Australia hits record renewable output in Q4

Nine large-scale wind and solar projects were switched in Q4.

A record 2.1 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable energy capacity in Australia was commissioned in the final quarter of 2025, according to the Clean Energy Council’s (CEC) latest quarterly investment report.

Nine large-scale wind and solar projects were switched on during the fourth quarter (Q4), enough to power at least 1.4 million homes, about one and a half times Greater Brisbane. The result surpasses the previous quarterly record of 1.3GW set in Q3 2021.

Utility-scale battery storage also hit a record high, with 1GW / 2.3 gigawatt-hours (GWh) added during the quarter — more than triple the previous quarterly record. Across 2025, 1.9GW / 4.9GWh of batteries were deployed, exceeding the combined total of the previous eight years.

Investment momentum strengthened in the final months of the year, with five renewable generation projects reaching financial close in Q4. Together, the projects represent 1.2GW of new capacity and $3.5b in value.

While investment earlier in 2025 had been more subdued, the final-quarter result marks the second-highest quarterly investment total on record, behind Q4 2022, when $4.3b was committed.

CEC Chief Executive Jackie Trad said the surge in project delivery and investment coincided with major milestones across the National Electricity Market (NEM).

“The final quarter of last year saw many new renewables records broken. Sixty-three percent of total renewable generation capacity that was switched on in 2025 was delivered in Q4 (2.1GW)," Trad said. "That scale of projects being commissioned in a single quarter is an Aussie first."

She added that renewable energy supplied more than half, or 51%, of all electricity in the NEM for the first time during Q4 2025. At peak demand during January’s extreme heatwaves, renewables met as much as 77% of electricity demand, according to the Australian Energy Market Operator.

“As more renewable projects come online, we’re seeing them do exactly what they’re designed to do: stabilise the energy system as coal-fired generators retire," Trad said. "It’s more evidence that Australia’s transition to renewables is well underway."

Trad said Australia is in a critical transition period from coal to renewables, warning that sustained investment will depend on faster planning approvals and improved grid connections across jurisdictions.

“The seasonal rush to close out projects before year’s end, together with more political stability in the second half of 2025, ended the year on a stronger note than where it started," she said. "However, there is still much work to be done to accelerate future investment in large-scale generation."

She called for streamlined planning and approval processes and the timely delivery of transmission infrastructure to connect projects to the NEM.

The report also highlighted differences in development timelines across states. South Australia recorded the fastest average time from financial commitment to commissioning, taking 19 months for solar farms and 23 months for onshore wind. South Australia and Victoria tied for the quickest battery development timelines, averaging 20 months.

Queensland commissioned the most clean energy projects in Q4, with four projects coming online, largely reflecting approvals granted under the former state government.

However, it also recorded the longest delivery timelines, taking 23 months for solar, 37 months for wind and 28 months for utility-scale batteries, amid energy policy reforms introduced by the current government in 2025.