity and provide additional project support. The rolling Priority List will be updated regularly, ensuring continued facilitation even after projects receive approval.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia’s net energy use increased by 2% in 2022-23 to 23,294 Petajoules (PJ), while energy exports declined by 2% to 17,434 PJ. Renewable energy extraction grew by 12% to 325 PJ, supplying 33% of domestic electricity use. Solar energy increased by 21% to 151 PJ, wind energy grew by 9% to 114 PJ, while hydro energy declined by 2% to 60 PJ.
Australia’s energy supply came mainly from domestic production at 20,997 PJ and imports at 2,298 PJ. The primary sources were black coal, natural gas, uranium, and crude oil, with most of these resources exported. The continued expansion of renewable energy is reshaping the country’s energy landscape as it moves towards a lower-carbon future.