Australian renewable power met needs of 70% homes in 2016/17

According to a newly launched index, renewable energy sources in Australia generated enough power in the 2016/17 financial year to cover the needs of 70% of the country's households.

Renewable generation between July 2016 and June 2017 was equivalent to the consumption of 7.1 million homes. The first monthly edition of the index, produced by research and advisory firm Green Energy Markets, showed that in July 2017, Australia produced enough renewable electricity to power 8.2 million homes.

Renewables accounted for 17.2% of Australia's electricity generation, in the National Electricity Market and Western Australian Electricity Market, in the past financial year and for 18.8% last month.

Below is a breakdown of renewable power output by source for 2016/2017:

The report says that large-scale renewables are booming. At the end of 2016/17, 46 large-scale renewable energy projects were under construction, with the number increasing to 53 at the end of July. A total of 2,843 MW of large-scale renewables were under construction at the end of last month.

Rooftop solar is also making a significant contribution. In the year to June 2017, nearly 150,000 small-scale rooftop solar systems were installed, providing enough generation to power more than 226,000 homes. In July, 14,466 small-scale solar systems were built.

The Renewable Energy Index is funded by activist group GetUp!.

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