Brief description of its relationship with SDG-7

Australia has a significant relationship with SDG 7 because it combines abundant fossil-fuel resources with some of the world’s strongest renewable-energy potential, particularly solar and wind. Renewable sources accounted for 39.5% of Australian electricity generation in 2025, compared with only 8.5% in 1999–2000, demonstrating the rapid transformation of the electricity sector (Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water [DCCEEW], 2026a). 

However, fossil fuels remain important to both domestic energy production and exports. In 2025, coal still generated 42.7% of Australian electricity, while natural gas generated 16.2%. Australia therefore represents an important case of a developed economy attempting to accelerate renewable-energy deployment while maintaining energy security and managing its historical dependence on fossil fuels (DCCEEW, 2026a). 

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Australia’s central challenge is integrating rapidly expanding solar and wind generation into a reliable national electricity system. This requires substantial investment in transmission networks, storage and other infrastructure while coal-fired generation progressively declines. Considerable differences also exist between states: in 2025, renewables supplied 97.5% of electricity generation in Tasmania and 77% in South Australia, while coal remained dominant in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland (DCCEEW, 2026b). 

The transition has nevertheless accelerated. Solar became Australia’s largest renewable electricity source, while wind generation increased substantially in 2025. The government’s transition strategy has also been built around reaching 82% renewable electricity in the country’s electricity grids by 2030, making Australia an important SDG 7 case for renewable expansion, grid modernisation and the gradual reduction of fossil-fuel dependence (DCCEEW, 2023; DCCEEW, 2026b).

LIST OF REFERENCES  

Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2026a). Electricity generation. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.energy.gov.au/energy-data/australian-energy-statistics/electricity-generation

Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2026b). Australian Energy Statistics, Table O:  Electricity generation by fuel type 2024-25 and 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.energy.gov.au/publications/australian-energy-statistics-table-o-electricity-generation-fuel-type-2024-25-and-2025

Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (2023). Australia’s emissions projections 2023. Retrieved September 7, 2026, from https://www.dcceew.gov.au/climate-change/publications/australias-emissions-projections-2023